“What’s bringing on all these questions, missy?” Marissa asked, tilting her head and watching her daughter’s reaction. Sophia shrugged and thought for a moment.
“I don’t know really. I guess I just wish I had a dad. And the one I did have didn’t want me, so--”
Marissa stood and went over to her daughter, squatting down to her eye level. Cupping the small face in her hands she looked into her eyes.
“Baby, that’s his loss. It’s not that he didn’t want you, he just wasn’t ready for being a father and what that entailed. You are absolutely and one hundred percent perfect, you understand? Don’t ever think you weren’t good enough.”
Sophia nodded as her mother kissed her forehead and stood, walking back to her seat and sitting.
“I guess I just wonder where he is,” Sophia said as she stared at her plate of spaghetti.
“Who knows, I haven’t heard from him in a very long time.”
It grew silent for a while, then Sophia began to talk about her plans for the summer and all the things she wanted to do. Marissa was relieved when her baby got off the subject of her father. She was still bitter that he had just up and left with no word, no nothing. But she’d managed fairly well without him and she would continue to do so.
Marissa was a strong stubborn woman. She’d made a good living on her own, with little help from her parents. When she became sick, that was out of her control, but she was still pigheaded at times.
“And Sam was talking about maybe joining the Girl Scouts. But I told her I had to check with you.”
“We’ll see how this month goes on bills, okay baby?” she said feeling disappointed that she couldn’t give her daughter everything she wanted without worrying about money. Her getting sick had put a dent in her savings. But she was determined to get it back, come hell or high water.
“Okay Momma, I understand. Just let me know soon so I can get the form if I can join,” Sophia said before sucking down a noodle as sauce got on her cheek and nose. They both laughed as she tried to lick it off.
“It’s so good, mama. Just like it always is. Did Gramma teach you to cook?”
Marissa shook her head, smiling as she chewed her food. “Believe it or not, Grampa taught me. He is the whiz in the kitchen. Gramma can cook pretty good, but he’s better at the ‘from scratch’ meals,” she said after swallowing.
“Wow, I would have never guessed Grampa could cook like that.”
Marissa nodded. “Yep, he sure can.”
Dinner continued with small talk and laughs. Once they were done Marissa began to clean the kitchen as Sophia got ready for bed by taking a bath. She could hear the little girl singing and playing in the bubbles, which made her smile as she loaded the dishwasher and saved the leftovers in the refrigerator. She dried her hands and turned off the kitchen lights, feeling much better now that all of that was done.
“I’m done Momma!” Sophia called from her room as Marissa made her way down the hall. She entered Sophia’s room as her daughter slipped on her nightgown and hopped into bed, handing her mom the comb. It was their nightly routine. Hair combing and a story. It always seemed to relax Sophia when Marissa combed her hair, so as she combed the beautiful brown curls like hers, she told her the story she told every night. It had become such a routine, she’d memorized it. It never got old and always did the job. Before she could get to the end, soft snores escaped Sophia’s mouth so her mom tucked her in snug as a bug in a rug, slowly padded quietly to the door, turned off the light and headed for the living room for some reading. It was her chance to have private time, just to relax. For tomorrow was another day.
Marissa found herself asleep on the sofa as she fluttered her eyes open and checked the time. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. It was almost midnight. Turning the television off, she stood and turned the lamp off, making her way to her bedroom, sleepily. She didn’t even get to her book, she was so sleepy. The droning sound of the air conditioner turned on as she crawled into bed, listening to the sounds of the house. Soon after laying her head on the pillow, she found sleep.
By the time Friday had come she was exhausted. Mentally and physically. It had been a long week of Sophia’s gathering things for the end of the year, cleaning out her desk and preparing for the upcoming summer break. With only one week left of school Sophia was on cloud nine, counting the days. She entered the house and tossed her book sack on the chair. Looking for her mom, she called out.
“Momma! Where are you?”
“In here!” Marissa called out from her bedroom. Sophia walked in to find her mother looking through her closet on her knees, sorting through shoes.
“What are you doing, Momma?” she asked, confused.
“Well, I knew or thought, I had some tennis shoes. I guess I don’t. Plus my swimsuit from last year is too big. I may have lost some weight since then.”
“Can’t we just get another one?”
“I guess we could, better go today before our outing tomorrow.”
“Oooo! Can we go to the mall, Momma? We haven’t been in so long, just to window shop, I promise. I don’t want anything.”
“Sure, that’s what you said last time, Soph,” she said, shaking her head with a smile. Sophia fake-pouted.
“Fine, let’s go. I do need some things and it can be our mommy-daughter time.” Sophia threw her hands into the air and yelled ‘yay’ as she went through the house.
They arrived at the mall just in time for the high school rush. It was the time all the older kids from the high school went to the mall to “hang out”. The parking was crazy and she parked further from the door than usual due to the high volume of cars and the absence of free spots close to the entrance. Sophia skipped slightly ahead of Marissa as they headed into the building. She’d rather shop at the cheaper stores, and hated spending a fortune on things like clothes and accessories. They made good time shopping and she walked out of the last store feeling proud she’d hit a sale. Only having to spend forty-five dollars and eighty-three cents, she considered that a win. New tennis shoes and bathing suit in her bag, they went to the food court.
“You’ll spoil dinner, no,” she said in answer to Sophia’s silent suggestion by pointing at the Great American Cookie store.
“Please Momma? Just one. I swear I’ll eat all of my dinner no matter what! Pleeeease!” Sophia begged.
Marissa rolled her eyes. “I thought you didn’t want anything?”
“But Mom, it’s the Great American Cookie! How American would we be if we didn’t take at least one?”
She laughed out loud and shook her head. A gentleman who stood in line behind them said, “She’s right, though.” Looking up, she saw it was Dr. Martinez. He looked…different when he wasn’t in his office.
“Dr. Martinez. Hi, what a surprise bumping into you here,” she said sweetly.
“I thought I recognized Sophia’s voice,” he said with a chuckle.
Oh his smile, and well, everything. “Yeah, she’s definitely a charmer, that one.”
“Am not. I just think it would be the right thing to do.” Sophia said matter-of-factly and nodded.
“Tell you what, why not join me in having one cookie, for tradition’s sake. To be American. If it’s okay with your mom. And it’s on me.”
“Please say yes Momma! Please? I’ll be good super-good, and do the dishes, and eat all my dinner, and rub your feet, and--”
“Okay! Yes, you can,” Marissa said with a chuckle. “Quite a negotiator you’ve turned into.”
“Yay! She said yes! I want the one with M&Ms in it!”
“Say ‘thank you’ Sophia.”
“Thank you Dr. Martinez.”
“You’re very welcome. Miss Hayes? May I offer you one?”
She shook her head and held up her hand. “No, thank you, Dr. Martinez.”
“You can call me Carlos, and please, I insist. You’re missing out.”
“Just get one Momma, they are so good.”
“Well, I guess one w
on’t hurt. Just get me whatever you’re having. And please call me Marissa.”
He smiled and she wanted to faint. “Coming right up, Marissa.” He turned to place their order as she and Sophia took a seat in the food court. He came back with three waters and three cookies, handing them out to the two of them.
“I hope you like peanut butter,” he said as he handed Marissa the cookie.
“Mmm, sounds good, actually. Thank you.”
“Thank you Dr. Martinez. Do I call you Mr. Martinez, Dr. Martinez, or Mr. Carlos?”
He smiled. “You’re welcome. Whatever you want to call me Sophia.”
She thought for a moment, then smiled. “Mr. Carlos. I like that.”
“Mr. Carlos it is,” he replied.
Marissa smiled as she watched them interact as he began to tell Sophia about all the flavors he’d tried and liked and the ones he didn’t before turning to Marissa.
“I heard from Lyndsay that you’ll start teaching again at the end of summer?”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes, if all goes according to plan and my health is good I can go back in August. But I have a great doctor so I’m sure I will.”
He grinned and blushed slightly. “Well, I’m just the middle man. But I do have faith that this will work for the long term.”
“I pray you’re right Dr.—I mean, Carlos.”
They continued to exchange small talk and eat their cookies. She looked at her watch and sighed. “It’s getting late, we should get home so I can get dinner started.”
“Aw man. We were just starting to have fun!”
“Well I’m sure Mr. Carlos has things to take care of, Sophia.”
“Not really, I enjoyed the company.”
Sophia smiled proudly as she shook her head.
“You’re not helping,” Marissa said with a chuckle as he caught on.
“Ah, look at the time. I do have something to get to.”
Sophia frowned as Marissa stood and mouthed the word ‘Thank you’ to him.
“Sophia, can you go toss this in the trash please?” The little girl nodded and took the trash over to the trash can.
“I enjoyed our visit, Marissa. Maybe we can do it again sometime. Over coffee? Or dinner?” He added the last part almost shyly as she grabbed her bags and looked over at him, standing there smiling ear-to-ear and practically beaming.
“Dinner?” she asked in a confused way. “As in a date?” Sounding a bit afraid of misunderstanding him.
He just smiled and nodded. “Yeah, that is, if you want. No pressure.”
“I—Well, I don’t know. Is that allowed?”
“It’s just dinner, Marissa. It can be a celebratory dinner for your health success if you like.”
She let out a small chuckle as she looked down, thinking, then back up at him smiling. “I’d love to. When?”
“Whenever you’re free. Just let me know and we’ll set something up.” He pulled a card from his wallet. “Do you have a pen?” he asked her.
She dug in her purse and grabbed one, handing it to him. He took it and began to write on the card using the table as a support. “This is my personal cell number. Let me know when you’re free and we’ll go to dinner. A friendly celebratory dinner.”
She took the card and pen from him as he extended them to her and nodded, looking at the number before placing both items in her purse. “I will. Just us? Or can I bring Sophia?”
“That’s up to you. I don’t mind if she comes, not at all.”
Sophia watched the exchange with a huge smile and said nothing for a change, which was highly odd for her.
“Well, I better let you two get going. Call me, okay? Great seeing you again,” he said before turning and walking in the other direction.
She let out a breath that she never realized she’d been holding until now. Good God in Heaven, he’d asked her on a sort of date. Lyndsay was going to freak. She looked over at Sophia and smiled. “What are you thinking?” she asked curiously.
“I’m thinking that you got a date Momma,” she said with a huge smile and giggle. “It’s not a date…sort of.”
“Sure. I think he’s cute.”
“You and me both.” Marissa agreed as they both giggled. Now she had to decide whether to take her daughter or go alone and see where this went. Her day had just gotten better, way better.
Chapter Five
Helen helped her father into the house as Tyson Sr. brought in a suitcase of his clothes. Joseph’s arm was finally out of the sling but he had to be careful how he moved it sometimes. Walking in the cast wasn’t easy, especially with the crutches they’d given him. The loud thump the cast made as it hit the wooden floor of her home disturbed him as he slowly made his way in with her help. She finally got him into the living room and she helped him to sit in the recliner that wasn’t so hard to rise from.
“I got it, you can just let me fall back,” he suggested.
“Dad, are you sure? I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“Yeah, I’ll stoop a little bit, just let me know when I’m all clear for landing,” he teased.
She watched him as he positioned himself in front of the chair and bent at the waist slightly, holding onto her hands for balance. “All clear, just go slow,” she said to him.
He held on to her hands as his body went backwards and into the chair. He smiled and let out a relaxed sigh. “Ahhh, thank you, Cupcake.”
Seemed no matter how old she’d get, she would always be his cupcake. That’s what he called her and she always smiled when he did. “Can I get you anything Dad?”
“Uh, just some water would be fine. Thank you.”
She nodded and started for the kitchen as he called out to her. “Don’t make a fuss over me now. Just treat me like normal.”
She poured him a glass of water with a few ice cubes and brought it back to him, watching as he drank. “I’m not making a fuss, just making sure you’re comfortable.”
“What would I do without you, Cupcake?” he said with a smile.
She returned his smile and made her way over to the sofa, picking up the remote and turning to him. “Care to watch anything in particular?”
He shook his head no and leaned his head back on the chair. “No, thank you. A nap would be nice.”
She nodded and stood, heading into the guest bedroom to turn down the bed for him. Tyson had already placed her father’s clothes in the drawers.
“Ty, would you give me a hand helping Dad to bed?” She called out to him as he came from the study.
“Of course.” They both made their way back to the living room and she watched as Tyson helped her father stand from the recliner. Tyson was stronger than she was and could help her father better. He groaned as he put pressure on his hurt leg, pain setting in from all the moving around he’d done that day.
She went to get his prescription pain medication and his glass of water, then followed them both to the guest room.
Joseph sat on the edge of the bed and took the pill, letting out a heavy sigh afterwards.
“Oh, this cast is so uncomfortable,” he said with a grimace as he let Tyson pick his legs up and put them on the bed, leaning back on the pillows.
“How’s that, Dad, any better?” she asked as she positioned the pillows under his head. Tyson suggested a pillow under the cast to help blood flow.
Joseph moved around a little to get comfortable before nodding. “It’s just fine Cupcake. Thank you.” He exhaled a relaxed breath as Helen and Tyson headed towards the door.
“Just shout if you need, okay?” Joseph nodded and closed his eyes as they turned the light off and closed the door slightly. Tyson rubbed her shoulders as they went down the hall to the living room.
“He’ll be fine, love,” he said in her ear. She nodded and touched his hand.
“I know. I just hate seeing him in pain.”
“Let him rest and the medicine work. Soon the pain will go away. Come on, let’s go relax ourselves,” he suggested as
he led her to the couch where she sat leaning against him, his arm wrapped around her chest. They watched a movie while her father slept, waiting for him to wake.
Only when Tyson had moved her so he could go to the restroom did she realize she’d fallen asleep. Blinking her eyes open she yawned and asked how long she’d been asleep.
“Thirty or forty-five minutes. Not long.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You needed the rest.” She smiled and shook her head as she leaned back against him when he returned from the restroom.
The days had passed since her father had come to stay with her. Each day was better than the last as he began to get better and everyone could see improvements in the pain. He was able to get around a little more easily with the crutches and didn’t need as much help. Tyson helped him to shower, Helen helped with everything else. Things had been running smoothly for about a week when Tyson had to go in to the hospital for a fill-in. After helping her father into bed and telling him good night, she headed to her room stretching as she yawned. It was almost midnight. Deciding not to read and just get some sleep, her head hit the pillow and found sleep fast. She was awakened by the ringing sound coming from her bedside table. Groggily she checked the time. It was close to one in the morning. Who could be calling at that hour? Tyson to say he was coming home or staying later?
“Hello?” she said in a hoarse whisper, as sleep had taken over her mind.
“Helen, it’s time,” Tyson said on the other end and she felt confused.
“Time for what Ty?”
“Abigail is having the baby. I don’t want you to worry, I’ll keep you updated. Get your rest and I’ll call you the minute I hear anything.” That caught her attention and she sat up quickly in bed.
“She’s in labor? Right now? Where? I have to be there.”
“Yes, right now. She’s not dilated enough yet and that could take hours. I can call you when it’s almost time. You need some rest, and your dad needs someone to stay with him. I’ll be off in an hour, I’ll stay here until then for Brent. They both understand and urged me to not have you come now. It’s still too early.”
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