by Annora Green
“Maybe,” Sophia said vaguely.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ and add you to the hotel reservations and guest list,” Sabrina said quickly, and said goodbye before Sophia had time to protest.
¨°¨
Two weeks later, Sophia touched down in Las Vegas. She and Percy had flown back to San Francisco the night before and she left him with her parent in the country while she reluctantly flew on to Vegas to be with her sister. She arrived on her own this time, via commercial airline, and checked into the hotel - she had been careful to reserve her own room at Panache, now that she knew better - and then went upstairs to the suite her sister had reserved for herself and the small handful of friends that had come along on the girls’ weekend.
“Sophia!”
Upon arrival at the penthouse suite, Rachel was the one who opened the door and greeted her with a wide grin and a big hug.
“Nice to see you, Rachel,” Sophia said, bristling slightly at the onslaught of emotion.
In her relapse into her isolating working life in Paris, she had forgotten what it was like to be around friends.
“Come in,” Rachel said, guiding her in. “You remember Cassandra?”
Cassandra waved shyly, and Rachel hopped over to Cassandra and took her hand, holding it out so Sophia could see. “Check it out.”
Sophia saw a glimmering ring - a ruby surrounded by two diamonds - on her finger. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” Rachel said. “We’re thinking the next party will be our bachelorette parties - you’ll have to come to them, of course!”
“Of course,” Sophia said, taken aback slightly that nearly two years later, she was still being accepted into their circle of friends, like she had never even left.
Rachel guided Sophia into the room, re-introducing her to some of Sabrina’s friends and handing her a chilled glass of white wine.
“Are you still working at The Little Cafe, Rachel?” Sophia asked.
“I’m working there part time. My party planning business had taken off for a while, but I recently switched gears to focus on other interests-”
Just then, a blonde came inside the studio’s sitting room from the outdoor terrace, and Sophia was instantly distracted. Rachel followed her eyes.
“Did you know she’d be here?” Rachel asked gently.
Sophia nodded, looking back at Rachel and taking a sip of her wine. “Sabrina had mentioned something about Ari coming.”
“I’ll let you two catch up,” Rachel said delicately, slipping back over to Cassandra.
Ari now paused inside the room, noticing Sophia.
Sophia took a breath, smiled, and walked towards Ari. Ari met her eyes, smiled slightly, and nodded her head towards the terrace. Sophia wordlessly followed her out into the golden, late-afternoon sunshine, which was glistening off of the surface of the pool.
“The prodigal sister returns,” Ari said.
“I have,” Sophia said.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just last night. In San Francisco, I mean. I took a flight here this morning.” Sophia studied the woman, who seemed to be glowing in the light. “You look lovely, Arianna.”
Ari smiled. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
They both took nervous sips of their drinks.
“How are you doing these days?” Sophia asked.
They had exchanged a few texts and emails in the months after Arianna visited Paris, but any substantial conversation had largely died off.
“I’m good,” Ari said. “The Little Cafe is good. People love the coffee, the art gallery part of it gets a lot of attention online and in the local news, and there are always plenty of passers-by who wander in. And did you see Rachel? She’s running a business upstairs, teaching yoga, which somehow helps The Little Cafe even more.”
Sophia smiled. “I’m glad.”
“Oh, and last Christmas I got all the proper permits to put my tacky Christmas decorations, carolers, and even extra patio tables out on the sidewalk. You wanna know how?”
Sophia cocked her head. “How?”
“Being the president of the Retail Association doesn’t hurt.”
“You’re now President of the RA?” Sophia asked, surprised at the news. “I thought the town meetings and all of that bureaucracy bored you.”
“Yeah, they did, but after you left, I started attending a few of them, just to see if the town would fall apart without you,” Ari said playfully.
The truth was, she had not really had as much of a life once Sophia was gone, and the town meetings were the only thing that filled up some time and gave her a social life outside of the things that Rachel and Cassandra sometimes invited her to.
“And then you decided to get involved?” Sophia asked.
Ari shrugged. “I figured why not. No one was that interested in taking on the task of being President, so I didn’t exactly have steep competition, and getting into that gave me something to do that wasn’t coffee or payroll or booking musicians and artists, and distracted me from my general lack of social life. And so I found myself becoming a real townie. Probably wouldn’t sign up to do it again once the role is back up for grabs, but it was an experience to have.”
Sophia laughed. “I suppose so. Have you had to admonish any local business owners?”
“Plenty,” said Ari. “I’ve learned it’s not as easy as you made it look.”
“No, it’s not. Normally I didn’t take any pleasure in it, despite how it must have seemed.”
“You know, if you decided to come back to work at your store, I could give you the kind of welcome you gave me when I was opening my business, just for old time’s sake,” Ari teased lightly.
“I suppose it would be deserved,” Sophia admitted, laughter in her eyes. “But I have no plans of disregarding the town’s code or the Retail Association rules.”
“Ah, but do you know all the new ones that have been implemented in the past two years?” Ari asked.
Sophia just laughed and shook her head. “I will undoubtedly break them, then, unless you catch me up.”
Both women felt it. They were falling back into sync and there was an energy between them again. Almost two years seemed like an eternity in some ways, since everything around them had changed, but in other ways, like the way they fell so easily back into place when they were together again, it felt like no time had passed at all.
They agreed, a few minutes later, that they should not spend the whole evening apart from the crowd lest it seem unfriendly, so they moved back inside and spent time with Sabrina and her friends for the rest of the evening.
But then the next night, Sabrina and Rachel had secured tickets to another risqué cabaret show and Ari and Sophia both opted out. Cassandra seemed to have had similar reservations, but Rachel dragged her along, assuring her it was all in good fun.
Ari was not in Vegas with anyone else this weekend, but Sophia still had not gotten the opportunity to ask her if she was seeing anyone. She hoped to get the chance that evening.
“I guess it’s just the two of us tonight,” Ari said to Sophia as they parted ways with the group in the lobby.
“I suppose so,” Sophia said, suddenly feeling nervous about being alone with Ari at last, but the good kind of nervous.
The butterflies in your stomach, barely grounded kind of nervous. The kind of feeling where the air is heavy with potential and every nerve in your body is on edge.
“Let’s grab some dinner,” Ari said. “If you feel like Italian, there’s a pretty good place nearby. We can even walk.”
“Hmm... Italian is good. But I haven’t been in the U.S. in a while. How about those amazing burgers we had that one night?” Sophia asked, remembering their late night meal two and a half years ago.
“Seriously? All right.” Ari said, smiling, her pace quickening. “We’ll have to walk further, but it’s worth it. As you know.”
As they walked, Sophia spoke. “Do you still have your house here?”
Ari shook her head. “No, I sold it a few months ago. Nate offered to buy it - he’s pretty much settled himself down here and finally got his finances together - and I took him up on it.”
“Really? I’m surprised you decided to leave all of it behind.”
“It was a time in my life, but it’s over,” Ari said. “Palo Rosa feels like home now.”
“I miss it. Home,” Sophia said.
“Home as in Paris, or home as in Palo Rosa?” Ari asked.
“Home as in Palo Rosa,” she said. “I think I’m ready to be done with Paris.”
“Really?” Ari asked. “Any reason in particular?”
“Well, I’ve gotten what I wanted to get out of it. I saw the label I started grow into something bigger than I could have ever grown it into on my own. I worked as a consultant for industry leaders in Paris, people I’d admired and considered unapproachable only a few years prior. And now that I’ve done all of that, which was really all I ever wanted out of a career, I think I could step down and be satisfied. Because at the end of the day, I still didn’t have enough time to spend with Percy, and I’d left my whole life and home behind, and once the exciting veneer of the new career wore off, I was left with very little else.”
“I’m sorry,” Ari said. “Sorry that it wasn’t what you hoped it would be.”
“The work experience was,” Sophia said. “It completely met my expectations, and I enjoyed most of it. I just mean that my quality of life didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel like I thought it would. I mean, I went to industry events all of the time. I met with some of the most brilliant and influential minds in fashion. I loved that. But I had a son who had a short tolerance for living in a crowded, busy, foreign city, and on top of it I had no one to talk to, no one to socialize with, and, more than anything, no one I could really share it all with.”
Sophia stopped walking. They were near a palm tree, in a calm area set amongst a few massive buildings, a fountain splashing cheerfully somewhere nearby.
Ari stopped next to her.
“It lacked someone like you,” Sophia said at last. “I missed you, Arianna.”
Ari hesitated.
“Ari, I have to tell you something. Back before I met you, I was convinced I had everything figured out. I thought that running a successful business was what I was meant to achieve in life. I thought I knew the secrets to power, to having everything under control. I even thought that intimidating people - with my success and professional abilities - was the key to power. But you taught me that success is much more than that, and so is power. Power isn’t about flashing your success or abilities in front of people. Power is about supporting, understanding, listening, serving, knowing when to be there... and when to step away. You showed me what true power looks like, Arianna, and for that I will be forever grateful.”
Ari’s face softened.
“I didn’t realize I was teaching you so much,” she said lightly. “I mean, I’m still figuring out stuff, too. I’m always figuring stuff out.”
“I know,” Sophia said. “You are a beautiful person, Arianna.”
Sophia reached out gingerly towards her, touching her arm lightly.
“I... know what we said when we were last together,” Sophia said nervously. “We agreed not to wait around. So if you’ve moved on, I understand. But I couldn’t bear to not tell you all of this, at least once. Just so you know.”
Ari swallowed nervously and shoved her hands in her pockets.
Sophia dropped her hand and felt a slight surge of panic and her mind began to race. This was it. Ari had someone else. Of course.Sheshould have someone else.
It was the moment she had been dreading.
But then Ari spoke.
“I tried. I knew I should try, so I tried,” Ari said slowly, her blonde hair waving slightly in the breeze. “I saw a few people. But it wasn’t anything serious. It never felt... well, you know. Right. Needless to say, I’m not with anyone now.”
A flicker of happiness, of relief, and of hope crossed Sophia’s face.
“I told you once that I had to take things one step at a time,” Sophia said slowly, stepping slightly closer to the woman. “That I can’t just jump into something.”
Ari looked at her, shifting nervously. Still, Sophia continued to speak, even after sensing Ari’s hesitation.
“But I don’t feel that way anymore. I know what I want. I had to take a detour to get here, to have that awareness. A few detours, actually. But I’m here now.”
Ari looked at her, a conflicted expression on her face.
Sophia continued.
“I so desperately miss home, Ari. You are my home in a way no one else - and no other place, and nothing else - ever could be.”
“It’s been two years,” Ari said softly.
“I know,” Sophia admitted, nervous, but insistent. “Regardless of what you decide, and it is your decision, I’m coming home, Ari. And considering that the store I will probably be running upon my return will still have an eternally broken coffee machine, I will need to at least see you every day at The Little Cafe. So I hope we can at least remain friends.”
As she spoke, her heart was sinking as she watched the expression on Ari’s face. She had hurt Ari. All along, these past two years, Ari had acted so supportive of Sophia’s decision. But Ari was human and there was still some pain there, underneath it all, despite both of their best intentions on the matter.
And some mistrust.
Sophia completely understood. She would be hurt, too, if she were in Ari’s position.
“It might take a long time,” Sophia said softly, “For you to welcome me back.”
Ari bit her bottom lip, and her gaze flickered briefly to Sophia’s mouth.
“If you don’t want me going to The Little Cafe, I understand. Or I understand if you prefer I take it slow, not come by too often,” Sophia said, and even as she stumbled over the words, she knew her rambling wasso not about the coffee.
Meanwhile, despite everything, Ari felt it, the special energy that had resurged between them. That undeniable fact, added to the genuine truth she detected in Sophia’s words, prompted Ari to stop Sophia from continuing to speak.
“Enough talking,” she said firmly, her eyes melding into Sophia’s, her expression resolute. “Enough time has passed already. What the hell, enough with the concept of slow.”
She took Sophia’s hand, guided her out of the sidewalk and into the shadows underneath the palm tree.
Sophia looked at her, mesmerized, her heart threatening to burst out of her chest, as Ari took her face into her hands and kissed her firmly.
Sophia immediately responded, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around Ari’s waist, holding onto her and deciding, at long last, that she would never let her go.
Epilogue
“This cherry pie is ridiculous,” Ari said, moaning as she sat on the couch, lounging, barefoot, in front of the fire. “Totally sinful.”
Sophia grinned proudly, still wearing her black and white floral apron, pearl studs in her ears and her hair perfectly coiffed, looking like some picture-perfect-house-wife-meets-business-exec-who-can-cook. Only Sophia could successfully pull that look off, Ari thought happily to herself.
Sophia pulled her apron off and leaned over to Ari, whispering into her ear.
“I’ll show you sinful later,” she said in a low voice, grinning.
Ari licked her lips and felt goosebumps form on her skin. She swallowed, and as good as the pie was, was suddenly far less interested in it.
“I’m afraid I put in too much cinnamon,” Sophia admitted in a normal voice, sitting down with a small piece of pie next to Ari.
“Don’t be. It’s perfect.”
Sophia sat down on the couch with Ari, kicking off her heels and putting her bare feet up. They’d traded in the leather sofa for a softer one made of a twill fabric, something Ari had chosen. It was one of many changes Sophia had made to her house Ari moved in six month
s ago, soon before Percy was due to start college.
“Have you found any place for us to travel yet?”
“Narrowing it down,” said Ari. “I think the places we’d like most - culture and history and shopping for you, outdoor activities and artwork for me - are going to be, and stick with me here, either Mexico-”
“Okay,” Sophia said.
“Or Iceland...”
“Iceland?” Sophia asked, curious.
“New Zealand...”
“Such a long plane ride,” Sophia said.
“Argentina...”
“Another long plane ride...”
“Or we could just take a road trip.”
Sophia laughed. “I’ll leave it up to you.”
“But this is supposed to be your vacation,” Ari said. “We’re only going because you suggested travel would be the only way to distract you from missing Percy now that he’s off at college.”
“Can we take a road trip to visit him?” Sophia asked.
Ari laughed. “No.”
She suggested they travel to take Sophia’s mind off of Percy, otherwise she was dangerously close to becoming a helicopter mom.
“You can’t go there after moving him in and saying goodbye. He’ll be home for Christmas. It’s way too embarrassing for a college aged kid to just have his mom show up whenever,” Ari had explained to her a million times.
They had both flown Percy to school two months ago, an Ivy League college out East. She had attended the parents’ orientation and gotten him settled in his dorm. Sophia had been struggling with what to do ever since. She had finally hit her stride these past two years, spending more time with her teenage son after they moved back from France. But his two remaining years of high school had flown by upon their return, and now she was facing another mini-identity crisis.
She had gone back to work at her shop. Now, due to legalities, the boutique had changed names. It was no longer “FORBIDDEN,” but simply named Sophia Black & Co.
At the boutique, she carried a wide variety of women’s clothing (and lingerie) in addition to part of the FORBIDDEN line, as well as luxury fragrance, candles and small gifts and stylish housewares. It was not quite the runaway success that the boutique had once been when it was exclusively filled with FORBIDDEN lingerie and totally under Sophia’s control, but it was still a moderate success, profitable enough to more than justify it staying open.
