His 2nd Chance (The Sumner Brothers Book 6)

by Lori Ryan

  “Seriously?” Sophie asked, eyes wide. “That sounds amazing. When will it be out?”

  “We’re not sure. My current publisher isn’t keen on publishing a romance. We’re thinking of starting a small press.”

  “Who’s we?” Sophie asked, stuffing her mouth with Valerie’s famous mashed potatoes.

  “Max, Devlin, and I.”

  Sophie stared across the table at the couple. “I didn’t know you wrote books,” she said.

  “Devlin publishes photography books,” Max said.

  “Our publishing company would produce different types of books,” Emmett explained.

  Sophie nodded and smiled. “Oh, that’s right.” She turned to Devlin. “You did the calendar that they sold at the film festival, right?”

  A collective groan came from the men around the table.

  “I thought it was great,” Sophie said. “I bought twelve of them.”

  “Seriously?” Lina asked, a few chairs down from Sophie.

  “Yeah. You said it was for your fire department, right?”

  Lina nodded. “Yes, and the emergency services building. The council will be thrilled.”

  “You said you work for the town council?” Sophie asked. “What’s that like?”

  “It’s exciting and stressful—”

  “And time consuming,” Jake grumbled.

  Lina smiled and squeezed his arm. “I also still work part-time at the bookstore.”

  “She works too much,” Jake said.

  “The bookstore needs me.”

  “I need you more,” he said, smiling.

  Lina reached over and pressed a small kiss to his pouty lips.

  “I love book stores,” Sophie said, unable to contain her excitement, “but I rarely get to go inside because I usually get mobbed.”

  Lina frowned. “Oh, no, that’s terrible. I’m a huge fan of yours but I forget you’re just a person who wants to do simple things, like go into a book store. Tell you what,” she said, straightening in her chair, “you come in tomorrow afternoon and I’ll make sure you don’t get mobbed.”

  “You can do that?” she asked.

  “You have no idea what this woman can do,” Jake said, shaking his head but there was amusement and admiration in his gaze.

  “Ow,” Devlin cried out across the table.

  Max turned to her, his brow knitted with fear. “What is it, baby? Are you okay? Are the girls okay?”

  “They’re just fighting with one another,” Devlin said, holding her breath. “I hope this isn’t what we have to look forward to for the next eighteen years.”

  “I hate to tell you,” Valerie said, “but if they’re anything like these two,” she pointed to Grant and Jake, “it lasts longer than eighteen years.”

  “Hey, we were good kids,” Grant said, bumping his twin with his shoulder. “It was Ben and Aaron who gave you the most trouble.”

  “It was all of you,” his mother said. “Six boys. All I wanted was a girl.”

  “Hey,” Sally raised her head, “girls aren’t any easier.” She turned toward Devlin. “Stop at two, sweetheart.”

  Sophie stiffened in her chair. All she wanted was one. She’d give anything for just one child, boy or girl, it had never mattered.

  Grant’s arm wrapped around her shoulders and squeezed her tight.

  The conversation continued around them, the family oblivious to her discomfort. Thankfully, it looked like Grant hadn’t told them about the miscarriages.

  “Don’t worry, Soph,” he whispered to her, “we’ll find a way.” His smile was so genuine, so warm, she couldn’t help but believe him.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Sophie walked along the sidewalk of downtown Canyon Creek. There were plenty of tourists out but they seemed busy with their own affairs, shopping and enjoying their vacations. Thanks to her ball cap and shades, she hadn’t been recognized…yet. She just hoped it wasn’t giving her a false sense of security.

  She glanced up and saw the sign for Once Upon a Book not far away. Lina said she’d be closing the store early today, just for her.

  Sophie was so excited about being able to walk around the shelves and peruse the books and magazines without being harassed. It seemed such a simple thing to wander aimlessly around a store, a pleasure she’d taken for granted before her fame, but not anymore.

  Nowadays she could barely cross the street without the paparazzi attacking her. And the attention had become exponentially worse when she and Grant separated.

  Paranoia swept over her and she glanced behind her. Nothing but people out enjoying the afternoon like her. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease inside her and was glad she was close to the book store.

  She pushed through the book store door and smiled at the tinkling bell overhead. It seemed like every store in Canyon Creek was required to have one.

  “Oh, Sophie,” Lina called out from the register, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Sophie instinctively lowered her body, hating to call attention to herself.

  “Are you all right?” Lina asked, walking around the counter.

  Sophie hadn’t even realized what she’d been doing. “Oh, um,” she straightened up, “yeah, I’m fine. It’s just…” How did you explain to someone the paranoia that came with being a celebrity without sounding like a jackass.

  “Oh, my gosh,” Lina whispered, covering her mouth as she raced toward her. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have called out your name like that.” Lina scanned the store. “I was just about to close the shop. There isn’t anyone in here though. But I’m sorry, that was thoughtless of me.”

  “It’s okay, it’s just—”

  “I understand,” Lina said, standing next to her. “Jake told me what it’s been like for Grant all these years. It’s just…you’re so nice and friendly that I forgot who you are. If that makes sense.”

  Sophie laughed. “Yeah, it does. Don’t worry about it, seriously.”

  “Okay, good.” Lina blew out a breath. “So, do you want to look at the mystery section where Emmett’s stuff is?”

  “Actually,” Sophie said, “I need to use the restroom first if I can. Too much coffee at Strange Brew.”

  “Oh, I know.” Lina waved a hand in the air as she led her through the store. “I worked there part-time too. I’d swear they put crack in the coffee if I didn’t know better.”

  “How do you find the time to do all that, work part-time at various jobs, serve on the town council, connect with Jake and Becca?”

  “I love it all.” Lina smiled widely. “Especially the latter two.”

  Sophie laughed.

  “Here you go.” Lina pointed to a small hallway. “The bathroom is the first door on your left. I’ll meet you by the register once you’re done.”

  “Sounds good,” Sophie said as she headed down the hallway. She twisted the knob and pushed the door open, surprised to see someone inside. It was a girl. A familiar girl.

  She stood sideways, her shirt pulled up high, revealing her stomach. A very distended stomach. The girl was staring at her reflection in the mirror when her gaze caught Sophie’s. She jerked down her shirt. “Oh my God,” she squeaked. “What are you doing here? What did you see? Oh, God.”

  The teenager began to hyperventilate.

  Sophie closed the door behind her and locked it. “It’s okay.” She stepped closer to the girl, trying to calm her.

  “It’s not okay, it’s horrible. And now,” she waved a hand out, “now Sophie Day knows.”

  That’s when recognition dawned. This was the girl from the outdoor concert a couple weeks ago. She’d been with Jake and Lina and had seemed close with Becca.

  “January, right?” Sophie asked.

  The girl’s head fell in her hands. “Oh, God.”

  “It’s really okay,” Sophie said, “I promise. Look,” she stepped closer, patting the girl on the back, studying her stomach, “I’m not going to say anything. I of all people understand how crue
l others can be with gossip.”

  The girl’s head lifted and Sophie realized they were about the same height.

  “You won’t tell?” she asked, her eyes wide.

  “No, I won’t tell a soul. I promise. Does anyone else know?”

  January shook her head, her dark brown hair tumbling over her shoulders. Suddenly the girl burst into tears and fell into Sophie.

  Sophie’s heart ached for the poor girl. She obviously had no one to confide in, and now a complete stranger had discovered her secret.

  The girl’s arms wound around Sophie’s waist and Sophie held her close, rubbing a soothing hand on her back like her mother and sister had always done for her when she was upset.

  “It will be okay, January,” she said.

  The girl tightened her grip. “No, it won’t. It will never be okay.”

  Sophie pushed her back and stared at her tear-stained face. “Hey,” she said, brushing her disheveled hair aside. “It will be okay. Maybe it doesn’t seem like it today, but I promise, it will be.”

  The girl drew in a stuttering breath and choked back her tears. “H-h-how can you s-s-say that?”

  Yeah, how could she?

  “Well, I don’t know, it’s just,” she stumbled, “it sounded good.” Sophie didn’t have a clue what to say. She was completely out of her depth.

  January snorted.

  “See, you’re already feeling better.”

  January stepped back and leaned against the sink, her protruding stomach more prominent with the posture. Pretty soon, Sophie would guess she wouldn’t be able to hide behind baggy shirts and loose jeans.

  “How far along are you?”

  The teenager shrugged.

  “You haven’t been to the doctor?” Sophie’s voice was firmer than she’d intended.

  “Hello, this is a small town. Who am I supposed to see?”

  “Doctors take an oath not to talk about your medical condition.”

  “I wouldn’t trust them here.”

  “Well,” Sophie said, “my brother-in-law is a doctor. He can help you.”

  “Doctor Aaron.” January said it as a statement like she was well aware who he was.

  “I know he wouldn’t say anything. Maybe we could schedule something with him. Or we could go to another town.”

  “We?” She furrowed her brow.

  “Yeah, we. You need to be checked out, January.”

  The girl’s eyes rolled up to the ceiling and she let out an exasperated sigh.

  Sophie softened her tone. “I know it’s a lot to deal with. Well, I mean, I can only imagine how overwhelming this is for you. But you don’t have to do it alone. And you shouldn’t do this without seeing a doctor.” Sophie knew all too well how horribly wrong a pregnancy could go, even with the oversight of a physician.

  “What am I going to do?” she said to no one in particular. “I’ve already been accepted to Oxford.”

  “In London?” Sophie asked, completely blown away.

  “It’s actually in Oxford, United Kingdom, just outside London,” January clarified.

  “Oh, um, yeah, of course.” Didn’t she feel like an idiot.

  “I’ll have to forfeit my acceptance.”

  Sophie stepped closer, unsure of what to say. The girl was young, with her whole life ahead of her. She’d been accepted to Oxford for crying out loud.

  “Do you want the baby?” Sophie asked with gentle reverence.

  January’s eyes met hers, her face crumpling in tears. “Is it bad to say no?”

  “It’s not bad to say either yes or no, sweetheart. It’s a confusing time for you. And the pregnancy hormones don’t help, I’m sure.”

  January shook her head. “One minute I’m laughing, the next I’m crying, the next I’m puking my guts up. At first I told everyone I had a stomach virus, but I know people are talking about me now. I know they know.”

  “I’ve found when I’m overwhelmed it’s best to break the problem down into manageable pieces.”

  January snorted. “This is definitely a problem.” She rubbed her hand over her belly. “A huge, ever growing problem.”

  “Well, I think first and foremost you need to tell your boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend.” January’s eyes were locked on the floor, chewing on her lower lip.

  Sophie stayed silent, waiting for January tell her story at her own pace.

  “I thought he was a nice guy but it turned out he just wanted sex. After I put out, he blew me off.” She closed her eyes like she could block out what had happened. “He told his friends I was easy.”

  “What a poo-stick.”

  January laughed. “A what?”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t like to use bad words so I tend to make up things.”

  “Poo-stick,” January snorted. “I’ll have to remember that. But yes, he’s a major poo-stick.”

  “And you haven’t told him.”

  “Actually, I did.”

  “What did he say?”

  The girl’s voice shook as she answered. “Said it wasn’t his.”

  “Poo-stick!”

  January laughed hard, covering her mouth. Sophie joined in, happy she’d at least pulled the girl from her funk.

  “So we’ll put a check by his name on your list. Or maybe some other obscene marking.” Sophie winked. “Next is your parents.”

  January stared down at her fingers, which were twisted in her oversized shirt.

  “You can’t hide the baby forever, January. And you need prenatal care, for you and the baby.”

  January’s head fell. “I know.”

  “Do you want me to come with you? When you tell them, I mean?” Where in the heck had that come from? It was probably strange for Sophie to make the offer, but she felt a connection with January.

  Her thoughts went back to her childhood friend, Nikki. She couldn’t help but wonder how things might have been different for Nikki if there had been someone there for her.

  January’s head snapped up. “You’d do that?”

  Sophie nodded. “I meant it,” Sophie said. And she really did. “I’ll come with you.”

  “No, but thank you. I can’t believe Sophie Day is offering to help me tell my parents I’m pregnant, but I think I need to do it myself.”

  Something deep in Sophie’s chest burned and she fought the urge to rub her sternum. How often did people take pregnancy for granted?

  “What’s wrong?” January asked, taking her arm. “I said something to upset you. I’m sorry.”

  Sophie patted her hand. “No, no, it’s all right.”

  “I’ll tell them,” January said. “I promise.”

  “The sooner the better, January. That’s check mark number two on your list.” She swallowed back her own tears, trying to be strong for January. “After you talk to your parents, they can help guide you. There are lots of options for you if you still want to go to Oxford.”

  “Like adoption?” she said.

  “Yes, adoption.”

  “I don’t know if I could trust strangers to take care of my baby.”

  “It’s not always strangers. Nowadays there are open adoptions where you get to meet the parents beforehand, and discuss visiting options and written communication.”

  “Like, see the baby? After it’s born?”

  “It’s an option. There are a lot of choices for the birth mother. You can know as much or as little about the adoptive parents as you want. You’re in charge.”

  “It sounds like you know a lot about adoption.”

  Sophie held back the secret that she’d yet to tell anyone. After her third miscarriage she’d looked into adoption for her and Grant. At the time, she hadn’t known if it would be her and Grant or her alone.

  “I know people," was all Sophie said, though there was so much more going on in her mind.

  January stepped closer. “I’m sorry, I upset you again.”

  “No,” Sophie shook her head, “I’m fine. You didn’t upset
me.”

  Life had upset her. She thought about her doctor’s words. It was impossible to know if she could carry a baby to term unless she tried. She just wasn’t sure she wanted to try again. How many times could she suffer that loss?

  “I still can’t believe I’ve sat here and spilled my guts to the Sophie Day.”

  Sophie laughed, but sobered quickly. “I won’t tell a soul, January. I promise. And remember, I’m still just a girl, like you, with my own secrets, trying to live the best life I can. Most everything you read online or in those trashy magazines is made-up hype to sell magazines.”

  “So, are you and Grant back together?”

  Sophie shrugged, not wanting to reveal too much. She felt a connection with January but it didn’t mean she trusted her with her deepest secrets.

  A loud knock vibrated against the door and the two women jumped.

  “Sophie,” Lina called from the other side. “Everything okay in there?”

  January’s eyes went wide as she tugged down her baggy sweater.

  “Oh, uh, yeah, I’m fine. I got sidetracked looking at my phone. I’ll be out in just a sec.”

  “Okay. Elle’s here to take us to the spa.”

  “I’ll be out in just a minute.”

  Sophie turned her attention to January.

  The girl was white as a ghost. “Please don’t say anything, Sophie.”

  “I would never do that,” she said. “But you need to tell your parents. And get a medical exam.”

  A lone tear trickled down January’s pale cheek and Sophie’s heart broke. She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around her small frame, the bump of the girl’s belly reminding Sophie of what she didn’t have.

  “Only when it’s darkest can you see the stars,” Sophie whispered.

  “Is that from one of your songs?”

  Sophie stepped back and brushed a wayward strand of hair from January’s face. “No, that’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

  “We studied him in history last year.”

  The statement only served to underscore how young January was.

  “He’s a great man to study, and to emulate.”

  “My mom would like that quote,” she said.