Chapter Twenty-Two
“I LOVE THESE heels.” Sophie showed Grace a pair of taupe suede pumps that laced up the ankle. “I wish I had them last week.” Sophie and Brett had checked off their nooner fantasy when she’d sent him a key to a hotel room with a note that read, Meet me in room 303 at noon. Bring a special package—or two. He’d brought a whole box of condoms.
Grace snort-laughed. “If you think Brett would have noticed your heels, then you’re dreaming.”
“Ha! You’re right. You have to admit, he’d go crazy for lace-ups, but they don’t go with my dress.”
“Then we’ll have to find a new dress.” Grace ran her finger down the shoe boxes until she found Sophie’s size and handed her the box. “Try them on.”
She sat on the bench and slipped off her boots. “The musical is tonight. I wish we had more time to shop.” She couldn’t believe it had been almost two weeks since Brett’s father came over. She swore Brett and his brothers were closer because of it, and Brett definitely seemed like the weight of the world had lifted off his shoulders.
“Time? I think I’ve heard of that elusive element.” Grace handed her one of the heels.
“I know, right? Thank you for putting all this together for Adeline. I know you have hardly any time between shows, and coordinating the private showing must have been a real pain.” Grace had arranged for Brett’s family to see a play they’d run last year called the Magical Musical, which featured princesses, knights, and friendly dragons. Brett was footing the entire bill, and Grace didn’t know it yet, but in return Brett had arranged for an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii for her on a date of her choosing. Sophie loved that he didn’t take anyone for granted.
Grace sank down beside her. “Actually, setting this up for Brett has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I love the cast in this play. They’re less divaish than most. And I got to do some creative things this time around. Brett was worried about how long Adeline could sit still, so we modified the show and rewrote the end of the first half to seem like the end of the entire play in case she fizzled out early. If she’s doing well and enjoying it, we’ll do the second half.”
“You’re amazing, you know that? Adeline’s excited, and I have to say, Brett is, too. He’s nervous about it all coming together. You’d think he was the one doing your job. But I guess that’s to be expected since he hasn’t been to a show in so long and he really wants it to be special for Adeline. We’ve had dinner with Carson and Tawny four times in the last two weeks, and she was so excited, playing the piano and showing us her new dress.” She stood and walked down the aisle and back in the heels. She stopped in front of Grace and said, “What do you think?”
“I think we’d better buy you new lingerie, too, because those heels say forget waiting until we get home; take me at intermission.”
“Perfect.”
They bought the heels and went in search of a dress to match, weeding through racks of dresses that were either too fancy, too professional, or too sleazy. When they left the third store, Sophie said, “We’re never going to find one. Maybe I should save the heels for another event and look for a pair of heels to go with the dress I have instead.”
“Absolutely not.” Grace pulled her toward a lingerie store. “We just need to change directions a little. Lingerie, lunch, more dress shopping.”
Sophie looped her arm with Grace’s and said, “Do you know how much I love you?”
“Enough that you didn’t blow me off today,” Grace teased.
“I love you so much that when I spoke to Nana last night I told her that you needed some matchmaking.” Sophie laughed at Grace’s deadpan stare as they entered the lingerie shop.
“I’m making a mental note not to be available for their next anniversary party.” Grace went directly to a display of thongs. “Pick your poison, baby.”
Sophie picked up a beige thong and said, “Who needs underwear?”
“Ew. You’re wearing a dress. You need underwear. At least butt floss. But you’d better buy two, because once your man realizes you’re wearing a thong and those heels he’ll have you wet and wild on the ride over.” She handed Sophie another thong and headed for the bras.
“You’re such a good friend. You mother me when I want to be a tramp.”
“I’m not sure what kind of mother would convince you to buy fuck-me heels and a thong.”
Their gazes met and they both said, “Nana,” then burst out laughing.
Two thongs and two bras later, they had lunch at a café and caught up on all the things they hadn’t discussed over text during the week. Then they hit the pavement again in search of a dress. After going through several shops, trying on at least ten dresses and coming out empty-handed, Sophie was ready to give up.
“We live in the fashion hub of the United States. Finding a dress should not be this hard.”
“At least you can fit in all the dresses you try on. I’ve got nasty cramps, and I swear I’m carrying at least seven pounds of water weight right now.”
“Oh please, you look great.” They went into another store, and as Sophie fished through a rack of dresses, she tried to remember when she’d last had her period. The Indian restaurant! She’d had wicked cramps that night and had tried to back out of going.
“How about this one?” Grace held up a beautiful dress almost the exact same color as the heels Sophie had bought. “It’s sleeveless, but your man will keep you hot.”
Sophie was hot now, sweating over how long it had been since she’d had her period, although she’d never been very regular. She told herself not to panic and said, “That’s perfect.”
They searched the rack for her size, and Sophie asked, “Do you remember when we had dinner at that Indian restaurant?”
Grace handed her the dress in her size. “That was forever ago. Why? Want to go again? It was good.”
“Yeah, we should go again sometime.” She went into the dressing room, pulled out her phone, and searched her calendar for the date of that dinner. Shit, shit, shit. Her period was almost a week late. But she’d been so busy—humping like bunnies—and maybe a little stressed, too, with the trip home and then Brett’s father’s visit.
“Hurry up, Cinderella,” Grace called from outside the dressing room.
“Coming.” She whipped off her clothes and tried on the dress. The classic sheath-style, sleeveless silhouette dress gathered at one hip and had a high neckline. There was a small slit just above the knee, which Brett would love. She put her hand over her belly and warmed with the idea of carrying her and Brett’s baby. She tried to remember if they’d ever had unprotected sex, and their shower tryst came back to her. She closed her eyes as memories of that incredible morning hit, followed by the sound of Brett’s voice. The last thing either of us needs is a kid.
Committing to a relationship was one thing, but a child?
“Soph, I’m dying out here,” Grace said.
Sophie closed her eyes, breathing deeply, and said, “Be right out.”
She stared in the mirror, telling herself she was being ridiculous. Her period was always three or four days early or late. She’d probably get it at the event tonight. She made a mental note to put tampons in her purse, smoothed the gorgeous dress over her hips, and decided not to worry unless she had to.
“TONIGHT, THOSE HEELS stay on,” Brett whispered into Sophie’s ear later that evening as they sat in the theater awaiting the start of the musical.
Shivers of anticipation rippled through her. Getting dressed around Brett was as much fun as getting undressed. He was the handsiest, most sensual and loving man Sophie had ever known, which meant getting anywhere on time took advance planning. But tonight, as they’d dressed for the musical, she’d been running late, and she’d had to deny his advances. They’d made out in the car on the way over, but she’d had to cut that short, too. We already made your family wait in the hall before the football game. If we’re late tonight we’ll forever be known as the nymphomaniacs who can’t control ourselves. He’d promptly bit her neck and growled, What’s wrong with that? It’d be true.
Now, as Adeline bounced excitedly in her seat, chatting about the upcoming show, and Brett’s brothers and sisters-in-law surrounded them in the otherwise empty theater, the tips of Brett’s fingers moved into the slit on her dress brushing her thigh. She put her hand over his and glared at him. Suddenly Grace’s joke didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
She leaned closer and whispered, “Maybe we can find a dark corner of the theater at intermission.”
His eyes glistened with wicked intent as the theater lights dimmed.
“It’s starting!” Adeline said loudly, clapping. She was adorable in a fancy pink dress with white bows in her hair. She leaned closer to Brett and said, “I can’t wait to get up onstage! We’re going to look pretty up there!”
He put his arm around Adeline and said, “Maybe after the show.”
“This was such a great idea,” Sophie said to Brett. “You might have inspired a future actress.”
“And you inspired me to finally live my life to the fullest,” he said as the curtains opened and the show began.
THE MUSICAL WAS incredible, clearly designed for children, but with enough humor and vague romantic elements to keep Sophie and everyone else riveted to the stage. When the curtain came down at intermission, everyone clapped, and Adeline jumped up and down in front of her seat, making them all laugh, which made Sophie realize she had to pee.
“I’m going to run to the ladies’ room,” she said to Brett.
Adeline grabbed Brett’s hand and said, “Now, Uncle Bretty? Now can we go up onstage?”
“Give me a second, monkey. Then we’ll see if we can find our friend Grace and ask if it’s all right to take a peek.” He turned to Sophie and said, “Want me to walk you out?”
“No. It’s okay. She’s so excited. But I don’t know if you’ll be able to actually take her up there. Usually at intermission Grace and the stage crew are crazed.”
Brett hoisted Adeline into his arms. “That’s okay. If we can’t get onstage, we’ll find other things to look at. Right, monkey?”
“This place is so shiny and bright! I want to see it all!” Adeline said. “Daddy, are you coming with us?”
Carson put a hand on her back and said, “You know it, baby.”
“Adeline, do you have to use the bathroom first?” Tawny asked.
Adeline shook her head.
Sophie and Brett’s sisters-in-law went in search of the ladies’ room.
“That was magnificent,” Tawny said as they entered the luxurious bathroom. “Did you hear Adeline giggling?”
They each headed for a stall.
“Your daughter kills me,” Amanda said. “I can’t wait to have babies.”
“I can’t wait to get Dylan home tonight,” Tiffany said. “The man has been feeling me up since the lights went down.”
“I thought I heard a few deep sighs,” Tawny said.
Four flushes later, they washed their hands and primped in the mirror.
“Did Mick tell the guys he reached out to their father last week?” Amanda pulled a brush from her purse and ran it through her hair.
The girls shrugged and murmured their uncertainty.
“I know Brett’s been talking with their father, but he didn’t mention anything about Mick doing the same,” Sophie said.
“Well, then, don’t say anything, please.” Amanda put the brush back in her purse. “But I think what Brett did has made a world of difference, at least for Mick.”
“For Carson, too,” Tawny admitted. “I wasn’t going to say anything because Carson’s so private, but I know they talked yesterday, and Carson said he thought it was a good beginning.”
They all looked at Tiffany, who said, “Do you even have to ask? It’s Dylan. He went to see his father the very next day, had breakfast with him last weekend, and he talked to him before we left tonight.”
All the girls laughed.
“And we have Sophie to thank for it,” Amanda pointed out.
“All I did was fall in love. This was all Brett, and I don’t think it had as much to do with me as it did with our visit with my family. He definitely changed when we were there. It’s like he needed to remember that all families weren’t doomed to unhappiness or something. I don’t know, really, but I couldn’t be happier. He hasn’t been to a musical since they lost Lorelei. Have you guys ever thought about how much love our guys had for their little sister?” Her eyes teared up, and she tried to blink away the wetness. “Seriously. Their hearts are so big.”
“Their love is so big,” Tiffany said.
Sophie fanned her face. “Okay, we need to stop. Seeing Brett with Adeline is enough to make my ovaries explode, but thinking about them with Lorelei is like that old coffee commercial where the kid finally comes home at Christmas. Instant tears.”
They hugged and checked their hair one more time before heading back into the theater, which was already dark.
“Did we take that long?” Sophie whispered as they walked down the aisle toward their seats. “Uh-oh. Looks like Brett and Carson got lost with Adeline. Should I go look for them?”
“No. You know Carson. He has to understand every little thing,” Tawny said quietly. “They probably stopped to talk to the lighting guy or something.”
They took their seats, and Sophie hoped Brett made it back with Adeline in time for her to see the show.
The curtain went up, and the stage was pitch-black. A spotlight bloomed to life, illuminating a piano on the left side of the stage. Carson and Adeline walked out of the darkness, and Sophie gasped. “Tawny! Look!”
Adeline faced the audience and waved. “Hi, Mommy! Hi, Uncle Dylly! Hi, Uncle Micky! Hi, Aunt Tiffany and Aunt Amanda! Hi, Sophie! Look at me! I’m onstage! And I’m gonna play a song!”
Sophie’s eyes filled with tears, knowing Adeline had the best uncle in the world for Brett to have set this up for her. Carson looked proud as he guided his daughter over to the piano and sat beside her.
Mick came around to Sophie’s side of the aisle and extended his hand. “Sophie, can you come with me, please?”
Oh no. Is there a work issue? “Sure.” She stepped from the aisle, and Mick offered his arm. “What’s going on?”
Dylan rose to his feet and placed a bouquet of flowers in her arms with a wink.
Sophie’s pulse spiked. “What’s this?”
Mick guided her toward the stage. Her pulse spiked anew with every step. “Mick?”
He placed his hand on her back, urging her forward, and said, “Deep breath, Sophie. Breathe.”
The lights brightened slowly, bringing life to a weeping willow decorated with yellow lights, a makeshift creek complete with running water and surrounded by plants and flowers like the creek in her parents’ backyard. When they reached the stage steps, she saw glittering gold and silver stars hanging from the ceiling, and beneath them Brett waited, looking darkly handsome and nervous in his navy suit and tie.
“Oh my God.” Her legs trembled. She was pretty sure she might pass out, and grabbed Mick’s arm to stabilize herself.
“Breathe, Sophie. This is your night.”
As Mick accompanied her up the steps, a rose-petal path came into view—leading directly to Brett.
Adeline began playing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and Carson took Sophie by the elbow, as if he knew her legs had turned to jelly.
UNTIL COMING TOGETHER with Sophie, Brett’s life had been defined by a handful of happy memories followed by weighty, awful losses and several years of trying not to feel anything at all. As he watched his beautiful girlfriend walking across the stage clutching her bouquet, rose petals puddling at her feet, he wanted to memorize the trembling of her lower lip, the sway of her hips, and the look of love in her eyes. He never wanted to forget the sound of Adeline’s piano playing or the rush of emotions coursing through him. It was those all-consuming emotions that sent him forward, unable to wait a second longer to be by Sophie’s side.
Carson gave an approving nod as Brett took Sophie’s arm and led her up the path to the tree. “Hi, baby.”
“Brett…?” Her eyes darted to his family in the audience, then back to him again. “What are we doing?”
“I think you know.” He took her hand and got down on one knee.
“Oh God.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I had a whole speech worked out, but now that you’re here, I can’t remember a word of it.”
She smiled as tears slid down her cheeks.
“You’re my diamond in the sky, baby. I want to celebrate our highs and be there to pull each other through the lows. I want to go to bed with you in my arms and wake to your smiling face. I want to make all your dreams come true, baby. I want everything with you. Will you marry me? Be my forever kiss?”
He rose to his feet, and she stepped closer, the bouquet of roses crushed between them as she whispered in a shaky voice, “Define everything?”
“Everything, baby. White picket fence, a house in Oak Falls for when you feel like going there, babies, sitting on the porch with a shotgun when our girls go to homecoming.”
She smiled through her tears, squeezing his hand, and asked, “Are you one hundred percent sure you want children?”
“Absolutely. I want as many as you want, and I promise to love them and provide for them and parent them enough that they’ll think I’m a big pain in the ass.”
She laughed and whispered, “That’s good, because I think I’m pregnant.”
Shocked laughter fell from his lips. “Pregnant? Really?”
She nodded. “I took a test before we came, and it was positive.”
“Baby!” he shouted. Tears sprang from his eyes as he hauled her against him. “Oh my God. We’re going to have a baby!” He kissed her hard, both of them laughing as gasps and cheers rang out around them. “Sophie, is that a yes?”
“Yes!” she said between kisses. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”
The lights brightened, and rose petals showered them from above as he slipped the diamond engagement ring on her finger. Then he reached into his pocket and handed her another ring.
“What’s this?” She looked at the gold band and read the inscription on the outside of the ring. “Forever Sophie’s?”
“You said I could only have a billboard saying you were taken if you had one saying I was.” He held up his left hand, and she slid the ring on his finger. “I’m yours, baby. And see that tree over there? That’s one of our forever-kiss trees. We’ll have two. One in Oak Falls and one in our home here.”
“Oh, Brett!” She launched herself into his arms as her entire family, along with Grace and the rest of Brett’s family, rushed the stage. “Oh my gosh! My family…?” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love you so much.”
“Did I hear baby?” Nana asked as she pried them apart and hugged Sophie. “I knew all that fierce lovin’ would lead to something, but I figured a ring. This is so much better!”
They were passed from one loving embrace to the next, and when they finally landed back in each other’s arms, Brett saw his father holding Adeline in his arms, standing with his brothers and his mother, and he knew if Lorelei could see them now, she’d be proud of them all. He gazed into Sophie’s beautiful eyes, ready to be the husband she deserved and a father to their children she could be proud of.
Sophie went up on her toes and kissed him. “Marrying you was one of my secret fantasies.”
“Baby, I have a slew of new fantasies, each involving my gorgeous, pregnant fiancée.”