“You think I didn’t know?”
“I think—”
“You think you get to decide which differences disqualify me.”
Jake went quiet.
Sophia continued.
“You saw Grant and suddenly everything about me became evidence I belong somewhere else.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“No.”
“It isn’t.”
Her voice cracked slightly.
“I spent five years with a man who decided who I was based on what fit beside him.”
“I will not date another man who does the same thing in opposite direction.”
Jake closed eyes.
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“It is exactly what you’re doing.”
“You’re just calling it realism.”
He had no reply.
Sophia took a breath.
“If you don’t want this, tell me.”
“Do not tell me I don’t want it because my coat costs too much.”
She hung up.
Jake stood in kitchen a long time.
Avery came downstairs.
“Did you mess up?”
Jake looked.
“Were you listening?”
“No.”
“You have guilty face.”
He laughed without humor.
“Yes.”
“I messed up.”
“Fix it.”
“If cars were relationships…”
“Dad.”
He looked at his daughter.
She crossed arms.
“You always say sorry before explaining.”
Jake hated being raised by his own child.
He drove to Lauron Lodge.
Snow had started again.
Sophia’s Mercedes sat out front.
Grant’s Range Rover was gone.
Jake knocked.
Sophia opened after long enough to make it clear she had considered not doing so.
She wore sweatpants, no makeup, hair tied up.
Her eyes were red.
Jake’s chest hurt.
“I’m sorry.”
Sophia said nothing.
Jake continued.
“I saw Grant.”
“I saw that house.”
“I heard six weeks.”
“And I got scared.”
“That is explanation, not excuse.”
Her expression softened a fraction.
“I decided your life was too big for mine.”
“I decided you’d leave.”
“So I tried to leave first emotionally.”
Sophia leaned against door.
“Why?”
“Because I’m very mature.”
She almost smiled.
Jake continued:
“I lost Claire.”
“I know that isn’t your fault.”
“But some part of me believes if I care about anyone enough, I’m signing up to lose them.”
“So if I can find reason it won’t work before I need you…”
He stopped.
Sophia’s eyes filled.
“That’s safer.”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
Jake said:
“I don’t know what six weeks means.”
“I don’t know what your family means.”
“I don’t know what this becomes.”
“But I know you were right.”
“I don’t get to decide your choice for you.”
Sophia looked back.
“Are you asking me to choose you?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Jake blinked.
She stepped outside, closing door behind her.
“I don’t want that yet.”
“I need to choose me first.”
Jake nodded.
Sophia sat on porch step.
He sat beside.
She said:
“I didn’t sign sale.”
Jake looked.
“Grant came because Adrian is panicking.”