"Romantic."
"Single parenting."
She kissed him once more.
Quick.
Then stepped away.
Jake caught her hand.
Did not release.
They returned to office like teenagers pretending nothing happened.
Molly looked at them suspiciously.
Neither fooled her.
January became February.
Sophia and Jake did slow poorly.
They tried.
They scheduled one date a week.
By week three they were seeing each other four times.
Sophia began stopping at garage with coffee when visiting clients south of Burlington.
Jake began driving to her townhouse after Molly slept at Emily's.
Their attraction deepened.
So did ordinary connection.
Sophia learned Jake hated olives.
Jake learned Sophia reorganized refrigerator when stressed.
Sophia discovered he sang badly while fixing engines.
Jake discovered she could not fall asleep without reading at least ten pages of something.
She met Emily.
Emily hugged her immediately.
Sophia disliked that for three seconds, then liked Emily.
Jake met Marianne.
Marianne interrogated him more effectively than Molly.
He survived.
Sophia began helping Molly with school art projects.
Jake helped Sophia find furniture for townhouse without paying designer prices.
She pretended not to enjoy that.
One Friday night, after dinner at Sophia's townhouse, the adult attraction finally stopped being theoretical.
Molly was with Emily.
Snow pressed against windows.
Sophia wore soft burgundy sweater and leggings.
Jake stood in kitchen drying dishes because he could not sit still.
She watched him.
"What?"
He asked.
Sophia leaned against counter.
"Nothing."
Jake smiled.
"You're using that word again."
She stepped closer.
"Maybe I'm thinking."
"Dangerous."
Sophia touched front of his shirt.
"About how patient we've been."
Jake's hands stopped.
"Have we?"
"By my standards."
"Those concern me."
She smiled.
Jake looked at her.
Really looked.
"Are you sure?"
Sophia's expression softened.
That question mattered.
"Yes."
He touched her cheek.
Kissed her.
No snow-covered roadside.
No child interruption.
No café closing.
Just two adults who had spent weeks choosing each other carefully.
The kiss grew deeper.
Sophia's hands slid over his shoulders.
Jake's moved to her waist.
He stopped once more.
"Still sure?"
Sophia almost laughed.
Instead she kissed him.
"Jake."
"Yeah?"
"If you ask again, I'm charging you for emotional damages."
He smiled against her mouth.
"Understood."
The bedroom door closed later.
What happened belonged to them.
What mattered more came after.
Jake lay beside Sophia in darkness.
She rested head against his chest.
His fingers moved slowly through her hair.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Then Sophia asked:
"What are you afraid of?"
Jake stared at ceiling.
"Right now?"
"Generally."
He smiled faintly.
"That's broad."
"Answer."
"Molly getting hurt."
"Business failing."
"Becoming my father."
Sophia lifted head.
"Why?"
"He was good man."
"But when Mom died, he disappeared without leaving."
"What does that mean?"
"He still went to work."
"Paid bills."
"Cooked."
"But emotionally..."
Jake searched.
"He just stopped participating."
Sophia listened.
"I understand it more now."
"That's why it scares me."
"You think you did that after Rachel."
"Yes."
"Did you?"
"Some."
Sophia traced one finger over his chest.
"What else?"
Jake hesitated.
"Loving you."
She stopped.
"Why?"
"Because I like this too much."
Sophia's throat tightened.
Jake continued.
"I know what happens when life gives you something and then takes it."
She whispered:
"Jake."
"I know that's not fair."
"I'm not sick."
"I'm not leaving."