The Right Time (23 page)

“I’m going home,” she announced.

“Coming by for dinner on Monday?” her mother asked, as she set a sack with smoothies atop the counter.

“Of course. I would be crazy to miss your zucchini.” Her mother catered to Sophie’s diet by having meatless Mondays and inviting her over whenever she was in town. Lengthwise sliced zucchini “boats” stuffed with quinoa, onions, cheese, and spinach was one of Sophie’s favorite dishes.

She took the bag from the counter.

“Come here,” her mother said, opening her arms.

Sophie groaned. “Dad, talk to her.”

“Nobody can talk to your mother.”

Sophie dragged over to her mother and allowed the embrace. “I’m fine,” she muttered.

“I know, but I’m a mother. I worry.” Dora squeezed tight and patted Sophie’s back.

Her father held up two of the printouts. “Which one do you like better?” he asked.

Sophie tilted her head. “The one with more color, on the right.”

“Definitely your mother’s daughter,” Walter said.

“And that’s a good thing,” Dora said firmly.

“All right, you two, I’m out of here. Ciao.”

Sophie waved at her parents and walked out with the smoothies. In the Jeep, through the large window at the front of the store, she saw her mother playfully tugging on her father’s dreadlocks. Walter pulled his wife closer by the waistband of her jeans, and they stayed attached to each other, poring over the options on the counter.

Yeah, they were cute. One day she’d have that.

Sophie left the shop, and on the way home, she called Brenda. “Hey, I won’t be able to make it tonight,” she said, driving south.

Brenda and Jay had invited her out for dinner to celebrate the arrival of Jay’s boys in the fall.

“Why not? There’ll be wine and plenty of food,” Brenda said.

“Sorry, I’ll have to pass.”

“Come on, Sophie.”

“I just had a long bike ride and all I want to do is take a nice warm bath and then read regulations manuals until I fall asleep.”

The line went quiet. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

She was also sure that the only reason Brenda and Jay had come up with this so-called celebratory dinner was to make her feel better. Like her parents, they worried about her, and while she appreciated the concern, she didn’t want to be coddled. Five weeks had already passed since her breakup with Ransom, and she’d gone through gallons of self-medication, courtesy of chocolate chip ice cream—the perfect cure for hurt feelings and broken hearts.

“Well…if you need me…”

“I know I can call you guys. Don’t worry. And please don’t drink wine while you’re carrying my goddaughter.”

“The wine was for you and Jay, silly. Take care. Call me if you need to, okay?” Her voice had dropped lower with concern.

“I will. I promise.”

Sophie drove into the neighborhood, and the kids playing kickball in the street scattered. She pulled into her parking space and stepped down from the vehicle, and had walked through the breezeway to the door of her apartment when she realized she’d forgotten the smoothies. She turned around…and her heart stopped.

“Hi, Sophie.”

The deep tenor made her knees weak. She hadn’t heard his voice or seen his face in weeks because he’d stopped calling after only a few days.

Ransom looked heartbreakingly handsome, but in a different way than usual. He had a five o’clock shadow, and instead of one of his Armani suits or a pair of pressed slacks, he wore jeans hanging low on his hips and a blue V-necked T-shirt that exposed the muscles of his arms and the colorful ink extending down to the middle of his left forearm. He’d cut his hair in a classic undercut, short on the sides but long enough for her to trail her fingers through. The black titanium earring was back in his right ear, but though he appeared relaxed and at ease, there was an underlying tension in his stance.

“Why are you here?”

She didn’t want to get too excited. She didn’t want to believe that he was there for her. She’d been disappointed too many times, and the bruising on her heart at the most recent disappointment made her very tentative about how to receive him.

“Can you believe I was in the neighborhood?” he asked with a sideways smile. He came closer. “I had a million things I wanted to say to you. I had a speech all prepared where I’d convince you that we were meant to be and that I’d made a horrible mistake. I figured with flowery words I could convince you to take me back. I know it’s been a long time, but that’s what I want, Sophie. For you to look past my shortsightedness and mistakes and take me back.”

“Why would I do that? I’ve been here before, and it never ends well for me.” Her throat was tight. “We agreed that all we have is chemistry and we can’t build a relationship on that alone.”

“
We
didn’t agree to that. You spoke and I remained silent.”

“What are you saying?”

He took a deep breath. “That I love you, and I want another chance.”

“This is all really nice, Ransom. If you’d come to me even a few weeks ago, my reaction might be different, but right now, I don’t know how I feel. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I just don’t know that being with you is in my best interest right now. We’re different. We want different things and have different goals. We live in different cities. It’ll never work.” Her heart broke a little bit with each addition to the list of reasons why they couldn’t work.

“I left the firm.”

She gasped. “What?” Surely she’d misunderstood him. Work was his life.

“They offered me the partnership, but I turned it down, turned in my two weeks’ notice, and I left. My brother, of all people, called me impulsive and is certain I bumped my head. My parents think I’m nuts. But I’ve never felt more free.”

“I’m wondering if you bumped your head, too,” Sophie said.

He grinned, showing lots of teeth, his blue eyes sparkling, the dimples creating deep lines in his cheeks. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him happier.

“I sold my car and put my condo up for sale. I had a contract in two weeks. I’ll be flying back for the closing at the end of the month.”

“I can’t believe you did that. Where are you going to live now?”

“Atlanta.”

Sophie’s mouth fell open. “
Here?
” Her heart started a happy dance.

“I’m staying with my brother and his family until I find a place of my own. I flew in today and dropped off my things. Then I came here to wait for you.”

“You’ve made some big decisions.”

“That’s not all. I’ve been working on my plan for the restaurant. I found a commercial realtor who’ll help me find a place in a good location. I found someone to design the menus, and I’ve started interviewing contractors and architects.” He grinned again. “I rented space in a commercial kitchen where I could practice. I’m hoping you’re open to doing some taste-testing. After all, you’re the one who insisted I should pursue my dream. My passion.”

“I didn’t say those things to make you—”

“You didn’t make me do anything.” He came to stand directly in front of her. “I’m here because I want to be. Because a stubborn, beautiful flight attendant gave me an ultimatum and made me face my fears and accept that I love her too much to lose her. She made me realize I was missing out on life because I was living my life for other people, and I’d never really be happy that way.” He took her trembling hand in his and looked deeply into her eyes. “So if you don’t mind an unemployed former attorney, I’m here. If you’ll still have me.”

She smiled, shaking her head in disbelief.

“You chose me.” Her voice broke, and tears burned her eyes.

“There was no other choice.” He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed the knuckles. “We’re not doing this halfway. Sophie Bradshaw, will you be my wife, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer? Probably poorer. Much, much poorer. For as long as we both shall live?”

She laughed, her heart swelling with happiness. “That’s completely impulsive, and it’s crazy, and…”

“And…?” His hands tightened a fraction around hers, and his eyes kept her ensnared in the intensity of his gaze.

She couldn’t torture him any longer. “And yes. Of course I’ll marry you.” Her smile was broad and happy. “Yes!”

She flung her arms around his neck and planted a big, wet kiss on his delicious lips.

Ransom came to sit beside Sophie on the sofa.

“Look at that pretty baby,” she cooed at the computer screen.

In the living room back in Atlanta, Jay cradled his one-week-old daughter in his arms, turning her sleeping face to the camera. Wrapped in a yellow blanket with white polka dots, the baby slept soundly in her father’s arms.

“The boys can’t get enough of her,” Brenda said beside him. “They’ve been helping me a lot. They feed her and even changed her diaper a couple of times.”

“Lucky you, you have two nannies,” Sophie said.

“Free child labor,” Jay said with a chuckle.

“How are the boys adjusting?” Ransom asked.

“They still love it here,” Jay answered. “Having each other for support helps. Arturo has joined the chess club, and they’re both considering trying out for football next year. We’ll see what happens.”

“Well, I, for one, cannot wait to see my goddaughter in person,” Sophie said.

“When are you coming back? Part of being a godmother is babysitting duties,” Jay informed her.

Ransom looped his arm around her neck. “We may never come back.”

Sophie leaned her soft body into his. “Don’t listen to him. He has an appointment with someone on your creative team when we get back, plus he has a sit-down with the architect to go over the changes to the floor plan of the restaurant.”

The plans for the restaurant were moving forward under the tentative name of The Hearty Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant. Ransom netted a hefty sum after the sale of his condo, and his real estate agent found commercial space in Midtown within his budget, an old house that needed work but was perfect for his restaurant idea. Coupled with a bank loan and money pledged from his brother and Sophie’s father, he hoped to start renovations in a couple of months. In the meantime, he’d lucked out and purchased almost-new equipment from another restaurant closing, and had already received inquiries since advertising for a pastry chef and sommelier.

Being his own boss meant setting his own hours, and after discussing the long hours that restaurateurs often worked, he and Sophie agreed the restaurant would only serve dinner, Monday through Saturday.

Jay massaged Brenda’s neck. “We’re not going to keep you. She needs to rest. We’ll see you when you get back.”

Brenda smiled ruefully. “He’s right, I’m exhausted. Samantha and Basil will be here in a few days to help out.” Samantha was Brenda’s mother, and Basil was her new husband. Their ceremony had been a huge party filled with friends and family—including Basil’s children and Brenda’s younger sister—and Ransom had gotten his first professional gig by catering the reception. “Thanks for calling,” Brenda added.

“You took too long to send me the text,” Sophie scolded.

“We didn’t want to disturb you on your honeymoon, but I’ll see you when you get back. Bye.” Brenda blew them a kiss and waved at the screen.

The connection closed and Sophie got up from the sofa. “She looks tired but happy.” She stretched her arms over her head. “Are we still going to the beach?”

They’d come back to where it all started—the Atlantis hotel on Paradise Island. They’d even splurged on a suite near the water, similar to the one Ransom had originally stayed in. Last night they ordered room service and sat out on the balcony, listening to the waves with Sophie’s feet propped up on his lap as they discussed future plans.

“We are absolutely going to the beach,” Ransom said, typing notes into the computer.

“I better take this off, then. I don’t want it to get ruined in the salt water.”

Ransom dragged his gaze from the computer screen and watched Sophie remove the coral and gold necklace and place it in the safe. It was the same one he’d bought for her birthday during their first visit. He’d held on to it the entire time and presented it to her the first night of their honeymoon—one of several gifts they exchanged during the course of the night.

She assembled the items they would need on the beach while he typed rapidly, words flowing from his brain to his fingertips with more ideas. The passion and excitement was all there. Sometimes he lost track of time and space, and it was only when she quietly entered his office and suggested he take a break that he hung up the phone or tapped out the final words before getting up to eat.

She’d become his own personal food critic and design advisor. He often ran ideas by her that he had for the restaurant, and any new meatless dishes he wanted to try, she gave him honest, direct feedback. They didn’t always agree, but he valued her opinion.

Ransom snapped the laptop closed. “I had to get that thought down before I forgot. All right, let’s go. Chop, chop.”

“Wait a minute, I’m coming.”

Sophie donned her floppy hat and tossed sunscreen into the beach bag. “Now I’m ready.”

Standing at the door, Ransom looked down at his wife. Her happiness and zest for life made him see what his life could be. How did he get so lucky?

“Seeing Brenda and Jay with their newborn, and Ryan and Shawna with their new son, makes me think more and more about having kids.”

“Are you saying you’re ready?” Sophie asked. No one could miss the note of excitement in her voice.

“Yeah. Why wait?”

“I agree.”

“And think of all the fun we’ll have as we try to get pregnant,” Ransom said, wiggling his brows.

Sophie giggled and dragged his head down to hers for a kiss, smiling into his eyes. Her lips tasted like they always did—sweet and soft, and utterly intoxicating.

“Let’s go, Mr. Stewart.”

They left the room hand in hand. As they walked toward the beach, Ransom felt as if he floated on air. If someone had told him that on his first trip to the Bahamas he would find a fulfilling relationship and be married less than a year later, he would have scoffed at the absurdity of the prediction.