The Secret (13 page)

“Y
eah,” I scoff. “Chance Maxwell.”

“
Jake Walkman,” he waves with a sarcastic smirk, causing Sophie to smile.

We make our way through the congregation, occasionally stopping so that Sophie and Jack can say hello to someone. She makes it a point to introduce me to the people I’ve not met before, but it’s still a little awkward.

When we take our seat, I glance down the pew and see that Drake and Ana have already arrived. While my cousin gives me a small wave and smile, Ana keeps her gaze on Lucy, ignoring our arrival with the exception of Jack. She’s holding JT in her lap and the irritation that flares through her when he bounces toward Sophie and me is impossible to miss.

“Aunt Sophie!” JT says cheerfully as he squeezes past Debbie and Sophie’s mother before climbing over me to reach her at the end of the pew.

“Hi Baby,” she says in a soft voice, smiling warmly at him as she lifts him into her lap. “We have to be quiet, Pastor Davis is about to begin his sermon.”

“Okay,” he whispers
as she kisses him on the cheek. “Can I sit with you?”

“Of course…
” she starts, but is cut off by her mother’s harsh whisper.

“Young man, you quiet down right this instant!” she hisses, causing the warm expression on my girls face to change in an instant.

“Don’t!” Sophie snaps quietly, causing multiple heads in our pew to turn in surprise.

“‘Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him,’” Grace recites what is likely her favorite Bible verse in an icy tone. “Proverbs 22:15. Read your Bible more often Sophia Paige.”

“‘He called a little child and had him stand among them.
And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will
never
enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea," she glares back at her, reciting the verse perfectly and quite frankly, surprising me. “Matthew 18:2-6. You read yours, Mother. Do
not
speak to him.”

“
Sophia Pa-” she starts, shock in her eyes.

“I
will
make a scene over him,” Sophie threatens in a low tone as her mother shakes her head slowly in anger.

“Your lack of respect
is appalling,” she grounds out.

“I
don’t care,” Sophie spits out before slowly sitting back against the pew.

Pulling him back against her chest protectively, I watch as Sophie
kisses JT on the back of the head lovingly. Her shoulders relax visibly as he gently leans his head against her. Her demeanor changes almost instantly as she whispers something in his ear, causing him to cup his little hand over his mouth to stifle his quiet giggle as the sermon begins.

I try my best to listen to the Pastor’s words, but every so often, I can’t help the way my eyes wander to her face. She’s simply stunning and not for the first time this morning alone, I’m blown away that she’s mine.

“In honor of our Christmas service this morning,” Pastor Davis eventually announces to the full church with a warm smile. “Miss Sophia Ryan, a returning member of our congregation, will be sharing her gift of song with us…”

“Are you nervous?” I wh
isper down to her as he continues his introduction.

“A little,” she admits in a soft voice.

“Don’t be, Baby,” I reassure her, my heart skipping when one of those rogue dimples starts to appear beneath the slight blush of her cheeks. “You’ll do amazing like always.”

“Sophia
,” her mother whispers around me, stealing her attention and wiping the smile from her face. “I’ve marked down the song I want you to sing in the hymn book.”

“I don’t need it,” Sophie tells her bluntly as she stands to hand JT’s sleeping form over to Jack, who’s come around to take him from her. “I’m singing for Daddy today.”

Giving me a warm smile and whispering her love for me, she squares her shoulders. Slowly, I watch as she makes her way up and after greeting the Pastor and a word with the pianist, a slow, soft melody begins to fill the church.

“Have you ever heard
Soph sing?” I hear Jack from my left.

“
Of course,” I tell him, slightly irritated until I realize he’s not being spiteful. “She sings all the time.”

“Have you ever heard her sing for her father?”

“I don’t think so,” I confess.

“Oh man,” he shakes his head
, the awe and anticipation clear in his features as he turns to face me with a grin as she slowly lifts the microphone to her lips. “Then you haven’t heard anything yet.”

Chase

I’m about to tell him he’s crazy, there’s no way a voice
like hers could get any better. However, as the first soft notes of O Holy Night leave her lips, I’m rendered completely speechless.

As her smooth soprano hits each note flawlessly, she pla
ces her hand over her heart, falling into the melody. While it begins quietly as she savors each lyric, the higher parts her eyes drift shut slowly and the emotion coming from her is so intense, I know if I’d been standing, it would have knocked me back.

When she hits the final high note and holds it, I hear the collective gasps of awe from all around me, mine being one of them. As I watch her through blurred vision, I see her whisper something silently before
lowering her gaze back to us, her eyes finding mine almost immediately.

She gives me a sweet smile when she sees me wipe my eyes with the back of my hand as sh
e makes her way back over to our pew. Jack stands, freeing her seat and whispering something to her before handing JT back over to her waiting arms. Once she’s settled, I squeeze her hand in mine and lean in, hugging her close to me and kissing her hair discreetly.

“Are you okay?” she whispers almost silently when I hold her like that, still unable to speak.

Nodding slightly, I hug her tighter to me and kiss her hair once more before I finally find my voice.

“That was incredible,” I whisper. “
You’re
incredible, Sophie. You’re absolutely flawless.”

“Thank you,” she says, her voice cracking slightly as she gently squeezes my hand in hers.

Meeting her eyes, I see the moisture building there and I stroke my thumb over her cheek, wiping the tear away. She gives me another small smile, unleashing one of those rogue dimples, taking my breath away again.

“Love you, Jerk,” she says in a whisper and
a blush as she playfully nudges me before reaching for a tissue from the back of the pew in front of us.

“I love you,” I answer quietly, squeezing her hand and returning my attention to the sermon.

Once the service is over, we spend a few moments talking to a few people Sophie knows and begin making our way towards the exit. We’re standing by the entrance about to make our way back to the truck when her mother makes a beeline straight for her.

“I need to have a word with you, young lady,” she says, holding her head high and keeping her voice low.

“Yes ma’am?”

“
Alone,” she says, cutting her eyes at me.

“Mom,” Sophie starts, her pleading voice low and a little shaky, but she’s cut off.

“Now, Sophia Paige,” she says harshly.

Giving me an apologetic look, she slowly follows her mother to a secluded area of the church grounds. They’re too far away for me to make out the scolding words Grace is so
obviously speaking, but I can see my girl’s expression and the sadness there has my stomach turning.

“What’s up?” Drake asks as he comes to my side.

“Sophie’s mom,” I ground out, shaking my head. “You know, I’ll admit when I heard Sophie and Ana talking about her before, I wondered if they were being a little overdramatic,” I confess. “But she’s horrible, Drake. She’s so much worse than the girls let on before. You can’t imagine the shit I’ve heard her say to Sophie today alone. I know I’ve got to do my best to keep my cool here. I just don’t know how much longer I can keep my mouth shut. You know how low my tolerance is when it comes to her.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “Me, Matt and about half of Rockport knows, Cousin.”

“What are we talking about?” Jack asks as he approaches us.

“The time
Chase knocked the shit out of Matt at the bar because he thought he was hitting on Sophie,” Drake grins. “Then the time he kicked her boss’s ass for the same reason.”

“Yeah, let’s not forget
the time I kicked your ass all over your office,” I smirk in Drake’s direction.

“What did you do to Sophie?” Jack says, his glare directed at Drake.

“Nothing, it was a big misunderstanding,” he tells Jack before facing me. “And you did
not
kick my ass, Chase. You haven’t come close to kicking my ass since we were kids.”

“Whatever,” I shrug. “You’re still a dick.”

“Yeah,” he laughs. “Well, you’re still an asshole.”

“What’s going on over there?” Ana asks as she approaches, gesturing towards where Sophie’s still standing,
her expression only looking more forlorn.

“Grace,” Jack and I both ground out in unison.

“Hmm,” Ana shrugs indifferently. “I’m sure Grace has her reasons.”

“Would you stop, Ana?” Jack
snaps at her.

“Trust me,” she groans
under her breath. “I’m holding my tongue right now.”

“Y
eah, well you’re not doing a great job,” he says before walking away from us to meet Lucy and JT.

At the same time,
Drake leans over and whispers something into her ear. Holding his eyes and nodding silently, she turns away and makes her way to his car. I’ve known about the nature of their relationship from the beginning because Drake’s my cousin, but I can see how different he is with Ana. Still, it’s obvious his patience is wearing thin.

“Sorry, man,” he tells me with an apologetic look. “She’s trying, but she just…”

“It’s fine,” I wave him off. “I don’t care how mad she is at me just don’t let her be mean to Sophie. She’s got enough shit to deal with right now.”

“Yeah,” he says, giving me a brotherly
pat on the shoulder as follows my gaze to where Sophie is. “You good?”

“I’m trying really hard not to go over there right now,” I admit.

“I know,” he starts. “I’m surprised you haven’t already said something.”

As I see Sophie heading b
ack our way, I can see the emotion welling up in her eyes. She’s trying hard to hide it, but I know her too well.

“I have a feeling it won’t be much longer,” I confess to Drake before I start towards her. “I’ll see you back at the house.”

Sophie

As Chase makes his way across the grass in the church lot towards me, I hear my mother’s words echo in my mind.

“
Your disobedience is appalling, young lady. It doesn’t appear that you’re worried what people think of you, but I urge you to start caring, Sophia Paige. Not everyone is as forgiving as I’ve been of your behavior,” she reams. “Not everyone will overlook your mistakes, your sins as I have. I know you think that boy loves you, but you know as well as I do that this curse you’ve got on your soul is real.”

“I don’t believe that anymore, Mother,” I attempt at defending myself, but am harshly cut off.

“Would you like me to prove myself right? Why don’t we walk over there right now and tell him just how lethal you are? Would you like to see how long it lasts once he knows what you really are? Is that what you want?”

“No, ma’am,” I admit, tears falling down my cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, be better,” she scolds. “Wipe your tears. Ladies don’t snivel, Sophia. You were raised better than that, weren’t you?”

“Yes ma’am,
” I whisper, lowering my head and wiping my tears away quickly.

“
Alright then,” she continues. “Your behavior makes it obvious that you don’t care about how you make me feel. At least have the decency to do your father’s name proud. He’d be disgusted with you right now. Clean yourself up and get to Debbie’s. Don’t drag your feet.”

I can see the torment in his eyes as I stifle my new tears and hold my head high, knowing she’s watching me.

“Are you okay, Baby?” he asks me as he meets me halfway.

“I’m fine,” I whisper, not trusting my voice.
“We need to get to my aunt’s house and my mother is watching so we need to hurry.”

“Sophie…” he says, his voice falling slightly.

“Please Chase?” I say, barely holding it together.

Seeing the desperation in my eyes, he nods and takes my hand, directing me back towards the truck in silence.
He helps me into my side and climbs in, cranking the engine and looking over at me.

I’m trying desperately to keep my emotions in check, but I’
ve gotten so used to being completely open with him, it’s almost impossible. We make it about halfway out of the parking lot when he reaches for my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. Immediately, I know it’s my breaking point.

“I’m taking you to the hotel,” he
says as I start to break down, causing me to panic.

“We can’t, Chase,” I manage. “I have to go to my aunts.”

“No, you don’t, Baby,” he disagrees. “I know that she’s your mother and I know you’re trying to do what you think is best, but she isn’t going to make you feel like this, Sophie. I’m not going to allow
anyone
to treat you like shit, Sweetheart.”

“I’m fine,” I say, willing my tears to stop. “She’
s leaving day after tomorrow. I’ll be fine, Chase.”

“Sophie,” he says, coming to a stop at the sign and looking down at me. “I can’t…”

“I’m fine, Baby,” I tell him, making myself calm and facing him. “If I don’t show up over there, she’s going to make everything worse for everyone.”

“How can she get any worse, Sophie?”

“Trust me, Chase,” I shake my head and hold his aqua eyes. “Please just go to my aunt’s house.”

I watch him as he gently runs his thumb under my eye and releases a low breath.

“Okay,” he says eventually. “But Babe, I’m serious. This is the last time she’s going to make you cry. I mean it. One more remark to you and I’m saying something to her.”

“
Please don’t, Chase…”

“I’m sorry, Baby. I’m really not trying to make this harder on you,” he says as he pulls away from the sign and slowly makes his way towards my aunt’s. “
And I’m trying my best to be respectful, but I meant what I said. No one is going to fucking hurt you, Sophie.
No one
.”

Drake

After church, we all headed back to what was sure to be an awkward lunch at Sophie’s aunt’s house. I didn’t miss the way
Analise avoided Sophie and Chase at all costs. Although I could certainly understand her feeling sorry for her brother, I’d meant what I’d said before. I wouldn’t let this interfere with our relationship.

As we pull up in the driveway of the small house, I hear her let out a long s
igh of irritation. Against my better judgment, I keep quiet, hoping she can continue to hold her tongue long enough to get through lunch.

More than once, I watch as she consciously bites her lip, trying her best to keep her comments to herself. When Sophie sees Jack and gives him a long hug, I hear a noticeable grumble of frustration coming from her. So far she’s said nothing, but I can see a storm brewing in her grey eyes. Knowing her like I do, but committed to staying uninvolved in the situation, I reach for her hand and give it a g
entle squeeze as I lean in.

“Behave,” I warn in a low voice only she can he
ar. “I know this is hard and I am here for you, but this is not the time or place. You need to take a breath.”

“Drake,” she starts her gentle protest. “I can’t…”

“You can and you will,” I cut her off. “This is not up for discussion, Analise. I do not want to reprimand you, but you’re testing my limits. I don’t want to have this conversation with you again.” When she doesn’t answer me for a moment, my impatience flares. “Am I understood?”

“Yes, Sir,”
she agrees quietly.

“Good girl,” I whisper into her hair, kissing her there gently before leaning back against the couch.

A few minutes later, we’re called to the table to eat and I internally cringe at what the next hour will bring. Despite her agreement to act appropriately, I know Analise’s temper and the anger rolling off of her is palpable. Giving one last attempt at a peaceful afternoon, I give her a knowing look and watch do her best to calm her emotions.

“So tell me Mr. Maxwell,” Grace begins, facing Chase.

“His name is Mitchell, Mother,” Sophie interjects nervously.

“I’m sorry,” she says with a false smile, obviously loving the fact that she’s bothering Sophie. “
Mr. Mitchell, why do you want to marry my daughter?”

“I love her.”

“You love her?” she scoffs. “With all due respect, Mr. Mitchell,” she says, arching her eyebrows at Sophie. “I love these mashed potatoes, but that isn’t enough of a reason for me to marry them.”

“With all due re
spect, Mrs. Ryan,” my cousin counters with a smirk. “You obviously don’t love those mashed potatoes as much as I love your daughter.”

“Marriage is a very big commitment. It is not something to be taken lightly,
” she huffs disapprovingly as she drains her wine glass. “Your obvious lack of respect for the institution is completely inappropriate.”