Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins

Author:Karen Hawkins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books

CHAPTER 6

Sofia

Dressed in yoga pants and a too-big T-shirt, Sofia leaned against her refrigerator, out of sight from where Noah had been installed on the couch. She yawned and then covered her aching eyes with her hands. She was so, so tired. The night after they’d gotten back from Jake’s, Noah had gone straight to bed only to awake in the middle of the night, throwing up. That had continued through the next day and night and neither of them had had more than three hours of sleep at a time since. Sofia didn’t know what they would have done without the tea Ava had brought them this morning. It was the only thing that seemed to ease poor Noah’s stomachache so that he could sleep.

Fortunately, he was better now, his stomachache gone, although his headache remained and left him cranky and restless.

The doorbell rang and she combed her fingers through her hair and went to answer it, passing by Noah, who sat on the couch playing a video game with a listless air, his hair just as messy as hers.

Sofia opened the door and Ava breezed in. “How’s the sick house?” she asked over her shoulder, carrying a bag into the kitchen and setting it on the table.

Sofia followed Ava, sinking into a nearby chair, nodding for her guest to do the same. “Better. I think we might have passed DEFCON Two at about eleven this morning. Tonight will be the real test.”

Ava sat in the chair next to Sofia and eyed her hair. “You look lovely.”

Sofia grinned. “Right. Thanks. What’s in the bag?”

“Some bananas and papayas for Noah, and some more tea in case you were low.”

“I don’t know what we would have done without your tea. It was a miracle.”

“Ginger, chamomile, and licorice. Works every time.” Ava tilted her head. “I forgot to ask the last time I was here, but did you try the tea I left on your porch? The one to help you remember your dreams?”

“I did.” Sofia hoped her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt.

“Uh-oh. You remember the rest of your dream.” Ava set her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Do tell.”

Sofia managed a weak laugh. “It was stupid.”

“Come on, tell me. You were rowing toward the shore, and things happened that you forgot, and then you were suddenly safe. What was in that dream?”

“It’s stupid. I was just—” Sofia shook her head.

“Sofia! Come on. Tell me.”

“Fine, fine.” She glanced to where Noah sat playing his game, and then leaned closer. “I was rowing, and things were getting worse, and then suddenly, I realized it wasn’t just me and Noah in the boat. Someone else was there, and they were rowing, too, and— I can’t describe it. The river was still going crazy and the boat was still rocking like mad, but we were moving in the right direction, and I just knew things were going to be okay.”

“You left out the most interesting part of that. Who was in the boat with you and Noah?”

Sofia pressed her hands to her hot cheeks.

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