Sophie's Path by Catherine Lanigan

Author:Catherine Lanigan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SOPHIE WAS GLAD now that she’d decided to walk to The Louise House from Mrs. Beabots’s rather than drive. She needed the time to put her thoughts together. Try as she might, everything in her life seemed just as big a jumble as it had yesterday. And the day before.

“Sophie, there you are,” Mrs. Beabots called from her front porch.

“Hi, Sophie,” two more female voices chimed.

In the soft glow of yellow mosquito-repelling lightbulbs sat Katia, Sarah and Mrs. Beabots in white wicker chairs. All were waving and smiling at her as if she was a long-lost friend.

It was truly odd, if not downright suspicious, Sophie thought, that for years hardly anyone in Indian Lake had made overtures to be her friend. Yet since she’d moved into town and rented this apartment from Mrs. Beabots, she was curiously being included, when before she felt like a pariah. Maybe that was a little harsh. After all, Sophie had gone after Nate Barzonni. Then there was that pass she’d made at his brother, Gabe, when he’d come to buy her parents’ vineyard. She couldn’t blame Maddie, Liz and their friends for keeping their distance.

But lately, they’d been kinder to her, more welcoming, which had to mean they had forgiven, dismissed or chosen to forget Sophie’s earlier behavior. Sophie couldn’t say if they were better than she, but they were certainly wiser.

Wisdom. Hmm. Something else to add to her goals.

Sophie stopped on the sidewalk and smiled back at the women on the porch. Katia and Sarah smiled with genuine delight as they waved her up. Incredible. She’d spent so much time flirting with men that she’d never considered building or nurturing friendships. She was achingly guilty of objectifying men like notches on a gun belt. Trophies.

And where had it gotten her? She was still alone.

Then there was tonight with Jack. He’d made several friendly overtures. She didn’t understand it. He was foe. Wasn’t he?

She’d always run from anything long lasting with the men she dated, but she realized she actually did care about Jack’s opinion of her. She wanted him to see her in the best light.

But why?

“Sophie, where have you been?” Mrs. Beabots asked, sounding far too much like Sophie’s grandmother.

“I was at The Louise House. She’s got a new pineapple ice cream that’s to die for.”

“Mmm. Bring us any?” Sarah asked, laughing.

“Sorry. I try not to have it around. Next time I go, I’ll call and see if you want some,” Sophie offered.

“I’m just kidding. We try to watch the sweets with kids around.”

Sophie climbed the porch steps. “I thought kids and sugar were synonymous.”

Mrs. Beabots snapped her fingers and smiled. “That’s why I like you, Sophie. So down-to-earth. Kids aren’t kids without treats.”

Sarah frowned. “Frankly, I agree with you both. My mom made pies and cakes for me all the time. I didn’t turn out so bad. Luke insists the kids eat healthy.”

Katia shrugged. “As long as the kids are active and brush their teeth, what’s the harm? I say we start a blog on this.

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