“That’s stupid.” It stung, hearing it from Ryder.
“Well, whatever it is, it’s done.”
“So, you’re really going to wait for her to cross that finish line and what? Hope she gets everything sorted out during her race?” Ryder whapped him on the shoulder, hard. “You wait until that race is over, you might as well kiss your chances good-bye. The only thing she’ll be thinking during those hours of running is how much she’s mad at you for boxing her into a corner.”
* * *
Sophie
In her lodge room, Sophie paced like a caged animal. Any intention of sleeping in was shattered early; she’d been wide awake since four. Despite warnings that she’d feel antsy and restless the morning of, Sophie hadn’t believed them. Until now.
Yesterday, Tessa agreed to take Caroline so Sophie could get a good night’s sleep and focus on her race. “Sleep? What sleep?” she muttered to herself.
If the marathon wasn’t enough to toss and turn about, Denver asked her tomarryhim.
She glanced at her phone again, hoping he might send a text—any text. A good luck note, confirmation that his book made it to the editor on time, a revoking of his ultimatum. But he’d been silent since she left his house.
Resisting the natural urge to sendhima text, Sophie ran over her race checklist for the fourth time.Headphones, charged phone, armband, marathon playlist ready to go, gel packs, comfortable clothes she’d run long distances in before, properly laced shoes . . .
“Soph?” Tessa called from the other side of the door, knocking as she pushed it open. “You up?”
“How’d you know?”
“Heard you pacing.” Tessa opened the door wider. “C’mon. I made you breakfast.”
“I thought Whitmore Patio was closed today for the Moose Days Festival.”
“It is.” A plate of waffles waited for Sophie in the kitchen, the fresh aroma of warm maple syrup luring her to the table. “I read somewhere that waffles were really good for the morning of a marathon. Sounded better than a protein bar or plain yogurt anyway.”
Though Sophie hardy felt like eating, her training reminded her it would be unwise to run on an empty stomach. She couldn’t survive twenty-six miles on gel packs alone. “Thank you, Tessa. It smells amazing.”
“I made them from scratch. If they’re any good, I might add them to the menu.”
Off to the side of the table sat a board game. The sisters made a point to keep this table cleared when not in use. Sophie’s attention kept slipping to the bright, colorful box. Without standing, she couldn’t read the name on the lid. “What’s that?” she asked Tessa.
“Denver gave it to Caroline for her birthday. I can’t believe your six-year-old daughter knows how to play Monopoly. Do you know she beat both meandLiam last night? And I promise, we didn’t let her win, either. She’s so incredibly smart. She’ll be dangerous when unleashed on the world. A true Whitmore.”
“She is pretty resilient, isn’t she?” Caroline had asked a lot of questions about her dad in the first few weeks of moving to Sunset Ridge, and she cried herself to sleep more nights than Sophie cared to count. But from that loss, she’d come out stronger. The transition was amazing to witness.
“Did Denver pick up Caroline this morning?” Sophie asked. Before her world turned sideways, Denver had agreed to pick Caroline up from Tessa’s and drop her off with Tillie. The parade would start after the last marathoner crossed the finish line, and Caroline had a reservation on that float.
“Sure. Why?”
“Nerves. My mind’s racing, that’s all.”
Tessa raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Nerves, huh?”
To avoid Tessa’s penetrating gaze, Sophie reached for the game and pulled the box closer. “Ed Mooseopoly?” Her fork clattered against her plate. Breakfast forgotten, she stared at the box with disbelief. This wasn’t some game Denver found on a store shelf or online. This was customized.
“You didn’t know about this?” Tessa asked.
Sophie shook her head, her heart swelling to twice its size. “I was hiding in the den when Denver gave her his gift. I never got to see what it was.” A quick scan through the contents left her teary-eyed. Every aspect of the game—to include the pawns and money—was customized. On the center of the board was a cartoonish version of Ed. She’d recognize him anywhere.
Denver loves Caroline too.
“Pretty cool, huh? Never knew you could customize your own. Hey, you better eat up. We need to get you downtown.”
Picking up her fork, Sophie recaptured the waffle piece with a jab. “You don’t want to drive down there, do you? It’ll be a zoo in town.” Sunset Ridge was known for their plethora of summer festivals, and each one drew massive crowds of tourists. Locals avoided driving if they could help it.
