Sophie throws her head back and laughs. “Yes,” she answers. “B-E-A-U. Unfortunately.”
“C’mon, let’s go to Rose’s and you can tell us all about it. I’m sure she’ll haveseveralopinions,” I reply, chuckling.
“Please,” Sophie groans and scoops her niece up into her arm, tickling her side, and making Delilah squeal with laughter. “I need that woman’s wisdom.”
37
Ivy
“You need to show him what he’s missing,” Rose says to Sophie as she moves a red chip on the board.
We’re all sitting at Rose’s kitchen table watching Rose and Delilah’s game of checkers. Delilah still hasn’t fully gotten the hang of the game, but Rose is adamant on teaching her. The kitchen window is cracked and the warm summer breeze blowing in makes it a perfect, cozy, summer afternoon.
Delilah is on her knees in her chair as she holds Burrito out above the board, using her front claw to move a black chip to a surprisingly acceptable square. I high-five her, and wait for Sophie’s reply, because Rose isn’t wrong.
“That’s the thing, he’s not missing anything. He barely looks at me or talks to me. When we went out to celebrate him coming back home, I made a fool of myself. I let my emotions take over and I fell all over him.”
I cringe recalling Sophie giggling like a schoolgirl at something Beau said that night, and him just staring at her blankly in return.
Oof, it hurts to even think about it.
“Well that’s embarrassing,” Rose says dryly as she moves a chip, and Sophie covers her eyes.
“I’m aware, Rose. Thank you,” she says behind her palms.
“Can you just ignore him?” I ask, shrugging—although I know that’s not a very helpful suggestion.
“I wish,” Sophie says, dropping her hands and grabbing a freshly made cookie her and Delilah made off of a plate on the table, eating half of it in one bite.
Sophie made the dough, and Delilah cut every single one of them out. She was incredibly proud of how good they came out. I, of course, snapped a few photos, and sent them to Wesley. Delilah picked out special ones for us to take home, just for him.
“But he’s everywhere,” Sophie continues. “Everytime I see Lincoln or Maverick, he’s usually with them. I feel so stupid. I’ve probably thought about the man every single day for the last ten years, and he forgot I existed the minute he left town.” Her voice gets quieter as each word leaves her lips.
I place my hand over hers and squeeze. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “He’s an idiot. And it’s his loss. You’re the best woman I’ve ever known, and he doesn’t deserve you if he could ever forget about you.”
“Amen,” Rose chimes in. “You’re unforgettable Sophie Cooper, and don’t let any man make you feel otherwise. Kick his ass to the curb.”
“Language, Rose,” I scold, narrowing my eyes on her, and tilting my head toward the child.
“Whose ass?” Delilah asks, and I groan.
“Beau’s,” Rose answers, deadpan.
So much for discrepancy.
“Oh. I like him. Why does Auntie Soph need to ki-ki-kick the curb?” Delilah looks right at me for an answer.
I look at Rose, and she just holds her hands up as if she is washing them of this situation. As if she’s not the one who started it.
“Well…” I start.
“Who wants to help me check the mail?” Rose chimes in.
Delilah whips her head to Rose and raises her hand, jumping up and down on her knees in her seat. “Oh, me! Me!”
“Perfect, just the girl I need,” Rose responds.
She slowly gets out of her seat, and reaches for her walker and winks at me. Thank god. That would’ve been a hard one to explain. Good luck to Sophie the next time she and Delilah are in the same room with Beau.
