An uncomfortable silence falls between us, filled only by the laughter and shouts of the kids on the playground. I search for something—anything—to say to break the tension.
“Gwen seems happy,” I offer. Sophie’s expression softens as she looks at her daughter, now hanging upside down on the monkey bars as the boys look on with awe.
“She is,” Sophie agrees. “She’s adjusted well … all things considered.” The last three words are filled with venom as she spits them out.
I nod silently. Poor Gwen. She was old enough to perceive the changes happening to her family.
Sophie’s brows furrow. “Gwen said she hasn’t seen you in a while. How come?”
I pinch my lips together, wondering if I should tell her the truth. But before I’ve made up my mind on how to say it, the kids’ laughter rings out as they run up to us, faces flushed and grinning.
“Come play with us!” Gwen cries, grabbing my hand and attempting to pull me up with surprising strength for such a tiny child. Heather echoes her sister, latching onto Sophie’s arm despite her holding Julian.
“Come, Mom, come!”
Corey and Cayce are upon me soon after, pulling at my legs. Sophie hesitates, a guarded look flashing across her eyes. But the kids are relentless, begging and cajoling until we have no choice but to follow them back to the playground.
As the kids drag us along, Sophie catches my eye, offering a shy half-smile. I respond with a full smile, and for that moment, the ice seems to thaw, if only slightly.
The four kids resume their game of pirates, scrambling up the play structure with boundless energy. Sophie and I find ourselves recruits in their imaginary crew, assigned roles and sent on missions. We scamper up and down ladders and slides, taking turns holding Julian, and walk the plank and search for buried treasure. The world narrows down to this simple joy of play, and my heart swells beyond the point at which it can stay contained in my chest.
Every so often, I notice Sophie’s guard slipping. A surprised giggle escapes when Gwen pretends to make her walk the plank. The crease between her brows relaxes, her motions easy and free. But just as quickly, the shadow returns to her eyes, and she pulls back ever so slightly. I wish she’d let herself fully laugh and have fun, just like she used to.
But I know it’s not that simple.
Eventually, both of us settle back on our bench, exhausted by the kids’ antics. The park is alive with the sights and smells ofthe season. Leaves of gold, orange, and red blanket the ground, crunching softly under the kids’ feet as they run around us; their laughter rings out as they scamper about.
A light chill lingers in the air despite the sunshine, just enough to bring a rosy glow to Sophie’s cheeks. Overhead, the bare branches of the trees sway gently, silhouetted against a brilliant blue sky.
I look at Sophie, soaking in how beautiful she looks like this. She’s gazing out towards her girls, her blue eyes alive with love and warmth; Julian is sleeping in the stroller next to her, which means her slender arms are free. She’s holding onto the bottom of the bench, leveraging herself as she bends forward for a better view of the kids.
“We should do this again,” I propose.
“Yeah right, as if.” Sophie scoffs with a teasing smile.
A pang of disappointment stabs through my chest. But I can’t say I’m surprised.
I’d tell her I cut ties with Matthew the moment I saw her running off with tear-filled eyes from that party a year ago. Every ounce of respect I had for the man who was previously my best friend went out the window when I caught a glimpse of what Sophie had to see. Just thinking back to seeing Matt with that other girl, utterly disrespecting the perfect woman he had the honour of being with, stokes the flames of my anger once more.
But I don’t tell her. At least, not now. Because I can see from her sagging shoulders that she’s had a hell of a day, probably wrangling these three kids while having to balance stuff for her business at the same time. Business owners don’t truly have weekends. Moms? Even less.
So, there’s no way I’m going to bring her down even more today by bringing up her scumbag of an ex. Especially not if it’s to benefit me and not her. For now, I content myself with sittingside by side with her, basking in this beautiful autumn Sunday. I breathe it all in, feeling a sense of peace.
For this one perfect moment, it’s as though I have everything I could ever need right here beside me, even if Sophie and I are much farther apart than I’d like us to be.
CHAPTER 13
SOPHIE
Ishuffle through Will’s papers, the crisp sound of each page turning a stark contrast to the rhythmic sighs of Julian’s breath against my chest. He’s warm, a tiny heartbeat thumping in sync with mine, his small form cradled in the sling. The faint scent of baby shampoo lingers around us—a simple pleasure I cling to in the midst of endless to dos and not enough time.
“Wow,” I murmur under my breath, scanning the detailed graphs and bullet points that fill the business plan. As much as I hate to admit it … Will is pretty good at this. Innovative ideas leap from the pages, fresh strategies that not only breathe new life into the business I’ve been running for years now, but also work without having me at the centre of everything.
Will … he gets it. His vision is clear and aligns so perfectly with what I’ve been trying to achieve for years, ever since I became a mom.
Julian stirs slightly, nuzzling closer as if he can sense my mounting optimism, or maybe he’s just seeking more warmth. I press a gentle kiss to his forehead. I’m comforted by his presence—by this little being who relies on me completely. The weight ofour world on my shoulders is overwhelming at times, but right now, it’s just us, and it feels manageable.
Thanks to Will. Damn it.
