“You mean chopped liver?” Joan corrected.
Blayze smiled, catching eyes with Sophia once more before accepting Larry’s handshake.
“I’m kidding, everyone. I’m kidding. I know who this guy is. Decorated Navy SEAL who’s now retired and suddenly took up writing for a hobby because, why not, he’s good at that too?”
“Well, there’s a good reason he took to writing,” Joan said, “and that’s because you two experienced a deadly incident that involved the son of a convicted felon, and the ex-wife of another convicted man. Tell us about that.”
Sophia had told their mild, filtered version of the events several times. Sure, they had to leave out ninety percent of the tale, but the details they shared, each in turn, relayed the meat of their message: That family members already suffer enough when a loved one goes to prison. We, the people, can make a difference. Not only with votes, but with time. Becoming involved in local organizations already set up to help the cause.
“We want to help remove the social stigma surrounding family members who’ve done nothing wrong, yet they suffer the effects on a daily basis,” Sophia said.
“Very good,” Joan said. “Now tell us about something the two of you started doing together on Sunday afternoons.”
“Uh, oh,this is getting a little personal…”Larry crooned.
Sophia smiled. “After service, Blayze and I hit the flower shop, get buckets of long stem roses or carnations or whatever’s in season, and we park right out front the visiting center of nearby county jails. There, we’re able to directly impact the lives of the loved ones coming to visit their incarcerated family member.”
“That’s wonderful,” Joan said. “So, do you see a lot of people coming in for visits?”
Sophia nodded, picturing the faces of several she’d seen just that week. “Oh yes. We have women bringing kids in to visit theirpapis.Madrescoming to visit their adult son or daughter, often with a grandchild on their hip. And as you can imagine, several are shedding tears as they leave. These loved ones are suffering a great hardship.”
“And it says here,” Larry said to Blayze, “that you guys also give them a card or something. What’s that about?”
“That’s right,” Blayze said. “We print out cards with encouraging quotes and hand them out with each flower. Then we just hope and pray that, though the gesture is small, it will impact their lives in a positive way. As my beautiful fiancée always says, sometimes acknowledging one’s hardship can make all the difference.”
“Well said,” Joan cheered while the audience clapped.
Blayze leaned over and planted a spontaneous kiss to Sophia’s cheek. “Babe, I love you,” he whispered.
Sophia would never tire from hearing those words.
“Hey, hey,” Larry teased. “You two savethatfor Sunday afternoons.”
* * *
“Man, I can’t wait to get in here,” Blayze said as he and Sophia toured their newly purchased home for the third time that week. “Remind me why we didn’t offer to have the 4th of July party here?”
Sophia, looking incredible in a pair of cut-off shorts and a red tank top, strode over to the window, looking out while she spoke. A stretch of blue sky, swaying palm trees, and a sandy beach lay on the other side.
“Because,chistoso, we’re not married yet, and we’re not living here yet, so hosting a party here wouldn’t exactly work.”
He groaned, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms snuggly around her waist. “That’s right,” he said into the crook of her neck. “I can’t wait until you’re my wife. I mean, myesposa.”
“Hey,mui bien. I like hearing you speakEspañol.”
Heat stirred low in his belly. “Not as much as I like hearingyouspeak it,” he assured.
She tipped her head back, bringing a hand up to his jaw with a sigh. “And I can’t wait until you’remi esposo. Bride and groom at last.”
Amen to that. August couldn’t come fast enough. “You ready to head out there?”
“Absolutely.”
Blayze pulled open the French doors, inhaling the first scent of salty sea air, and motioned for Sophia to go ahead of him. She did, strolling onto the covered deck with a wide grin.
Seagulls squawked in the distance, the far-off caws carrying over the whoosh and crash of the ocean.
“I love it out here,” Sophia said with a sigh. She shuffled out on her flip-flops and hurried over to the stairs. “You taking your shoes off?”
