“Well, I was just saying that you should try online dating. Lis said it’s all the rage now.”
“How would she know?”
“Her friends tell her. I’m sure she can give you some helpful advice about dating.”
No thanks.“That’s okay, Mom. I’m sure she’s busy with the kids and everything. How are they doing?”
Mom launched into a detailed explanation of everything Sophie’s niece, Addison, who was in preschool, and hernephew, Sebastian, who was a toddler, had done for the last two days. Sophie interjected a “hmm” and “you don’t say” at all the right moments as she finished the bouquet. She already knew everything the two kids had done since Lis never failed to post a social media update every day about her perfect family. Unlike other families, Lis’s truly was perfect, and Sophie was glad she and her husband and kids were happy. She just wished her mother hadn’t always held up her younger sister as the ideal Sophie consistently failed to meet.
“I think I should come for a visit,” Mom said.
Panic shot through Sophie. “That’s not necessary, Mom.”
“I can give you support. Advice. Encouragement.”
Interference.She never should have told her mother she was thinking about dating. She should have waited until she was engaged. Or had already eloped.
“I appreciate it, but Addy and Bash need you.” Her niece and nephew hadn’t been called by their full names since they were born.
“True. And Lis and Dan are leaving for their cruise in two weeks, so I need to prepare to keep the punkins.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’ll keep me posted, right?” A note of desperation filled her tone.
“Of course.” Her heart softened again. Mom meant well, and Sophie needed to remember that. “I have to go give Hayley this order so she can deliver it, and we’re busy up front. Tell Dad I said hello.”
“I will. Oh, I’m so happy for you, Sophie! You’ve worked so hard to make your store a success. Your dad and I are very proud of you. I’m glad you’re taking some time for yourself.”
She couldn’t help but smile. Knowing her parents realized how hard she worked and what she had accomplished meant the world to her. “Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“Love you too. Oh, and dear?”
“Yes?”
“I realize that you’re an independent woman, and I know that’s important to you. But just remember that it’s okay to want companionship.”
“I have friends, Mom.”
“I’m talking aboutmalecompanionship.” Before Sophie could protest, her mother said, “Talk to you soon!” Then she hung up the phone.
Sophie swiped her phone screen, then took out her earbuds and put them in her pocket, followed by her phone. She stared at the clear glass vase in front of her. Of course independence was important to her. But that wasn’t what had kept her from dating. Up until this point her job had been all consuming. She’d made the choice not to date, and now she was choosing to date. She just hoped it wasn’t too late.
Shaking off the depressing thought, she tied an emerald green ribbon around the vase, then picked it up to take out front to Hayley. She was determined to focus on work for the rest of the day. It wasn’t like she’d be able to do something about her dating life immediately. Now that she’d told her mother, she would have to follow through with diving into the dating pool. Maybe that was the reason she called Mom in the first place—because more than once, she’d thought about chickening out, and she knew Mom would never let that happen.
She walked into the front of the shop, which was full of flowers, gifts, and, fortunately, customers. She smiled at JasperMathis, an older man who stopped by at least once a week, mostly to look at the flowers and shoot the breeze with the customers. Every once in a while, he bought a single rose, though Sophie had no idea whom he gave it to. Not that it was any of her business.
What would it feel like to get flowers? And not just from friends who don’t want me to be left out on Valentine’s Day.She couldn’t count how many flower bouquets, sprays, garlands, and gifts she had made over the years for all the Valentine’s Days, weddings, and anniversaries. She’d even made a few for husbands who were trying to get out of the doghouse. How would it feel to be surprised with a vase filled with her favorite flower, simple pink roses, from a man she loved?
Maybe one day she would find out.
***
“Well, it’s about time.”
“Shh.” Joe held his hand up and glanced around the Sunshine Diner. Even though it was late afternoon and the lunch rush had passed, a few people were still in the diner. More importantly, two of them were his students, although they were in the back of the restaurant washing dishes, probably since the moment school let out over an hour and a half ago. “If I wanted the whole town to know I would have told Gina.”
His best friend and coworker, Travis, scoffed as he dug into a thick piece of cherry pie. “Your sister doesn’t even live here anymore.”
