Caleb and Sophia waited with bated breath for her verdict.
“So, do you like it?” Sophia asked, pausing before she took a bite of her own food. Sophia had filled her plate with a little bit of everything, just like he did. This food smelled too good not to sample.
“I don’t like it,” Lily said, wrinkling her nose. After a few beats she yelled, “I love it!”
Caleb and Sophia looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Yes!” Caleb said, raising his palm so Lily could high-five him.
“Thank you,” Sophia said in a low voice. He had to admit that it felt all kinds of wonderful to have enticed Lily out of her chicken nugget comfort zone. He could see the satisfaction on Sophia’s face, and it made him happy. Lily completed her meal by taking several bites of a taco and eating half a meatball.
After dinner they ate the churros, with Sophia pulling out some vanilla ice cream from the freezer to top them off.
“Lily’s practically falling asleep at the table, so I’m going to bring her upstairs,” Sophia said, lifting her from the chair.
“Can I help?” Caleb asked.
“No, I’m good, but if you can pack up the leftovers, that would be great. You can take them home with you,” Sophia told him. “Although you can leave the rice and beans for me. I love ’em.”
Caleb got to work as soon as Sophia headed upstairswith Lily. By the time he was finished packing up the items, Sophia was back in the kitchen.
“That was fast. No bedtime story tonight?” he asked. He stacked the leftovers and placed them in a bag, making sure to leave the rice and beans in the fridge.
“Nope. She was out like a light by the time her head hit the pillow,” Sophia said, a smile twitching at her lips. The love she felt for Lily was evident in every single gesture, smile, and softly spoken word.
“How about some sangria?” Sophia asked, reaching into her fridge and pulling out a chilled bottle.
“I would love some,” Caleb said. “Let me grab the goblets.” He rooted around in her cabinet, quickly finding them.
A few minutes later they were in Sophia’s great room, sitting on her couch and drinking sangria. The room was light and airy, with cream-colored walls and floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Lily is a great kid,” Caleb told her. “I don’t spend a lot of time with little ones, but she’s a great one.”
Sophia took a big sip of her sangria. “That means a lot to me. It’s so true what they say. Once you bring a child into the world, everything shifts.”
“I totally get that. And everything else fades away in comparison to her needs and wants.” How often had his mother said this to him and his brothers?
“Exactly. I still have aspirations, but if things aren’t good with Lily, then nothing is right with me.”
“I’ll toast to that,” Caleb said, lifting his glass in the air and clinking glasses with Sophia, who’d raised her goblet to meet his.
“I received a very cool call today,” Sophia announced, barely able to contain her excitement. She was wigglingaround in her seat and looking at him as if she were holding on to the world’s biggest secret.
“Tell me more,” Caleb said, getting a kick out of her being so eager to tell him something.
“By some extraordinary stroke of luck, I was asked to do a photo session with Malina Blackrock.” Sophia covered her mouth with her hand and let out a strangled scream.
“What? Are you serious? She’s a superstar.” Malina was an indigenous Alaskan singer who had catapulted herself to fame and fortune all over the globe. She was a local girl with humble origins, having grown up in Seldovia.
“I know!” Sophia said in a raised voice. “It’s such a random thing. She’s on fire as an artist. Can you believe it?”
Caleb shook his head. “Nothing in life is random. Growing up, my mom drilled it into our heads that what will be, will be. Meaning that this is happening for a reason. Most of all, you deserve this gig.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.”
“I’m not being kind. Just truthful. You’re very talented, which is why your name is out there generating buzz.” He reached over and entwined his hand with hers. “Take this opportunity and run with it. She’s not the only one who’s on fire.”
Sophia responded by playfully fanning her face with her hand.
