Page 47 of Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

“Did he now?” She looks at me again as I make my way over to the island and take a seat to watch them.

“Well, I think my version of cupcakes might be different from yours. Mine come from a box.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. Everything needed in one place.”

I watch as she moves around the kitchen, finding all of the ingredients needed to go with my box cupcakes: eggs, milk, oil, spray oil, and the can of icing.

“Ms. Sophie, what flavor is your favorite?” Vivi asks, looking up at her with such fondness that half of me feels moved, but the other half of me hears alarm bells going off.

Sophie looks at the box and then goes back to Vivi. “I’m thinking strawberry cupcakes are my favorite.”

“Mine too!” Vivi grins.

The Vivi from March when she first met Sophie differs from the Vivi she is today. Yes, she’s seen Sophie a few times, but certainly those few interactions can’t be what’s causing this change in her. Is it the dog? Is it that more time has passed and life is moving forward? I don’t know, but seeing more of this side come out of her over the past couple of days makes my soul sigh in relief. I promised John to take care of her, and I really am doing my best.

Sophie turns on the oven, Vivi drags over a chair so she can stand on it, and I watch as they follow the instructions to mix this batter. Grabbing my phone, I tell them to smile. Vivi holds up the mixing spatula, and Sophie wraps her arm around her. Staring at the two of them through the screen as I take the picture, I know without a doubt that I want this—her. I just need to figure out a way to make it happen.

They keep stirring, and my emotions stir with them.

“Do you think it’s done?” Sophie asks her.

“Uncle Jonah, you should taste it,” she says to me. Then she looks at Sophie. “He never lets me taste the batter. He says raw eggs are bad for little girls.” And then for the first time, I watch Vivi roll her eyes.

“Well, that was mean,” I tell her as I get up and walk around the island. “I don’t roll my eyes at you.”

She says nothing but looks at Sophie to see her reaction.

“Your uncle loves you, and he’s not wrong. Sometimes those eggs can make you sick.”

“None of my friends have ever gotten sick,” she counters.

“Not that you know of,” Sophie says, backing me up. “And maybe keep the eye rolling for just your room so he can’t see you. You can roll your eyes a hundred times there, and he’ll never know. A girl’s room is her safe place.” She winks at Vivi.

That was actually great advice. As she gets older, gestures will happen, and words will want to be said, but if she’s in her room, then that’s her neutral zone.

Sophie sticks her finger into the batter and then tastes it.

“How does it taste?” I ask.

“You should try it,” Sophie says to me at the same time as Vivi says, “It has to be delicious.”

So I do. Taking one from Sophie’s playbook, I grab Sophie’s hand, stick that same finger back in the batter, and then bring it to my mouth to suck it off.

Sophie gasps as our eyes lock, and Vivi squeals.

“Uncle Jonah, you’re supposed to use your own finger!”

“Maybe, but Ms. Sophie’s tastes so much better than mine.” I grin.

And then just to prove a point, I dip her finger back into the batter and bring it to Sophie’s mouth. She opens instantly, then wraps her lips around her finger and slowly pulls it out.

“Definitely better on you,” I tell her.

Chapter 19

Sophie

When Jonah said we were going on a trip to the aquarium, he neglected to tell me that he’d booked a half-day private adventure full of fun for just the two of them that became the three of us. Well, I’m guessing it was for the two of them, but he added me, and no one questioned it. I’ve lived in Florida all these years and haven’t been to one aquarium.