In a Book Club Far Away(81)

“Sophie, if you want me to quit this job, I will.”

She shook her head. “We’ve always done what we wanted in our hearts. This isn’t even an ultimatum.”

Jasper tugged her hand. “Just as you have done for me, I go where you go, Soph. Bad or good, temporary or permanent. Overseas or here. We will work it out. If you still want me.”

“I have never not wanted you,” she said. “This was never about not loving you or wanting you or needing you. I’m sorry, Jasper.”

He looked down for a beat. “I admit, I was really mad you left for this trip. Then, the more I thought about it, I remembered that there were nights when I lived like a bachelor, without having to make sure that our girls were okay. My trips and my deployments put you in a situation where you had to do it all. You’ve had to face a lot of decisions on your own. The least I could do was to give you space to think, even if it was killing me.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

He nodded. “But, Soph, do you remember what I told Carmela that one time she ran away from her classroom when she was five?”

Sophie thought back, pre-Millersville, to her kindergarten girls, who had been separated into two different classes. Carmela had been upset by the arrangement. One day, she simply walked out of the classroom when her teacher’s back was turned, marched to Olivia’s classroom, and demanded to be let in. “You said she could go anywhere she wanted. She just needed to tell someone.” She eyed Jasper. “But I did tell you.”

He considered her a moment. “Sophie, we only made a couple of promises to each other. We said that we would always talk to each other, and that we would tell each other what we needed. We can’t go back on those promises.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Humbled, it was her turn for tears—he was right. Their vow was simply based on a promise of communication. Nothing more, nothing less. And despite her own transition, there he was, supporting her need to figure out who she was in this second half of her life. He’d understood that her leaving was never about running from her responsibilities. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He tilted her chin up, gazed intently into her eyes. “Always, Sophie. Before children, after children, young, middle, and old age. Through all the changes.” He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips, and the need that Sophie had thought had disappeared rose from inside her. It surged through her body, and she felt every bit of his love to the tips of her fingers and toes.

She felt a small hand tapping her on the back. Then, Jasper’s lips stiffened. Sophie opened her eyes.

“You’re kissing,” a sweet voice said.

Sophie turned to Genevieve, who was smiling. Then, her eyes trailed to the kitchen door, where Adelaide and Regina stood, with sheepish expressions.





CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Regina




Regina spied out the front windows as Adelaide, Sophie, and Jasper climbed into Adelaide’s car.

Holy hell.

“What you lookin’ at?” Genevieve said behind her.

“Your mommy, Aunt Sophie, and a blast from the past.” She did a double take. Genevieve had a Tupperware bowl on her head.

“Mommy’s out the window?”

“Mm-hmm. What a strange and unnerving day.”

When she’d opened the door to Jasper, Regina felt as if she were teleported back in time à la Back to the Future. For a moment, she’d lost herself in the space-time continuum, and they were in Millersville. And in her shock, she had forgotten that she had a grudge against Jasper and welcomed him into the home without hesitation.

It wasn’t until she closed the door behind them that reality hit.

How many times over the years had Regina envisioned a moment when she could give Jasper a piece of her mind? More than she cared to share. And she’d had the opportunity, only to let it pass her by. Her guard was lowered because she’d accepted Sophie’s presence and importance in Adelaide’s life. Because despite their squabbles this week, she and Sophie had worked well together.

Regina walked to the staircase and sat on the first step. She needed a breath, a moment.

Genevieve sat on the step next to her. “You sleepy?”

“No.”

“You need a hug?” But Genevieve didn’t wait for an answer. She leaned against Regina and stuck her pudgy arms out only to reach halfway across Regina’s body, grunting in effort.

It was exactly the hug Regina needed. She leaned down and pressed a kiss against Genevieve’s forehead. “Thank you, sweet girl.”

“Y’welcome.”

But Regina also needed strength, someone to bolster her, to remind her to keep vigilant and angry. So she took out her phone and dialed the only other person who was directly associated with The Fight.

Logan answered on the first ring. “Hey. This is a surprise. Is Miko’s phone off? I’m grilling, and Miko’s in the tent. Miko—” he yelled.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh.” In the short silence, she heard a woodpecker. “What’d I do?”

“Nothing, this time anyway.” She half laughed. “I’ve something to tell you.”

“What’s up.”

“When I arrived here about a week ago, I found out that there was someone else who was invited.”