Page 125 of The Voice We Find

Mom makes a sound deep in her throat like a hiccup-sob. “Oh, Sophie.” She blots her eyes with the napkin again. “And he’s a good man?”

“He’s a wonderful man,” I confirm.

“Well, then.” She sets her hand on the table. “I should probably go check on Natalie and freshen up before we meet this wonderful man at breakfast.”

“Breakfast?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says. “I thought we might have a bit of a family discussion.”

Without Dad?is what I nearly voice, but seeing as absolutelynothing about the last sixteen hours has been normal, I simply nod and say, “I’ll wake August so he can get going—”

“No,” Mom says with a shake of her head. “He can stay.”

“But—”

“If he’s as important to you as you say he is, then I’d like you to invite him to join us. There’s no use in trying to hide what will soon become national news.” Mom’s voice is stressed when she says this, but I’m surprised at the way she’s still holding up her head. I’m even more surprised by how much taller she stands when she’s not cowering under my father’s big opinions.

When I finally wake August in the parlor, he’s more than a little disoriented. But when I tell him he’s invited to breakfast with my mother and sister-in-law, he’s a step beyond mortified.

“What?” he croaks, scrubbing his face and getting to his feet. “You want me to meet your familynow?”

I try not to laugh—really, I do. But something about a frazzled August on so little sleep is actually quite amusing.

“This is not funny.”

“Okay.” I press my lips together.

He looks himself over. “I have cat hair in places cat hair should never be.”

“Phantom says he’s very sorry.”

August narrows his eyes at me. “So I’m supposed to shake your mother’s hand and talk about my intentions toward her daughter when I haven’t brushed my teeth since yesterday?”

“I probably wouldn’t mention that part.”

“Sophie.” The exasperated way he says my name pushes me over the edge.

“Relax,” I tease. “There’s a guest bathroom on the far side of the staff kitchen, and you’ll find oral care kits in the cabinet on the right.”

His eyes flash with suspicion. “Why?”

“You’d be surprised how many people request them after wine tastings.” I shrug and then make a shooing motion. “You better go. Breakfast will arrive any minute.” And I also need some time to freshen up.

He nods and begins to exit the room when he stops and turns. “Sophie?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

Our breakfast is delivered from the bakery down the road just moments after August rounds the corner and introduces himself to my mom and sister-in-law. Not surprisingly, he’s a hit with the Wilder women. Natalie taps my knee under the table after he pulls out her chair like a true gentleman.

Natalie’s buttering her second croissant when Mom clears her throat. “I apologize, August, that your first impression of this family is happening during such distressing circumstances.”

“No need to apologize, ma’am.” August dips his head. “But if there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I appreciate that,” my mother says. “I will pass that on to Ronald, as well.” My mother straightens. “Speaking of Ronald, we talked to Agent Trujillo after you girls left the station last night, which led to another lengthy discussion between the two of us on our way back to the condo.”

I share a look of uncertainty with Natalie.

---