Page 31 of Changing Tides

“Oh no, that’s really not necessary.” Sophie looks down at her hands, she looks embarrassed. “I mean, I appreciate it, Ellie, but I’m not here under the happiest of circumstances…” She stops talking and glances at me. I know she doesn’t want to elaborate.

Ellie walks back over with a bottle of red wine and three glasses and sets them down. She wipes her hands on her apron and smiles. “Okay then, we’ll just toast to new beginnings.” She pours the wine and hands us each a glass. Sophie and I meet each other’s gazes and hold our glasses up, waiting for Ellie’s cue. For some reason, my heart is racing with our eye contact.

“I am just so happy to have friends around my table. And whatever the circumstances that brought you here are, I just know you are in the right place. I feel it in my gut. This is where you are supposed to be right now. I know you don’t want a fuss made over you, so I won’t do that. To new beginnings.” Ellie holds her glass up and we all clink and take a sip. Her smile is contagious. Even Sophie has a small one working the corners of her lips.

“Here, here,” I say, taking another drink. I glance at Sophie again, but she won’t meet my eye this time. Her focus is on Lucy shoveling banana in her mouth. “Sophie, what do you do for a living?” I ask her, genuinely curious.

Sophie’s eyes widen and she looks surprised to be asked a direct question. She clears her throat. “I am a marriage and family therapist.” She takes a sip of wine. “I mean, I was. I just resigned actually, to move here.”

Ellie pats Sophie’s hand. “Youare.You will figure things out, dear.” She gives her a reassuring smile.

“I guess so. I don’t really know what to do now. Luckily, I have a little bit of savings until I figure things out. I’ve always wanted to start my own therapy practice but if I start over, it’s really starting over. I don’t know anyone here. I don’t know how I’d even find patients.” Sophie shrugs. She doesn’t seem to be comfortable with the conversation, and I want to reach out and hold her hand. It’s a foreign feeling for me and I can’t say I hate it.

“Give yourself some grace, sweet pea. The right answer will come,” Ellie soothes. She is always the most optimistic. She looks at Sophie as if she can sense her discomfort with the subject matter, patting her hand. “And in the meantime, you do whatever you need to do to feel better.”

Sophie’s sudden display of vulnerability sparks something in me. “You know... I’ve picked up daily work with Danny for the foreseeable future. And I think I’ve taken advantage of Ellie quite enough… Maybe you’d like to be Lucy’s babysitter for the time being? I could pay you of course.” I blurt this out without even thinking about how this might embarrass her more or make her hate me more but when I meet her gaze, she’s smiling.

“I wouldlovethat.” She grins, and I get the feeling she genuinely means it. When I saw her with Lucy the other day, both of them looked content. Sophie is a natural with Lucy and it tugged at my heartstrings seeing it.

“So, I guess I’m out of a job, then?” Ellie scoffs playfully. “And why haven’t you ever paid me?” She kicks me under the table and laughs. I have a feeling she’s happy to give up her job to help Sophie, and I am happy to give Sophie something to do.

Where is this coming from?

“Sorry, El. I think Lucy likes Sophie better,” I tease.

“That isnottrue!” Sophie giggles—a bona fide giggle. “But I can’t start until Wednesday. Tomorrow I have some things to do. And Ellie and I can share the job, if you want?” Sophie looks at Ellie.

“Darling, there is nothing I’d love more.” Ellie picks up her soup bowl and slurps the rest of the soup and we all laugh.

* * *

Tuesday morning,I wake feeling refreshed. I slept soundly, and so did Lucy. Her rash is completely gone now, and I’m seeing solid glimpses of my happy baby girl again. I still haven’t heard from the doctor, but maybe it wasn’t too serious after all.

I take my time getting ready. I put Lucy in the highchair, cook us both some scrambled eggs, and toast myself a bagel. I sip my coffee slowly and listen to the birds chirp through my screen door while I watch Maggie sniff around the yard. I know I need to see Doc, but this morning I feel good, and I almost want to cancel it.

That’s the problem with battling demons though. I can have a good day, or a few good days, and think they’re gone. Then out of nowhere, they knock me on my ass again, leaving me feeling desolate. I have been here many times. The highs arereallyhigh, but the lows are lower than I ever imagined. I’m thankful to have Doc as a guide through these emotions, and it makes me emotional thinking about everything I have overcome.

By 8:30 a.m., I am ready to drop Lucy over at Ellie’s and head over to my appointment. I’m standing in the foyer attempting some small talk with Ellie, casually looking around when she cuts me off. “She’s not here, Liam. She left already.” She gives me a knowing smirk that embarrasses me.

I’m more than a little disappointed, I was hoping to catch a glimpse, but I can’t let Ellie see that. “What are you talking about?” I play dumb.

“Sophie. She left early this morning. She didn’t say where she was going, nor should you care.” Her lips are pursed as if in disapproval, but the faint twitch at the corner of her mouth betrays her. “I know what you’re thinking and it’s a bad idea.”

I hold up my hands. “Whoa there, Ellie. I’m not thinking anything,” I say defensively. “I am just curious, that’s all.”

Ellie raises an eyebrow, the ghost of a grin softening her otherwise serious expression. “Yeah well, curiosity killed the cat.” She takes Lucy from me and walks toward the kitchen. Calling over her shoulder she says, “I’ll let Sophie tell you about herself but forgive me when I say,youare the last thing that lovely girl needs.” Then I hear her chortle to herself because for some reason Ellie thinks she is hilarious.

I shake my head with a smirk, miming a silent“Oh really?”at her back.Challenge accepted.“Okay… I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” I call after her.

She turns her head just enough to cast a sidelong glance over her shoulder. “Stay out of trouble.” She winks and then she’s gone.

* * *

I decideto jog to my appointment. Ellie disguises her warning with jest, but I think she assumes I am after some tail, instead of just genuinely curious about Sophie. I get it. She’s trying to be protective, but honestly, it’s not like Ellie has seen me bring home multiple women. Sophie isnice. Sure, she’s also beautiful and if I am reading her correctly, a little broken, but she is warm and intriguing, and I can’t help but be curious.

I get to Doc’s office as he’s unlocking the front door and I catch him by surprise.

“Hey, Doc.” I grab the door behind him.

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