Page 53 of In This Together

As Rosalie snuck a glance around the frame of the door, Sofia, who had her back to Rosalie, slammed her hand on her desk and turned to face Jimmy. ‘I know what you’re implying. I know what you think of Jay. Hell, I know whateveryonethinks of Jay. But I married him, Dad. He’s myhusband. In sickness and in health. My family. What would I do…? What would it make me if I walk away when he needs me the most?’

‘He’s our family too, Sofia. Yours, mine and your sister’s. Now, maybe we haven’t been the strongest advocates of him in the past, but we don’t want to see him out of his head. For your sakeandhis.’

Sofia nodded and appeared to swallow deeply.

‘But, kiddo, this isn’t a one-off. When people get sick, they get help. If he won’t get help, he’s not sick, he’s a drain on my daughter.’

‘He. Is. My. Husband.’

Jimmy scoffed. ‘Sometimes, I blame myself for this sense of… pride or foolishness you have. Loyalty should be rewarded, not abused. You have a choice.’

‘Like Mom did? Did she have a choice?’

‘That was different. Your mom was stuck in a situation with two unfair options. You’re not trapped, Sofia. You don’t have to be.’

She sucked in a breath. ‘Dad, could you please justnot? The last thing I need right now is a lecture. I’m worn out from it all. I came here to get away and I’ve had some great news about Seth. Can we not focus on that?’

His stern face softened and his shoulders dropped from their rigid position. ‘Let’s talk about Seth. Are you calling him?’

‘He’s coming in shortly. I think I’d like to tell him in person. We’re finishing the EP today.’

‘Another chart hit, for sure,’ Jimmy said, tugging Sofia into his side and dropping a kiss to her temple.

‘Let’s hope so.’

‘You know, I hate to state the obvious here, but chart positions mean Nashville will come knocking.’

It was exactly as Andrea had said over lunch. Someone like Seth would be highly sought after; with chart hits, a famous brother, a military background to pull on the heart strings. The thought of him being snatched away from Sofia and Sanfia Records made Rosalie feel sad. Sofia didn’t deserve that.

As Rosalie adjusted her weight on her sore feet, the floor creaked beneath her. She quickly knocked on the open door and smiled as Sofia, just as quickly, put on a pair of white trimmed sunglasses. Her hair was still part wet, as if she had let it dry naturally after washing. Her skin looked pale and her jeans, lumberjack shirt and boots looked less casual style and more downtrodden today.

‘Knock, knock,’ Rosalie almost sang.

‘Ros, hi,’ Sofia said, surprised.

‘I know I’m here unannounced but?—’

Before she could offer Sofia the gift she had brought, Billy, Frankie and Seth burst into the studio, all joking and chatting loudly, until they reached the office and Seth paused, his eyes narrowing as he took in Rosalie’s presence.

‘Hey,’ he said to Sofia. ‘Hey, Jimmy,’ he said, shaking Jimmy’s hand. He ignored Rosalie completely.

‘Let’s head into the sound booth, there’s more space,’ Sofia said, and the others led the way, leaving Rosalie limping along behind them, with her gifts in her shopping bag.

If there was one thing Rosalie hated more than fashion faux pas, it was being ignored.

Clearing her throat, loudly, she said, ‘I brought some gifts. For you, Sofia, and one for you, Seth. To say, you know, well done for hitting the billboard charts and, I guess, as an apology for acting rashly at the Presley John concert.’

Setting her shopping bag down on the sofa where Frankie had flopped down, she took two wrapped photo frames and handed one each to Sofia and Seth.

As they unwrapped their gifts, she explained, ‘A friend of mine was the official stage photographer at the concert and I just loved these. Sofia, you have Seth and the guys. And, Seth, the photographer got a great shot of you and Randy, hugging at the end of the performance. And don’t worry, I told him that shouldn’t go anywhere. That you don’t want to, you know, play on the whole brother thing.’

She watched Seth as he considered the photograph, leaning back against the wall, unmoved and quiet. ‘Well…? Do you like it?’ She wasn’t at all used to this level of delayed gratification.

Seth looked up to her as he set the picture aside and simply said, ‘Thank you.’

Thank you? Not,You didn’t have to buy me a gift. Or, actually,Rosalie, I realise I was a complete asshole to you at the concert and I’m sorry. Just, thank you.

Scowling, she told him, ‘It’s a shame you hadn’t kept that style from the concert. You looked much more palatable with a facial hair trim, polished shoes and a jacket.’

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