Page 67 of Lost Boy
“No,” he deadpans, and I laugh when her mouth drops open in shock.
Sofie sits up straight and narrows her eyes playfully. She crosses her arms and huffs out an air of disbelief. “How rude.”
I chuckle more, shaking my head at the two of them together.
Dad, Joel, and Georgie stroll in next, taking in the scene on the couch.
“Sofia Eleanor! Stop trying to coerce answers out of people, cariño. We already told you there is no party. Surprise or otherwise.”
“Lies!” Sofie pouts even more, then turns pleading eyes to the only other woman in the room. “Georgie, this isn’t nice. A girl needs to know these things! I only have a month! I won’t know what outfits to plan. What make-up. What type of shoes to wear. How to do my hair. Please! Time is running out!”
My little sister is so dramatic, but we love her regardless.
“Aye! Stall the ball, missy. Don’t ye worry about it; it’ll be grand,” Georgie says with her no-nonsense approach.
“But you’re all teasing me. I don’t want a surprise party. I’m not ten anymore!”
“Fine!” Dad exclaims, throwing his hands up. “You want to plan your own party?”
“Can I?” Sofie’s eyes sparkle with hope and excitement.
“Of course, darling,” Joel agrees, placing an arm around my dad’s shoulders and pulling him close. “If that’s what will make you happy. Right, honey?” He gives my dad a little squeeze, prompting him to agree.
“Yes, whatever you want to do, cariño. I guess you’re not my little princess anymore.”
Sofie jumps up, squealing. “I’m so excited! I need to get my iPad and start shopping right away! Can I have an eighties theme? No! No! Nineties? Way cooler.”
“We did already book the skating rink for the Saturday after your actual birthday. We dropped off the deposit last week, and it’s non-refundable. So I hope skating sounds fun, sweetie. But other than that, yes, you can plan whatever you want.” Joel's tone is always warm and steadfast. Reliable. Just like him.
“I’ve hired Darcy again, so you can work directly with her to make your vision come to life,” Dad adds.
Sofie spins around in a perfect pirouette, then nails the latest dance from social media. I burst out laughing again. So over the top.
“This is a present in itself! I can’t wait to choose my color aesthetic! I have so many ideas already. Can you send me Darcy’s number? I want to text her my ideas right away.”
Oh, poor Darcy. Whoever she is. Wherever she is. Unfortunate soul.
Sofie’s phone chimes with the contact from Dad, and she scurries for the stairs. “Thanks, Dad! And thanks for brunch, Joel! I’m off to plan!”
As soon as Sofie disappears and her thumping up the stairs ceases, Dad turns to me. “Tell us what happened. Where’s your mother now?”
I recount everything that happened, and Dad visibly relaxes, slouching back in his seat and into Joel’s embrace.
I glance away, usually a little uncomfortable with their open affection, but now jealous that I can’t do the same with my boyfriend sitting quietly next to me.
“That woman is an awful gobshite,” Georgie supplies quite unhelpfully. “I’m sorry, lad, but yer mam’s got my stomach in bits every time she pops back into my sweet little Sofie’s life.”
Georgina is protective over Sofia and me, having helped to raise us. I’m realizing that she’s always been more of a mother to us than our own ever was.
“Let’s just be grateful Penelope left before we got back. Sofie is so excited about her party now, and I don’t want to ruin that. She doesn’t need this,” Joel says reasonably.
“I agree. Everyone also needs to know that Mom threatened to come back and take Sofie and me on a cruise with her and Roger.” I snort because it’s ridiculous and so not happening.
I’m eighteen, so I can make my own decisions, but things are a little trickier when it comes to Sofie. Mom still has partial custody, and Dad hasn’t wanted to take her to court and make a big fuss, upsetting Sofie.
“I’ll call Howard. I think it’s time I go for full custody. We can’t keep going through this. Howard seems to think if I explain the psychological stress and confusion this places on Sofie, we won’t have any trouble being granted it. Not to mention the fact that she hasn’t seen you in over a year.”
“Do it, Al. What the feck have you been waitin’ for, ye dope? That woman has no business influencing my Sofie with her unsavory life choices.”
