Page 74 of The Holiday Whoopie
Felix does a very poor job of hiding his amusement at my scolding. “Amanda was my wake-up call. She gave me the rundown on everything you’ve managed to screw up while allegedly on vacation.”
I mentally roll my eyes at my interfering client-slash-friend-slash-sister stand-in. “Of course she did.”
“Come to New York,” Felix orders like it’s the part of this conversation that matters most. “Skip LA. Spend the holidays with us.”
Something sore in my chest feels a tug at his invitation. “Thanks, but I don’t want to intrude on your new family traditions.”
Felix looks confused, while Sofia’s eyes gloss, fast and bright.
“Meu filho.” She presses a hand to her chest. “Did I fail you?”
Instantly, both Felix and I are on high alert.
“No, Sofia.” I lean forward, the words rushing out. “Never.” Our conversation replay in my head. “Why would you say that?”
Just as quickly as the tears came, they disappear, Sofia’s mouth setting in a hard line that says if I was within arm’s range the back of my head might just be smacked into next week. “Then why do you think you are not a part of the family? Why do you keep yourself away?”
“Oh.” I sit back, not prepared for the questions. “I just, uh…”
She shakes her head. “While I never wanted you to think I was replacing your mother when you came to us, it doesn’t mean that I’m not yourmãe.”The word lands exactly where it always lands—behind my ribs, where breath gets complicated.
“Yeah, man.” Felix nods, sidling closer to Sofia, a clear two-against-one stance. “You’re my brother and—” He jumps up with a curse, shouting, “Damn it, Mike!”
He moves off screen completely. “Elizabeth! Come get Mike Hunt!”
Sofia rolls her teary eyes. “I have two sons—one stupid about cats and one stupid about love.”
I expel a tired laugh. “Amanda really did tell you everything.”
“Not everything.” Her ramrod posture speaks to the formidable woman Sofia Jones is. “But I am your mãe. I infer.” She makes a come-here gesture, like she’s been waiting years rather than minutes for me to explain. “So tell me, meu filho—what is she like?”
I rub the sleep from my eye. “She owns a bakery in town.”
“That’s what she does.” Sofia tilts her head. “But who is she?”
I laugh, though the sound isn’t cheerful. “Funny you should say that, because if you asked her that same question, she’d probably give you the same answer.” My voice softens. “She has trouble separating the job from the person.” I manage a small shrug that I hope distracts from my cracking composure.
Not falling for it, Sofia waits.
Sighing, I poke at the wound that hasn’t yet stopped bleeding. “Audrey Nouel is one of the most stubborn people I know. She’s beautiful and hardworking—but too much so.” I cross the arm not holding my phone across my chest, sulking. “She’s a perfectionist who doesn’t have an off switch. It’s like she wants to be chained to her kitchen.”
An airplane moves across the tarmac for the first time since I arrived. I barely notice it, my thoughts on a woman who leaves scarce times for laughter but who gives her heart freely to a community she isn’t even sure has accepted her as their own.
Unbidden, my lips tug upward. “But she’s also the first to help others without any expectation of a return.” Both my grin and my wound pull wide. “And when she lights up, it feels like you’re the only one she’s shining on.”
Sofia’s eyes soften. “She sounds like you.”
That pulls me up short.
Remembering Audrey’s words about not wanting a lawyer in her life, I clear my throat and force the wistfulness away. “I don’t meet her dream-man qualifications.”
One eyebrow arches as imperious as her tone. “And just what qualifications are those?”
“Simple.” I lay it out like the closing argument. “She wants a family man.” I swallow past the hurt. “And I don’t know how to be that.”
“Are you kidding me?” Felix reappears and doesn’t even try to sit on his reaction. “You are the best family man I know.”
I smile at his vehemence on my behalf. “Hate to break it to you, bro”—Felix smiles at the word—“but I’m not the Casanova you think I am. No secret kids running around I’m paying tuition for.”
