Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Leaving already?”
Jody’s voice had her lifting her head.
“Yes, Joel’s been called into work,” she explained.
“One of the hazards of dating a cop.” Jody’s eyes switched to Joel’s.
“One of the benefits of working in a small town—it doesn’t happen often.”
Jody looked at the cooler as Joel picked it up. “Before you leave, you mind if I snag the sandwiches you made for me?”
“Of course not.”
Joel opened the cooler, and Sophie reached inside to grab the sandwiches, then gave them to Jody.
“You know, if you want to stay, you’re more than welcome to enjoy the music with my family.”
“I couldn’t …” Sophie started to make an excuse.
“Sure, you can. Ginny could introduce you to everyone. You could even invite them for a drink at the restaurant to get them in the door.”
Jody’s suggestion was smart. She should take advantage of being at the festival to promote the restaurant. Her parents would be here next week. She would love for them to see how busy the restaurant had become.
“That’s a good idea. Do you think Ginny would mind introducing me to some of the townspeople?”
“I think she’d be delighted.”
Sophie smiled at Joel. “I might as well stay here. Thank you for bringing me. I had a good time with you.”
“Me, too.” Joel handed the cooler to Jody. “You might as well take this, too.”
Jody took the cooler from him. “Thanks, Joel.”
Sophie stared back and forth between the two men. “You could always come back after you check on Baylin,” she suggested.
The two men didn’t break eye contact.
“I’m sure Greer will find something else for me to do.”
Sophie gave Joel the blanket. “I’ll see you later.”
“Good night.”
Jody held out his hand. “Sorry you were called into work. I’ll make sure that Sophie gets back to her car.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Sophie turned her head to stare at Jody. “I think whatever video game you’re playing is starting to affect your friendship.”
“It isn’t my call to end the game. Joel can stop it at any time.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jody took his eyes off the road to glance in Sophie’s direction. “Do you need your car? We’re going to the same place, so you can ride in with Ginny in the morning.”
Smothering a yawn with her hand, she answered, “I’m too tired to drive, anyway.”
Jody felt her eyes on him in the darkness.
“You should be just as tired. You helped me finish cleaning the apartment last night and were at the restaurant at the same time as I was.”
He kept his hands on the steering wheel despite how much he wanted to pull her close to his side and let her rest her head on his shoulder. This was the first time Sophie hadn’t covered the exhaustion she must be feeling. The woman had to be surviving on fumes from the way she worked herself.
“I’m not going to disagree. I’ll sleep well tonight.”
“You’re very talented at playing the fiddle. I didn’t know people still played them.”
“Not many do.”
“How long have you played?”
“My dad tried to teach me before he died. After he passed, I started teaching it to myself. I wish I had taken playing more seriously before he passed away, but it makes me feel better that he’d be happy if he’d known.”
“You were close to your father?”
“We all were. Dad could act like a kid as much as we were, yet you never forgot he was the parent. He didn’t tolerate bullshit, believed in treating everyone the same, regardless of how much money they carried in their wallet, and was kind unless you showed him it wasn’t reciprocated.”
“He sounds like a good man,” she said softly.
“He was,” he agreed tightly. Missing his dad was a daily battle, for all of the family.
“I’m sorry you didn’t get so fortunate with Marty.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her turn to stare out of the window.
“Me too,” she said solemnly. “My father was just incapable of being close to anyone. I asked my mom once why she had married him. She said when they were dating, he treated her like a princess. After they were married, though, his behavior began to change. He wanted to keep her isolated. That’s when she started working with him because he wouldn’t stop badgering her until she did. She said it was the same thing after I was born—he didn’t want anyone babysitting me while they were at work. That lasted until I was four.” Sophie went silent.
“What happened?” he urged gently.
“I went into the kitchen when I wasn’t supposed to, so Marty gave me one of his lessons not to do it again.” Her voice was so low he had to strain to hear her. “Mom came into the kitchen and saw him. She picked me up and left. She divorced him after that. I only had to see him every other week for a few hours with supervision until after I turned eleven.”