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She responded in a theatrical voice with an accent that made me laugh, “That’s because you were happy. I couldn’t ruin your happiness by saying, ‘Oh, Sophie, I’m so happy for you, but I’m afraid your engagement might not work.’”
“So…” Alley started as she sat down next to me on the couch. “Are you still mad at me?” I asked. “No. You will be happy to know that I forgave you a long time ago.”
I let out a sigh. “Thank you, Alley.”
In answer, Alley hummed and leaned back.
“Where’s your husband?” I questioned her, and she answered. “Left for work.” “Oh.”
I somehow got Alley to allow me to come to her restaurant later in the morning to help her after she departed for her restaurant. I was becoming bored at her house.
So I called a cab and went to the restaurant. I was happy to be working there and not just lying around all day.
Alley informed me, “You can go now, Sophie. I’ll take care of things from here.” I was getting ready to make the sauce for Burmese Khow Suey.
“But why?”
“Because you need to rest, Sophie. I don’t want you to faint. Go home.” She whispered this quietly as she took the spatula from my hand.
I pouted bitterly, and she frowned at me. It lasted for a few seconds, and I sighed. “Okay, I’m going.”
I stopped to ask her, “What if Liam’s mom is still there?” She shook her head. “She isn’t. I talked to him, and then she left.”
“Okay, bye, Alley. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Sophie,” she said, and then she blew me a kiss that I caught with a laugh.
I walked down the street to get a cab after I left the restaurant when someone phoned me. A voice that sounds a little familiar. “Is that you, Sophie?”
I looked back. There was a man standing a few ways away. His brown hair was carefully brushed back a few inches above his shoulder. Two grey eyes looked at me. He had both hands in his pockets. He had on a military green t-shirt and khaki shorts.
I looked at him for a few seconds before racing up to him and giving him a strong hug.
He embraced me back, and I was very happy. “Levi!” I pulled back, and he said. “Finally! I found you.” “How are you, best friend?” he enquired.
“I’m great! I’m so happy to see you here!”
He gave my forehead a soft kiss. “Where do you live?” I said. “I’m also very happy to see you, Sophie.”
“I live and work in Tampa, Florida. I just flew here to see you after I found out this is where you are,” he said.
“Thanks for coming, Levi. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
He rolled his eyes and said, “That’s what happens when you leave your best friend behind and run away from the orphanage.”
“I am sorry,” I said quietly. “You know what happened; I just didn’t want to stay there.”
He put his hand on my shoulder and spoke quietly. “Hey, I get it. You made the best choice for you.”
I nodded before I spoke. “Where are you staying, then?”
“I guess I’m in a hotel. I just got back from the airport.”
“Oh…you can stay with me. I—” I stopped suddenly as I remembered that I was now living with Liam, and it wasn’t my place.
“Is everything all right?”
“Um…yeah…I…um…I need to tell you something.” “What is it, Sophie?”
His initial reaction when I told him everything about my predicament, the baby, Liam, and everything else was, “Oh my God.”
We were in a park, sitting on a bench and eating ice cream. “I can’t believe it,” he said in a low voice. “Yeah…” I said in a low voice, gazing down at my lap.
He said, “You can come stay with me in Tampa if you want.”
I smiled at him a little to say I’m sorry. “I can’t leave, Levi. I can’t leave my job or Alley. She was always there for me. And Liam wants me to stay with him, so I can’t leave.”
He hummed, and I said. “But you can stay with me at Liam’s house. I’m sure I can get him to agree.”
He grinned and pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. “It’s fine, Sophie. I can stay in a hotel.”
“No,” I said. “You are staying with me. I have a lot to tell you.”
He tried to stop me by opening his lips, but I didn’t listen and called Liam.
I called him, and a few rings later, he picked up. “Yes?” His rich voice made me shudder.
“Can I bring a close friend of mine to your house?” “Yes, you can,” he answered right away.
“Actually…” “Anything else?”
I said in a kind voice, “Would you mind if they stayed at your house for a day or two? Please?”
There was a gap, and then he stopped talking. I waited for him to decide.
Fifteen seconds later, he spoke. “Fine, they can stay. I’ll have Helen show them the guest room. But you and your so-called friend can’t go into my library.”
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!” I shouted with excitement.
He chuckled a little at how excited I was. “Is there anything else now?”
“No. That’s all. And did you say, Helen? Isn’t she supposed to have today off?”
“It was, but she said she finished her work early and came back.” “Okay, thanks, and goodbye.”
“Bye,” he said quietly before ending the phone. I remarked to Levi with a big smile. “He said yes!”
“That’s great,” he said under his breath. “Should we go?” I nodded.
I informed Levi as we walked in, “This is the LW Estate, Liam’s home.”
Levi looked around. “It’s great.”
“Sophie,” I heard Helen say, and we both turned to look at her standing at the stairs.
“Hey, Helen,” I said to her. “This is Levi Harry, my best friend from when I was a kid.”
“Hello, Mr. Harry. I’m Helen, the housekeeper.” “Nice to meet you, Miss. Please call me Levi.”
Helen nodded and grinned. “The guest room is only on the first floor.”
Helen unlocked the door to one of the guest rooms, and we both followed her. I advised Levi to calm down, get some rest, and have supper with me later. He nodded and smiled.
Helen said, “You look very happy to meet him,” as we walked away from his room. “You must really like him.”
“Yes. He has been my best friend since birth. We lived in the same orphanage, but for some reason, I lost touch with him, and now I’m seeing him again after eight years.”
“Eight years?” There was a note of shock in her voice. “That’s a long time.”
“Yeah,” I said in a low voice.
I made the decision to shift the subject. “What’s for dinner?” “I’m making chicken schnitzel.”
“Great. Do you need any help?”
She softly touched my arm. “You rest, child. I can handle it.” I smiled at her and walked upstairs to rest.
I phoned Levi for supper an hour later, and Helen served us.
Liam’s voice rang out as we were eating. “Who is this?”
Sophie’s point of view:
Liam’s voice boomed as we were eating. “Who is this?”
We all turned our heads to him. He stood at the kitchen door with his hands in his pockets, and his eyes glared at Levi.
I got up and walked up to Levi, giving him an apologetic look.
I murmured to him, “What do you mean by who’s this?” “I told you my friend would be here.”
He frowned and looked at Levi and then at me. “Is it a he?” My eyes became bigger. “Yes, he is! Can’t you see?”
He looked at him again and didn’t seem particularly happy to see him. Thank goodness Levi’s back was to us, so he couldn’t see how Liam reacted.
Liam rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He smiled and walked over to him.
He reached out his hand to Levi. “Sorry for how I acted before. By the way, I’m Liam.”
Levi got up and shook his hand. “Levi.”
I groaned, sat down across from Levi, and started eating again, motioning for Levi to do the same.