“She’s lovely. Sweet, kind. She’s the nurturer in the family.”
Sophie didn’t think anyone would ever describe her as sweet, kind, or a nurturer. If anything, she’d been told to not be too ambitious, not too assertive. She’d been told more than once to tone it down, hold back, don’t come on quite so strong. Men don’t want to feel like they’re in competition with a woman. It’s okay to lean on them. It’s okay to make him feel like the man, Mom would say.
Sophie pressed her lips together, holding back the wave of emotion. Leo had left her for her sister, Sarah, a preschool teacher, who was, well… soft, sweet, nurturing.
Men apparently liked nurturers.
Sophie’s chest ached with her bottled air. She forced herself to exhale. “So, you have nothing bad to say about Joe?”
“Oh, my gosh, no. I’m glad Joe’s found love. I’m glad he’s found you. He’s a really good guy. Lots of the girls around here had a crush on him, but after things ended with Charity he turned his back on Marietta. Glad that he’s found his happy ever after.”
Chapter Six
While Sophie spent Thursday night working at the Wright Salon, Joe was having dinner with his family. During the meal, his grandfather seemed more chatty than usual, but his mother seemed tense, and Joe wondered if she was hurting. She didn’t like to be asked, though. Inquiries into her health made her feel like an invalid, but the fact that she’d phoned her doctor to request an appointment indicated her pain threshold was being tested.
Tonight might not be the best night to mention that he was car shopping, but if not tonight, then when? His grandfather would never get younger. His mother would never be cured. This was just life, and he needed to navigate it to the best of his ability.
After clearing the plates and making and pouring coffee for his mom and himself, Joe returned to the table, placing his mom’s coffee in front of her before he sat back down with his cup.
“I’m looking for a car for Sophie,” he said without preamble. “She didn’t bring hers out, and her family is selling it for her in California. She’ll need one here. I’ve found a couple good possibilities.” He sipped his coffee and then looked up, his expression deliberately bland. “I’m going to check out a couple different cars Saturday afternoon if either of you want to go with me?”
Granddad’s ears perked up. “What specifically are you looking for?”
“A small SUV, preferably with four-wheel drive,” Joe answered.
“Is that what she drove in California?” his mom asked.
“No, but California city roads and Montana mountain roads are two different things.”
“So she’s staying in Montana then,” Granddad said.
Joe checked his smile. Granddad sounded almost approving there. “I think so. She has a job. She’s working at Amanda’s hair salon as a receptionist.”
His mom’s jaw dropped. “She’s working for Amanda?”
Joe nodded. “It’s temporary, until she finds something in her industry but she was excited about it. She likes to keep busy.”
Melvin’s gaze met Joe’s. “Your mom’s car is just sitting there,” he said.
Looking at his grandfather, Joe had to check a smile. They were so much alike. They had the same blue eyes, the same build, the same tough exterior. Joe sometimes wondered if his dad had been the same. He didn’t remember him. He just remembered the afters—after the accident, after the move to the ranch, after his mom changed so much. “I’m not touching Mom’s car. That’s her car, her present. I’ll find something used and affordable for Sophie.”
“But you never know the history of a used car,” his mom said, speaking up. “Used cars can be very unreliable.”
“But affordable,” Joe answered.
“It needs to be able to handle the roads come winter. Ice, snow, potholes. No road.” His mom frowned. “If she’s still going to be here that long.”
“She’ll be here,” Joe said confidently.
“You think so?” His mom sniffed. “California girls are delicate—”
“You’re a California girl,” Joe interrupted with a wink. “And look at you now, twenty-six years in Montana and still going strong.”
His mom drummed her fingers on the dining table. “How much are you thinking of spending?”
“Ten to fifteen thousand. Twenty if the car’s immaculate and has low mileage.”
“Joe, that’s a lot of money.”
“I know, but I want to keep her safe.”
She stared at him long and hard. “How much did you spend on my car?”
“Mom, it was a birthday present. I’m not divulging numbers.”
“It was expensive, though, wasn’t it?”
“You only turn fifty once, Mom.”
“Joe, stop being a smart aleck—”
He laughed quietly and shook his head. “You haven’t said that since I was a kid.”
“Then don’t be irritating. Tell me what you spent.”
He leaned back in his chair. “A lot more than what I’m going to spend on Sophie. You’re my mom, and she’s my”—he took a breath—“girlfriend, and I just need something to give her some freedom and mobility.”
“I hate for you to spend fifteen thousand, or more, when my car is sitting there in the garage, rusting away.”
“It’s not rusting. I take care of it for you. And I’m not giving your car to Sophie.”
He gave her a look, his expression intent, but hopefully, loving. “You don’t like her, Mom, and she wouldn’t ever accept it, knowing it’s yours, knowing it’ll probably upset you.”
Summer slapped the table with both hands. “Now you’re just talking nonsense. I do not dislike Sophie. I have never said one unkind word to her—”
“Maybe not, but you’ve never said one kind word,” he interrupted, leaning forward to take her hand in his. “Mom, she’s not the enemy. She’s not stealing me away. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re spending an awful lot of time in Marietta, though.”
“Because she’s there. But hopefully she can come up here, too. The weather’s getting warmer. It’ll be summer soon. It’ll stay light late.”
“I’ll sell my car to you,” Summer said, pulling her hand out from under his and rising. “Eleven thousand five hundred and you can invest that money into some stocks for me. I have a list of stocks I’d like you to buy.” And then she walked out.
Joe sat there with his grandfather for a moment, before Granddad looked at him, a faint smile in his light eyes. “That’s the outcome you wanted, wasn’t it?” he asked.
“It’s a good deal. Blue book value is twice that,” Joe answered.
“Well, there you go,” Granddad said, getting up from his chair. “Things are working out.”
*
Amanda had no idea she’d given Sophie serious food for thought, but as Sophie walked back to Bramble House after leaving the salon, she replayed the conversation she’d had with Amanda about Joe and Charity, curious, but also baffled. It boggled her mind that Charity, who apparently loved Joe so much, wouldn’t move to the ranch for him. That didn’t make sense to Sophie. It wasn’t as if the drive was hours long. There was no traffic between the ranch and town. How could that distance be too much? If you loved someone, didn’t you try?