Sophie: I think that is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. And you have found your song?

 

Jack: Yes.

 

Sophie: That makes me happy.

 

Jack: Me too.

Chapter Twelve

The next morning Sophie noticed a note from Charlotte saying she’d left to pick up groceries and run some errands. Sophie made some tea and settled in to read the newspaper. She got nervous as the morning proceeded with no sign of Margaret. She had morning appointments booked in her schedule. When Sophie could wait no longer, she walked up to Margaret’s door and knocked. She was only met with silence. She didn’t feel it appropriate to enter Margaret’s room without permission.

Sophie decided to wake Ashton. She stood outside his door for a moment, wondering if she should disturb him. She ran her fingers over the groove on his door and remembered what happened between them last night.

Sophie remembered Jack’s words from last night when he described what love felt like. The feelings that Ashton stirred in her were raw and powerful. She found herself wanting to play his song over and over until she knew every word so she could sing it always. She didn’t believe in love but Jack’s words seemed so fitting for how she felt about Ashton. It seemed so unfair to have no control over your own emotions and how these feelings were leading her mercilessly down a destructive path.

When she knocked on Ashton’s door, she heard a moan of protest. She waited to hear movement but she was only met with silence. She turned the handle and pushed it open cautiously. The light from the hallway spilled into his room, illuminating his still form upon the bed.

“Ashton?” Sophie walked quietly over toward his bed. “Ash?” she whispered again.

She touched the warm smooth skin of his bare shoulder. “Ashton?”

“What?” He groaned. “Come to finish what we started?” he said, pulling the covers back to expose his gorgeous body. Sophie’s eyes hungrily took him in.

“You wish.” She pulled herself back to reality. “Margaret isn’t up yet for the day and she has appointments this morning. I knocked but she didn’t answer. I didn’t want to go in. I’m worried. What should I do?”

Ashton kicked his blankets off and climbed out of bed. He wore only his boxers—she was washed with memories of last night and how close she came to giving herself to him. He was too sexy to pull her gaze away as he pulled on his pants. She was mad at herself for telling him that she wanted him last night, but it was the truth. Every part of her wanted him in so many ways. She wanted to know every part of his body. She wanted to know the Ashton that Margaret knew and loved. She wanted to hear him laugh, to be the one to make him laugh, tell her about his day and his life, and most of all she wanted him not to hate her. She watched him disappear through his door to check on Margaret.

Sophie sat on the edge of Ashton’s bed, unable to bring herself to leave. The room smelled of him and it soothed her. The sheets were warm from his body and she had to stop herself from curling up in his bed to see what it would feel like to be wrapped up in him. Sophie stood up quickly when he leaned into his room. “Cancel her morning appointments and make an appointment with Dr. Reynolds. He should be in her contacts.” He continued down the hall.

“Ashton?” she called, following. “Is she okay?”

“She’ll be fine.” Ashton stopped walking suddenly. Sophie couldn’t react fast enough, colliding with him.

“Sorry,” she muttered as she tried to right herself. Seeing him standing in the hall, his bare chest bathed in the light, his hair in sexy disarray from sleep, was breathtaking. To her horror she was literally falling all over him. She stared up into his eyes. “And I should apologize for last night.”

“What about last night?” His voice gruff.

“For saying that I would have regretted it. Even knowing what it would have meant to you, I wouldn’t have regretted it.” She whispered her secret. She felt like she needed to say it and so she let the words fall from her lips as she looked into his deep blue eyes.

“What would it have meant to me?” He clenched his jaw. There was a hint of challenge in his low voice.

“Nothing.” Sophie shrugged casually. She turned on her heel to walk away.

“Sophie?”

“Don’t, please. I don’t want you to say anything. I just needed to tell you. I have to go and make some phone calls.”

Dr. Reynolds agreed to meet Margaret at 1:00 p.m. that afternoon. Margaret slept for most of the morning before she came down in time to leave for the appointment. Sophie only managed to get her to eat a plain piece of toast and a small cup of tea before they left. Despite her tired eyes, Margaret looked every bit of the well-groomed woman she always was. She wore a dark blue pants suit with a white blouse.

“Are you trying to impress the doctor?” Sophie teased as they pulled up to the doctor’s office.

“Well, he is a very handsome man, but no. When you’re my age you always have to look your best because anything else can be scary.” She chuckled lightly.

“I can’t imagine you looking anything but beautiful, Margaret,” Sophie assured her.

“Too kind, dear.” She took Sophie’s hand and gave it a loving pat before she opened her door to leave.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” Sophie’s worry was obvious in her tone.

“I will be fine. I’ll call you when I’m done,” Margaret insisted.

Sophie waited for Margaret to disappear inside the building before she left. She took the opportunity to finish her final report that correlated with her painting. She drove to her favorite tea café not far from where she dropped off Margaret. Once inside, she found her usual place in the corner. Sitting in the oversized armchair, she wrapped her hands around her large tea, warming her from the inside as she sipped. Sophie pulled up her file titled, Love, the Greatest Fable of All Time. She’d started her report only days ago, but the words flowed like a steady stream, pouring her thoughts upon the pages. To her, the idea of romantic love was unrealistic. To believe in something that was determined by unpredictable feelings that were as fluid as the ever flowing ocean would be unwise. It made no sense to her that people would put so much faith in the idea of love when there was no guarantee. History was full of art created under the belief that romantic love existed for them, but just as many that proved it did not. You have to love yourself because you are the only one who truly can; everything else is only a temporary illusion. Once she finished her report, she found the nearest printing location to ready it for submission. Sophie was already finished when Margaret called her phone.

Sophie was pleased to see that Margaret already looked better when she picked her up. Her color had returned and her smile was more genuine. “How are you feeling now?” Sophie asked as Margaret slid into the front seat.

“Like myself…just tired from this annoying bug I have. What’s this?” Margaret asked, pointing to the cup of coffee sitting in the cup holder.

“I got it just in case you needed it.” Sophie shrugged.

“Oh I do. You are an angel,” Margaret raved.

Margaret decided to retire to her room for the afternoon when they arrived home. Sophie left to run a few errands and drop off her report. She was officially done with all of her classes, and it felt great to turn in her last piece of work. When she returned to Margaret’s, she curled up with a book, staying close should Margaret need her. Sophie’s phone rang, pulling her from her pages.