For the next handful of days, Sofia and Max stayed apart as neither had the nerve, patience, or words in order to speak to each other. This meant that this allowed her time with Mark that was uninterrupted. She took it in stride, imagining Max in his place as they would exchange sweet kisses or hidden caresses. But she would be forced to see Lulu embraced by Max, and so she forced herself to focus on Olive’s party. By the time Friday came around, every single detail had been perfected. The decorations seemed almost professionally orchestrated as everything matched to a tee. The food was sitting out on the dining table, appearing as if it came straight out of a catering magazine as it sat wrapped in saran wrap. Sofia moved to the car to go pick up Olive before seeing a rose hanging from the
