Whispers of Deceit, Echoes of Love

Chapter 17

Sophia looked up and pasted a smile on her face as she came face to face with Steven. He was standing with his hands in his white linen pants, his white shirt sleeves rolled up a bit. She opened the door and handed him the dessert.

“I am sorry! Were you standing there for a long time?” She asked as she collected her bag and stepped out of the car.

Steven shook his head as he balanced the dessert on one hand and helped her close her car door with the other. “No, just a few seconds ago. You didn’t have to bring anything, you know,” he raised the box higher as he led the way to the door. “But I can see it’s from Letty, so I will not mind it.” He held the door open for her to walk past him.

Sophia shrugged, “force of habit, I guess. And she says it's a new recipe. Thanks for inviting me, Steven," Sophia said, shrugging off her jacket before taking a seat Steven pointed at.

Steven sat across from her, studying her face with a gentle concern. "I'm glad you could make it, Sophia. How are you holding up from last night?"

Sophia sighed, her guard momentarily dropping. "I want to thank you for stopping me from committing a blunder by stopping me. I felt like a fool, and at that time, I really wanted to know how it all went down the drain. Get some closure."

Steven nodded understandingly. "I can only imagine. Breakups are never easy, especially when they come out of nowhere. But I appreciate you being here tonight. I want you to know that I am here for you, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen."

Sophia looked into Steven's eyes, searching for any signs of insincerity. Finding none, she felt a sense of relief. "Thank you, Steven. It means a lot to me." She looked around, thinking about the other woman who had been there when she stopped by a few days earlier. "Where is your housekeeper? Does she need help with dinner?"

"Betty has gone home for the night," Steven replied with a smile. "But she has left me in charge of warming and plating the food if that is what you are worried about."

Sophia chuckled, "such honesty. You could have lied to me, and I wouldn't have held it against you."

Steven shook his head and said, "I believe in the truth, always."

As the evening progressed, the conversation flowed more easily. They talked about various topics, carefully avoiding any mention of Eric. Steven shared stories from his own past, providing glimpses into his experiences and the lessons he had learned along the way.

Sophia couldn't help but be struck by the similarities between father and son. They shared a similar sense of humor, the same crooked smile, and a passion for life. It was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching for Sophia, who found herself torn between her connection with Steven and her memories of her time with Eric.

As they finished their meal, Steven leaned back in his chair and regarded Sophia thoughtfully. "You know, Sophia, I can see that you're going through a tough time. I've been there myself, and it's not easy. But I want you to know that I'm here for you, not as a replacement for Eric, but as someone who genuinely cares about your well-being."

Sophia's eyes welled up with tears, and she quickly blinked them away. "I appreciate that, Steven. It's just hard for me to wrap my head around all of this. I never expected my life to take this turn."

Steven reached across the table and gently placed a hand on hers. "Life has a way of surprising us. I went through my fair share of ups and downs, and I came out on the other side stronger. I believe you will, too. There's something intriguing about you, Sophia, something resilient. I can see it in your eyes."

Sophia sniffled, a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability washing over her. "Thank you for your kind words, Steven. I didn't expect tonight to be like this, but I'm glad we had this conversation."

As they sat in the quiet aftermath of their conversation, Sophia felt a newfound sense of connection with Steven. It wasn't about replacing what she had lost but finding unexpected support in someone who had walked a similar path.

"Sometimes life takes us on unexpected journeys," Steven mused. "And the people we meet along the way can become unexpected sources of strength."

Sophia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. Maybe she was on the brink of forming an unlikely but meaningful bond with Eric's father that could help her navigate the challenges ahead.

“I will help you clean up,” Sophia offered as she stood up and cleared the table.

“Just place them in the sink for me,” he seemed distracted for a bit as his phone pinged for the third time. It had done that during dinner as well.

Sophia nodded and did what he said, giving him some privacy as he read the messages. As she walked back, she could see that his demure had changed. “Is everything ok?”

Steven looked up at her as her voice penetrated the anger fog that was forming in his mind. Shaking his head, he silenced his phone and smiled, “Nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.”

Sophia nodded, doubt clouding her mind. What if it’s his girlfriend or something that was asking where he was, and he was blowing her off because of her? The thought of him being in a relationship never crossed her mind, but now that it has, she thought maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to come through.

“I can see the wheels turning in your head, but whatever it is that you are thinking about is farthest from the truth,” Steven drawled as he sat forward and linked his fingers. He had not moved from the dining table and so Sophia had retaken her seat once again.

“How do you know?” Sophia challenged him.

Steven shook his head, “I just do.”

Sophia looked at him for a few seconds, unnerved by the steady look that he was giving her.

“You have me curious to know what it is you are thinking about,” Steven leaned back and crossed his arms, his muscles batching under his shirt.

Sophia studied his arms and could not help herself but think of Eric’s. Though not a gym mouse, Eric did attend the gym a few times a week and had well-defined muscles. And it seemed the father also had the same.

“Sophia?”

A blush covered her face, and she had to duck it to hide from Steven’s scrutiny. His voice had gone a little deeper, her name sounding more like a whisper from a lover than someone’s father. She shook her head, trying to keep what she was thinking to herself. The scrapping of a chair indicated that he had pushed his away and was standing to walk towards her, his steps are sure but tentative, as if he did not want to spook a scared animal.

Sophia bit on the inside of her lip, trying to slow her erratic beating heart. She wondered if he could hear it.

Standing before her, Steven leaned forward and placed his index finger under her chin, gently pushing it up so he could look her in the eyes. “Spill.”

Sophia found she could not escape the intensity of his gaze nor stop her mouth from forming what her brain was thinking. “I-if it’s your girlfriend, you don’t have to ignore her because of me.”