Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Jake

T he homey atmosphere of Elijah's, a family-owned restaurant downtown, wraps around us as I watch my mom and Sophia chatting over steaming plates of comfort food. Mom looks more relaxed than I've seen her in years, her weathered hands gesturing animatedly as she tells Sophia about her job at the local library.

"You wouldn't believe some of the stories I hear," she says, her eyes twinkling. "Just last week, a little boy tried to convince me that his dog ate his library card."

Sophia laughs, the sound warm and genuine, but I notice a slight tension around her eyes. She's been off all evening, though she's doing her best to hide it.

"That's adorable," Sophia replies. "I bet you never have a dull moment."

Mom shakes her head, smiling. "Never. But that's what I love about it. After years of cleaning houses, it's nice to have a job where I get to interact with people, you know?"

I feel a familiar pang in my chest, remembering the long hours she used to work when I was a kid, trying to make ends meet while my father drank away what little money we had. It's only been a few years since his passing, since I've really started to rebuild my relationship with my mom.

"Mom," I say softly, "you don't have to?—"

She waves me off. "Oh hush, Jake. Sophia should know where you come from. Heaven knows you worked hard enough to get where you are."

Sophia reaches under the table to squeeze my hand, her touch comforting. "Jake's told me a little about your family's struggles," she says to my mom. "It's clear where he gets his strength and determination from."

Mom's eyes mist over slightly. "Well, I don't know about that. But I do know that boy's got a heart of gold. Always has, even when things were at their worst."

I feel my cheeks heat up. "Mom, come on..."

"It's true," Sophia agrees, bumping my shoulder playfully. "You should see him with the kids at the Reading Oasis. He's a natural."

The conversation flows easily after that, but I can't shake the feeling that something's bothering Sophia. Her smiles don't quite reach her eyes, and every now and then, I catch her staring off into space, lost in thought.

As we're finishing our meal, my mom turns to Sophia with a warm smile. "So, dear, Jake tells me you're quite the accomplished journalist. Any big stories on the horizon?"

I notice Sophia stiffen almost imperceptibly before plastering on a smile. "Oh, you know, there's always something brewing in the news world. But right now, I'm mostly focused on our community projects with Jake."

My mom nods approvingly. "That Wishing Wall of his is something special, isn't it? I always knew Jake would do great things, but seeing how he's bringing the community together... well, it makes a mother proud."

Sophia's smile falters for just a moment, guilt flashing across her features so quickly I almost miss it. "Jake's the real visionary," she says softly. "I'm just along for the ride."

I frown, confused by her self-deprecating tone. This isn't like Sophia at all. She's always been proud of her contributions to our projects.

Something's off and the feeling of unease in the pit of my stomach grows as I pay the bill and we say goodbye to Mom outside the restaurant.

"Hey," I say softly as we watch my mom's taxi drive away. "Is everything okay? You seemed a bit... I don't know, distracted tonight,"

Sophia turns to me, and for a moment, I see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. But then it's gone. "I'm fine, just tired. It's been a long week with all the festival preparations."

I nod, not entirely convinced but not wanting to push her. "Okay. Want me to grab a nightcap?"

She shakes her head. "Thanks, but I think I'll head home. I have an early start tomorrow."

The morning lull at Coffee Loft is just setting in when I spot Sophia through the window. She's pacing outside, her brow furrowed in concentration. It's a familiar sight, but something about her demeanor today sets me on edge.

As she pushes through the door, the bell chiming softly, I'm already reaching for her usual order. "Lofty Spiced Vanilla Latte?" I ask, forcing a lightness into my tone that I don't quite feel.

Sophia's smile is strained as she approaches the counter. "Actually, can we talk? Somewhere private?"

My heart sinks, but I nod, gesturing towards the back room. "Of course. Kathryn, can you watch the front for a bit?"

Once we're alone, Sophia takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "I got a job offer," she blurts out.

For a moment, relief washes over me. Is this what had her so distracted last night? But then I notice her nervous fidgeting, and I realize there's more to this story.

"That's great, isn't it?" I prompt gently.

Sophia nods, then shakes her head. "It's... It's in New York. A junior correspondent position with a major network. It's an incredible opportunity, Jake."

The words hit me like a physical blow. New York. That's hundreds of miles away from Wilmington, from the Wishing Wall, from... me.

"Wow," I manage, trying to process this information. "When did you find out?"

"Yesterday morning," Sophia admits, guilt clouding her features. "I wanted to tell you right away, but then there was dinner with your mom, and I didn't want to ruin that."

I nod, understanding dawning. "That's why you seemed so distracted last night."

She reaches for my hand, her touch tentative. "I'm sorry, Jake. I hated keeping this from you, even for a day. I just... I didn't know how to tell you. Especially after hearing about everything you've overcome, how hard you've worked to get here..."

Her words bring a lump to my throat. I think about my mom, about our conversation last night, about how far I've come from those tough days of my childhood.

"You should take it," I say, surprised by how steady my voice sounds.

Sophia's eyes widen in surprise. "What?"

"The job," I clarify. "You should take it. It's an amazing opportunity, Sophia. You can't pass that up."

"But what about us?" she asks, her voice small. "What about the Wishing Wall, the festival, all our plans?"

I squeeze her hand, forcing a smile. "The Wishing Wall will still be here. And as for us... we'll figure it out. This is your chance to make a real difference, Sophia. On a national scale."

Tears well in her eyes. "I don't want to leave you, Jake. Or any of this. The Wishing Wall... It's changed my life. You've changed my life."

"And you've changed mine," I say. "Which is why I can't let you give up this opportunity. Not for me, not for anything."

We stand there in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over us. Finally, Sophia speaks again, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What if I don't take it?"

I shake my head, cupping her face gently. "Then you'd always wonder 'what if.' I grew up watching my mom sacrifice everything for our family. I won't let you make that kind of sacrifice for me."

A tear slips down her cheek, and I brush it away with my thumb. "We'll make it work," I promise, trying to convince myself as much as her. "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together."

Sophia nods, leaning into my touch. "I love you, Jake," she says softly, the words both a balm and a knife to my heart.

"I love you too," I reply, pulling her into a tight embrace.