Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Sophia

" Y es, I've seen the notifications." They've been blowing up my phone all night. I pour myself a cup of coffee, adding several spoons of sugar and a healthy splash of cream.

"I've never seen anything like this." My producer sounds more excited than I've ever heard him. Thomas is usually the perfect image of cool, calm, and collected. Not this morning, though.

"It's a touching story." I take a sip of my coffee and grimace. Drinkable, but nothing like the Spiced Vanilla Lattes I've been getting from Coffee Loft.

"Everyone is excited. I hope you can deliver today." Doubt creeps into my boss's voice.

I laugh it off, wishing I was as confident as I sound. "Lily and Michael will have an amazing day. I've planned every detail. Don't worry, I'll deliver. Don't I always?"

Thomas scoffs. "You better share some pictures and video clips throughout the day. Keep the momentum going."

I shake my head, aware he can't see me. "I'll see what I can do."

The last thing we need is for strangers to show up and ruin the special father-daughter outing Jake and I have spent a full week planning. I need this to go off without a hitch and not just for Thomas's sake.

"I'm getting ready to post another teaser," I say to appease him. "Then I'm heading out or I'll be late."

"Keep me in the loop," Thomas says before I get a chance to push the button to end the call.

I finish my mediocre coffee while making the cryptic post across multiple social media platforms, inviting people to follow along to see Lily and Michael's story unfold. The engagement is immediate and continues while I get dressed and rush out the door to make it to Coffee Loft in time.

"Who's up and on their phones this early?" I shake my head and push the door open. The scent of quality coffee greets me, and Kathryn, one of Jake's colleagues, ushers me into a back room. Jake is waiting with Michael and Lily. He hands me a tall cup of coffee.

One sniff tells me it's my favorite. "Sorry I'm late," I say.

"You're not." Jake smiles. The man looks as excited about today as I feel. Unlike me, he doesn't seem the least bit nervous.

"Lily woke up early," Michael says. "Too excited to sleep in."

"Sleep in?" It's barely six in the morning and we aren't due at the aquarium until seven.

Micheal chuckles. "I'm lucky if she doesn't wake me before my 6 a.m.alarm most days."

"I like having cereal with Daddy." Lily stays close to her father, holding on to him with one hand, cradling a tiny pink unicorn purse with the other. She's shy, but there's a little sparkle in the young girl's eyes.

The door opens and Kathryn walks in with a fresh set of coffees and pastries. "I have a hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll with your name on it," she said to Lily.

The girl's blue eyes grow big, and she reaches for them but stops herself. She looks up at her father and when he nods, she accepts the breakfast treats.

"We should go over today's itinerary." I take the opportunity to give Michael a refresher on how today will play out.

He pays attention, while simultaneously caring for his daughter. I get a glimpse of the loving father he is when he makes time for his little girl.

"I can't thank you enough for putting all of this together." Michael takes a sip of coffee.

"It's our pleasure." Jake leans back in his chair, looking entirely too relaxed.

Lily dances around the room, fueled by her sugary treat. The last of her shyness is melted by the hot chocolate. Traces of it stick to the corners of her lips until her father gently wipes them away. "Can we go now?" she asks.

Before I get a chance to respond, a phone rings. Michael groans and answers the call. He stands and turns his back to us. "I told you, I'm not available today."

I shoot a worried glance at Jake while Lily rolls her eyes.

"Get Silvia to take care of it. She can handle anything that might come up," Michael says. "And Andy? Don't call again unless it is a true emergency."

Lily's mouth gapes when he turns back to face us. "You mean it?"

Michael pulls his daughter up into his arms. "Today is all about you and me, Pumpkin. Ready to go?"

Lily giggles and nods her assent vigorously. She's still laughing by the time we pile into my car and head to the aquarium where Jake introduces them to Brenda, the director who is taking us on this morning's private tour.

"I hope this isn't too early for you. I thought you might enjoy helping us feed the fish their breakfast," the middle-aged woman with perfectly styled auburn hair says.

"All of them?" Lily looks up at the large building.

Brenda laughs. "Not all of them, but how about we start with my favorites?" She holds her hand out and Lily takes it, accompanying her to the front door.

"This is my camera team." I quickly introduce them to Michael. "They'll stay out of your way, but if you're up for it, I'd love to do a brief interview if the opportunity presents itself."

"Of course. A deal is a deal," Michael says.

Everything goes smoothly as we move from one exhibit area to another, stepping into the employee-only sections from time to time to feed a group of exotic fish, stingrays, and Lily's favorite, the penguins I'd forgotten about.

"Do you have dolphins?" she asks after petting a ray with her father.

Brenda shakes her head. "Dolphins are very social creatures. They love to talk and play like you do. We don't have enough room for them here."

Lily doesn't look like she believes her.

I turn to help the camera crew set up the next shot when Jake joins us.

"I don't know how you do it," he says.

"Do what?" I look at him curiously.

"Balance getting these candid shots while letting Michael and Lily enjoy themselves." He points first at the camera, then at my phone.

I've done a little shooting of my own, waiting to share some snapshots of the experience here once we make it to the park.

"Thank you." I don't know what else to say, but the approval in his eyes warms me to the core.

"Busy working already?" Jake asks.

I'm sitting in the shade of a tall oak tree, putting together a short slideshow of images for the station's Instagram account. "Of course. It's what I do."

"You did an amazing job. I love the cake." He ticks his head in the direction of the picnic table where Michael and Lily are busy sharing plates of peanut butter and raspberry jam sandwiches with a side of veggie tots, carrots, and ranch dressing.

"It seemed fitting." The moment I saw the ocean themed design at a local Wilmington bakery, I knew it would be perfect for today. "Did I tell you the bakery donated the cake?"

Jake shakes his head. "And how did you know about her favorite foods?"

"That one was easy. I called Michael and asked." I laugh.

He joins me and I hit publish on my social media post when Lily comes running up to us.

"Are you ready for cake?" she asks, her eyes blazing with delight.

"Absolutely!" Jake jumps to his feet. He holds a hand out to me, but I decline it when I see her running off.

"Hold up, I need a picture first." I take a series of them. The cake itself, the father and daughter cutting it, and of course Lily trying the first bite.

"It's perfect," she declares, pulling the dolphin out of the frosting and licking the fins. "But there are no dolphins at the aquarium. They don't have enough room for them to play."

"Sorry about that."

She shrugs and tucks the plastic figure into her purse. "It's okay. You didn't know. I didn't either."

"What was your favorite part?" I ask, launching into a gentle interview.

It doesn't last long, but there's enough for my report, and I enjoy watching her rush off to the playground with her dad.

"This is the payoff." Jake takes a seat and slides me a slice of the cake.

"Watching them?" My gaze follows the couple as they deepen their bond and make memories that I'm sure will last a lifetime. "Or the cake?"

"Yes." Jake takes a bite of the cake. A little blue frosting sticks to his bottom lip and I watch him lick it off, surprised how much the simple act affects me.

I turn my back and return to watching Michael and Lily. My mind flashes back to my own childhood, and I wonder if I'll ever have this kind of bond with a child.

"Are you Sophia?" The voice startles me out of my daydream and I look up and into the eyes of a woman who looks vaguely familiar.

"I am." I get to my feet and hold out my hand. "Sophia Martinez, WILM-TV."

"Then you are the one I'm looking for." She shakes her long red strands and flips them across her shoulder. "Lori Carpenter. Children's book author. I hope I'm not late."

"Not at all. You're right on time." I turn and motion to my partner in today's endeavor. "This is Jake Harrison."

"Ah, the famous inventor of the Wishing Wall." Lori holds out her hand. Her fingers are long and end in a perfect French manicure.

He shakes it, and I'm surprised by the pangs of jealousy I feel. I shove those feelings into a box and tuck it away in the deep recesses of my mind.

"Lori is who I hired to create the custom book for Lily," I explain before turning back to the author. "Did you bring it?"

Lori laughs. "Of course I did." She pulls a colorful book about a tale of a little girl and a dolphin from the tote bag slung across her shoulder and hands it to me.

Together, Jake and I flip through it. He's so close I feel the warmth of his body and smell the scent of coffee on his breath.

"This is beautiful. She'll love it." Jake returns the book, and we chat while we wait for Michael and Lily to make their way back to us.

"Who are you?" Lily asks when she skips over.

"I'm Lori and I have something for you to help you remember today," the author says.

Michael puts a hand on his daughter's shoulder and looks from me to Jake.

"I asked her to join us," I say quickly to remind him.

"Sophia asked me to make this for you." Lori hands the book to Lily.

She takes the book and shows it to her father. "Can we read it together?"

"Of course."

I watch the two of them read the story out loud, motioning for my camera crew to get a shot.

"Is this necessary?" Jake asks, raising an eyebrow. "You got a bunch of footage earlier."

"It's the perfect shot to end the segment." I can see the entire story arc play out before me, and my fingers itch to edit it for this weekend's segment. The perfect uplifting story at the end of a long week for our viewers.

"And there's no harm done," Lori says, coming to my defense.

When Michael and Lily finish the story, she offers to sign it and takes a selfie with father and daughter.

"When I grow up, I want to be an author like you." Lily looks up at the woman.

"Are you good at telling stories?" Lori asks. When Lily nods, she encourages her to tell one and listens attentively. "You have the gift. Keep telling stories. Draw them and get your dad to help you write them down."

"Her mother used to read to her every day," Michael says.

"It's a good habit for any child," Lori says.

"My dad doesn't really have time to read books." Lily crawls in his lap, clutching her new book to her chest.

"I'm going to make time," Michael says. "Stories are important."

As Lori leaves, I find myself thinking about how stories have the power to heal. I've seen it play out in front of my eyes and my camera lens today. And they have the power to bring people together, including a father and daughter struggling to cope with grief.

"Can I have more cake?" Lily asks after more time on the playground.

"One more slice. I don't want you to spoil your dinner." Michael looks at her indulgently.

"Who's having cake with me?" the little girl asks.

Her dad shakes his head, and I can't take more than one slice.

"I'll have cake with you," Jake says. "If you cut it for us."

"I can do that." Lily grabs his hand and pulls him to the far end of the picnic table where the cake is waiting.

Michael takes a seat beside me. "Thank you for today."

"My pleasure." He looks like he could use one of Jake's Lofty Lattes after all the fun and excitement. "I hope it was enough to fulfill your wish."

"More than enough." A smile spreads across the father's face. "Today reminded me of what it was like when my wife and I took her places. Went on vacation together. It was the reminder I needed."

"I'm glad."

"Today is something she'll never forget," he says. "Something neither one of us will ever forget."

I can't help smiling. "Memories are important."

"They are."

We watch Lily and Jake finish their cake before racing around the park for a while.

By the time they are back, beads of sweat dot Lily's face. A few wispy strands of hair are curling from the moisture caused by the late afternoon sun and all the play.

"Did you have a good day?" Jake asks, watching her small face carefully.

"The best." Lily climbs into her father's lap and settles down. While the three of us chat, her eyes begin to droop.

"We should leave and let you take her home." I stand and hand him the pink purse that holds the dolphin.

Jake and I clean up the remnants of the picnic, and I wrap up the last of the cake for Lily.

She falls asleep holding her dad hand on the ride back to Coffee Loft.

"I don't know how to thank you," Michael says, cradling his daughter to his chest after getting her out of the carseat.

"Watching the two of you enjoy yourselves is all the thanks I need," Jake says.

"Are you sure?" He looks at each of us in turn.

"We're sure." I assure him. "I'll be in touch later in the week with the footage and you can decide how you feel about letting me air it."

Michael nods, and Jake rushes to open the door to his car for him.

After watching him and his daughter pull out of the parking lot, Jake turns to me. "Can I interest you in another cup of coffee?"

"I'd love that." I follow him inside the closed shop, watching him relock the door behind us. "I have all the footage from today if you want a sneak peek."

"Why not?" He strolls behind the counter and turns on the large stainless steel espresso maker. "Vanilla Latte or something with a little less caffeine?"

I laugh at the absurdity of his question. "I plan on editing all of this into a preview trailer tonight. I'm going to need all the caffeine I can get."

Jake chuckles and gets to work.

By the time we've finished our drinks, I have a short video ready to share that hints at just enough of the story I was lucky enough to witness today.

Without thinking, I reach across the table and put my hand over his. "Thanks for letting me be a part of this."

My heart beats a million miles a minute, and it doesn't have anything to do with the double shot of espresso he put in my latte. I'm falling fast and hard for Jake Harrison, the Wishing Wall Guy.