Chapter 10 - Jack

The clang of metal against metal echoes through the shop, but I’m barely paying attention. My hands are on autopilot, moving through the motions of the job, but my mind is somewhere else entirely. Specifically, it’s stuck on last night, on the way Sonya looked at me when I pinned her to the wall, all breathless and wide-eyed. It’s a stupid thing to fixate on, especially when I’ve got a stack of orders that need filling and Reiner breathing down my neck about staying on schedule. But hell, I can’t help it.

I heft a piece of metal onto the workbench, and the weight is familiar and grounding. Normally, this kind of work clears my head. There’s something about the steady rhythm of it that calms me down, gets me out of my own thoughts. Not today, though. Today, I can’t seem to get Sonya out of my head, and it’s driving me up the wall.

I grab the welder, the bright flare of the torch sparking to life, and try to focus on the task in front of me. It’s no use. Every time I blink, I see Sonya’s face, feel the press of her body against mine, the heat that flared between us like a live wire. I shake my head, trying to snap myself out of it, but it’s like I’m stuck in a loop.

I wanted to kiss her. Hell, I wanted to do more than kiss her. The thought of it makes my pulse quicken, and I press harder on the torch. The flame hisses angrily as I struggle to keep my mind on the work. I’ve never had this problem before. Normally, I’m pretty good at compartmentalizing—keeping the personal out of the professional. But with Sonya, it’s like all my usual boundaries have gone up in smoke.

“Jack! You deaf or something?” Reiner’s voice cuts through the noise, and I glance up to see him standing by the door with his arms crossed and an amused look on his face. “Been calling your name for like five minutes.”

I flick off the torch, which hisses again as the flame dies out, and I rub the back of my neck. “Sorry, man. Got a lot on my mind.”

Reiner steps closer, giving me a knowing look that makes me want to punch something. “Yeah, I bet you do. This about Sonya?”

I scowl, but there’s no real heat behind it. Reiner’s known me long enough to see through my bullshit, and it’s not like I’ve been subtle about how distracted I am. “It’s nothing,” I mutter, setting the torch down and wiping my hands on my jeans. “Just got caught up thinking, that’s all.”

Reiner smirks, but he doesn’t press, which I’m grateful for. He’s the last person I want prying into whatever mess is brewing between Sonya and me. Instead, he glances around the shop, his gaze landing on the shelves stocked with parts and tools. “You got that order ready for Jane? She’s in the car, doesn’t want to come in ’cause she says she never sees Sonya anymore thanks to you hogging her all the time.”

I roll my eyes but head toward the back of the shop to grab the stack of mirror frames that she’s planning to use for some project. “She’s not wrong,” I admit as I stack a few on the counter. “Sonya’s been busy with Fiona, and I guess I haven’t exactly made it easy for her to get out much.”

Reiner nods, leaning against the counter as he watches me. “You know Jane’s just giving you a hard time. She misses having Sonya around, but she’s glad Sonya’s got something to keep her steady.”

“Yeah, I get it. Sonya’s been a huge help, and it’s not like I’m trying to keep her locked up or anything. She’s free to do whatever she wants.”

Reiner raises an eyebrow, and I can feel his skepticism from across the room. “Sure, but it’s not just about Sonya having a job, is it? You guys are living together, raising a kid together, and now it’s not just work keeping her busy.”

I pause, one hand still on the box I’m loading the frames into, and glance over at him. “What are you getting at?”

Reiner shrugs, but his expression is serious. “Just saying, maybe you ought to think about what’s best for Sonya, too. She’s got her own life outside of helping you with Fiona. Don’t forget that.”

It stings, but Reiner’s right. Sonya’s been all-in with Fiona, with helping me keep everything together, but she’s got her own dreams, her own plans. I’ve been so caught up in my own shit that I haven’t really stopped to consider what all this means for her.

“Yeah,” I finally relent, my voice rougher than I intended. “You’re right. I’ll figure it out.”

Reiner nods, seemingly satisfied, and straightens up. “Good. Anyway, let’s get this stuff out to Jane before she decides to come in here and tear you a new one herself.”

We head outside, where Jane is waiting by the truck, tapping her foot like she’s got somewhere better to be. She gives me a quick hug as Reiner loads the boxes into the back, and I can tell she’s about to start in on me.

“You know, Jack,” Jane says, her voice all sweet and innocent, but I know better. “I’m starting to think you’re holding Sonya hostage. She doesn’t even have time for brunch anymore. How am I supposed to hear all the gossip?”

I laugh, scratching my head. “Yeah, sorry about that. I’ll make sure she gets some time off her ‘captivity’ soon.”

Jane rolls her eyes but smiles. “You better. I miss her, you know? And she needs her girl time, too.”

I nod, glancing back at the shop and wishing I was back inside working instead of having this conversation. “I get it. I’ll talk to her. Make sure she’s getting what she needs.”

Jane studies me for a moment before she says, “You do that, Jack. And hey, take care of her, okay? She’s been through a lot. Just… don’t add to it.”

I swallow, her words hitting harder than I expected. I’ve always known Sonya’s been through her share of crap, but I’ve never known the specifics. Something about her ex, but don’t we all have one of those stories? Still, hearing Jane say it out loud makes it feel more real, more urgent.

“Yeah, I will. Thanks, Jane.”

Reiner finishes loading up, and they both climb into the truck, Jane giving me one last look that says she’s not done pestering me about Sonya. They drive off, and I’m left standing there with the noise inside the shop as a distant hum as my thoughts spin.

The job pulls me back, the routine of work grounding me just enough to keep me from spiraling. But as I pick up the torch again, the flicker of flame feels less like a distraction and more like a reminder of the heat that’s been building between Sonya and me. I can’t ignore it forever, but for now, I’ve got to keep my head down and try to make sense of the mess I’m in.

The rest of the afternoon drags on, and I can’t shake the guilt gnawing at my gut. Reiner’s words keep bouncing around in my head, making it impossible to focus on anything for longer than a few minutes. I finish up the last of the welding, double-checking the orders before locking up the shop. On the drive home, the sun hangs low, casting long shadows over the quiet streets of Green Lake to end the day.

When I pull up to the house, the sight of Sonya’s car parked out front tugs at something inside me. She’s always here, always ready to step up, even when it’s clear she’s running on empty. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own problems that I haven’t really thought about what this must be like for her. Jane’s right—Sonya needs a break, and I’m going to make sure she gets it.

I step inside, and the smell of something savory hits me immediately. Sonya’s in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove with one hand while balancing Fiona on her hip with the other. She’s humming softly, some tune I don’t recognize, but the sound of it feels like home. Fiona’s babbling happily, reaching for the wooden spoon Sonya’s waving around, and it’s a picture that almost makes me forget the weight on my shoulders.

“Hey,” I call out, trying to sound casual as I drop my keys on the counter.

Sonya looks up with a small smile tugging at her lips. “You’re back earlier than I expected,” she says, giving the pot a final stir before setting the spoon down. “How was work?”

“Same old,” I say with a shrug, crossing the room to take Fiona from her. She squirms in my arms, grabbing at my collar, and I can’t help but smile at the little burst of energy. “Shop was busy but manageable. I’ve been thinking, though.”

Sonya raises an eyebrow, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “That sounds dangerous.”

I chuckle, but the lightness fades as I get to the point. “I think you need a day off. You’ve been going nonstop, and I know you’re tired. You deserve a break.”

She blinks, clearly caught off-guard by my suggestion. “A day off? Jack, I’m fine. I don’t mind staying in the house, really. It’s not like I’m out digging ditches or anything.”

“I’m serious, Sonya,” I press, shifting Fiona to my other arm. “You’re doing way more than I ever expected, and I don’t want you burning out. You’ve got a life outside of this, and you should get to enjoy it.”

Sonya hesitates, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I appreciate that, but I don’t mind staying in. I like being here with Fiona. Besides, I know you’re tired, too. I see it. You’re up early, working late—you’re not exactly taking it easy yourself.”

I sigh, knowing she’s right. I’m exhausted, but it’s different. Fiona’s my responsibility; I’m her father, after all. But Sonya? She’s been thrown into this with me, and I’ve let her carry more of the weight than she should have to. “I know, but—”

“What if we compromise?” Sonya cuts in, her eyes meeting mine with a stubborn determination that’s become all too familiar. “Instead of a day off alone, what if we take one together? Share the load, spend some time with Fiona, and maybe—just maybe—relax a little without worrying about schedules or responsibilities.”

I’m caught off-guard by the suggestion, but as I mull it over, I realize it’s not a bad idea. A day off together means I still get to be there for Fiona, and it gives Sonya the break she clearly needs without leaving her feeling like she’s abandoned the job she’s taken so seriously.

“Yeah,” I nod slowly, a small smile forming as I consider it. “Yeah, that could work. A day off together sounds… nice.”

Sonya’s smile widens, and for a moment, the tension that’s been hanging between us eases. “Great. We’ll do it, then. No work, no stress. Just us and Fiona.”

“Deal,” I agree, reaching out to give her shoulder a light squeeze. “We’ll make it happen. I promise.”

We settle into an easy rhythm after that, with Sonya finishing up dinner while I keep Fiona entertained. The evening passes quickly, filled with laughter and the kind of quiet moments that make all the chaos worth it. But as the sun finishes dipping below the horizon and the house grows quiet, the reality of what we’ve agreed to settles in.

A day off together. No work, no distractions—just us, sharing the task of watching over Fiona. It’s the right thing to do, and yet there’s a part of me that can’t help but wonder if it’s also a risk. Spending more time with Sonya, with no distractions to keep my thoughts in check, means facing whatever this pull between us is head-on. And I’m not sure I’m ready for that.

Later, when Fiona’s asleep and the house is finally still, I find myself standing in the doorway to the nursery, watching the gentle rise and fall of her tiny chest. Sonya appears beside me, and I’m reminded of why we’re doing this. For Fiona. For the little girl who’s brought us together in the most unexpected way.

But as I glance at Sonya, catching the soft curve of her smile in the dim light, I can’t shake the feeling that this day off we’ve planned might be more than just a break from routine. It might be the moment when everything changes, when the lines we’ve drawn start to blur and the reality of what we’ve built together comes into sharper focus.

“Goodnight, Fiona,” Sonya whispers. She turns to leave, and for a second, I want to reach out, to keep her there with me just a little longer.

But I don’t. I let her go, watching as she disappears down the hall and into her room. The door clicks shut behind her, and I’m left standing in the quiet, wondering what the hell I’m doing.