Sunshine After The Rain

Chapter Forty-Eight

Sophie checked her reflection in the visor for probably the fifth time on the short drive. But as they neared the restaurant, it was time to do the final check of her makeup. "Are you sure this dress isn't too revealing? I don't want her to think I'm a hussy."

Lucas reached over and snapped the mirror closed before grabbing her hand from her lap and bringing it up to his lips. After placing a soft kiss on each of her knuckles, he laid her hand down on his thigh and covered it with his own. "She won't think you're a hussy, I promise. She's going to love you. I know that because there isn't a single thing about you unworthy of love. Even the way you randomly snort in you sleep and snore like a banshee when you end up on your side  is lovable."

About to open her mouth to call 'bullshit' just to save face, Sophie decided against it seeing as she didn't have a leg to stand on, and Jason used to complain about the very same thing. She was hell to sleep next to. "It's insane she traveled all this way just to spend a night out at dinner with us," Sophie said instead. 

"We're just one stop for them. They'll be spending the week here, just not with us."

Sophie shook her head as he pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. "What if-"

"It's too late to cut and run, kid," Lucas announced as he cut the engine, then hopped out of the car to open her door. 

Sophie placed her trembling hand in his and allowed him to help her out of the car. "I don't know if I'm ready for this," she admitted. 

Lucas let out of huff of air, and took his hand out of her grasp to place them both on her shoulders. "This is important to her, Soph, and it's important to me. Based on everything I told her, everything you helped me through, she loves you already. This is just a formality."

After a few seconds of losing herself in those chocolate eyes of his, looking so heartfelt, Sophie nodded. He placed his hand in hers once again and she allowed him to lead her into the restaurant. 

Lucas gave the host his name for the reservation and discovered she was already here and waiting. All Sophie could do was just stare at the floor and follow the path his feet made as he pulled her along. 

"There you are! I was starting to think you got cold feet."

"It's Colorado in March. Everything's cold," Lucas joked before tugging her hand. "Sophie, this is my ex-wife, Siena, and her husband Dante."

Sophie finally risked a glance up, only to come face to face with the brightest and most sincere smile she'd ever seen. Suddenly she had no idea why she'd been so nervous. It wasn't like she was meeting his mother yet; a woman who they required or at least hoped for approval from. 

That trip, unfortunately, was coming up in two weeks. Lucas was taking her and the kids back home to visit for their spring break. Sophie would get to meet her soon-to-be (officially) goddaughter, and Lucas would take her up to meet his mother.

She already knew she'd love that woman. They'd found themselves in similar situations, and had both managed to climb the mountain of survival through it all. They'd both come out stronger women determined to take whatever life through their way. But if the woman loved her back was an entirely different story. 

Sophie was shaken out of her thoughts when Siena's body nearly plowed into her, wrapping her in a hug that took her breath away, and actually did knock some of it out. 

"Sophie, you have no idea how happy I am to meet you. It's an honor. Any woman who was able to bring that man back to life has my eternal gratitude."

Once she pulled back, Sophie was able to take in Siena's incredibly natural beauty, inside and out. Long, wavy black hair, pale brown eyes, sun-kissed skin, and a smile that could have lit up the world.