Sunshine After The Rain

Chapter Five

It was an hour before Lucas came down the steps, his massive boots echoing throughout the house as he approached.

Her mom was taking a walk and Sophie still sat in the breakfast nook, full cup of coffee in front of her that had lost all warmth since she poured it. When his footsteps entered the room, Sophie glanced up and gave him a smile that fooled no one.

Lucas didn't even have to stretch for his hands to grasp the top of the doorframe, and it was then that Sophie noted that hair her mother had been so keen on. Jet black with speckles of gray that flowed in waves until they formed more prominent curls at the nape of his neck.

"Hey," Lucas said, a smile forming on a single corner of his mouth.

"Hey back."

Lucas' fingers slid from the door frame and he took a single step into the room. "I think I'm gonna get goin."

Since her coffee was too cold to drink Sophie turned the generic brown mug around and around between her hands, her gaze fixated on the simple action. "What if I didn't want you to?" Finally, she developed the bravery to look up at him. "Would you be willing to stay for a few days?"

He didn't have to stay with her in order to not stay with Joel and Laura. There were dozens of hotels in the area for every price range, so there were plenty of choices out there, better than her couch or the bedroom they'd built in the basement.

"You sure that's what you want? We barely know each other, Sophie."

That was incredibly accurate. "So let's get to know each other," Sophie offered.

Lucas let out a subdued laugh and dragged the chair out beside her and sat. When he ran his fingers through that black, wavy hair, Sophie wanted to scold her mother for pointing it out to her. She could never unsee the grandeur of that hair.

"All right, hit me."

"Ever been in prison?" Sophie asked before she lost the confidence. If he would be residing under the same roof as her and her kids, even if only for a couple of days, it was something she should know.

Lucas shook his head. "A few overnights at the police station, but that's about it."

Sophie wanted to inquire further on that, but if it was just overnight, she couldn't imagine it was that big of a deal. "When was the last time you saw Jason?"

After a hefty groan, Lucas knocked the table with his fist three times before looking over at her. "Eight months ago," he spoke, scarcely above a mumble. "I guess he was on a fishing trip with his buddies one town over, and showed up at my place at around two in the morning, so drunk he fell into my house when I opened the door.

"He told me he had feelings for someone," Lucas admitted, still soft so no one could overhear. "Some woman who managed a restaurant by the law firm. I know you said he never loved you, Sophie, but that was bullshit."

So, Lucas had known about the affair which was why he seemed so un-phased by it at lunch. "Why do you think it was bullshit?"

Lucas shrugged. "Because he told me he did. He hated having feelings for another woman because he loved you and the kids so much and didn't have a fucking clue what to do about the situation."

Sophie couldn't help but wonder why in the hell he would tell her he didn't love her that way if he did, but Lucas wouldn't have that answer for her.

"She didn't know he was married, Sophie. Not then, at least. He hadn't told her, and at the time it was just innocent flirting. We talked for a while, until he passed out, and when I woke up, he'd already left. That was the last time I saw my brother. I knew he had feelings for someone, but I didn't know he'd given in to them or was leaving you."

Sophie nodded slow as she sought to take it all in. Her head dropped into her shaking hand and she recited all the words he spoke in her head, trying to consume them without pushing herself over the edge. Then one thing occurred to her, bringing her back to their talk at lunch.

Lucas hadn't been what she'd expected, and he listed off all the things she must have suspected about him, all dead on, one of which was assuming he lived far away, which was why they never saw him.

The last time she asked where his brother lived was years ago when she was sending out wedding invitations, and was given a Rhode Island address, but Lucas also said his dad showed up to inform him of Jason's death yesterday, but was in town today. That, and Jason's fishing trip late last year was in the town of Sterling Bay, known for its excellent fishing, just forty-five minutes away.

That's how far her children's uncle lived for who knows how long. Forty-five fucking minutes.

"So you live by Sterling Bay, then?" Lucas nodded his confirmation. "How long?"

His eyes squinted a bit, and he was quiet for a moment before shaking his head. "It's where I grew up after my dad left us. I moved back about six years ago. Needed a fresh start."

Though he claimed Jason loved her, Sophie found that difficult to accept considering he didn't tell her about a damn thing. He didn't tell her much of anything about his brother, including where he lived. He didn't reveal going to see his brother all those months back. It seemed all the closets in their home were packed to the brim with Jason's skelton's.

Sophie was questioning if she knew Jason, or his family. Hell, she knew more about Lucas at this point than her own husband.

"Does your mom still live there?"

Lucas bobbed his head. "Yup."

"What do you do for a living?"

"I build custom furniture. Started the business a few years after Arianna died. Before that, I owned a small construction company in Rhode Island."

The pitter patter of tiny feet caused Sophie to spin just as Ella trotted into the room, her light brown hair a tangled mess. "Can Uncle Lucas take me to the park?"

Sophie looked over at him and observed his lips curve up into a slight smile when he met her gaze. "Can Uncle Lucas take her to the park?" she asked him, wanting to leave it up to him.

Though she still didn't know him that well, she knew enough to trust him with her kids, more so than Jason's own parents. Not that she didn't trust them, just didn't like the things they filled her young children's minds with.

Then he ran his fingers through his dark wavy hair yet again, causing Sophie to make a mental note to scold her mother for ever bringing it up. Lucas then looked over toward Ella, and his smile widened. "I would love to take you to the park."

When he stood and walked out of the room, Sophie couldn't help herself. "Was it scary starting over?"

Lucas paused in the doorway and turned to look at her. "I ended up becoming the worst version of myself after Arianna died. Yeah, it was scary, but not as scary as it would have been if I hadn't done it. Now I know I'm where I'm meant to be. I'm doing what I love, where I love, and you're giving me the chance to be a part of my niece and nephew's life, and yours. I'm damn grateful for that."

Sophie returned his smile and watched as he walked out of the room, hearing the front door open and close moments later.