Sunshine After The Rain

Chapter Four

Sophie opened the front door to her house. Just as it had been the last few days, there was a quiet that acted as a constant reminder to the turmoil her kids were experiencing. Nothing she did could erase or lessen the pain of them losing their father.

Ella was more sad she hadn't seen her daddy in days. No matter how many ways they explained it and no matter how many times Sophie tried, all Ella seemed to understand that her father wasn't there when she woke up and wasn't there to say 'Goodnight'. His absence was one she felt, but couldn't comprehend.

"I guess they're both upstairs," Sophie said, setting her keys and purse on the white console table beside the door. "Ella is still too young to get what's going on. Justin understands and has barely said a word to anyone since I told him. The only time I've heard him talk in days is when my mom sat down in Jason's chair. He freaked out."

Serendipity kicked in and her mother walked into the room, a dishrag in hand and her hair in wild disarray. "And who's this?" she asked, her smile weak and her brown eyes tired.

"This is Lucas, Jason's brother. He just got into town."

Her mother's smile, however, disappeared at the words and she walked over to the man she was introduced to, wrapping her arms around him as if he were an old friend. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry about your brother. He was a good man and a great husband and father."

Lucas exchanged a knowing look with Sophie over her mom's shoulder and gave her a polite squeeze.

Since her mom lived so far away, she wasn't aware of the problems within her marriage or of Sophie's suspicions of the affair, let alone a confirmation of one. Despite being close with her mother, it wasn't something Sophie had spoken about. Saying everything aloud would have made it all real, and she wasn't ready for that reality.

"Thank you," he whispered. "I just wish he and I had been closer." Lucas released himself from the embrace and took a step back.

Sophie couldn't help but feel the same way. It would have been a godsend to have him in their lives all this time; not only for her children, but also for Jason and herself. Maybe having Lucas in their lives, in Jason's life, would have allowed him a better role model to look up to rather than a cheating father who paid more attention to what was in his bank account than his own family. Maybe he would have been someone she could talk to if having a good-hearted man in her husband's life hadn't made a difference.

That was the world she was living in these days; an endless amount of questions and maybe's with no clarity.

Not wanting to subject him to her mom's famous prying, Sophie spoke. "I'm taking him upstairs to meet the kids."

"Oh," her mom replied with a shake of the head. "I forgot you haven't met them yet. Maybe having you around will cheer Justin up a bit. He isn't much of a talker these days."

Sophie gestured toward the staircase before leading him upward toward the bedrooms. Every time she was about to face her children, a fear built within her. She was afraid to be with her children, knowing she'd be in this all alone for maybe the rest of her life.

Her foot caught the edge of step and Sophie stumbled backward, holding onto the railing to stop herself from falling. Despite keeping herself balanced, Lucas' body moved against hers to protect her from a fall. Maybe she'd go to hell for thinking it, but she couldn't help but compare both men's bodies in that moment.

Jason went to the gym every other day after work and jogged around the neighborhood on Sunday, so he wasn't an unfit man, but whatever Lucas did for a living must have been hearty manual labor, because when his arms grabbed her body to keep her from stumbling, they were like tree trunks, whereas the rest of him against her was like she ran into a tank.