Sunshine After The Rain

Chapter Fourteen

Sophie's phone rang just after ten in the evening, and when her best friend's face filled the screen, she instantly grabbed the phone and accepted the call.

"Hey!"

"Oh, honey, I am so sorry. I just got your voicemails. I'm in Paraguay right now and just got cell service. I can't believe Jason's gone," Lily shot off as if it were all one sentence.

Despite only talking once or twice a year, Lily had been her best friend since childhood and her maid of honor at her wedding. The last time they'd spoken was when Sophie confessed her suspicions about Jason's infidelity, right at the beginning when her life first started going downhill.

"Are the kids okay?" Lily asked when Sophie remained quiet.

Sophie crawled beneath the covers of the bed that now felt too big and rest her head on the pillow. "Ella still doesn't understand death. I kind of wish Justin didn't either. He's so angry, Lily. I mean, he was better when Lucas was in town, but ever since he left two days ago, that kids been a terror and a half. Everything I say is wrong and everything I do makes things worse."

"Back up. Who's Lucas?"

"Jason's brother," Sophie clarified. "He showed up once he found out and stayed with me and the kid's for a few days. He'll be back this weekend, but with the way my life's going, I'll be institutionalized by then."

"You've met the long lost brother, huh? What was he like?"

It was nice talking about something other than her husband's death or his life's indiscretions, though Sophie guessed those too would be visited at some point. Still, any conversation about the good things in her life was a relief. "He's great, oddly enough. I just always assumed he was an asshole, but he's not. Lucas is down-to-earth and kind and great with the kids. I don't know how I would have survived the week without him."

"Well, I'm happy you found someone to be there for you. I feel like an ass hat for not making it to the funeral. But I've booked a flight and can be there Saturday. I'm just wrapping up the documentary, so I managed to get four days off before I have to fly back home and do the edits. If you don't mind overlapping company, that is. Any man in your life, even a friend, requires my approval, as you know. Even when you choose to go against all of my advice."

"I'll be happy for the distraction," Sophie reassured. She'd also find Lily's reaction to Lucas to be interesting. Seeing as the men were polar opposites, and Lucas was a giant cuddly bear, he would probably throw Lily through a loop.

It was no secret that Lily never supported Sophie's relationship with Jason. Though she didn't voice her opinion often, when she did, she made it count. Lily likely judged Lucas from the single fact that he was a member of Jason's family, who Lily was aware was full of judgement and could be downright callous to her on occasion.

Still, it would be interesting to hear Lily's take on Lucas. Seeing as she turned out to be plenty right in regards to Jason, Sophie would probably listen this time around. Because Lily was a great judge of character, and had never been wrong about a single person, Sophie would trust in her friends judgement. If Lucas wasn't as great as he seemed, she'd rather find out now before she relied on him too heavily.

"So, about the last time we spoke," Lily eased in, "I know this is the last thing you want to talk about after what happened."

Sophie knew where her best friend was going with this conversation and decided to get more comfy in the bed. "What you've missed in my life could fill an entire damn book. Yes, Jason was cheating and admitted to it in the same conversation he asked for a divorce, which took place probably about a half an hour before he died.

"Then I see her at the funeral and arrange to meet with her. Then I talk to Garret at the funeral, who told me he was only leaving me because he got her pregnant."

"Seriously?" Lily interrupted.

"I'm not done. So the next day I go to meet up with her, and the bitch had the nerve to not be a bitch at all. She had no idea he was even married. He even rented an apartment to look like he was single. She's taking me over there on Sunday so we can clear out his stuff while Lucas watches the kids.

"Anyhow, her, Lucas and I went over to Jason's parents house the other day and caught them up on everything. To say this last week has been mentally exhausting would be the understatement of the century."

"Holy shit, I've missed a lot," Lily noted aloud. "How are you doing, honey? Does the whole, 'he was a cheating pile of shit' make dealing with his death any easier, or is that a terrible thing to ask?"

It wasn't a great thing to ask, but Lily was the most blunt person she knew, so Sophie expected nothing less than the unfiltered truth. "I mean, I'm sure I would have been laying in bed this entire time if our marriage had been solid rather than shit by the end. I miss him, and I wish he were still alive... I don't know. My heart feels broken, but my head is too all over the place to process the break.

"Garett and Lucas both told me that Jason admitted to still loving me, but I just don't understand how you can love someone, and still be willing to cause them so much pain. I never thought of cheating on him. Not one single time. I gave him my entire heart, Lily, and no matter how many times someone tells me that he loved me, I can't help but feel like he never wanted it to begin with."

A heavy sigh was heard on the other end of the phone. "I know you said that hearing it doesn't mean much, but as much as I didn't like or trust the guy, I do think he loved you, Sophie. Jason... He was just always that guy where nothing was ever enough. He graduated third in his class in law school, and griped about not being first. You guys bought your first house, and he was already planning on the next house in a higher tax bracket. Justin came home with a 'B' on his report card, and Jason is disappointed. Nothing and no one was capable of making Jason satisfied with his life, and honestly, I felt sorry for him because of that."

Everything Lily said was one hundred percent accurate. Sophie noticed it on many occasions. Any time she felt excited about something, Jason appeared unsatisfied. Every big step they were about to leap into, he was already focused on the following step rather than just taking in the moment and enjoying it for what it was.

Still, she never expected to be one of those things.