Now That I've Found You

Now That I've Found You: Chapter 5 "The Epiphany"

Gwen tried calling Sophia but couldn't seem to reach her. She got up and went to the counter to place an order for a latte. She hadn't talked with her since her business had taken off. She stayed busy. She heard the bell chime, looking towards the door she saw Edmond and Nikita. She waved them over as the barista placed her beverage on the counter.

"Hey, guys! How are you?""Good. Just happy to be off from work." Edmond responded taking a seat across from Gwen."Same." Said, Nikita. "Ready to relax and vibe to some good music. What about you how's life treating you?"

"Good, but it seems like I haven't seen my girl Soph in a while." Edmond chimes and says "Yeah I haven't seen Braxton since he's been promoted. That boy is on the up and up!" Nikita smiles, "Each step with small success I am happy for them. They both seem to be working hard in accomplishing their goals. They inspire me to set a goal and achieve it."
Gwen looks over and mockingly says "'Aww, makes me want to set a goal and achieve it'. Oh, stop it. Are you serious?""What? I am serious Gwen." Nikita said."That is really awesome Nikita!" Edmond quickly interjected. "What goal would you like to set?" Nikita thought about her answer for a minute and then responded. "Well, I achieved one and that was planting a garden. So, I would like whatever fruits I manage to grow, to sell them at the farmer's market. Producing healthy and organic fruits and vegetables," she smiles. "At least 10 percent of the proceeds will go to the youth in our community."
Edmonds sits back nodding his head, "I am impressed, I love that goal." Gwen says, "I see what you did there. I can dig that." Edmond looks over at Gwen and asked her what were her goals. She pauses, "I haven't really thought about it... I decided to take a break." Both Edmond and Nikita looked concerned as Gwen looks off at the live band playing on the stage.
Gwen is now in a stance. She isn't really sure of what she wants to do. Throughout her life, things were always planned for her. She admires Sophia who has the drive and passion to go after what she wants. Then it appears as though a light bulb goes off in her head and a smile reaches on her face. She thought, that this would be a great opportunity to go after what she wants.
Over the next few weeks, Sophia has settled into a routine with Braxton. Since she's been picking up more business she would typically prep at her place and then finish the orders off at Braxton's. She knows that Mondays and Wednesdays he goes into the office so she's free to make all the noise and jam out to music in the kitchen. Tuesdays are his half days. But on Thursdays and Fridays, he works from home. She will have most of her orders ready on Thursday and Friday ready for pickup and delivery.
It's Friday, and she is quietly humming a tune while music is playing in her ears. Braxton finished work early today. He makes his way to the kitchen and stands and admires Sophia humming and moving her body. Her eyes are closed then she twirls around then her eyes opened and jumps as she is startled"How long have you been standing there?" she asks as she removes her headphones from her ear. "Not too long, I was just watching the show. Great dance moves by the way," as he chuckled, she throws her kitchen towel at him."Haha very funny," rolls her eyes then ducks as he throws it back. She sticks her tongue out at him, "You missed." She then laughs out loud as he makes a move forward to come after her around the island.
Oh. We'll see about that." He moves to the opposite side of the island."Oh no! Please I have to finish this up!" "You're the one making this harder than it has to be," Braxton said in warning."-and then make you some lunch.""Not my problem. You started this.""Me!" She stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Oh no, you don't get to blame me." Just as Braxton fakes to the left, She moves right."Gotcha!" Braxton immediately catches her around the waist. Then proceeds to tickle Sophia who starts laughing hard and pleading."Please don't tickle me. I can't stand being tickled."
Braxton suddenly stopped but was still smiling down at Sophia who's hands were laying on his shoulders as if to push him away. She had tears coming down her face and he found himself gently wiping them away with one hand as he held her close with the other."Are you okay?" the smooth tone of his voice falling over her like silk. She then looked into his eyes and then she found her eyes falling on his mouth.There was suddenly silence in the kitchen and Braxton still held Sophia close."Yes." she felt breathless. Her heart was pounding in her ears. Heat slowly creeping across her body and she wasn't sure why. Just as Braxton closes his eyes and leans in to kiss her, Sophia's alarm on her cell goes off. She quickly pushes him away." Oh wow. I have to make your meal." She steps around him " After that, I have to make those deliveries today."
While Sophia was moving around the kitchen preparing his meal. Braxton was still standing where she left him. He was not sure what happened except he knew that his body was on fire for only one person and he didn't know how to describe how incredible it felt to finally be on fire for someone who wasn't Patricia. He looked over at Sophia and realized he had developed feelings for her. "While you do that I'm gonna run to the restroom and then I'll be back to help with the deliveries."
He walked to the bathroom. He washed his face his eyes closed, Sophia's face was there. His hands braced against the wall and he just stood there with his head down. "I don't want to ruin this," He thought to himself. He didn't want to ruin a great friendship. They were in a good place and comfortable with each other. She is just so different. Sophia wasn't like anyone else he'd met before. He noticed how his family embraced her. How his mother enjoys her cooking and advertises about her skills and business to everyone she knows. He roughly shut off the water.Who was he kidding? He and Sophia have been spending so much time together, this was bound to happen. Shaking his head he dried himself off and walked over to get himself dressed.
On the outside, it looked as if nothing phased Sophia. She quickly had everything loaded into the vehicle and Braxton's food cooked and put together; however, on the inside, she was taken back by what took place. She knew it all happened so fast and it was just purely innocent. Friends joke around all the time and plus a guy like Braxton isn't into women like her. A burst of laughter came forth, with that in mind she totally dismissed what happened.
That day Braxton and Sophia managed to deliver everything to the clients. Shopped for more groceries for his place and once they arrived back to his place they unloaded the groceries. Braxton walked her back outside towards her car."That was fun," he said opening the door for her. "But I really think there has to be a better way.""Awww your not exhausted from delivering are you?""Listen I admire your craft. You have a lot of patience." he watched as she got into her car and started it up. "Well, I have been doing this for a while. " She looked down at the time. "I need to get going but do you mind if I bring help with me with next weekend, just one person."For a minute Braxton thought about it. "Sure. No problem," he responded.Sophia gave him a big smile."Thanks." She closed the door and started pulling out of the driveway.
Braxton watched as she left. "Get it together. Get it together." he thought to himself.He remembered that there was a lot he needed to focus on. With that, he made his way back to the house. Made sure to lock up and turned the lights out on his way to his office. He sat down at the desk and turned on some old R&B jazz and got to work.

In the following days, Sophia continued to stop in with Gwen or Nikita to do her orders and deliveries. On the days Braxton was there conveniently Gwen was able to help and when he wasn't there, Nikita would step in to assist. She didn't mind helping out since her hours were super flexible. Sophia put Braxton's meal away so he would have it when he came home.They took the rest of the orders out to the car and she locked the door on her way out and they set off.Once they got everything delivered she stopped by Braxton's parents' place to drop off the last of the order. Sophia had called her to let her know she was on her way and there she was waiting outside for her.As Sophia got out of the car his mother was smiling and waving.

"Hello, my dear." She gave Sophia a big hug."Hello. Everything is there and I even put extra, just in case you would like to share," said Sophia smiling."Oh my goodness. You are so good to me, thank you so much.""No problem. Truly appreciate the business you have been sending my way. I have been getting a lot of calls and feedback. So I greatly appreciate it.""Of course. We have to support each other. These are very difficult times where as a community we have a chance to see more of our people flourish and how can that happen if we don't go out of our way to do something as simple as building each other up." Sophia, smiling, nodded in agreement."Very true, Mrs. Chase. Well, I'm going to head out and please give Mr. Chase my regards."They hugged again and she left.
She got in the car and as she was putting on her seat belt she looked over at Nikita, who seemed to be listening deeply to whatever the individual on the other end was saying.
"You should take everything I'm telling you seriously." She paused for a moment. "You have so much potential but you are not putting it to use. You continue to look at the world as if it's your own personal playground and the moment you're brought down to a specific part of the earth, nobody gets you cause they don't understand your level of knowledge." The individual on the other end seemed bothered by what she said cause you could hear their voice rise a bit."Okay listen, let's talk about this later. I'm actually still out running errands so I will call you back and don't ignore my call. " With that, she hung up and took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Sophia looked over at Nikita briefly as she drove."Everything okay?" concern filled Sophia's voice. Nikita looked over at her."Oh yeah." She waved a hand, brushing away the concern. "It was one of the teens I mentor. Every day there seems to be a new tragedy." She smiled over at Sophia. "They'll be okay."Sophia nodded.
In all the time they have spent around each other she realized that she didn't really know a lot about Nikita. She wanted to ask about her family. Her life growing up. What inspired her to be a mentor?They decided to go to The Voyage Cafe for lunch, where she got the opportunity to ask. They sat and conversed for a while about plans for throughout the week. The server came and placed their tea on the table, smiled, and walked away.
"Nikita where exactly are you from?" Sophia sipped her tea and slowly placed it back down on the saucer. " I have always been curious about your accent and upbringing and your background and culture." Nikita smiled and sipped her tea. She took her time, thinking over her response, then placed the tea down and sat back."I was born in Rhein-Phlatz to two island parents. One Jamaican and the other Trinidadian.They were young and in love and a few years later they weren't." She leaned forward, picked up her spoon, and started stirring her tea, all the while smiling.Sophia could see the sadness behind the smile."That seems to be the back story to all of us," Sophia replied gently smiling. "Why did they not stay together if you don't mind me asking?" Nikita Shrugged."Who knows? They probably just had a lot going on, uncontrollable interest in other people, or got bored with the family life. " She starred at the table for a moment. Lost in space."But my mom didn't wait around for a man to make our lives better. We did that ourselves."
It seemed like the most common thing to happen to most families. Mostly middle-class black families. Marry young, have kids, and man or woman turn would around and leave the family behind. Sophia thought about her mom and how hard it must have been as a single parent raising her and her sisters. "What about you? How did you fare growing up?" as Nikita sat back. She waved over the server. "More tea please." He nodded and walked away."As a single mother...my mom was pretty determined to keep us in church and made sure our grades were on track.""That is really good. How many of you?" asked Nikita and Sophia's eyes widen. "Oh no, you don't. This is about you, Nikita. I want to know about you." They laughed."Okay well, I had a grandmother who made sure I and my little brother were in church. Rarely saw my dad, but my grandmother didn't play when it came to the bible, honey."
At that moment Nikita's accent came to the surface. As she spoke she was so animated and her expression's lively. She smiled and even laughed at some of the mischiefs she and her brother got into as new youngsters in a poor neighborhood. She talked about how anxious she was as a teen and how she traveled to see the world. Then the light slowly seeped away as she spoke of about the passing of her loved ones. Her grandmother, mother, little brother, and then her father.
Sophia reached across the table and held Nikita's hand."I'm so sorry for your loss. Was that this year?""Yes but I am managing. In the beginning, I blamed God for all my pain and suffering. I was soo.. angry. After I was able to calm down and just...breathe... and trust me that was painful. I realized that He was preparing me for other storms that were to come in my life. That it wasn't my place to hold on so tightly. He clearly had a different purpose for them beyond me. So after a while of praying, meditating, listening, and forgiving, I was able to start healing."Sophia had so much more respect for Nikita after hearing about her life story. So much strength after so much loss. It was incredible that she could even speak of it without losing her emotion."I couldn't imagine losing anyone I loved." Shaking her head Sophia picked up her tea and begin to drink."No one does. We're all just living in the moment. Cherishing memories. Until the metronome stops, everyone loses time and rhythm. Eventually, we all have to face things.Accapella right?""Girl your phrases are so unusual, you're right. What about your love life?""Oh, gosh. I saw that coming.""What?! I mean you must have someone special in your life?" Nikita shook her head."Not really. I was married once, but that was a poor decision on my part. Partly out of rebellion and denial but all the same an immature move," sipping her tea, Nikita placed it back on the table. "And what about you Ms. Questionnaire. I'm here giving you a story of myself and you have yet to do the same. I feel completely exposed." "Okay, okay... What would you like to know?"
One side of Nikita's lip tilted up into a smile as she leaned forward placing her elbows on the table and her chin on the palm of her hands. Sophia looked back at her with an unnerving expression."I hate when you do that," as she sat her tea down, Sophia tilts forwards while crossing her legs under the table. "What do you want to know?"