Page 92 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

“Hon, he does that every day, but few notice it.”

“I saw it right up close.”I started the truck but didn’t pull out.My hands stayed wrapped around the steering wheel.“I want to do something nice for him to say thank you.”I heard Sofia babbling in the background and smiled despite myself.“Can you put me on speaker phone?I’d like to ask Sofia if she would help me.”

“Okay, you’re on speaker.Sofia, Gia’s on the phone.Wants to ask you something about Daddy.”

“Heya, Miz Gia,” her high-pitched voice came through the phone.

“Sofia, how would you like to help me make dinner for your daddy?He was a real hero today for a lot of people.”My voice softened.“Sometimes heroes need somebody to take care of them when they get home.”

“Yeah.”That was it.

In the background I heard little feet thundering across the floor and Lisa laughing, which somehow made my chest ache.

Lisa chimed in, “I think that’s all you get.She’s off and running.Timothy texted he probably won’t be in until seven-thirty and asked me to get Sofia fed and bathed.He’ll put her to bed.”

The fact he was still thinking about Sofia after the kind of day he’d had twisted at something inside me.

“You think he would be okay with us making him dinner?”I asked quietly.“Especially when he’s super tired?He might not want company or noise or…” I trailed off.Or me.

“I think it’s exactly what he needs.Someone needs to get him to see he’s appreciated.He doesn’t take praise or that kind of thing very well.”

I smiled to myself, picturing the way he shrugged off every hard thing like it cost him nothing.“I was thinking stuffed pasta shells Sofia can help me make.Something warm he can just sit down to without having to think.”I hesitated before adding softly, “He takes care of everybody else all day long.Feels like someone should take care of him for once.”

Lisa went quiet for a moment like she heard everything I wasn’t saying.Then she said gently, “He’d like that more than you know.”

“I remember him talking about your breadsticks.”My grip loosened on the steering wheel.“Would you be up to making some with us?”

“We’ll do it together.I’ll teach you.How about you come over at five and we’ll start cooking?”

ChapterThirty-One

TIMOTHY

There wasan unknown car parked up at the main house.I figured Mom had company over and barely gave it another thought.My brain was full of all the jobs I’d crammed into a few hours this afternoon, exhaustion, and the weight of the day pressing behind my eyes.

I cut down the brick walkway toward my place.Then I noticed all the lights were on.Not just on.Warm.Golden.Alive.

The second I opened the door, one of Sofia’s favorite country songs blasted loud enough to rattle the windows.Then came shrieking laughter.Pure little-girl joy.

I stopped in the entryway.The kitchen table was set for two.Actual plates.Candles not yet lit.Little hot pads waiting for dishes.

For a second, I just stared.What on earth was Mom doing?

I moved quietly toward the kitchen, meaning to spy on them for a second before announcing myself.And froze.

Gia stood in the middle of my kitchen wearing one of my aprons, her hair loose and messy from dancing.My mother was beside her, both trying to teach Sofia a line dance while the music blasted.

Gia pointed dramatically at Sofia’s sneakers.“No, no, sweetheart.This foot out first.Then this one.Then we turn right.”

Sofia copied her with fierce concentration, tongue peeking from the corner of her mouth.

Mom snapped her fingers.“Now hips, baby.You gotta commit to the hips.”

All three of them turned at once, completely off beat, and dissolved into helpless laughter.The sound loosened all the tension from the day.A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

All three of them whipped around.

Gia went still first.Like she’d been caught doing something wrong.“You’re back already?You’re early.”