A Gift Of Grace. Inglath Cooper
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headed for the kitchen. Darcy followed. “Not so fast,” she said.
“What?” Sophie pulled Saran wrap from platters of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches carved in various shapes with the aid of cookie cutters.
“I saw that look in your eyes.”
“What look?” Sophie said with a laugh.
“That I-think-he’s-hot look.”
“Even if I did, I assure you he barely noticed me.”
“Sophie, you’re way too hard on yourself.”
“Realistic,” she corrected with a tip of her head. “Plain Jane and Charlottesville’s answer to Kevin Costner. I don’t think so.”
“Sometimes I wonder who you see when you look in the mirror.”
Sophie managed to avoid an answer, heading outside to set the food on the picnic table beneath the tall oak at the corner of the yard. As she struggled to reposition a couple bales of hay, Sophie couldn’t help wondering how Caleb Tucker had managed to carry two of them at a time.
Cars began pulling into the driveway, and the backyard was soon abuzz with three-and four-year-olds, all equally awed by Grace’s birthday donkeys. Mr. Crawford had the ease of manner to get everyone lined up for a turn around the yard.
The back door opened. Sophie glanced up. Aunt Ruby and Uncle Roy walked over, Ruby with her usual take-charge manner and Roy looking unsure of his welcome. Taller than her husband by several inches, Ruby had always been the clear leader between the two, Roy the kind of man who preferred peace to conflict and usually did whatever it took to achieve it.
“Hello,” Sophie said, shooting a protective glance toward Grace.
“Sophie,” Aunt Ruby said, nodding once, her lined face stern, her gray hair pulled back in the same severe bun she’d worn since Sophie was a child.
Sophie hugged them both, Ruby’s posture stiff and unyielding. Roy hugged her back though and gave her an awkward pat on the shoulder. She was shocked by how much older they both looked, Roy’s once-black hair now nearly white.
“You look good, Sophie,” he said.
“Thanks, Uncle Roy.”
Darcy stepped forward just then and said, “You must be Sophie’s aunt and uncle. I’m Darcy Clemens. Nice to meet you.”
“Who knew Sophie had so many friends?” Ruby said to Roy as if Sophie and Darcy weren’t standing there.
Darcy’s eyes widened. She started to say something, but Sophie shook her head. Darcy pressed her lips together.
“Could I get you something to drink?” Sophie asked.
“Just point us in the right direction. We can help ourselves. And where’s that little Grace?”
“She’s on the white donkey,” Sophie said, folding her arms across her chest and forcing politeness into her response.
“My goodness. Pretty little thing, isn’t she? She doesn’t look a bit like you.”
Ruby marched toward the food table then, Roy following with downcast eyes.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Darcy blew out a snort of disbelief. “Oh, my gosh. You grew up with that?”
Sophie shrugged. “You learn to ignore her.”
“Sophie. No one should have to put up with that. Why do you let her come at all?”
She was quiet for a moment, and then said, “They’re the only family I have.”
“Some family.”
Sophie glanced down, rubbed a thumb across the back of her hand.
Darcy squeezed her arm. “I’m sorry. That sounded awful.”
“It’s okay, Darc. I know how it looks. Maybe I should have cut the ties long ago, but she was my mother’s sister. They were nothing alike, but she’s the last link I have.”
“It’s a shame we don’t get to pick our relatives,” Darcy said.
“I have no intention of letting her ruin this party. So if you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about her.”
“Sure,” Darcy said, sympathy in her voice.
“I’d better check on the sandwich trays,” Sophie said and headed for the kitchen.
CHAPTER FOUR
WHEN SOPHIE CAME BACK out a few minutes later, Mr. Crawford had put the two donkeys in the shade with a little hay to nibble on. All the children gathered around the picnic table for cake and ice cream. Most of them ended up wearing as much on their clothes as they managed to eat, eating with the kind of unrestrained pleasure children show for simple things.
On the invitation, Sophie had asked that the guests not bring presents but items to donate to the local animal shelter in Grace’s name instead. The box by the picnic table was full with paper towels, canned food, detergent, everyday items the shelter needed to stay in operation.
The children played games for forty-five minutes or so, Red Rover, Simon Says and jump rope. They all took one last ride on Oscar and Lulu, and then it was time for Mr. Crawford to load the donkeys up and take them home.
Once he’d gone, some of the children began to leave. Those whose mothers hadn’t yet come to pick them up remained, and a new game of Red Rover began.
From across the yard, Sophie watched Ruby single Grace out and kneel down beside her, one hand pushing Grace’s blond hair back from her face where it had escaped her ponytail. Some protective instinct surged inside her, and it was all she could do not to storm over and sweep her daughter up in her arms.
A couple of minutes later, Ruby walked over and said it was time for them to go. “You’ve made a nice home for yourself, Sophie. You and Grace. I hope you’re happy.”
“We are,” Sophie said, hearing the defensiveness in her own voice.
Ruby reached inside her oversize purse and pulled out what looked like some kind of legal document. “Oh, and by the way, there’s a little something I need for you to sign.”
“What is it?” Sophie asked, surprised.
“The land my daddy left to me and your mama. Roy and I have decided we’d like to build a house on it. We think ten thousand dollars is a fair price to buy you out. And since it’s not something you’re ever going to use—”
“What land?” Sophie asked, shaking her head.
“It’s just a few acres outside of town. We never even saw fit to tell you about it, since it wasn’t worth anything.”
“Ten thousand dollars sounds like something.”
“We just want to make sure we’re being fair to you.”
Sophie glanced at Roy, who stood behind Ruby, hands in his pockets, his gaze set on the children still playing. She pressed her lips together and then said quietly, “This is something that belonged to my mother, and you never told me about it?”
“Oh, Sophie,” Ruby said, her voice rising, “don’t go and romanticize something that isn’t a big deal. Your mother wouldn’t have given two licks about that land.”
“How do you know?” Sophie said, gripping the papers between clenched fists. “I have a feeling you have no idea what my mother cared about.”
Ruby took a step back, as if Sophie had slapped her. “You were always such an ungrateful—”
“Ruby,” Roy said. “Let’s go.”
Ruby stared at Sophie, her gaze hardening. “Look over the papers, Sophie. Roy and I both would appreciate your