“Ah…” I grin, finally putting the pieces together. “So what you’re saying is I should’ve brought my own?” I tease, eyeing a cup in his hand.
He holds it up proudly. “Yep. I got here early and made the mistake of trying it, nearly choking to death. So I made a quick trip across the street to the cafe.”
I smile, the weight of my anxiety slowly releasing from my chest.
“I’m Caleb, by the way,” he says, holding out his free hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Sophie.” I shake it. “You too. Oh, and thanks for the warning. I appreciate it. My roommate usually makes the coffee in the morning, but I was running late.”
“My pleasure.” Caleb’s bright blue eyes meet mine as a wide grin splits his face. “Well, I think we’re about to start, but I’ll give you my number afterward so if you’re running late next time, I’ll grab an extra coffee for you.”
My eyes widen, my insides fluttering with confusion.
“Sorry, that came off really strong.” He frowns, placing a hand over his chest. “I only meant that as a friend. Surprisingly, I’m not very good at socializing.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I tease with a grin. “And no, it’s fine. My guard is a little up.”
“Totally understand.” Caleb flashes another warm smile that has me breathing easier now that I know he’s not trying to hit on me.
The minister from the church announces for us to find our seats. The chairs are in a circle, and it seems so formal. I follow Caleb and sit next to him.
A woman sits beside me in the empty chair and smiles. “First time?”
I suck in a breath and nod. “That obvious?”
She smiles and shrugs. “Yeah, but don’t worry. Everyone is very kind and supportive here. They’ve become like my second family.”
“That’s good to know.” I hold my hand out toward her, trying to come out of my shell a little and participate as much as I’m capable of. “I’m Sophie.”
“Dacia.” She takes my hand with an assertive nod. “Nice to meet ya.”
The room goes silent as the minister stands, introduces himself, and welcomes everyone. Pastor Jude is probably in his fifties, soft spoken, and has a kind smile. He mentions how happy he is to see a few new faces, directing his gaze at Caleb and me.
I learn so much in the one-hour discussion. Dacia lost her twin brother unexpectedly six months ago to a drug overdose and blames herself. It’s heartbreaking to hear her talk about her grief and the struggle she has accepting she couldn’t help him. I catch myself tearing up a few times, oddly grateful I’m not suffering in that capacity.
I’ve decided not to share too much and just dip my toe in enough to participate. Mostly because I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling to strangers or anyone really, but I also don’t want to get too personal, especially if I don’t plan on returning.
I learn Caleb lost his wife only a few months ago, which makes me feel like scum when I thought he was flirting with me earlier. I can tell he’s really distraught over her and talks so warmly about his late wife, Sarah, who tragically died in a car accident.
The others share and talk about their stories too. So many others. Parents. Siblings. Spouses. One woman lost her child only a month ago.
The tears in my eyes aren’t for Weston, though; they’re for everyone here who lost someone they truly loved and cared for, and that brings a whole new perspective to what I’m going through.
I walk out with Caleb and decide to give him my number anyway. It might be nice to have a friend who doesn’t look at me with pity and sadness.
“You remind me of someone,” I tell him once we’ve reached the parking lot. “You just have one of those faces.”
Caleb chuckles, then brushes his hand over his jaw that’s covered with a few days of old stubble. “I’ve heard that a time or two.”
“Well, you do kind of have that tall, dark, and charming vibe so—”
He arches a brow, and I cringe as soon as the words spew out of my mouth. “Oh my God. That came out all wrong.”
“It’s okay.” He grins. “My wife used to make comments all the time about being the cliché of a romance hero in one of her books. Then she’d say I wasn’t allowed to leave the house looking like one.”
I see a glimmer of sadness in his eyes as he talks about her, and my heart squeezes at how much pain he must be in.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your wife. I can’t even imagine. I can tell you love her a lot.”
“I won’t lie and say it hasn’t been hard. My friend is actually the one who told me to come to one of these meetings and give it a try…” He shrugs casually. “So here I am.”