Sophie watched as he paced the sidewalk, talking to whomever was on the other end of the line.
During all the times they’d been together, he’d never gotten a call or taken a message, she realized, wondering who the caller was.
“He’s cute, Sophie,” one of the other volunteers praised as they packed up the Christmas decoration boxes into a plastic bin they’d tuck out of the way until it was time to repack everything after New Year’s.
Cute. Bleh. Dragging her gaze away from the window, Sophie shrugged and wished her friends would come up with a better way of describing Cole. She wasn’t going to call him cute when to do so felt as if it would be an insult rather than compliment. Cute was for bunny rabbits and puppies. Cole was…Cole.
“A bit quiet, perhaps, but definitely cute,” the volunteer continued. “How long have you been seeing him?”
“We’re just friends,” she said, not sure if that was true. Were they friends? More than friends? She’d almost kissed him.
“Seriously? Y’all were so fun sledding, and then when I saw him show up at church and come sit right next to you, I thought the two of you must be an item. I was like ‘Go you, Sophie Davis.’”
Sophie smiled at her friend’s encouragement but wasn’t sure what to tell Laura, wasn’t sure what Cole would want her to say. Something wonderful was happening between them, but she didn’t fool herself into thinking that she knew how to label it. If he believed he wasn’t good for her, would he ever really embrace a relationship between them?
The answer wasn’t one she wanted to acknowledge.
“He’s new in town,” she commented, knowing her friend was waiting on her to say something. Cole had been in Pine Hill less than a year. That counted as new, right? “He doesn’t know a lot of people. I thought it would be nice for him to come to church and meet all of you today. You know, get involved in the community a
nd make friends.” She tried to look casual, as if their conversation wasn’t a big deal. She didn’t want to trigger a lot of gossip. Any discussion about their relationship should first occur between her and Cole. Only, she’d seen Cole’s face after Isabelle interrupted. His regret at what had almost happened had been obvious.
“That’s great.” Laura sounded genuinely pleased by Sophie’s answer, then asked, “You’re sure there’s nothing more to it? You looked so happy to see him when he sat down beside you this morning.”
How many people had zeroed in on her reaction to Cole joining her at church?
“I was happy he came to church. He told me hasn’t been in a while.” Ecstatic. “Shouldn’t we all have been glad he was there?” She gave her friend a pointed look. “Seriously, he’s a bit of a loner, so I was pleased that he came this morning.”
Isabelle had been listening with interest. Sophie had been all too aware of that fact, so she wasn’t surprised when her sister joined the conversation.
“Sophie’s interest in Cole stems from the fact that she feels sorry for him because of what he went through during his military career.” Isabelle’s tone brooked no argument. “You know how she is about wanting to wrap every soldier in one of her quilts.”
Sophie frowned at her sister. She didn’t feel sorry for Cole. Hearing her sister say that she did just didn’t ring true.
“I do feel badly for what he’s been through,” she began, meaning to continue explaining from there—that she was saddened by all the hardships he’d faced, yet that she admired his strength and resilience—but Laura interrupted when she paused to collect her thoughts.
“You gave him a quilt?” Laura sounded impressed. “That’s great. I love all the charity projects you do. I just don’t know where you find the time, though.”
“Um, no, I haven’t given a quilt to Cole.” Sophie didn’t point out that people made time for the things in life that were most important to them. For Sophie that was family, church, work, and Quilts of Valor. “Not yet. I hope to award him a quilt someday. He needs one so badly but doesn’t think he does because he doesn’t really understand what it is we do, how our quilts heal. He doesn’t believe he deserves to be wrapped.”
Because Cole didn’t believe he deserved anything good. He might not have said the words out loud, but she was sure they were true.
He thought he was no good for her. He was wrong about that, too.
“I just have to convince him to let me award him one.” She sighed, then resolved herself. “I’m working on convincing him, slowly but surely. Someday, I will give him one and he will feel better.”
A quilt with prayers set into every stitch she’d sewn. The quilt she’d designed and was making currently. A quilt she was making specifically for him, even if she was just now truly admitting it to herself.
As she sewed, her head, and her heart were filled with thoughts of Cole and how the material would soon wrap him in a forever hug.
“That’s wonderful,” Laura said, placing the last of the ornament boxes into the bin. “I’m sure he appreciates all you’re doing to help him get acclimated to Pine Hill. If you truly aren’t interested in more than friendship, send him my way.”
Still distracted by her thoughts, it took a minute before Laura’s comment sank in. When it did, Sophie fought to keep from frowning at her friend.
Um, no. That wouldn’t be happening. Laura was a great person, but Sophie wouldn’t be sending Cole in any direction that involved another woman.
Because the thought made her a little crazy.
A lot crazy. Crazy jealous.