At one point you said my sandwich making skills gave me an
advantage. I’m hoping that’s still the case.
-Ozzie
P.S. Samson wanted to share your peanut butter so please
don’t be offended by the bite marks on the label.
She put the letter down and picked up the peanut butter. Sure enough, there was a set of perfect bite marks that dented the plastic container and tore the paper a bit. She couldn’t help but laugh.
“What is it?”
“It’s peanut butter and jelly,” Sofia said with a smile.
“Why would he send you peanut butter and jelly?” Jenny asked, as she picked up the note.
“Because your Zia Sofia has a weird obsession with how people make PB&Js. She even broke up with a guy once for doing it wrong,” Hattie answered.
“You did?”
“Listen, sandwich-making is a very important skill to have in a relationship,” Sofia added as she opened up the bread and started making them lunch.
“Well, if he sent this, then it definitely means he’s been thinking about you.”
“Maybe, but what am I supposed to do now?”
“Call him.”
“No, I can’t. I mean, I basically walked out on him in New York. I left that hotel room and got on Micah’s plane without even turning back. He’s got to think the worst of me.”
“He doesn’t think the worst of you,” Hattie said, “Besides, even if he did, then he doesn’t now. You guys have only been back for a week and he’s already reaching out.”
“But why didn’t he call her sooner?” Jenny added.
“I don’t know. Men are crazy creatures. You will learn as you get older.”
“I thought we were through. I’ve been trying to get the idea of him out of my head for days now. He hurt me so much by not trusting me enough to tell me who he really was. The worst part is, if he didn’t have money, this wouldn’t have even happened. It’s just another example of how having money like that messes with people’s minds. It makes them lie about who they are and their motivations.”
Hattie took a seat at the counter. “What were his motivations, Sofia? From the beginning, all you told me was how refreshing it was to have someone who put you first. You met a guy and over the course of only a couple weeks, he agreed to go to your brother’s wedding so you wouldn’t be alone. He loves dogs, takes care of kids and seems to be crazy about you. If you ask me, he’s kind of perfect.”
“But he lied.”
“Yeah, so? Did you tell him all of your family’s dark secrets?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then you can’t expect him to have told you everything either.”
“It sounded like his family was a disaster. But that’s a whole other issue. Let’s say we get back together and they hate me because I’m a Corsetti... then what?”
“You’ll never know until you call him, will you?” Hattie said, pushing Sofia’s phone across the counter to her.
It had been hours since Ozzie left the box at Sofia’s door. He didn’t expect her to reach out right away or even at all, but his dumb heart kept hoping for it. He paced his office at the youth center for the hundredth time when he heard a knock at the door.
“Mr. Ashford, there is someone here to see you.”
“Do you know who it is? I’m kind of waiting for a call.”