Page 2 of Redeemed

She studiously left out that a big reason she loved her job was 6′2, tattooed and covered in muscles. Did she mention he could cook, too? She knew it was stupid to carry a torch for her boss for this long, but she couldn’t seem to help herself where JT was concerned.

“I could at least get Magda’s number for you and you'd have it if you change your mind,” her sister responded, completely ignoring Sofia’s protests.

“Selena...” Sofia started in exasperation, but then stopped. She was wasting her breath. She knew tomorrow, she would inevitably be getting a call from her tia, or worse, a call from some of the men on Tia Magda's list of successful prospects. Magda should run her own dating app with the lists of eligible men she always seemed to have available. Sofia wondered why, if they were so great, they were still in Magda’s line up?

Sofia refocused on her task. JT truly had a gift in the kitchen. Everything he made was delicious, but he hadn’t developed any new recipes for months. Coming up with new variations on old favorites had been one of his favorite things, but now he was just falling back on what they had always served. She hoped the customers wouldn’t notice and would just enjoy their favorites.

Maggie, JT’s sister and co-owner of Common Grounds, came down the back hallway just as Sofia was finishing the board. She looked at the specials and gave a sad shake of her head. She saw it too. “How is he today?” she asked Sofia quietly. “He was already gone when Zane and I got up at five.”

“The same,” Sofia told her. “He was here late last night making enchiladas and, based on the amount of sausage and cinnamon rolls he has ready in there, he’s been here at least a couple of hours.”

Maggie blew out a breath. Even though they were still living together until she and her husband, Zane, found a new house, she saw less and less of her brother. He came in after they were asleep and left before they awoke in the morning. When she did see him, he barely spoke. She even tried provoking him into bickering with her, but no amount of poking seemed to raise his ire. She’d also heard him cry out in his sleep more than once this week. She’d begged him to get professional help, but he’d refused. She didn’t know how to help him.

“I’m completely out of ideas,” Maggie admitted. “I think he’s getting worse instead of better. Zane gave him the name of a psychologist friend of his, but he refuses to call her.” Maggie dabbed at her eyes bright with tears. “I want my brother back.”

Sofia wrapped an arm around Maggie’s shoulder. “I know. It’s just going to take some time. The whole thing with Shawna really tore him up. Maybe once the trial is over, he can get some closure and move on.”

Maggie gave her a tremulous smile. “I hope so. I don’t know how many times I’ve told him it wasn’t his fault. If there’s any fault to be had, it’s mine for refusing to tell him everything. Even if I mentioned her name, he might have realized who she was, but I was being stubborn. Zane tried to tell me, but I wouldn’t listen.”

“Stop that right now,” Sofia said vehemently. “What happened to you was nobody’s fault but that crazy woman who attacked you. You can’t predict crazy. Even though she thought you and Zane were broken up, she still came after you. Who could have predicted that?”

“I wish JT could see it that way.” Maggie sighed heavily. “He needs something else to focus on, to get him out of his head.”

“I know he’s looking forward to becoming an uncle,” Sophia said, smiling towards Maggie’s belly that was growing by the day. The twins were definitely making themselves known. “Maybe that will help distract him and pull him out of his funk.”

Maggie gave her a sweet smile and rubbed her belly. “I hope so, but the Beans won’t be here for several more months.”

“Hopefully, we can think of something before then. I’ll keep trying.” Sofia assured her.

“Thanks, Sofia. As usual, you’re a lifesaver.” Maggie tried her best to match Sofia’s cheerful face. “Come see me after the breakfast rush and we’ll go over this weekend’s events.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Sofia replied with her trademark grin.

Maggie smiled indulgently at her. “How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t have to call me boss? Really, Sofia, not only are you management now, but also a good friend. Just Maggie will do.”

Sofia shrugged her shoulders. “After five years, it’s just a habit, but I promise to try, boss,” she said cheekily.

Maggie chuckled and shook her head before going back down the hall to her office. Sofia wondered if JT thought of her as a friend now, too. She hoped so.

Chapter three

Hey, Baby

Acoupleofweekslater, Sofia was finishing up a marketing update report for Maggie when Jenny, their new server, came to find her.

“Sofia, there’s a man out here asking for you,” Jenny said as she rapped on the doorframe to Maggie’s office.

Sofia looked at her quizzically. A man was an odd description in a town as small as Gladewater, where they knew just about everyone by sight, if not by name. “Who is it?”

The girl shrugged. “Don’t know. Never seen him before. He and a buddy came in and asked for you specifically though.”

Sofia had a sudden lump in the pit of her stomach. Surely it couldn’t be one of Magda's fix ups. She'd specifically told her sister and Tia Magda, no. She pasted on a smile. “Tell them I’ll be out in just a minute.”

Jenny nodded and returned to the dining room with her instructions. Sofia stood slowly and rounded the desk. She retrieved her black servers’ apron from the coat rack and tied it on like battle armor. She had a bad feeling about this.

In the dining room, Jenny pointed her to the two men at a table near the window. They looked nice enough. Both attractive and dressed well. One in a crisp, white dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, dress slacks, and the prerequisite Texas businessman dress boots. The other was in dark jeans and a long sleeve Western shirt with pearl buttons. Summer cowboy hats sat on the empty chairs next to them. City boys, probably.

Sofia put on her best professional smile. “Hello. I’m Sofia. How can I help you?”

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