Page 31 of Marrying a Spy

Chapter Ten

Kari left a half hour after the cake ran out. She smiled at Sophia and wiggled her eyebrows. She said that Sophia’s future husband, real or not, could drive her home.

Noah pretended not to notice the annoyed look on Sophia’s face as she hugged Kari. Once Kari left, the bakery grew silent.

Rebecca began clearing the countertop of their forks and napkins.

“That was really some amazing cake,” Sophia said. “The white sponge with lemon curd is going to be a show stopper.” She slipped off her stool and stretched. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to run to the bathroom.”

Noah nodded, and Rebecca directed her toward the back of the shop. After Sophia was gone, Noah turned to Rebecca. She quirked an eyebrow as she continued to clean up.

Needing something to do, Noah began brushing crumbs off the counter and into his hand. “What?” he finally asked when he couldn’t stand the silence.

Rebecca chuckled. “Nothing. It’s just that you show up after ten years, and suddenly, you’re engaged to Sophia?”

Noah cleared his throat as he stood and walked over to the trash to dump the crumbs. He knew what Rebecca was insinuating, and even though telling her the truth would set everything straight, he couldn’t. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

“It’s not like that,” he said.

He felt her gaze on him. “Honey, it never is.”

Not sure what she meant by that, he joined her at the counter, where he picked up the tray of empty plates and nodded toward the swinging doors she’d emerged from earlier. “Kitchen?” he asked.

“Thanks.” Rebecca pushed open the door and held it as he entered.

He walked straight over to the sink and set the tray next to it. Once the water was hot enough to scald his hands, he began to fill the sink.

“We have a dishwasher,” she said.

Noah brushed her off. There was no way he wanted to let some machine take away work he could do himself. He needed something to keep his hands busy. Or he might just explode with all of these thoughts about Sophia swirling around in his mind.

Rebecca fell silent as she stepped up next to him with a dish towel in hand. After he washed, she rinsed and dried. After a few minutes, he glanced over at Rebecca.

Her grey hair was tucked back into a bun with wisps of curls framing her face. Her dark-blue spectacles were perched on her nose. His dad had been a fool to treat Rebecca the way he did.

“How did you get over it?” he asked before he could stop himself. He’d always wondered how she hung around for as long as she did when his father was struggling as much as he had. Maybe if she’d been able to forgive him, that might mean Sophia could do the same.

Rebecca pursed her lips for a moment before she sighed. “Life is hard. Sometimes decisions are made in the throes of emotion. Most times, we react the strongest to the things we care the most about.” She glanced over at him, and a knowing look passed over her face. “She’ll forgive you.”

Noah dropped his gaze and scrubbed the pan in the water with a bit more vigor than was strictly necessary. He wanted to believe what Rebecca was saying. He wanted to allow that hope to flicker in his chest. How amazing would that be?

But then reality came crashing down around him. Even if she could forgive him, that wouldn’t change anything. She was going to hate him all over again when he walked away for the second time.

He swallowed and shook his head. “She won’t.” He wanted to say, she can’t. But the reason he was here and his plans for when he left were his alone to bear. And if he was smart, he would keep everyone he loved at a distance.

Even though he’d been more than happy to get away from this place as a teenager, leaving a second time just might break his heart. How had his life come to this point?

A hand landed on his shoulder, and he glanced back to see Rebecca’s knowing gaze. “You’re worth it, Noah. You know that, right? Sophia sees it. I see it. Sometimes it takes an outsider to understand the potential in a person.” She sighed, adjusted her glasses, and grabbed another dish. “That’s what I saw in your father. That’s why I never gave up.”

He watched as she dried the plate. “Thanks. You’re an incredible person,” he said.

She smiled over at him. “Thank you. It’s easy when you are around good people.”

He knew she meant him, but he brushed off the compliment. He wasn’t a good person. He was broken and scared. He was weak. And the people he loved deserved a strong person to be there for them. He was fool to have let himself back into their lives.

“Can I help?” Sophia’s soft voice filled the silence.

Noah couldn’t help but glance behind him. His heart leapt in his chest when he saw her. Even though she’d only been gone a few minutes, she looked more beautiful than ever. She’d pulled her hair back, exposing her neck and the lines of her collarbone.

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