Page 26 of Chasing Sophia

We sit down on a bench a few feet away from the stand.

“It’s really good.” I break the silence that has stretched between us.

“Don’t say this to Don, but this is the best breakfast in town.” Ash grins before taking another big bite.

“You have many happy memories here?”

He nods. “I had all the luxuries growing up, but my parents made sure to teach me that nothing comes for free. My great-grandfather, my grandfather, and then my dad worked hard for the wealth that they amassed. They also showed me whatmoney can do. It can change lives. You might not like this. But”—he wipes the corner of his mouth with a napkin—“I’ve always encouraged my staff to work hard, and they get paid well for it. Hard work has the potential to change not only one life but also of the future generations. Money isn’t evil, Sophia. It’s man’s relationship with money that is good or bad. Wanting something that isn’t yours is evil.”

I turn in my seat to look at Asher, and he’s smiling at me. “Come, we have one more place to visit.”

This time, the car stops outside the Miller house. An elderly woman opens the front door. “Welcome home, Mr. Miller.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Hardy. This is Sophia, our special guest for today, and Soph, this is Mrs. Hardy, the life of the Miller house. Though she has decided to leave soon.” The petulant pout on Asher’s face is so cute that I can’t resist my smile.

“Not again, Mr. Miller.” Mrs. Hardy takes my coat and motions for me to enter. “You say it as if I’ve not spend fifty years of my life working in this house. This old lady wants to retire.”

“Then retire here. You don’t have to work. Hire someone for the both of us.”

My eyebrows rise, watching this foreign side of Asher. I take a seat on the couch next to him while Mrs. Hardy fixes the fire.

“I have a feeling you won’t be alone for long.” She looks over her shoulder at us and smiles. “Now, I’ll get you both some cake and coffee.”

Once she leaves the room, I ask, “she’s leaving?”

“Yep. She’s been in this place for too long.” He lets go of a frustrated sigh. “I understand, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Several seconds fly by, and I finally muster the courage to say, “I see what you’re trying to show me, Ash. My encounterwith rich men has been limited, and I… might have been too fast in judging you.”

He turns in his seat. “Thank you for saying that. Does this mean… you’ll go out with me?”

My heart hammers at the hint of hesitancy in his voice. “Yes, I’ll go out with you.”

Asher grabs my face, but before his lips can make contact with me, we hear Mrs. Hardy’s squeal. “That’s so nice to hear! This boy has been sulking since the night of the gala. I was worried he might forget how to smile.”

“I wasn’t sulking,” Asher says, holding my hand in a tight grip.

“Of course not. That was your twin brother.” Mrs. Hardy places down a tray with two cups of coffee and gingerbread cookies. “Eat them all. These are the best cookies in the world.”

Once she leaves, Asher offers me the plate. “She’s right, you know. These are Nuremberg’s gingerbread cookies. You will not get a more authentic taste.”

“So this is another perk of the rich?” I surprise myself with the joke.

“Oh, you haven’t nearly seen all the perks, Soph. Next year, I’m gonna have a renowned chef make these for us in our hotel room in Germany while we enjoy some red wine overlooking a Christmas market.”

“Really?”

“It’s a promise, babe. As long as you promise not to be upset with me ever again.”

EPILOGUE

SOPHIA

“I can’t believewe’re in Germany for Christmas.” Even though it’s been over a week and we’ve visited a different town every other day, this still feels like a dream. I look down from the hotel’s balcony to the colorful tents, lights, and people sipping mulled wine as they browse through the Christmas market.

“Your dessert is served, Mr. Miller.”

Ash and I turn at the voice of Arnold Zimmermann, the renowned chef who cooked for us tonight.

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