Page 10 of Someday

“That’s Sutton.”

Callum grumbles something under his breath.

Why won’t she look away?

Instead, the three of them walk toward us and are seated at the table directly across from us. It’d be too obvious if we got up and left now.

When Hilary notices me, her head tilts and her smile grows. “Theo Landmark, is that you?”

I smile and reluctantly get up, walking toward their table, cursing the manners my grandparents instilled in me.

“Hi, Hilary. It’s good to see you.” I hold my hand out to shake hers and she surprises me by standing up and hugging me.

“I can’t believe it. You’re such a man now.” She laughs. “Sorry, I’m aging myself, but wow,” she shakes her head, “you look great.”

“Thank you,” I say, smiling awkwardly. “You do too.”

She turns to her wife, still squeezing my arm, and says, “Abby, this is Theo Landmark. Whenever I’d come visit, I always got to see this guy…he and Sofie were two peas in a pod.”

I shake Abby’s hand and she smiles wide. “Now,thisis a handsome man. My wife has been going on about Robert Redford again, and no, just no.This,” she holds both of her hands toward me, “thisis a handsome man, darlin’.”

I glance at Sofie, and her cheeks are brighter now, a small smile on her lips.

“You should come over for dinner tomorrow night,” Abby says, shaking her fists like she’s excited. “Hilary and I are leaving the next morning, but we’d love to have you over, get to know some of Sofie’s friends.”

Sofie looks like she’s swallowed something bad, her expression possibly a mixture of everything I’m feeling right now.

How the hell would you know what she’s feeling? You don’t know her anymore, I remind myself.

“Invite that sullen creature sitting next to you too,” Abby says. “He looks like he could stand a good home-cooked meal. Nothin’ like a nice supper to put a smile on your face,” she says loud enough for him to hear.

I chuckle. “That’s my brother, Callum, and trust me, even a good meal doesn’t do much for his personality.”

“Heard that,” he says. “Hey, Sof.” He nods at her. “Nice to meet you, Hilary and Abby.” He knows how to pull out the manners when he needs to as well.

“Hi, Callum,” Sofie finally speaks, pressing her lips together until they’re a darker shade when she frees them.

“So, you’ll come tomorrow night?” Abby asks.

“Oh, that’s kind of you to invite us, but I’ve got plans with my family—we both do,” I tell her, taking a step toward my table.

“Another time then,” she says. “We’ll be back.” She pats Sofie. “Look after this one for us until then, will you?”

Sofie’s cheeks flame and her eyes dart to mine.

Sure that I’ll say something snarky if I speak, I don’t say anything. Thankfully, Wyatt shows up then and I introduce him to Hilary and Abby and then return to our table.

Wyatt’s eyes drill a hole in me when he sits across from me.

“You okay, brother?” he says quietly.

“Of course,” I say, not convincing anyone at this table.

“Are we getting dinner or dessert?” Callum asks.

“It’s a miracle I got you both here, we’re having dinneranddessert.” I pretend to be engrossed in the menu.

“We can get dessert here and pick up a pizza on the way home,” Wyatt says.

---