Annie wasn’t in that hospital room anymore. Instead, she was in the cold hard ground in the cemetery in Barrie.
And Sophie was here. Alone.
“Earth to Sophie! What’s the matter?” Emily asked from her booth. Since Soph had been back, she had realized that it wasn’t only her life that had changed. There were many other people who had accidents, had heartbreak, and who found new things in themselves.
In the 7 months that she had been gone, the town seemed to flourish. There were more tourists that flocked to the new B and B’s that had opened up. The corner store started selling more exotic wares and a clothing store opened up called Threads.
Soph was sure that the store was the only reason that Em came back in the first place. Apparently she had been out finding herself while Soph was gone.
“I’m fine, really. Just a little preoccupied. How is the new job?” She signed to the other woman.
They had grown up together. They had been friends, but things had been different since Annie’s accident.
Sophie had to admit that everyone liked her twin better.
Emily smiled as she set down the menu. Another change that Sophie had to get used to; the whole menu had changed. “It’s great! We just got in a new line that was made by a new designer out of Toronto. It’s really nice! It’s about time we got some good clothes around here! There is this cute dress that is black on blue colour-blocking. It would look great on you! You should really try it on.”
Every time Emily came in she tried to get Soph to buy something new. Sophie knew that it came out of a good place, but she didn’t want to think about new clothing.
She was used to the baggy outfits. She didn’t want to show off her figure. Sure, she was now more confident in her shape, but there was no point in dressing up for people around here.
And she didn’t feel like doing it for herself either.
Besides, it wasn’t like her clothes were fitting well anyways. Not with how she’d been eating lately!
“I don’t need anything. I like my clothes. I’m glad things are going well, though.” Sophie lie through. She didn’t like her outfits. She just didn’t care about them.
They were the last thing on her mind.
Between her heartbreak and the person targeting her, Sophie had way more than she could handle already!
Sophie knew that she should go to the police, but there was something that stopped her. A need to keep her own secrets private.
“I know you are getting over a bad breakup but you have to get on with your life!” Emily said, but Sophie knew that she couldn’t. Not yet.
It had been a while since she had come back, and she had to explain her absence, and the reason she seemed to cry all the time. The best way to do that was with the truth. Or at least a part of the truth.
She didn’t tell them that she had been in love with two guys from Hell. But one heartbreak was enough for Em to understand.
“And you’re over Nate already?”
“No, okay! I’m not over him really. But he’s over me, or so my mom has told me. She saw him with someone else, who he introduced as his girlfriend. It’s been a long time and it’s not like he’s going to come back to me. Now, speaking of my mom. She asked me how you were, with your sister and all. Actually, it seems like all she ever talks about now!”
Was it just her, or did Em seem a little disgruntled. Was it the part about Nate, or about her mom?
“I’m really sorry, Emily. Let me know if I can do anything. I’m sure you will find someone else. And I am coping. I went to her grave the other day, finally. It looks nice. I just wish I had been there for the funeral.”
It was one of those things that she would never forgive her parents for. She was gone for a long time, and she knew that it had to be difficult on them, but they took something from her that she would never get back.
She hadn’t even known about her sister’s death. She hadn’t been at the funeral to put a rose on the coffin. She hadn’t held her sister’s hand one last time and told her how much she loved her and would miss her.
“It’s alright. I met a few guys while I was in London but they just weren’t Nate. It will take me a while to get over him.”
Sophie understood. She also knew that as soon as Emily got enough money and job experience, she would be gone to better places. She would go to a faster city where there were interesting men. And Sophie would still be here. Because even though this place changed, it was still her home.
As much as Sophie, herself, had changed she would stay.
There was nowhere else for her to go. No other place that gave her a connection to people that she had loved, and lost.
And she still loved Adrian and Thane.
Her heart broke again just thinking of them.
Did they even miss me?
“Soph! Order up!” The cook called from the back. Sophie turned her head, smiling at the kindly old woman. She was lucky to have this.
Looking back to Emily she signed, “What would you like?”
“Oh, just a cup of coffee and a piece of blueberry pie, if you have it. Thanks.”
Nodding, Soph walked to the counter and picked up the order. With
