was okay.” I reply and pass the bowl to Angie. “Just okay, an hour ago you came through the door all smiles.” I look at Angie, who is watching me suspiciously.
“The only thing I can think of to make a girl go from great to ok, is a boy.” Angie says teasing. I keep my head down and slide the spaghetti around on my plate. Can she tell that I kissed a boy or is she just fishing for information? Deciding on the latter, I elect to change the subject.
“Heidi’s parents are getting divorced. That’s why I was late for dinner.” I announce and an awkward silence ensues.
I try to scoop up the last bit of sauce, interrupting the silence when my fork scratches the plate. “Glad to see you liked your dinner.” Angie says and uncovers a round container in the middle of the table. “We didn’t want to have cake without you,” she says. She has uncovered a beautiful looking white cake, decorated with blue flowers around the outside and three joined hearts. The first heart has Larry’s name inside, Angie’s in the next, and my name is in the last one.
“It’s beautiful, but why do I have a heart with my name?” I didn’t marry Larry, Angie did.
“Sophie, yesterday was the happiest day of my life; I’ve always wanted to have a wife and family and, today, you’re mother has blessed me with both.” She reaches out and touches his hand. “I know this is sudden, but I was wondering how you would feel about being my daughter?” Larry asks quietly.
“If you married my mom, I kind of already am.” I reply, not sure what he is asking.
“What he means, honey, is he wants to legally adopt you. That means your last name wouldn’t be Marshall anymore, it would be Pennington, like ours.” I see tears in her eyes again, but these are happy tears.
“Yeah, that would be ok.” It really seems like things are going to be different. If I have his name, I belong to him, too. It looks like we will be a family, after all.
“Wait,” I say, before they cut the cake. “Let me take a picture of it before you guys cut it up.” I pull out my phone and snap two pictures: one of the cake and one with the two of them behind it.
“You’re right; that is the traditional way of doing things.” Larry takes her hand, helps her cut a small slice of cake, and cuts it in half. “You ready?” He asks and both of them feed the other a piece of cake. I snap a picture with my phone; it was truly a moment worth capturing. “I think it’s Sophie’s turn next.” Larry says and looks at me.
“No, I’m good. Plus, I don’t think that’s a real tradition,” I say.
“Who says we have to be a traditional family; there’s no reason we can’t make up a few traditions of our own,” he offers.
“I agree,” my mom says, and cuts another slice of cake. Each of my parents takes a piece of cake in hand and walks over to me.
“Ok, on three,” Larry says. I count one, two, three, and open my mouth. On three, both of them smash their pieces of cake all over my face. I have cake in my hair and up my nose and very little of the delicious frosting in my mouth.
“I cannot believe you just did that. That was a waste of perfectly good frosting.” I protest and use a napkin to clean myself up. My mom places a huge piece of cake on my plate and gives me the frosting from hers. “This is so good,” I say, with my mouth full.My phone buzzes and I look down expecting to see something from Heidi. I am pleasantly surprised when I see Alex’s name.
“Excuse me; I’m going to take this to my room. Thanks again for the cake,” I say, quickly grabbing my plate and phone. I’m so nervous my palms are sweating. I put the plate down and take a deep breath before I read the text.
A: Sophie, I can’t stop thinking about you. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
I reread the text, over and over. I really do have an awesome guy who likes me; it is the most
“The only thing I can think of to make a girl go from great to ok, is a boy.” Angie says teasing. I keep my head down and slide the spaghetti around on my plate. Can she tell that I kissed a boy or is she just fishing for information? Deciding on the latter, I elect to change the subject.
“Heidi’s parents are getting divorced. That’s why I was late for dinner.” I announce and an awkward silence ensues.
I try to scoop up the last bit of sauce, interrupting the silence when my fork scratches the plate. “Glad to see you liked your dinner.” Angie says and uncovers a round container in the middle of the table. “We didn’t want to have cake without you,” she says. She has uncovered a beautiful looking white cake, decorated with blue flowers around the outside and three joined hearts. The first heart has Larry’s name inside, Angie’s in the next, and my name is in the last one.
“It’s beautiful, but why do I have a heart with my name?” I didn’t marry Larry, Angie did.
“Sophie, yesterday was the happiest day of my life; I’ve always wanted to have a wife and family and, today, you’re mother has blessed me with both.” She reaches out and touches his hand. “I know this is sudden, but I was wondering how you would feel about being my daughter?” Larry asks quietly.
“If you married my mom, I kind of already am.” I reply, not sure what he is asking.
“What he means, honey, is he wants to legally adopt you. That means your last name wouldn’t be Marshall anymore, it would be Pennington, like ours.” I see tears in her eyes again, but these are happy tears.
“Yeah, that would be ok.” It really seems like things are going to be different. If I have his name, I belong to him, too. It looks like we will be a family, after all.
“Wait,” I say, before they cut the cake. “Let me take a picture of it before you guys cut it up.” I pull out my phone and snap two pictures: one of the cake and one with the two of them behind it.
“You’re right; that is the traditional way of doing things.” Larry takes her hand, helps her cut a small slice of cake, and cuts it in half. “You ready?” He asks and both of them feed the other a piece of cake. I snap a picture with my phone; it was truly a moment worth capturing. “I think it’s Sophie’s turn next.” Larry says and looks at me.
“No, I’m good. Plus, I don’t think that’s a real tradition,” I say.
“Who says we have to be a traditional family; there’s no reason we can’t make up a few traditions of our own,” he offers.
“I agree,” my mom says, and cuts another slice of cake. Each of my parents takes a piece of cake in hand and walks over to me.
“Ok, on three,” Larry says. I count one, two, three, and open my mouth. On three, both of them smash their pieces of cake all over my face. I have cake in my hair and up my nose and very little of the delicious frosting in my mouth.
“I cannot believe you just did that. That was a waste of perfectly good frosting.” I protest and use a napkin to clean myself up. My mom places a huge piece of cake on my plate and gives me the frosting from hers. “This is so good,” I say, with my mouth full.My phone buzzes and I look down expecting to see something from Heidi. I am pleasantly surprised when I see Alex’s name.
“Excuse me; I’m going to take this to my room. Thanks again for the cake,” I say, quickly grabbing my plate and phone. I’m so nervous my palms are sweating. I put the plate down and take a deep breath before I read the text.
A: Sophie, I can’t stop thinking about you. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
I reread the text, over and over. I really do have an awesome guy who likes me; it is the most
Similar Books
