Sophie

By Jennie Sargam

Sophie Banks has worked hard for what she has: top of her senior class in high school, gainfully employed, and hopelessly in love with the handsome Eric Lawrence. With graduation a mere three months away, Sophie’s life is on track until a family brawl turns her world upside-down. Between being exposed as having a less-than-ideal home life and faced with a principal who is fed up with her antics, Sophie is forced to live with a guardian, the strictest teacher from her parochial school, Ms. Brooke Jennings. Balancing her new life while hiding her old, Sophie is overwhelmed. On one lonesome drive home she’s involved in a life-changing car accident. Brooke’s loyalty through it all has Sophie seeing her guardian in a whole new light—as the mother she desperately needs. If only Sophie can get the rest of her family to feel the same. When Brooke moves in, love and loyalty will be tested, but will Sophie get the happy ending she’s fought for?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Jun 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483423128

Book preview

SARGAM

Copyright © 2015 Jennie Sargam.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2311-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2313-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2312-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014921960

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 04/22/2015

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 1

Sophie? the teacher called out, but to no response.

Ms. Jennings silenced her class with a wave of her hand. She stood at her student’s side holding a textbook. Trapped in a daydream and lost among the doodles on her page, Sophie was none the wiser.

Pow! went the slam of a textbook on the ground next to her. Sophie’s head flew up from the desktop.

So glad you can join us, Ms. Jennings said with a smirk.

Sophie’s heart was still pounding as her teacher walked away. Everyone’s gaze had fallen on her, including the center of her fantasy, Eric Lawrence. Judging by his grin, he pretty much had her figured out. Who could blame her, though? He sat close enough that his cologne left her mesmerized. With every run of his fingers through his messy brown hair, she longed for his caress. She could see the movement of his every muscle under his white polo uniform shirt. He was an eighteen-year-old man of absolute perfection in her eyes.

However, even in all his glory, the reality fell short of heaven, to be that close to someone yet feel miles away. Eric was not simply the stuff of dreams; he was hers. Very few knew. Their relationship was complicated and had to be kept hidden, at least until after graduation, a brief three months away. But Sophie couldn’t even think that far ahead. She just wanted to get through eighth period, Religion and Morality.

Who would like to continue reading? Ms. Jennings asked.

A few students raised their hands. Jason, Eric’s younger brother, was chosen though he had not volunteered. As he began, Sophie snickered at his failed attempt of hiding behind her. He nudged her shoulder and continued on.

As Jason finished, a discussion ensued. Despite Ms. Jennings’s best efforts to stay on topic, the students morphed it into nothing more than a barrage of questions about sex. Sophie always steered clear, and considering Eric had his nose buried in his book, he must have felt the same.

It never failed. The utter curiosity of the students and the unceasingly pure opinions of the teacher would always clash. Somewhere in their minds they felt that at twenty-seven years of age, Ms. Jennings should be able to appreciate their point of view. Sadly, youth aside, there abounded the values of a hundred-year-old virgin dressed in her lame floral ensemble du jour.

She’s too saintly for me, Sophie overheard one student whisper as the conversation fizzled.

To Sophie’s delight, the bell rang. This room was also the twelfth-grade homeroom, so the seniors headed to the row of lockers at the back. The sound of the metal doors slamming and the thud of books being shoved inside filled the room.

When they were alone at their lockers, Eric said to her, You don’t even have to do anything and you get in trouble.

What can I say? I have a gift, she replied.

When everyone had settled down, Ms. Jennings led the students in the final prayers. Sophie bowed her head, but what she should be reciting had long abandoned her. Instead, what was to come gripped her thoughts. Her pensiveness was lost upon the others. In these last moments of the school day, the mission was to collect her strength. Sophie had a silent prayer all her own.

Amen, they said.

While waiting, the students talked and joked amongst themselves. The final bell rang and the class became silent. Ms. Jennings dismissed them one at a time. Sophie was among the last to leave, but she didn’t mind. It gave Eric enough time to meet up with Jason and pick up his youngest brother, Shawn, from the prekindergarten classroom.

By the time Sophie left, she could see the three brothers strolling through the courtyard on the elementary side. This was her cue to cut through the walkway between the junior high buildings. They preferred leaving this way so as to not raise any eyebrows.

About a block away from the school, there was the lot where they parked. This was her walk to freedom, if only temporary. Once inside the vehicle, she was free to be Eric’s love and not just his classmate.

Hey, baby, Sophie said.

He smiled before their lips met.

Ewww! was the chorus from the backseat.

We didn’t need to see that, Jason joked, Shawn laughed next to him.

Close your eyes, Eric said as he thumped Jason’s knee.

Eric backed out and drove off the lot. On the main road, the buildings on either side of the vehicle zipped by. He took the same route every day to get to the carpentry shop where they worked; a fifteen-minute drive straight through the heart of town.

A series of turns through a maze of gray warehouses brought them to the front door of their shop. Eric went in first and turned off the alarm, then made way for everyone else to come in. The place had that all too familiar smell of sawdust. Eric disappeared between the large machines and sheets of wood. He reappeared again with his overalls in hand and headed up a flight of stairs on the other side of the room. On that floor was Sophie’s office and a bathroom, which Eric had gone into. The office had a large glass window. Inside, the boys started their homework.

The bathroom door creaked as Eric closed it. He walked past the window and went downstairs to work on a cabinet for one of their customers. He was very patient and thorough; he had been taught well. The business was now busier than ever. They even did work for some of the local hotels and inns. Together they had accomplished so much, yet couldn’t live the life they wanted. Until their high school shackles were removed, their lives would still have plenty to balance.

And so they did. Hard at work, the sweat began to trickle down Eric’s face. The whirring of his saw was heard only as a hum upstairs in the Sophie’s office. Typing away at the computer kept her preoccupied, but thoughts of a cozy bed popped into her mind from time to time.

All right, homework’s done. I’ll check if Eric needs help, Jason said.

Take Shawn, she muttered, her eyes glued to the computer screen.

The clock on the wall now ticked past 5:45. Eric liked to leave around six. She hurried to finish what she was working on. The feeling that there weren’t enough hours in the day was ever present.

No sooner had everything been filed away, she heard the sound of Eric’s boots thumping up the stairs. He came inside and plopped down on the couch. She took up the spot next to him.

You’re feeling it too? Sophie sighed.

We need a break. Let’s go to a hotel for the weekend, Eric suggested.

I would love to go, but you’re forgetting about Shawn and Jason.

Think about it. We could actually be alone for an entire weekend. No school, no work, no brothers. Darrell could stay with them.

Eric slid closer, swept away a wisp of hair that had fallen from her messy bun, and kissed her neck. With each kiss, he whispered a titillating, Alone. By the time he reached her ear, her body was covered in goose bumps. It had been a while since they had been intimate. Stress and tiredness had gotten the better of them. Not right now. She turned to him, but before anything could happen, the door flung open. Shawn came running in.

Jason’s being mean to me! he yelled.

No, I’m not, echoed up from downstairs.

Her eyes rolled and her head fell to Eric’s shoulder as she let out a rather loud sigh.

Make the reservations.

He let out a triumphant Yes!

Maybe it was fate, but Shawn’s timing could not have been more perfect. They both agreed to talk to Sophie’s older cousin, Darrell, about babysitting.

Tell Jason it’s time to go, Sophie said, and Shawn ran off to deliver the message.

The route home was far different than the one they took to get to the shop. Traffic was nonexistent, and the country roads offered a far more pleasant view. The sun was now setting. Pink and purple hues streaked across the darkening blue sky. It was also more peaceful being away from the bustling town. Well, as peaceful as the bickering in the backseat would allow, that is. Nevertheless, the possibility of getting a mini-vacation brought such joy to her heart. Little did she know her newfound happiness would soon come to an abrupt end.

They came to the top of a steep dirt hill; from there a small lagoon could be seen. There were a few boats moored, mostly belonging to fishermen. The only sound to contest with Jason and Shawn was an echoing plop as a pelican dove into the water to snatch its prey. The houses were few and far between. Sophie always referred to this area as being behind God’s ear. It was far off the well-traveled road. The bushes on either side were too thick to see through, and there were no streetlights. The road continued around the edge of the lagoon and up the hill just a bit to the wrought iron gate that sealed the entrance to their property.

As she gazed out the window, something caught her eye. There was a rusty green car parked in front of their gate. A woman leaned against the vehicle with her back to them. Eric parked and got out to ask her to move, but the lady didn’t budge. She didn’t even acknowledge someone standing right behind her.

Excuse me, ma’am, but you’re parked on private property. Could you please move your car? he asked again.

A few seconds went by, and still no response. Eric turned and glanced at Sophie, confusion etched across his face.

You’ve made a good life for yourself, Eric, the lady said.

Baffled, he stepped closer. She raised her head, and Eric’s mouth gaped. He was at a total loss for words, and in his mind, he doubted who he was seeing. Her appearance was grossly different than what he remembered. The drugs she used through the years proved to be no fountain of youth. Her once brown hair had been dyed an awkward shade of red, but her graying roots showed. Her skin was wrinkled, pale, and pasty in the fading light. Even more disturbing, he would pick up a whiff of alcohol every time the wind shifted.

You look like you’re seeing a ghost, she said.

Just about, he replied. What do you want?

I’m here to say goodbye.

Chuckling under his breath, he backed up a bit and glimpsed at everyone in the car.

You’re two years too late.

Can I explain?

I couldn’t care less about your excuses.

That’s no way to talk to your mother! she snapped.

I have no mother.

Inside the car, Sophie and Jason realized who it was. Jason begged Sophie to stay, but she wasn’t about to let Eric face this woman alone.

What are you doing here, Virginia? Sophie demanded.

Well, well, well. I wish I could say it’s nice seeing you again, but this doesn’t concern you. I’m here to see my sons. Virginia turned to Eric, Why do you still have her around? You could do so much better.

Sophie laughed. I see some things never change. By the way, this is our family, our property, and therefore it is my concern.

You have her living with you? Couldn’t you just screw her and leave like she deserves? Oh wait, let me guess. You’re keeping her around so Jason can get a turn too? She’s nothing but a slut, just like her mother, Virginia said.

Sophie was about to tear Virginia apart, but Eric managed to hold her back.

That’s right, son. Keep your bitch on her leash.

Jason, hearing more than he could bear, flew out of the car.

Oh, my son, look at how much you’ve grown, Virginia cooed, as Jason approached her.

She raised her hand to touch his face, but he pulled away. Too many times those hands had caused him pain. She realized her touch wasn’t welcomed and retracted her hand. It became obvious that the reunion she had hoped for was not going to happen.

I just wanted to let you know I’m leaving the island. I’ve met someone, and we’re getting married, she explained.

I feel sorry for him already, Jason replied, shaking his head.

Virginia glared at him, irritated by his remark. Her face reddened; she gripped the edge of her car.

You know what? It’s obvious this bitch has turned both of you against your own mother.

That bitch is twice the mother you ever were, Jason said, springing up in front of his mother.

Sophie saw that Virginia raised her hand to slap Jason. He flinched downward, bracing for the hit. Before the blow could fall, Sophie grabbed Virginia’s hand, twisted it behind her back, and slammed her up against her car.

Hit him and, I promise you, it will be the last time you ever use that hand, Sophie said pressed up against Virginia’s face. Wisps of Virginia’s hair fluttered under the force of Sophie’s words.

Eric pulled them apart, and Virginia straightened up.

Get the hell out of here before I call the police, Eric said, managing to squeeze the words through his clenched teeth.

Jason stood still in shock, his face red and his hands balled into fists.

No, Jason, just go, Sophie ordered.

Jason was raging inside. His face resembled his mother’s a few moments earlier. Sophie nudged him in the direction of the car. In a moment of spite, Eric turned around.

Oh, Mother! he called.

When she looked, Eric grabbed Sophie and kissed her. It was forceful, but the pressure between their lips was far less uncomfortable than his mother’s death stare. Virginia slammed the car door.

Leaned toward them, she scowled, You’ll pay for this, and she sped off. Dirt and tiny rocks kicked up in the air.

Jason was off pacing by the side of the road. He bent down, picked up a stone, and heaved it after the car. They watched it sail through the air and then harmlessly slam into the dirt. Sophie allowed him a moment to vent his anger, snapping off branches and whipping tree trunks. A fire burned inside. He was furious that his mother would come back after all this time and revive the pain he had buried away. He leaned against a tree and stared down at the ground. His jaw pulsed when he clenched his teeth.

Sophie approached Jason and reached for his hand. He pulled away. She tried again to get close enough to console him. She managed to get her arms around him, herself feeling shaky, astonished that the situation unfolded the way that it had.

Let’s go, she suggested. We’ll talk about it up at the house.

Feel better now? Eric asked him as they got in the car.

Shut up before I make Sophie kick your ass too.

Eric pulled in the driveway and parked in front of the house. He tossed the keys over to Sophie and picked up Shawn from the backseat. Incredible, how he had managed to sleep through the commotion but squirmed when Eric lifted him. Jason straggled behind with their backpacks. Sophie pushed open the glass-paned door, and Eric swept past her.

Inside, they went about their business. Sophie had cooking, laundry, and homework to finish up, but something was more pressing. Once the food was going, she took the opportunity to hunt down Jason.

How are you doing? she asked.

Pissed.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I felt the same.

Who the hell does she think she is to start shit here? he seethed.

From her point of view, she was only trying to get closure, but then things went wrong.

She’s the one that’s wrong, he countered.

No argument here, but blaming her doesn’t make it all better, does it?

No, he answered.

You wanted to hit her.

I did.

Do you understand that what I did was to protect you, not something that was done out of anger?

Don’t sit there and tell me you weren’t angry. You hate her as much as I do.

Words are one thing, but hitting her would have gotten you nowhere.

But you did hit her, he pointed out.

I stopped her from hitting you.

And the difference is?

The difference is that I will always protect you, but the aggression you have, you have to learn to deal with better. Take it from someone who’s been there, beating the hell out of her wouldn’t have taken away what you’re feeling now, she said.

I was so angry, and I all I could think of was that I can’t let this woman hurt me again. If I had hit her—

If you had hit her, you could have gone to jail. I know you want better than that. What are you going to do to make sure that doesn’t happen again?

I don’t know, he said, as if he was really supposed to have an answer to that.

I can’t tell you there’s some perfect way to solve this, but you do need to find a different direction to channel how you feel. You stand the risk of hurting someone or even yourself if you don’t.

I’m no better than her.

So, now you’ve gone from lashing out to turning it inward. Get out what you feel, or it will eat you up inside, Sophie said.

He searched for a moment the words that could begin to explain how he felt.

I’ve never hated someone as much as I hate her. When she tried to touch me, it felt like she was only looking for a way to hurt me. A mother isn’t supposed to hurt you, but she won’t anymore. She’s dead to me. All along, I’ve wondered if things had changed, if she would find us one day, and everything would be like it was before. Any time I did something great or got an award or a trophy, I would always hope she would be there. But she never was. So stupid.

You’re not stupid because you had hope, nor does it sound like you hate her, Sophie said.

I know how I feel, he blurted out.

If you hate her, why would you hope one day she would be back?

She had a point. Jason just lowered his head.

A part of you will always long for her. You can go ages without your parents around, but every once in a while they’ll pop into your head, whether good or bad. Who knows, maybe one day she’ll change. If not, you still have some good memories of her and your dad.

I think they’re fading. I don’t remember him like I used to. His voice, or his face, or the way he walked. With my mother, there’s just been too much bad to remember any good. Even the bad, I’ve tried to block out so much of it.

Why? she asked.

Why would anyone want to hold on to that?

So you don’t make the same mistakes that she did, Sophie said.

Is that what you’ve done? It’s not like you had the perfect parents either.

This was where the conversation became one she dreaded: too personal.

Am I doing a good job?

And ducked from it whenever she could.

You’re the best thing that’s happened to us. I don’t know where we would be without you.

Oh boy, the shit’s getting deep! she joked.

It’s true and you know it.

I’ve never done any of this for praise, Jason. I will always put you and your brothers first, she reassured him.

Can’t you just take a compliment when you deserve it?

I’ll tell you what I think I deserve, and that’s a weekend at Crystal Cove. You’ll be fine, right? she asked.

Wait, a whole weekend without you?

Don’t even think about it, you won’t be unsupervised.

It’s not that.

Aw … you’re going to miss me, aren’t you? she cooed.

They poked and harassed each other until Jason had a grin on his face. She managed to get him in a better mood, and that was most important. Problem dealt with, and he left her to the cooking.

When dinner was over, Eric spoke to Darrell about babysitting, while Sophie got Shawn ready for bed. All was going well. Darrell was thrilled to oblige. Jason was okay, considering his brush with a psycho. There was only some cleaning up left to do and then, hello, warm shower and cozy bed.

By the time she had settled in, Eric came upstairs for the night. She had been waiting for this moment.

How do you feel? she asked.

Her thoughts had been so consumed by this since then. She needed to hear that he wasn’t angry at how she had handled the situation. He sat on the edge of the bed with his back to her.

I don’t know.

How do you feel about what I did? she asked, looking like the words had lanced her.

He turned to her.

You think I’m upset at you? You protected Jason, he said.

But she’s still your mother.

I know I should feel some shred of love or something, anything, but I don’t. I just don’t feel what I think I should, he explained.

It’s strange you should say that. Jason says he feels hate. You guys are so different. When you’re upset your words can be blistering, but there’s really not much behind it. With him, there’s so much anger and pain.

That’s because he’s taken the brunt of the abuse, he said.

I still haven’t done anything to temper it. If anyone should be able to relate to what he’s feeling, it should be me, Sophie said.

I think you’ve done a good job with him.

Not good enough if this is what he’s struggling with.

Please stop blaming yourself for this, he begged.

It’s my fault. I could have done a lot of things differently.

Knock off the pity party.

Look who’s talking about pity.

What? he asked.

Pity is what you feel for your mother. Am I right? Sophie asked.

He nodded his head.

I look at her, and all I can see is the horrible life she has. None of her children around. Drinking, smoking. Who knows how that man treats her?

Do you ever feel guilty about having everything when she doesn’t?

It doesn’t seem fair sometimes. We’ve been lucky.

We’ve made good decisions. We’ve chosen good people to let into our lives. Aligned ourselves with success. That isn’t luck, Sophie asserted.

I just wish I could—

Save her the way you saved me, Sophie finished his sentence. You have a valiant heart, but she has to want to save herself first.

Sophie meant well, but that wasn’t much of a consolation. It only made him feel more helpless about his mother’s situation.

If ever the day comes that she reaches out for help, you’ll be there. Until then, the reality is we have to look over our shoulders and be prepared for anything.

Stop worrying; she’s gone. It was all talk to scare you, he explained.

You do realize she could very easily throw a wrench into the machine if she figures out what we have going on here? She’s already vowed to get back at me.

What’s the worst she could possibly do?

Sophie wasn’t impressed with that remark.

I don’t know about her, but I know what I would like to do to you, he continued.

How could you possibly be in the mood!

Don’t sit there and pretend that you don’t want me to relieve some of that stress.

Disgusted, she flipped over to the other side, away from him. That mood had long abandoned her, but that didn’t stop him from trying.

Can we pick up where we left off in the shop? he asked, kissing her cheek.

Can’t you just hold me?

Not thrilled, he nevertheless obliged. She snuggled against his side and he wrapped his arms around her. It was in those arms that she felt at peace. Hopefully, he would be right, and Virginia wouldn’t do anything. Even if she did, it wasn’t as if it would have any power over their combined might. That confidence helped her drift off to sleep. And rest she would need.

Chapter 2

Bright and early, breakfast was served, uniforms were laid out, and all was packed and ready to go to school. There was more bounce in Sophie’s step this morning, now that all of that drama was behind them. It was Friday, a joyous day in and of itself. And even better, this afternoon would be the start of their mini-vacation once Eric called Robby after school to book a room. No traffic on the way to school, and a nice shady spot to park. Her first class wrapped up rather well. One down, seven more to go. Rather glorious when the universe conspired in favor, for a change.

The students settled in for their second-period class, and the teacher began. There was a knock at the door. The principal’s receptionist entered. Sophie could sense the apprehension in the lady’s gaze as she looked out among the faces in the class. She whispered something to the teacher, then left.

Eric and Sophie, please report to the principal’s office, Mrs. Campbell instructed.

They got up from their desks to the usual round of teasing. The others were just glad it wasn’t themselves who were in trouble.

Now this was bad. To be sent to the principal for a wrong they knowingly committed was one thing. They couldn’t help but feel that they were about to be blindsided. Sophie’s stomach churned.

What did you do now? she asked Eric when they were out in the empty hallway.

Nothing! he declared.

I’ll bet this is about your mother, she said.

Stop jumping to conclusions. It’s probably nothing, he reassured her.

If it had been possible to drag her feet along some more, she would have, but they had arrived.

Have a seat. Mrs. Scotland and Mrs. Parker will be with you shortly, the receptionist told them.

"Well isn’t this just great. The meeting is with both of them," Sophie whispered to Eric.

You need to stop. I know you don’t like Spitty Parker, but just deal with it.

His words fell on deaf ears. As the door opened, the hinges creaked. A puff of cold air fell upon them. The vice principal, Mrs. Parker, stood in the doorway. She had a fierce look in her eyes. Sophie stayed where she was for a moment, clinging onto the chair’s armrest as if some evil force would suction her into the room. Fighting her hesitation and with a nudge from Eric, she went inside.

On the walls, diplomas and pictures hung, along with school memorabilia. The principal, Mrs. Scotland, was sitting behind a large desk. She looked cross and not the usual you’re-being-a-pain-in-my-ass look that she’d worn before when dealing with them. She held two files, Eric’s and Sophie’s. She shook her head and gripped the files before tossing them on the desk.

"Do you know who showed up to my office this