“My, you’re snippy today,” Opal sassed, snapping Sophia out of her staring, while cajoling her elbow to guide the glass of punch to her lips. “You need a few more servings of this sugar.” When Sophia had taken a long slurp of the punch, she continued. “Agnes wants to retire with Doc so they can spend some quality time together, but she can’t do that until she finds a replacement. Poor thing.”
“Yeah. Poor thing . . . ,” Sophia parroted, not caring for the path the conversation was headed. She was about to walk away from it, but Opal locked their arms together before she could manage a step.
“I think the office manager position would be a good fit for you.”
Sophia scoffed. “Hardly. That would fit about as good as a pair of shoes two sizes too small. Agonizing and awkward.”
“Come on, Sophia. I think it’s just what you need.”
“No.” Sophia scanned the group of guests, but her gaze halted on August, who was pointing at her while both Weston and Lincoln looked her way. “What is that idiot doing?” she asked just as Weston gave her a cursory sweep. His head tipped to the side as recognition flashed in his hazel eyes.
Before she could untangle her arm from Opal’s grasp, Weston was standing before her. The sweet punch turned sour on her tongue from the shrewd look he was giving her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you without the giant sun hat and shades, Mrs. Prescott.” Wes slid his hands into his pant pockets as he rocked back on his heels.
“It’s Ms. Prescott, if you must know, but Sophia is just fine.” She set the glass down, having had her fill of it as well as the party. She caught a glimpse of Opal scurrying away but decided to deal with her later.
“I hope you’ve been giving your son some fruits and vegetables. How is he?”
Accusation followed by concern. It made Sophia want to smack him instead of answering, but she somehow pulled out her manners and wore them with the grace her mother had instilled in her. “Much better. Thank you for asking.”
“Regular bowel movements? Any more stomach pain?”
“He’s fine.” She kept to a short answer, not wanting to get riled up, and waved an arm around. “It’s a party. You shouldn’t be in doctor mode.”
Wes sniffed and glanced over her shoulder. “It’s the only mode I can function in properly.” He lowered his chin and walked away.
“Well, that conversation was enthralling.” Sophia rolled her eyes and decided she’d had enough socializing for one day. She glanced around and found her meddling group of friends watching on. Jabbing a finger in their direction along with a measured scowl, Sophia let them know she’d deal with them later, before stomping off the deck.
As the jovial melody of the party droned on behind her, Sophia walked around to the front of the beach house. A long sigh caught her attention from next door, where Weston Sawyer sat on the porch steps studying his hands.
“I’m not a bad mother, Dr. Sawyer,” Sophia blurted.
“I thought you didn’t want doctor mode.” He sighed again. “Just call me Wes.”
Sophia could think of a few other things to call him but decided to keep them to herself. She drew closer to his porch, not wanting anyone else to catch their exchange. “You embarrassed me in your office. I don’t take too kindly to that.”
“And I didn’t appreciate you disrespecting me in my office in front of other patients.” Wes kept his face cast toward the sandy steps before him, but his hazel eyes rose to look at her. “Let’s be clear on the fact that your negligent behavior was the cause of your son’s issue in the first place.” Apparently he couldn’t resist adding the snide remark, but his voice was just above a whisper. It made Sophia wonder if he knew how to raise his pompous voice any higher, or was he too dignified for such?
“Do you have children, Dr. Sawyer?” As soon as she asked, a subtle flinch tightened his shoulders. If she wasn’t paying attention, she would have missed it.
“No.”
“Then you have no right to judge those of us who do, trying to raise our children the best we know how. Your job is to diagnose and treat patients. You’d be mindful to remember that in this town.”
Sophia was finished speaking her piece, so she left the doctor and headed home to hopefully hide in the dark for a while before having to pick up Collin from her parents. Sure, she was well aware that she was failing her son, but she didn’t need some snob such as Dr. Weston Sawyer to point it out.
•••
No matter how difficult life could become, a trip to Driftwood Diner always made things more bearable. Well, that was typically the case, but this morning a fiery sprite was working on ruining it. Sophia offered Collin a bite of her biscuit as she listened to Opal lay into her.
“You had no business telling that new momma to go to the next town’s pediatric office. There’s nothing wrong with the office here in Sunset Cove and you know it.” Opal huffed while settling into the seat opposite Sophia.
It had been several days since the deck party, and during that time, Sophia had refused all calls and visits from the Sand Queens and their pesky husbands. She wouldn’t be strong-armed into any job—or any other decision, for that matter.
“Why are you creeping on my Facebook page?” Sophia glared at her friend while taking a sip of coffee.
“It’s the only way I know what’s going on with you, since you won’t answer your phone or door. You changed the locks at the condo, didn’t you?” It was Opal’s turn to glare.
“There’s no reason for you to have a key to my place anyway. And that momma was asking for pediatric office recommendations, so I simply offered one.” Sophia lifted a bored shoulder and wiped syrup off Collin’s cheeks.
“Ofal, wan’ fome?” Collin mushed a chunk of pancake onto his fork, using both hands to secure it there, and lifted it toward her. Opal, good sport that she was, happily took the bite.
“Yum!” she garbled out, making a silly face in the process that sent the little guy into a fit of giggles. She looked back to Sophia and grew serious. “I heard you speaking to Wes on his porch.”
Sophia briefly closed her eyes. “Of course you did. Nosy much?”
“You don’t know enough about him to speak the way you did.” Opal took a sip of water. “He’s a widower.”
“That doesn’t give him the right to be all snide about my parenting practices.” Even though she tried to come off as reproachful, her stomach tightened uncomfortably. He looked too young to have such a title as widower attached to him. She tucked her thumb along the back of her ring finger before she could stop herself.
“Maybe, but then you go asking him if he has a child.” Opal tsked, sounding rather miffed.
“So?”
Opal leaned closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Wes not only lost his wife, but he also lost an unborn child. She was eight months pregnant when she died in a car wreck.”
Sophia gasped but then settled back down. “How do you know so much about him?”
“I spent a good bit of time with Doc Nelson during the remodel of the doctor’s office. He’s known Wes for years.” Opal reached down and picked up the sippy cup Collin had accidentally sent to the floor. She righted herself and placed the cup on his high chair. “Doc said it happened almost four years ago. Wes walked away from his practice in Alabama and pretty much became a hermit. . . . Sounds like someone else I know.” Opal raised an eyebrow and leveled a meaningful look at Sophia.