I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 13

The day before Thanksgiving, Sophie rushed back from New York City to spend the holiday with her mother.

She arrived home completely exhausted, and before she could even hit the shower, her mother called.

"Are you home yet? Mia heard you were back and wants you to come over for dinner."

"Mom, I just walked in. I'm exhausted and not really hungry. Tell her we'll do it another day."

Sophie pinned her phone between her ear and shoulder, pulling the clothes she had taken on her business trip out of her suitcase one by one.

Suddenly, Mia's voice piped up on the other end. "Sophie, please! I have something super important to ask you."

Sophie gave a helpless shrug; what could a five-year-old possibly deem 'super important'? Yet, under Mia's relentless pleading, she finally caved.

She took a quick shower, threw on some casual clothes, and headed over without bothering to put on makeup.

"You're here! I haven't seen you in a whole month."

Faced with Mia's overwhelming enthusiasm, Sophie simply smiled and handed her some fancy chocolates she had brought back from New York.

She had originally bought them for her mother, but it was customary to bring a gift when visiting someone's home. Having had no time to shop, she sacrificed a few boxes from her stash to be polite.

"My friends at school all said the dress you bought me is so pretty!"

Mia pulled off her cardigan to reveal the dress underneath, twirling around before grabbing Sophie's hand and chattering excitedly about preschool.

Sophie smiled; the little girl was incredibly socially aware.

Sophie had bought the dress as a small thank-you gift for Jason after he recommended the interior designer, so it wasn't overly expensive.

"Mia, let Sophie eat first," Jason gently reminded her.

Mia finally pressed her lips together and pulled Sophie toward the dining table.

Jason poured a glass of orange juice and set it in front of her, noting casually, "You were gone for quite a while."

Sophie thanked him and smiled. "Yeah, a whole month. And I have to leave again in a few days."

The corporate-sponsored alumni basketball tournament had kicked off in late August, with New York City as the first stop.

The marketing department handled the logistics alongside a PR firm, but it was a grueling, multi-city project that stretched over months, meaning no one else had wanted to go.

Sophie had volunteered; staying busy was exactly what she needed. Plus, the travel allowance was a nice bonus.

"You're leaving again?"

Disappointment flashed in Mia's eyes. Like most children, she thrived on excitement and loved having guests over.

"I have to work and make money. My next stop is San Francisco. Tell me what you want, and I'll bring it back for you."

Sophie kept her voice soft. She had loved having guests over when she was little, too, but her mother rarely socialized, only occasionally hosting someone who had been set up on a blind date with her.

Even so, young Sophie would eagerly bring out her secret stash of candies for them, riding the high of their praise for hours.

"My school has an event tomorrow where moms and dads come to bake cookies with us. Can you come with me?"

Sophie froze; the request put her in an incredibly awkward position.

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