Chapter 49

By the time Sophie walks in, I’m cooking dinner for the three of us as Jake watches an action movie in the living room. He’s lounging on the couch as if he’s always lived here, his shoes discarded on the floor; I smile at his ability to just exist in any surrounding that he’s put in. He adapts effortlessly and never questions or criticizes. I’m sure he’s on the verge of sleep; I can tell by his relaxed posture. It all looks pretty domesticated and normal like this is how we always are.

After changing her clothes in my old room, Sophie enters the kitchen and casts me a timid look. I know she wants to talk about what happened at the hospital, but I shake my head and nod toward Jake on the couch. He’s engrossed in his movie. She smiles softly with an understanding nod and lets me introduce them properly instead.

They seem to get on immediately. Throughout the introductions, he keeps casting looks from Sophie to me, and I know what he’s thinking; he can see the resemblance.