Outside, the snow had intensified.
Jake inspected her SUV again.
“The repair might get you home, but I wouldn't trust it tomorrow.”
Sophia folded her arms.
“So you want me to come to your garage.”
“I’m offering mechanical help.”
“Of course.”
Jake looked at her.
“Sophia.”
“Yes?”
“You flirt like you're trying to get me arrested.”
She smiled.
“Maybe I’m testing your survival instincts.”
He laughed.
“Come by at two.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Christmas Day.”
“I’ll be downstairs for an hour anyway.”
Sophia hesitated.
“Your daughter?”
“She'll be upstairs.”
Sophia remembered the girl who forced him to attend the date.
“Can I meet her?”
Jake's expression changed.
That question mattered.
Sophia noticed immediately.
“Only if you're comfortable.”
Jake studied her for several seconds.
“You really want to?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You've spent half the night talking about her.”
“That wasn't intentional.”
“It was sweet.”
Jake looked almost embarrassed.
Sophia smiled.
“And apparently she likes fashion.”
“She thinks glitter is a neutral color.”
“She is correct.”
Jake laughed.
“Two o'clock.”
The next afternoon, Sophia stood outside Morrison Auto Repair with a paper shopping bag filled with professional sketch pencils, fabric swatches, and a beginner fashion-design kit.
She immediately regretted buying so much.
Too much.
Too personal.
Then the upstairs door opened.
A little girl appeared before Jake.
She stared at Sophia.
Then screamed:
“DADDY!”
Sophia froze.
Jake came around the corner.
“What?”
The girl pointed.
“You didn't say she was beautiful!”
Jake turned red.
Sophia laughed.
The girl ran down two steps.
“Are you Sophia?”
“Yes.”
“Daddy said you make clothes.”
“He told you about me?”
The girl looked at Jake.
“A lot.”
Jake closed his eyes.
“Slander.”
Sophia smiled.
The girl took her hand.
“Come see my drawings.”
Within fifteen minutes, Sophia sat cross-legged on the living room floor surrounded by dozens of fashion sketches.
Some were childish.
Others showed real instinct.
Shape.
Color.
Silhouette.
Sophia became genuinely interested.
“You did this?”
The girl nodded.
Sophia held up a drawing.
“This is actually really good.”
Jake entered carrying hot chocolate.
“You don't have to encourage everything.”
Sophia looked at him.
“I’m not.”
Jake stopped.
“She has an eye.”
The little girl's face lit up.
Sophia pulled out the bag.
“I brought something.”
The girl gasped.
Jake looked at Sophia.
“You didn't need to.”
“I wanted to.”
The girl was already opening it.