door to find Coco curled up beside her, and then eased out the front door. No one was up and around yet, so she quickly unloaded all her painting supplies into the living room and then called Teddy.
“Hey, my gorgeous girl. I love you, and I miss you, too,” he said.
“Hey, right back at you,” Sophie said.
“I miss you so much, darlin’. I feel like half of my heart is in Texas with you, but we’ll be together soon. Hey, I just got confirmation five minutes ago that everything is now in London and will be stored in a climate-controlled room until the showing.”
“Thank God,” Sophie said. “I always rest easier when I know the art has arrived.”
“Don’t worry, darlin’. It’s all there, and nothing can go wrong now. In a few months everyone in Europe will be itching to buy your paintings. So, how are things in the desert?” he asked. “You always do your best work when you’re in that area. We should retire there someday.”
“I’d love that,” she said.
“Got to go. The assistant is waving me in to talk to this gallery owner. Wish me luck,” Teddy said.
“You don’t need luck,” Sophie said. “You’re amazing.”
“Hugs and kisses,” Teddy said—always his choice instead of “goodbye.”
“Hugs and kisses.” She blew him a kiss and ended the call.
“Mornin’.” Emma came out of the bedroom with Coco at her heels. “Do I smell coffee? Where did it come from?”
“Josh and Arty go for groceries every week for the group, and I sent him a list last week so he could stock the place before we arrived. There’s junk cereal, breakfast toaster things in the cabinet, and sausage biscuits in the freezer. Help yourself,” Sophie answered.
“Junk cereal?” Emma asked.
“If you don’t like any of that, there’s eggs to make an omelet and a waffle iron in the cabinet to make our favorite breakfast.” Sophie chose a canvas and locked it down in her easel. “Remember when Mama made us waffles and let us put strawberries and whipped cream on top?”
“After Rebel left, I never got them again, but this morning I want junk cereal.” Emma headed to the cabinet and took down a box. “I especially like this one. I don’t get this kind of stuff at home. Hazel usually makes me a smoothie with lots of kale.”
“That sounds horrible.” Sophie shuddered.
“It is, but Mama says it’s good for my delicate condition,” Emma said.
“Well, you don’t have to drink that green garbage here.” Sophie shook her head and changed the subject. “We’ve got a lot of catchin’ up to do. Do you still like country music?”
Emma shrugged. “Don’t know. Haven’t heard anything but classical since I came home from college. Is George Strait still your favorite?”
“Probably, but now there’s Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, and a whole raft of others that I love just as much,” Sophie said. “How long has it been since you heard Simon and Garfunkel—or Sam Cooke and Etta James? When we were in the sixth grade, you were the nerdy one who liked jazz.”
“College.” Emma answered in one word as she poured chocolate-flavored cereal into a bowl and added milk. “I listened to whatever I wanted in college and ate what I wanted, but that all changed when I went back home. Mother said that if I had to listen to music, it should be something that calmed me . . .” She shrugged. “Like I said, we do what we must to keep her happy.”
Sophie poured herself a bowl of cereal and headed out to the porch. “Why did you go home, anyway?”
“I don’t know. I just remember that I couldn’t stay in college, but let’s don’t talk about that today. Those were sad days. I just want to enjoy this beautiful day. I’m going to eat outside, then take a walk. Is that all right?” Emma carried her cereal outside and sat down in one of the chairs.
“How old are you, Em?” Sophie asked.
“You know the answer to that,” Emma said. “Why are you asking?”
“Because you keep forgetting that you don’t have to ask me for permission about anything. There’s food in the cabinet and the fridge. We eat at night with the others, but you don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable. You can take walks, sit on the floor while you eat, sleep with Coco—everything is up to you. But if you’re going for a walk, don’t forget to take one of my hats with you. Your pale skin will burn pretty quickly,”