The Secret Life of Daydreams (39 page)

“It’s so good to see you, Sofia,” Josh said. He led her by the hand to a nearby bench.

“It is you,” she said at last. She touched the side of his smooth face. “You shaved.” Josh kissed her palm. “And your suit. You almost look like a missionary again.”

Josh chuckled. “No, no, no.” He shook his head. “That’s not what I had in mind with this, I promise you that.”

Sofia agreed, even if she didn’t tell him. “What are you doing here?” She couldn’t hide the surprise from her voice. She had more questions, many more. “And how did you know I was at the temple?”

“Paulo and Margarida told me of your plans before I left.”

Doubt rose in her chest. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” She clasped her hands in her lap.

Josh turned to her. “Because I didn’t want you to tell me no, Sofia.” He paused, his voice soft. “What would you have said if I’d told you I had plans to come back?”

She didn’t meet his eyes. “I—I don’t know.” In truth, the need to guard her heart fought with the desire to set it free. Hadn’t she wished for Josh’s return since he’d left? But the old fears were hard to forget. “Why have you come?”

Josh took both her hands in his. “I came—” His voice faltered. “I’m here because I’m ready to win your heart, Sofia.”

Sofia pulled a hand from his and covered her trembling lips as her eyes flooded. The words stuck in her throat. “Oh, Josh. I—”

“Just listen, please.” Josh breathed in deeply before continuing. “I love you and I just want a chance to prove it to you. I’m sorry it took me so long to come back, but when I started meeting with the bishop two months ago, I wanted to wait until I was worthy to enter the temple again.”

Tears began to spill freely down her cheeks. Josh reached a thumb to wipe them away.

“Please, don’t cry,” he said. That little crease between his eyebrows was back too.

Sofia smiled through her tears. “Josh, you’ve had my heart for months. It’s already yours.” Relief and joy replaced the hesitation she’d had as her confession tumbled out.

Josh stilled and his eyes filled with hope. “You mean that?” he asked, bringing her hand to his lips.

Sofia nodded. “It’s always been yours.” And it would always be.

Josh smiled, intent on bringing her closer.

“Hold on.” She brought a hand up between them. “What did you say just now?” Sofia asked, trying to tamp down the impatience rising in her chest. So much for learning how to wait.

Josh held her gaze. “I said I’m ready to enter the temple again.”

A small smile curled her lips and she tugged at his hands. “That’s really, really good. So good. And it makes me so happy.” She dropped her voice. “But what did you say before that?”

Josh smiled, then leaned toward her and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Sofia,” he whispered in her ear.

Sofia trembled at the smoothness of his cheek against hers. Three little words, the ones she’d been longing to hear for so long. She sighed and closed her eyes.

He kissed her on the other side. “I love you.” He repeated the whisper.

His arms came around her waist and Sofia raised hers around his neck. She didn’t wait. She was tired of waiting. Sofia tipped her head up and kissed Josh on the lips.

“I love you too,” she whispered back. She kissed him again and Josh returned the kiss for a long, wonderful moment.

Josh pulled back to look in her eyes and smile at her. “Is that a yes then?”

“A yes to what?”

“To my question.” He brushed his lips against the side of her neck.

Sofia dropped her hands to his biceps, steadying herself. “I didn’t hear a question,” she murmured.

His eyes twinkled and his mouth curved into a smile. “Will you marry me, Sofia Monteiro? Will you marry me in the temple for time and all eternity?”

“Yes.” She smiled against his lips and kissed him again. “A thousand times, yes.”

Six months later

They arrived at Quinta do Souto in the early evening, as the magenta rays stretched across the western sky. Josh helped Sofia out from the car and took her hand in his. She stepped closer to him as they walked together toward the iron fence on the south wall. He looked down at her and smiled.

With their hands joined together, her heart skipped a beat. Even after four months of being married, the simplicity of the gesture thrilled her, and it brought a sense of gratitude for all the times of shared love and everyday blessings she’d only dreamed about before meeting Josh. Only, the reality was so much better than all the dreams.

A large
Vendido
sign hung over the stone work. Josh draped an arm over Sofia’s shoulders. She gestured at the bright red letters.

“Look, it’s been sold.” It was hard to summon the optimism as the last of her hope slid through.

“It’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Josh’s hand slipped into hers again.

“Yes, of course. I mean, I hope it’s been sold privately and that they’ll want to remodel it.”

“It’ll be a lot of work.”

“I’m sure.” Sofia contemplated the house as all the moments with Tia Joana rushed through her mind. Such happy summers she’d spent there. She couldn’t shake the feeling of nostalgia.

Josh tugged her hand playfully. “What would you do first?”

“Me?” She watched the house. “It’s hard to tell; I haven’t been inside in so long. I’d probably start with the kitchen and the bathrooms, maybe one bedroom as well, then work on the outside, little by little.” She swept her gaze over the border of blue tiles under the eaves of the terracotta roof, cataloging the needed changes. The cracks, the splinted molding, the disarray of the gardens and grounds. “Whoever owns it has a lot of work ahead. They’ll need a good construction loan.”

Josh laughed and hugged her tightly, lifting her briefly off the ground. “Not yet, but very soon.”

Sofia regarded him slowly. “What are you talking about?”

His smile was wide and held a tinge of mischief. He slipped a hand in his jeans pocket and held out a small brown box. She hesitated.

“Come on, it won’t bite you. Open it,” he said.

His lopsided smile and dimples set her heart racing. She hoped she’d always have this response to that expression when he directed it at her.

Sofia took the box from him and he brought an arm around her waist, keeping her close to his side. At last she found the courage to remove the lid—inside, nestled in blue tissue paper, sat a skeleton key.

As the hope grew in her chest, her breath caught for a moment and her voice trembled. “Josh?”

He held her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead, then smiled wide with an amused glint in his brilliant eyes. “This, minha querida esposa, is the key to our new house.” He inclined his head toward the fence. “This one here.”

Sofia swallowed a sob and brought a hand to her lips. A warm tear slid down her cheek and her fingers shook as she held the key.

“You’re right. It will be a lot of work.” Josh brought her closer and rested his hands at the small of her back. He bent to kiss her on the lips. “But I know how much this house means to you, and I know we can make it work,” he said gently.

She nodded, unable to find the right words.

“And because it had been for sale for so long, I was able to negotiate a really good price.” He continued. “We’re going to sit down together and plan the remodel. It’s got to be good for something that you married a former architect-slash-engineer, don’t you think so?” Josh raised an eyebrow and winked at her.

Sofia smiled through her tears, his eyes so intent on her—so much love, so much faith in them.

“Oh, Josh.” She jumped at him and hugged him around the neck. His arms came around her. “You wonderful, adorable, crazy husband of mine. Do you have any idea what you have done? What this means?”

“Sim, perfeitamente,” he said in a confident voice.

He set her down on the pavement, but his arms lingered. Josh’s lips touched Sofia’s as he kissed her once more.

“No more secret daydreams, Sofia,” he said when they pulled away to catch their breath. “We live our dreams together. Always.”

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for reading Josh and Sofia’s story,
The Secret Life of Daydreams
. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

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Josh and Sofia

on their wedding day at the London Temple.

Acknowledgments

Well, where do I start? It’s been a three year journey from the first story concept to publication and along the way there are many, many people who helped me get there. In particular, I wish to thank:

The beta readers to my first story version, Amber, Cheryl, Laura, Vicki, Debra, Rebecca L., Nan, Rebecca J., Ellie, Virginia, Elizabete, and Paula. Thank you for the comments that got me started on the editing path.

The Facebook writing groups I visit almost everyday, Authors Think Tank and iWriteNetwork, with so many helpful, encouraging members.

My first editor, Elizabeth Ludwig, who opened my eyes to how much work I had to do. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I’m thankful you had the courage and kindness to point out my mistakes.

Second version beta readers, Leah, Laura, and Alison, for the great comments and suggestions that gave me the confidence to know I was (finally!) on the right track.

Michele Holmes, my super-editor to the second and final version. Thank you so much for your guidance in turning this story into something so much better. Your suggestions and comments were just what I needed to take it to the next level.

Kelsey Down for the line editing.

Thank you, Jewel, for the proofreading.

Jess Purser, for the lovely custom illustration of Josh and Sofia on their wedding day. I love it!

Emily Tippets, for the paperback formatting and for making my book’s insides as pretty as the outside.

Ravven, for the beautiful cover I can’t stop looking at.

My children—Michael, Rose, Jacob, and Isaac—who had to share their mother’s time with fictional characters more times than we can count. Thank you for your patience and support. If there’s one thing I want you to learn from all of this is that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. That little dream you have in your heart, the one you love so much that it hurts—follow that dream. Give it life and give it wings, and you will never regret that.