New Beginnings (The Billionaire’s Baby #4)(41)
Author: Helen Cooper

“Now you have to eat, Jake.”

“Yes, Momma.” He sighed and reached his little grubby hands for a sandwich.

“Good boy, Jake.” Max smiled at his son as he nibbled on an egg sandwich.

“Oh Daddy.” Jake rolled his eyes and Sophie and Max laughed.

“Ella’s coming up tomorrow.” Sophie smiled at Max. “She got into law school.”

“I heard. I think she’ll make a good lawyer.”

“Me too.” Sophie grinned. “I’d rather it be her than me though.”

“Well, now you have your bachelors you can do whatever you want.” Max leaned over and kissed her again. “Congratulations once again, my love.”

Sophie laughed and kissed him back, trying not to crush her daughter. “I’m perfectly happy being a mom and making my crafts.” She smiled at him.

“That’s good to hear.” He laughed. “Because I think it would be hard going to law school with three kids.”

“Tell me about it.” Sophie laughed and let Jake rub her belly.

“Momma having another baby,” he squealed. “Me, Winter and boom boom.”

“Boom boom?” Max laughed.

Sophie sighed and laughed. “He got it from a cartoon.”

Jacob stood up and ran around giggling. “Momma having a boom boom.”

“Jake, please sit down and finish eating.” Max looked at his son with a stern face and tried to hold back his grin.

“Daddy having a boom boom.” Jake kept running and eventually sat down next to his dad and kissed Winter on the cheek. “I love Winter,” he said proudly and Sophie and Max looked at each other with happiness and joy. They had finally made themselves a happy family and neither of them could be happier.

**

“I can’t believe you guys moved to Winterside.” Ella grinned as she helped Sophie put away the children’s toys. She couldn’t quite believe how messy one child could make a room. “You guys must have bought out the local toy store,” she exclaimed as she put away what seemed like the fiftieth  toy truck of the day.

“You know I’ve always loved it here.” Sophie smiled at her friend, happy to see her so happy. And then she laughed. “I think Max bought shares in Toys “R” Us. I’ve never seen so many toys in my life.”

“Yes. I think you loved it more than I did.” Ella laughed. “We should take a train ride with the kids this weekend for old time’s sake. That way Jacob can see what a real train is like so he can make the appropriate noises when he plays trains the next time.”

“That would be awesome.” Sophie nodded her head. “And I’m sure Max will love it when he starts screaming ‘choo choo’ early in the morning.” She laughed and then paused and looked at her friend. “I’m so sad you’re leaving, Ella. I’m really going to miss you.”

“I’m only going to California, it’s not so far away.” Ella smiled and ran her fingers through her now long again blonde hair. Her eyes sparkled and she looked like a new woman. “This is going to be good for me. It’s the change I need.”

“It’s just that Los Angeles seems like a planet away.” Sophie sighed. “But what an adventure. UCLA law school. That will be so awesome.”

“I think so.” Ella nodded. “A real adventure and a way to find myself away from all the craziness of the city.”

“I’m really excited and proud of you Ella.” Sophie’s voice was earnest. “You are going to be amazing.”

“Thanks Soph.” Ella grinned and tried to hold in her sadness at leaving her best friend. She decided to change the subject before they both got overemotional. “But oh my gosh, did you hear about Alexis?”

Sophie laughed and nodded her head. “Yes and I can’t believe it.”

“Associate editor at Paris Vogue,” they both said at the same time and laughed.

“Who would have guessed it?” Sophie exclaimed.

“Not me.” Ella grinned. “But hey, at least you know she will be in Europe for a long time.”

“Yes.” Sophie turned to her friend. “Though I’m not concerned about her anymore. She sent me a long letter apologizing. She’s clean now. She regrets a lot of things that she did.”

“As she should!” Ella exclaimed.

“It was really Frank’s fault.” Sophie grimaced. “The things he did to her.”

“You can’t really blame, Frank.” Ella’s tone of voice changed. “He never loved her, she was like a fatal attraction kind of woman.”

Sophie paused and looked at her best friend and sister-in-law. “I don’t know the whole story between Alexis and Frank but he has a lot to answer for.”

“I don’t know that anyone ever really got his side of the story though.” Ella’s voice was tense and she turned around.

Sophie sighed and changed the subject. She didn’t want to think about the past. “So are you ever going to introduce Max and I to Mr. Wonderful?”

Ella turned towards her and sighed. “I didn’t really want to say anything but we broke up.”

“Oh no.” Sophie grabbed her friend’s arm. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She smiled. “It wouldn’t have worked out long-term anyway.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Ella grinned. “I’ve got my perfect niece and nephew, a wonderful brother and the best friend a girl could ask for in my life. When the time is right, I’ll meet my Prince Charming.”

“Oh Ella.” Sophie grabbed her friend and hugged her. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” They stood there and held each other letting their emotions flow freely.

“Momma’s having a boom boom.” Jacob ran up to them and joined the hug making them both laugh.

“You know you’re my favorite nephew, Jacob?” Ella picked him up and kissed his cheeks.

“Yes, Auntie,” he squealed with delight.

“I love you, Jakey.” She swung him around and they both giggled. Sophie watched them with happiness and went to go and check on Winter in her room. Max was sitting in the room writing.

“Max?” She walked up to him. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes.” He beamed at her and stood up, placing his pad and pen down on the chair. “I was just writing.”