If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back.
Ethan's sleeping in today, so Sophie has a cup of coffee and the newspaper all to herself. She stares out the sunny window, feeling the warmth deep down in her bones, when there's a knock on the door.
Moira had, yet again, snuck into her daughter's apartment and left her a tray of strawberry-rhubarb jam doughnuts. Margaret hopes that she won't be waking Sophie or Ethan when she knocks but figures that the doughnuts and fresh coffee will be a good apology. She smiles as the door opens.
"Margaret Washington-Bedingfield, get your butt in here--" Sophie pulls her inside, into a big hug. "What occasions the visit, sweetheart?"
Margaret circumnavigates the doughnuts and the coffee around Sophie to return the hug. "My mother snuck into my apartment and left me doughnuts. And I just wanted to say thank you for your patience last night."
Some of the doughnuts get squished, but it's a really good hug, so it all turns out okay. "You were great," Sophie says seriously, drawing back. "I mean it. You're going to be very, very good at your job. Just... ah... let me make the highballs for a couple of days..."
Margaret laughs at that, her cheeks turning a slight pink. "Agreed. So what's up with DG being the only one who can order limes?" She releases Sophie and readjusts her grip on the containers. "And thank you."
"Come in, sit down." Sophie gestures to the table. "It's a long story..."
There's a clumping overhead, a thud-thud-thud down the stairs, and a tousled head appears near the breakfast table. "Mom, I had a weird dream," Ethan announces, trying to snag a doughnut.
"I'd love to hear it. Henry, for some reason, said that she was the only one who could do it. I swear that I was close to signing a statement saying that I wasn't able to and she was." She bites into a doughnut and makes a mental note to thank her mom. "These are my favorite." Margaret watches as Ethan enters the room and quiets down. She figures that Sophie should make the introductions.
Sophie smiles and shakes her head. "You'd best ask D.G. herself. It's... like I said, it's a long story."
Ethan waves cheerfully at Sophie as he clambers up onto the chair. "Hi, lady. Can I have a doughnut?"
"Ethan--" Sophie begins, facepalming.
Margaret nods and twirls her coffee stick around some. "I'll be sure to do that." She watches as Ethan climbs onto the chair. "Hi, boy. You're going to have to ask your mom about that."
"You need to ask her politely," Sophie says firmly, which earns a big gap-toothed smile in Margaret's direction and a, "May I have a doughnut, please?"
"So what do you like about the job so far?" Sophie continues, sipping at her own coffee.
"Go ahead." She gestures to the box and then turns to Sophie, a questioning look on her face. "Neither of you are allergic to strawberries or rhubarb?" Off of Sophie's shake of her head, she contemplates the question before her. "You know, I don't know. Ask me again in two weeks." Margaret turns the question back on Sophie. "What do you like about it?"
"I like listening to the music," Sophie says with a smile over the rim of her mug. "And our regulars. It's a family atmosphere--did you get to meet anybody from the band?"
"Very briefly," she answers, "Glitch did some rather interesting introductions to them then I got a crash course in bartending from DG. The bar opened after that and the next time I could talk to any of them, Wyatt and DG were off doing heaven only knows what and Glitch, Raoul and Conor were discussing something of great importance." Margaret tips her head, an eyebrow quirking. "Though I did get a drink from a regular. I think."
"From who?" Sophie's senses are instantly alert.
"He was tall - six foot four. Dark brown hair, fantastic green eyes, and very skinny." Margaret's biting her lip, trying to picture the guy. "Esther gave him a wave so that's why I'm assuming he's a regular."
TBC