by Jacqui Penn
Feeling flustered, she brought back the cue and shot the ball straight down the hole. ‘Yes, oh my God! I got one.’
Gio smiled at her and their eyes met. Sophia turned away quickly. ‘I get another shot now, right?’
Gio nodded. ‘See if you can do it on your own this time.’ She slowly lowered herself into position and kept her eye on the ball. She adjusted her hand on the cue, looked at the ball again and went for it.
‘Oh, so close, bad luck,’ Tristan said as he went to take the next shot.
They decided to call it a night when Tristan had won three more games. Gio and Sophia went to a table at the far end of the bar while Tristan bought more drinks.
‘So, I hear you’re meeting Mother next week,’ Gio said and gave her a sideways glance.
Sophia raised her eyebrows. ’Not exactly. I’m moving out while she’s there. Apparently, it might look as though we’re shacked up together.’
Gio laughed aloud. ‘You’re kidding!’ He looked at her face and tried to look serious. ‘No, you’re not. Where will you go?’
‘Back to the hostel. Mutley’s allowed to stay.’ She bit her bottom lip. Don’t cry.
‘He is incredible. Come and stay at mine. I have a spare room; you’d be very welcome.’
‘I couldn’t.’
‘Yes, you could. Might make him think, if nothing else.’
Sophia felt her heart beat quicken. ‘It might cause trouble.’
‘No, there’d be no trouble. Tristan doesn’t care that much about anything.’
Tristan placed the drinks on the table. ‘It’s looking like a serious conversation.’
‘I was just telling Sophia to move into my spare room next week when your mum visits.’
Tristan sat down next to her. ‘There, I knew we’d find somewhere for you. Thanks, Gio.’
Sophia felt her chest tighten. ‘Yes, thanks Gio.
She should have just gone to the hostel and been lonely and miserable for a few days. Instead, she was uncomfortable and felt out of control at Gio’s flat. He’d made up the spare bed, put some flowers in a glass on the chest of drawers in her room and ordered in a pizza to share. What was wrong with her? Flitting from one man’s home to another. When she had regular hours at work the first thing she needed was her independence. Anyway, it would have been so rude to turn down Gio’s offer.
Gio re-filled her glass. ‘Cheers. To new friendships.’
Sophia lifted her glass and reciprocated. His eyes were dark and there was something about the way he looked at her that made her nervous. Not in a bad way. He just looked, and that was enough to unnerve her.
‘So what family do you have?’ Gio asked.
It came from nowhere and she swallowed her drink awkwardly and started to cough. ‘Sorry.’ She cleared her throat and there was a moment’s silence. ‘I don’t really have any.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘It’s a long story.’
‘We’ve got all night.’
She gulped most of her drink down. ‘My mum died when she had me, and well, it made things difficult.’
‘Tell me about it. Mine died when I was five and my dad hit the bottle. I always tried remembering her face, but I couldn’t. I remember how gentle her fingers were when she stroked my cheek. I remember her singing. She was always singing. I’m forever blowing bubbles was my favourite. I can hear her now, but her face? I always felt guilty; it was as if I didn’t love her enough.’
‘You must have seen pictures.’
‘Yes, but it could have been anyone. She just wasn’t familiar. I’ve carried a picture of her in my wallet all these years, but there you go.’ He looked sad. ‘Your turn.’
‘My dad remarried and let’s just say I wasn’t the favourite.’ She turned the stem of the glass around.
Gio topped up her glass and opened another bottle of wine to re-fill his. ‘So, do you have siblings?’
‘Yes, no… No, I don’t. Well, my sister died… She died…’ tears welled, ‘it was my fault.’ She quickly wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. ‘Sorry.’
Gio sat thoughtfully for a moment then ran his fingers through his dark hair. ‘I’ll put some different music on. There must be something better than this.’ He picked up a remote control and started to tap the buttons.
‘Elvis the pelvis. Come on, up you get.’
Sophia smiled at him, her eyes still watery. ‘I’m not dancing.’
‘Yes you are, it’s good for the soul.’ He pulled her up from the sofa and swung her around in a jive movement.
‘I definitely don’t jive,’ she giggled as she nearly fell over. How much had she had to drink?
‘You do now.’
She had to admit, within a few moments of dancing, she was having fun. How embarrassing! Crying like that. What was wrong with her? She’d never told a soul about Kara.
After two fast songs, Elvis sang a slow number and Gio held her in his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder as they swayed. As the song finished, Gio said he needed a drink and broke his hold. Sophia tried to steady her breathing. She must have put more into the dancing than she realised. She flopped down on the sofa.
Gio popped his head through the doorway. ‘I’m going to head off to bed. Just switch the music off when you’re finished. Night.’ He disappeared before she could reply.
A few minutes later, she flicked the music system off and went to her room. She looked at the brightly coloured flowers for a moment. He was a strange man. Sometimes so friendly and then so distant. She climbed into bed but wasn’t tired. Her mind flitted to Tristan and then to Mutley. She closed her eyes and was back in Gio’s arms gently moving to Elvis. A wave of guilt ran through her. It was only a dance. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about it? She mustn’t drink so much in future.
Two days later, Tristan rang to say his mother had gone home. She had never stayed a whole week although she always planned to.
‘I’ll take you home on the bike if you like,’ Gio offered.
‘I’ve never been on a bike. You won’t go fast?’
‘No. Harley’s are cruisers. I’ll strap your bag on the back.’
Sophia was a bit nervous as she climbed onto the pillion seat behind Gio.
‘Right wrap your arms around my middle. Ready?’
She held him tight. ‘I think so’
As he accelerated she felt herself being pushed back for a minute, but then the ride was smooth. ‘You okay there?’ he shouted above the engine.
She relaxed and shouted back. ‘Yes, I like it.’
‘We’ll go for a little spin before I take you back then.’
Sophia loved the bike until they got back to Tristan’s road when Gio revved it and made her hold on tighter again.
‘Hey. Don’t,’ she yelled at him as he came to a stop. Sophia laughed and swung her leg over the seat. ‘If you’d done that at the start I’d have got straight off.’
‘I’m not stupid. I waited until you were an accomplished pillion rider.
Sophia slapped him playfully then removed her crash helmet. ‘Are you coming in?’
‘No, I think I’ll shoot.’ He hooked her helmet over the handlebar then turned. For a moment their eyes met with an intensity she hadn’t expected.
‘You two look like you’ve got along okay,’ Tristan said appearing next to them.
Sophia shuffled, putting distance between herself and Gio. ‘Oh, Tristan, yes, your friend tried to frighten me.’ Tristan pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
‘Thought we might go out to eat. Do you want to join us, Gio?’
‘No, I’m going to shoot off. Catch you both later.’ He revved the bike hard as he left.
‘My bag! He’s got my bag on the back.’
‘Don’t worry, he won’t run away with it. He’ll bring it around tomorrow.’
For a split second Sophia hoped he did.
Chapter 10
Sophia hiccupped. ‘Thank you for dinner. I think I had too mu
ch wine.’ She looked at Tristan wide-eyed and grinning. The lift purred to the top floor.
Tristan pushed her against the wall and kissed her. ‘I love you. I missed you so much these past few days. I couldn’t wait for my mother to leave.’
He loved her! He said he loved her! She melted at his words. She knew they had all been wrong about him. They just didn’t understand him. ‘I love you too.’ She hiccupped again. ‘Sorry.’ The lift doors opened.
Tristan poured a drink and they snuggled together on the sofa. ‘Why don’t you move into my room? I don’t want us to be apart.’
‘Not if you snore.’ She looked serious.
He frowned at her. ‘I don’t snore.’
‘I’ve heard you.’ She giggled and unable to contain herself, she fell into rapturous laughter.
He tickled her. She wriggled and squirmed trying to get away from him, then mellowed as their lips met. He lifted her into his bedroom and gently dropped her onto the bed.
Sophia woke with a smile. Today was the first day of the rest of her life. He loves me! Me! She had never been worthy of love. Her father never voiced his thoughts, but they were all too obvious to her. Always a distance, the blame for her mother who’d died in childbirth. If it hadn’t been for her… She hadn’t deserved to live while her mother lost her life. As a small child, he wouldn’t hold her hand, he’d grab her wrist when he had to, and drag her along.
Sometimes he’d stare at her as if he were a million miles away in a different place with someone else. Never once did he attend a parent’s evening at school and there was never more than a grunt at a good report card. She was in the way, a nuisance he had to put up with. When she was quite young, she picked up the mother of pearl hairbrush on the dressing table in his room. She guessed it had been her mother’s. When she moved the brush, the light caught the pretty colours and made them shimmer. It was the prettiest thing she’d ever seen.
‘Put that down!’ he’d yelled. She panicked and dropped it. A crack appeared across the colours. ‘See now what you’ve done. Get out and don’t touch anything in here again.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she’d said meekly, close to tears.
A while after Jean, her father’s new wife, moved in, she cleared out the main bedroom and the handle of the brush poked out of a cardboard box waiting for the rubbish collection. Sophia carefully pulled the brush out of the box and hid it under her bed. She used to slide under the bed and rub her finger over the smooth surface, only spoiled by the crack. One day it was gone.
Why was she thinking of all the negative things in her past? Today was a new day. Her hand gently went to where Tristan should have been. The space was empty. She padded through to her own room, pulled on her robe, and went to find Tristan in the kitchen.
‘Good morning, sleeping beauty.’
She smiled. ‘Good morning. I never heard you get up.’
‘I have to go. Coffee’s in the pot. Have a good day.’
‘I’ll start moving some things from my room to yours—’
‘I wouldn’t bother. It’s a bit silly moving everything, anyhow my rooms pretty much full as it is.’
‘Oh. Okay.’ Disappointment ran through her. Don’t be ridiculous, what difference does it make what drawers your clothes are in?
A while later, she relaxed in a warm bath. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She’d ring Anna later. They hadn’t had a good gossip for ages. Life seemed to be rushing forward. Was this really love? She’d imagined more. What more was there?
Sophia turned up at Mrs Shepherd’s with a spring in her step. ‘Good morning. Are you ready for a walk, Roxy?’ Roxy looked up from her bed and gave a weak wag of her tail.
Mrs Shepherd shook her head. ‘She hasn’t been too good in the night. I’m not sure she has the energy for a walk. I think I should call the vet.’
Sophia touched the dog’s lead, but Roxy didn’t move. ‘There’s definitely something wrong. Would you like me to take her to the vet in a taxi?’
‘That’s sweet of you, but Jim will come out as soon as he has time, which is usually after the morning rush.’
‘Okay, if you’re sure. Hope she’s alright. I’ll give you a call later.’
‘She’ll be fine. Probably put out she’s having to do all this walking. You’re not used to it, are you old girl?’ The dog’s tail lifted in the air and dropped again.
Sophia felt a pang of sadness as she let herself out. Poor Mrs Shepherd would be lost without Roxy. Please let her be okay. She had two more calls and then she’d call back to see if there was any news.
Sophia’s spirits lifted as she walked her charges through the woods. How had things moved on so quickly with Tristan? For the first time in her life, she was loved. The nuns would have a fit if they knew she was living in sin. She smiled to herself. Nothing in the world would spoil her happiness.
Sophia rang the bell and could hear the familiar sound of the wheelchair nearing the door. ‘Hi, I thought I’d pop in and see how Roxy is.’
‘You’re an angel. Come in.’ Mrs Shepherd looked tearful. ‘Roxy had a tumour and as she was twelve the vet didn’t recommend an operation and he said she must be in pain not to be getting up.’
Sophia looked at the dog bed, now empty. ‘I’ll put the kettle on and make us some tea.’
‘Alright, dear. It’s so good of you to pop in. Some would say she was only a dog, but to me, she was my best friend. They never let you down.’ She pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped her eyes.
Sophia made the tea, ‘Do you take milk and sugar?’
‘Yes, and two. You’re a good girl, your mum and dad must be very proud of you.’
Sophia’s tried to blink back the always nearby tears. Why was she so weak? It wasn’t as if her situation was new, it hadn’t ever been any different. She stirred the tea and passed the mug to Mrs Shepherd’s waiting hand. ‘Do you think you’ll get another dog?’
‘I can’t imagine what life will be like without her to chat to.’ She blew her nose. ‘I’m not sure about another one. It wouldn’t be the same.’
‘No, but they all have their little ways and a lot of love to give.’ A tear fell down onto her hand. She was so emotional. What was wrong with her? ‘If you do want another one, I’ll help you find one. Maybe if you give it a bit of time and then think about it.’
‘I will dear. Thank you. You’ve been so kind to a lonely old fool.’
That evening, Gio turned up with her bag. She put it in Tristan’s room and went to join them in the lounge. Just as she approached the door, she stopped at what she overheard.
‘When are you ever going to stop playing around? She’s only young, you should let her go,’ Gio said.
‘Actually, you’ll be surprised to hear I’ve made some decisions. We’re living as a couple now… Well, until I get some dates worked out.’
Sophia put her hand over her mouth to silence an involuntary gasp. He was going to ask her to marry him.
Gio snorted. ‘You’ll never marry her. Your mother would never agree and you’re hardly likely to do that anyway; she’s nothing to you.’
‘Don’t push it, Gio. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at her. Bad luck old friend, time for you to back off.’
Sophia heard a glass chink as it landed on the bar and a second later Gio stormed over to the lift, hesitating for a second when he saw her hovering in the doorway. His look was penetrating and yet apologetic. For a moment she thought he was going to say something then his expression changed, he carried on, pressed open the lift, and was gone.
Sophia swallowed and carried on into the lounge. ‘Gio’s gone in a hurry.’
‘Sometimes three can be a crowd. We don’t need him.’
‘He’s your friend.’ She looked at Tristan’s face etched in a hard stare.
He broke into a smile. ‘Of course, but all good things have to end. Let’s not talk about him anymore. Come and sit here next to me.’ He slipped his arm around her shoulder just
as his phone rang.
‘It’s my mother,’ he mouthed as he answered. ‘Hello, Mother… No, I haven’t seen it. I’ll have a look tomorrow… Oh, nothing much, just sitting here listening to some music… Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow.’ He turned the phone off and slid it onto the table.
Sophia bit her bottom lip. ‘Are you going to tell her about us?’
‘Plenty of time. No point upsetting the apple cart until we have to.’
‘Are you ashamed of me?’
‘Don’t be silly. Come here, not another word.’ He kissed her hard.
Things didn’t feel quite right, but she couldn’t decide what had gone wrong. Was it Tristan, his mother or Gio? Maybe she was edgy because of Roxy. Whatever the cause she felt uneasy and wanted to re-live the happiness she’d felt that morning.
Chapter 11
‘Guess what?’ Sophia could hardly contain herself.
‘I don’t know, tell me.’ Anna balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder. ‘Right now!’
‘We’ve moved in together, I mean as in living in sin…’
‘No! After all Sister Jude’s warnings. We have to get together, like now. I want all the gory details.’
‘Why don’t you come and stay for the weekend? We have a spare room now.’ She giggled.
‘Okay. Won’t Tristan mind?’
‘No. It’ll give him some time to get back on track with his friend…’ She swallowed. ‘So when will you be here?’
‘Lunchtime, maybe two-ish. I have to work in the morning.’
‘Okay, I’ll pick you up from the station.’ Sophia knew exactly what Anna would say next.
‘Did you pass your test?’
‘Yesterday! Can you believe it? And Tristan bought me a car!’
‘Noooo! You are sooooo lucky. We’ve so much to catch up on. Can’t wait to see you. I have to go.’ Anna’s next customer was waiting for her hair to be washed.
‘Bye.’ Then Sophia quickly added, ‘Let me know what train you’re catching.’
