agree,’ Luka said. ‘I wish I’d never loved you.’
‘But you did.’
‘I did.’
‘And you don’t now?’
Luka wasn’t that good a liar so he gave her a kiss instead. A nice one, not a loaded one. A sweet one, if, between them there could be such a thing.
‘In a few days this will be over,’ Luka said. ‘We’re going to get back to our lives knowing that we did the right thing by your father. It will be easier on us both once we get to Bordo Del Cielo.’
‘How?’
‘I’ll check into the hotel and, like a good groom, I’ll stay well away from the blushing bride-to-be.’
‘Not as blushing as I’ll be when you jilt me.’
‘I can’t marry you, Sophie. I can’t be your fake husband. I can’t stand in a church and exchange vows that I know we can’t keep.’
He got up and headed to the bathroom.
‘Hey, Luka,’ Sophie said. ‘I wished I’d never loved you too.’
* * *
The calm did not just belong in the bedroom.
A new presence had arrived with the dawn, though no one fully acknowledged it.
The colour seemed to have drained from Paulo’s irises, Luka noticed as he wished him good morning.
And as Sophie passed her father his coffee and his shaking hand reached for it, it was a natural transition for her to lift the cup to his lips and help him to drink it.
The nurse stood, about to help, but Sophie shook her head.
‘I’ve got this.’
So too had Luka.
He was so kind to Paulo and so engaged in organising the quick wedding that there were times Sophie had to catch herself because it felt real.
‘What about the evening?’ Paulo wheezed.
‘The hotel is already holding a function,’ Sophie explained, and she looked at Luka, but he shook his head. There was nothing he could do. It had been the first thing he had sold. ‘The hotel is under new ownership.’
‘We don’t need that hotel,’ Paulo said. ‘Before it was built we would party in the street. I remember my wedding to your mother—we came out of the church and straight into a feast. Perhaps you could ring Teresa at the deli and see if she can sort out the food and the drinks...’
‘Pa...’ Sophie looked over to where her father sat. ‘Why would Teresa want to help us when you—?’
‘Sophie.’ Luka stopped her from continuing and then watched as Sophie walked out onto the balcony. He could see her hands gripping the railing as she fought not to confront her father. Despite Paulo insisting he wasn’t confused, he seemed to live between the long-ago past—when Rosa had been alive—and then the present, as if he had simply erased the damage that had been caused in between.
‘Scusi,’ Luka said to Paulo, and walked out to join her.
‘He gets confused,’ Luka said patiently.
‘He gets confused when it suits him.’
‘No,’ Luka said. ‘I don’t think he can reconcile what he has done. He needs to go home. I can see that now.’
‘No one will be talking to him, though,’ Sophie said. ‘Have you asked Matteo to be your groomsman?’
‘I have.’
‘And what did he say?’
‘That he’ll move things around so that he can be there.’
‘I want Bella there too.’
‘I’m not sure if that’s wise,’ Luka said. ‘Matteo will be with Shandy. You know a bit of what went down between him and Bella.’
‘I believe that it was Bella who went down,’ Sophie said. ‘And your friend paid for the pleasure.’
‘You don’t let a single thing go.’
‘You refused my offer of a clean slate,’ Sophie pointed out. ‘So tell your friend that, however uncomfortable Bella’s presence might make him, she’ll be there.’ She rubbed her temples and dragged in air. ‘I need to sort out some accommodation for us.’
‘That’s all sorted,’ Luka said.
‘How?’
‘Come on.’ Luka led her back inside then he addressed her father. ‘Paulo,’ he said in a very practical voice, ‘you will be tired after the ceremony. Perhaps we could have a few people back to your home...’
He gave a pale smile as Sophie let herself back in but then Paulo spoke. ‘I don’t have a home there any more.’
‘Yes, Paulo,’ Luka said, ‘you do. Since his death my lawyers have been sorting out the properties that my father acquired. You have your home to return to. It is all there, nothing has been changed. Angela has been taking care of it.’
For this gift to her father Sophie could almost forgive Luka for not loving her enough to remain in her life.
‘I have a home,’ Paulo sobbed. ‘Your mother’s dress will be there, Sophie. You can wear it for the wedding.’
‘No!’ It was Sophie who interrupted Paulo. ‘I’m not wearing my mother’s dress. I’m not my mother...’
‘Sophie, please,’ her father begged, but on this she stood firm.
‘I don’t want a replica of your marriage, Pa.’ She was caught between the truth and a lie. ‘I want our marriage to be different.’
She was torn, completely, as she walked out of the lounge and into the bedroom.
‘What was all that about?’ Luka asked, having followed her in. ‘I thought you were trying to give him the wedding of his dreams before he dies.’
‘Remember that you said if this was real, if we were in love...?’ Sophie turned the tables on him. ‘Then my father would know I would not be simply agreeing to everything. My father sees those times through rose-coloured glasses. If we really were marrying...’
‘Go on.’
‘What’s the point in going on?’ Sophie demanded. ‘Why should I tell you the wife and woman I want to be when you’re not even prepared to be there to find out? Why should I trust you with my dreams again when you won’t let me into your heart? You can have sex with me. Luka, you can be kind to me, you can argue with me if you must, but don’t ask for my private thoughts when we both know that you’re planning to walk away from me.’ She couldn’t
