take us. I’ll call Teresa and then I’m going out.’
It was amongst the hardest of calls she had ever made. Teresa was as cold and as hesitant as before, but, Sophie guessed, work was work for her and perhaps it was because of the mention of the Cavaliere name that Teresa agreed to cater back at the house for the wedding.
‘Grazie,’ Sophie said, and hung up.
She collected her bag from the bedroom and gave her father a kiss on the cheek.
‘How long will you be?’ Paulo asked.
‘You’ll be in bed by the time I’m back.’ Sophie smiled. ‘I’ll see you in the morning. Just think, Pa, this time tomorrow you’ll be back in Bordo Del Cielo. You can sleep well tonight, dreaming of that. I love you so much.’
It was getting harder and harder to say goodnight, never knowing if this would be the last time.
She went over and gave Luka the necessary kiss. ‘Soon,’ Sophie said, as she lowered her head and kissed his mouth then whispered into his ear, ‘we’ll be living apart...’
‘What time will you be back?’ Luka asked.
‘You’re not my husband yet.’ Sophie smiled with her lips but not with her eyes and then she moved her mouth to his ear. ‘Dawn,’ she whispered, ‘so, as said, you can sleep well.’
She could not stand another night spent next to a man she could never have so she headed to the door, but Luka followed her out.
‘The plane leaves at seven.’
‘I’ll be back well before then.’
‘Tonight might be our last chance to talk...’
‘What’s the point?’ Sophie said. ‘There’s nothing left to say. We both know what you’re going to do to me. You’re wrong, Luka, I’m not fourteen, you don’t have to prise me from you knee. I’ll be at the church, and if you’re not...’ Sophie shrugged. ‘I’ll survive. I’ve had an awful lot of practice.’
She held it together until she made it to the apartment and only there, with Bella, did she finally let her guard down.
‘He says he wishes he’d never loved me.’
‘At least you have known love... Better to have—’
‘Don’t,’ Sophie warned. ‘If you start quoting Tennyson, I’ll scream!
‘Who’s Tennyson?’
‘I don’t really know,’ Sophie said, ‘but I don’t think he understood the heart...’
But maybe he did, because the thought of never having known Luka’s love filled her with dread.
‘He’s going to jilt me.’
‘More fool him,’ Bella said.
‘And I had a bit of an argument with my father. He wants me to wear my mother’s wedding dress and I said no. I don’t want a marriage like theirs.’
‘I’m already making your dress,’ Bella said. ‘I guessed that this might happen when Luka agreed to get engaged so I’ve already started it. I kept some money back from our savings and I bought some chiffon from the market. I will work on it through the night.
‘I’m going to be there with you, Sophie.’
‘No.’ Sophie shook her head because despite her brave words to Luka she could not put her friend through that. ‘You have to work, and anyway...’
‘Anyway?’
‘Matteo will be there and...’ Sophie could hardly bear to tell her, but Bella already knew.
‘I know that he has a woman,’ Bella said. ‘And I know that she’s stunning. I’d love to come and be your bridesmaid, Sophie. And don’t worry about work—as of this morning I am suspended.’
‘Bella?’
‘I got in a lot of trouble,’ Bella said. ‘I spilt an ice bucket on a guest’s lap when I was delivering the breakfasts to the room.’
‘An ice bucket.’
‘It was mainly cold water. I tripped but his girlfriend kicked up a fuss and called for the manager. It was a simple accident. The room was dark. I didn’t see him—or rather they didn’t hear me come in with breakfast... They were otherwise engaged.’
Sophie looked up to the sound of venom and mischief in Bella’s voice and her mouth actually gaped for a moment before speaking.
‘You threw a bucket of iced water over Matteo?’
‘I did.’ Bella grinned. ‘So, you see, now I am free to be at your wedding and I’m going to make your the wedding dress. Sophie, you’re going to be the most beautiful bride.’
‘Even if he doesn’t get to see me?’
‘Oh, he’ll see you,’ Bella said. ‘I’ll make sure Matteo takes a few pictures as you arrive.’ She hugged her friend and recited a Siclian saying. ‘“Di guerra, caccia e amuri, pri un gustu milli duluri.”’
In war, hunting and love you suffer a thousand pains for one pleasure.
‘The pleasure will be yours,’ Bella said.
‘It won’t be, though,’ Sophie said.
She was tired of the old ways, tired of false pride and sayings that spoke of revenge.
She was tired, so tired of hollow victories.
Maybe she had grown up.
Sophie wanted the man she loved.
SOPHIE’S FLIGHT BACK to Bordo Del Cielo was very different from the one she had taken when she had left.
Then she had been nineteen—confused, hurting, angry and just so glad to be getting away.
Now she was confused but the hurt was different.
Paulo was asleep in the bedroom area; Bella was sitting in one of the luxurious chairs with a curtain around her because she didn’t want anyone to see the dress she was making for her friend.
Sophie sat beside Luka, staring out of the window and watching the land she wanted to love but which had cost her so much come into view.
‘I was wrong,’ Luka said, and she turned.
‘Oh, you are so wrong,’ Sophie said. No doubt he was talking about something else but all she knew was that he was wrong not to give them this chance.
Luka gave a soft, wry laugh as if he knew
