When Summer Fades (23 page)

Sophie passed Rosa’s letter over to Callie. ‘You can read it for yourself, if you like. She’s supposed to be helping Carlos and Cristovao in the office, but keeps having time off with a tummy-bug.’

Callie pulled a face. ‘Please don’t remind me! With November upon us, it’s getting to be that time of year again. Tummy bugs, viruses and flu! Rose Ward will soon be full to overflowing.’

*

Also full to overflowing were Sophie’s eyes, when she received Rosa’s next hastily scribbled note. Opening the envelope, she fully expected it to contain news of José’s welcome recovery.

‘No!’ she cried, as a coil of shock swept through her. ‘It’s not possible! I simply don’t believe it!’ Numbed, she made her way to the phone to ring Callie.

‘Sophie! What a coincidence! I was just going to ring you. Didn’t I always say we were on the same wavelength? Guess what – Patrick’s just asked me to marry him! He wants us to get engaged at Christmas. Isn’t that wonderful?’

‘Yes ... wonderful,’ Sophie faltered, choking back a sob. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’

‘You don’t sound it. Hey! Are you all right? You’re not crying, are you?’

‘I’ve ... I’ve just had a note from Rosa.’

‘Oh, sweet Jesus! You don’t mean to say her father’s dead?’

‘No. She hardly mentioned her father. But she did say … she and Carlos are ... getting married.’

Twenty minutes later, having rushed straight over, Callie sat down and attempted to decipher Rosa’s hurried scrawl. ‘What does she mean by her “last letter”?’

Sophie shook her head, dabbed at her swollen eyes and reached for yet another tissue.

‘I don’t know! You saw her last letter. It simply said she was helping out in the office, going to the usual parties and night clubs, and that she’d also had a tummy upset.’

‘And Carlos said nothing about this when he rang?’

‘Nothing specific about Rosa, other than that they’d all been summoned to Maria-Clara’s for dinner, presumably to discuss the problems resulting from José’s heart attack.’

‘That shouldn’t have any bearing on Carlos’s relationship with Rosa. Should it? It’s
you
Carlos loves. How can he—’

‘Quite easily by all accounts! Because it not only looks as if he can – he already has!’ Sophie snatched back Rosa’s note and forced herself to re-read it.’

My
Dear
S
,

A
quick
note
because
C
and
I
are
so
v
.
busy
.
I
expect
you
were
surprised
to
receive
my
last
letter
,
but
with
father
still
unwell
,
Grandmother
thinks
it
best
C
and
I
get
married
asap
.
Naturally
,
we
both
want
you
to
come
to
the
wedding
.
We
thought
early
spring
–
almond
blossom
time
.
Don’t
you
think
that
would
make
the
perfect
setting
?

I’ll
write
soon
with
more
news
.
C
has
been
wonderful
since
father’s
illness
.
I
adore
him
so
much
.
Isn't
love
wonderful
?

Hugs
and
kisses
,

R
.

Chapter 15

In a state of delayed shock, Sophie returned home exhausted. Last night in A & E had been particularly harrowing. As well as the usual drunks and road casualties, a young woman had been rushed in unconscious – a suspected suicide attempt.

With her usual concern, for both the patient and her distraught parents, Sophie had watched the duty doctor examine the girl’s dilated pupils before ordering the stomach pump.

‘What did the parents say?’ he enquired, tersely.

‘Sleeping tablets. It’s not her first attempt. Last time, she tried cutting her wrists.’

‘Do we know why?’

‘Her fiancé was having an affair with her best friend.’

‘Silly girl!’ the doctor said, lifting the young woman’s arms to examine the scars on her wrists. ‘Take it from me, Staff Nurse Fuller, no man’s worth killing yourself for.’

Probably not, Sophie reminded herself, switching on her recently purchased answer phone, but do you ever get over the feeling of betrayal?

Listening to messages from Callie and Aunt Edna, Sophie was relieved, yet at the same time almost saddened, not to hear Carlos’s once familiar voice. On yet another scribbled postcard, Rosa had said she would be ringing with details of the wedding. By the time she did, however, the answer phone had been installed, and Sophie had made a conscious decision to ignore and scrub out any further messages from Portugal.

‘I know you’ve been rushed off your feet at the hospital, so you’re probably too tired to think straight, but aren’t you being a little bit foolish?’ Callie had ventured. ‘Surely it wouldn’t hurt to speak to Carlos just once?’

‘Like I was supposed to look after Rosa
just
once
? No, Callie, as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing more to say. I sent Rosa my congratulations, and wrote Carlos a note saying, in the circumstances, I thought it best if he didn’t ring again.’

Sorting through her post and half listening to the answerphone messages, Sophie studied her reflection in the hall mirror. Well, what did you expect? You asked him not to ring, and he hasn’t! Miles away, still thinking of Carlos, Sophie suddenly gave a start. Celia Sheffield’s voice chugged into her train of thought.

‘Sophie.
It’s
only
Celia
.
Please
don’t
panic
,
I’m
not
asking
you
to
have
another
student
!
I’m
sure
one
Rosa
Ramirez
was
more
than
enough
.
I
just
wanted
you
to
know
I’m
having
a
small
pre
-
Christmas
drinks
party
,
and
I’d
love
you
be
there
…’

Assuming the message had come to an end, Sophie scribbled a note of the party date, pausing pen in hand when Celia’s voice broke in again.

‘
By
the
way
!
I’ve
had
an
early
Christmas
card
from
one
of
the
girls
who
came
over
with
Rosa
.
Have
you
heard
?
Rosa’s
not
only
marrying
her
cousin
asap
,
she’s
also
pregnant
!
My
dear
,
who’d
have
thought
it
?’

Pregnant
? Rosa was pregnant! While shock and anger welled up inside her Sophie tried hard to remember. When exactly had Rosa sent the letter saying she’d been feeling unwell and unable to work? With perfect clarity, she saw it all. ‘That was no tummy-bug,’ she said bitterly. ‘That was
morning
sickness
!’

*

Arriving to collect her dress, Callie studied with alarm the dark circles beneath Sophie’s eyes. ‘Oh, Sophie! Why are you torturing yourself like this? You’re still wearing Carlos’s shirt and playing that same, damned record!’

‘What same record?’

‘The soundtrack from
The
Jazz
Singer
. It’s on every time I come round.’

‘Is it?’

‘You know it bloody well is! OK, so it was one of your mum’s all-time favourites, but I suspect, just like that damned shirt, it also reminds you of Carlos.’

Sinking wearily into an armchair, Sophie picked up the album sleeve and turned to the pictures on the back cover. ‘I suppose it does, in a way, although Neil Diamond doesn’t have navy-blue eyes. But when he sings
Hello
Again
his voice is so soft and low … exactly like Carlos’s.’

Shocked and saddened by the haunted look on Sophie’s face, Callie reached across. ‘Can I see that LP cover? I’m convinced we’ve got a copy of it somewhere.’

With a cursory glance at the coloured cover photos, Callie turned her attention first to the list of songs, and then to a montage of black and white stills taken from the film. ‘Mmm,’ she reflected, ‘I suppose in your case the song
Summer
Love
would be strangely apt. And this picture, where the guy’s with the woman holding a baby, is bound to make you think of Rosa. Especially if, as you say, she’s pregnant.’

‘She’s not the only one, Callie ... I am, too,’ Sophie said, her voice trailing to a soft whisper.

Dropping the record sleeve to the floor, Callie switched off the record player, grasped Sophie’s hand and forced her to sit down beside her. ‘I was going to ask you if I imagined hearing that? But I can see from your face that I didn’t. Sweet Jesus! If you are pregnant with Carlos’s baby – and I assume that it is his baby – you must be at least four months gone! Why the hell didn’t you tell me before? How long have you known about this?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Sophie struggled. ‘I thought I was simply a bit off-colour and had a tummy-bug … A bit like Rosa, you see.’

‘No, I bloody don’t! I’m also extremely hurt that you couldn’t confide in me.’

‘It’s not that I didn’t want to. I wanted to tell you the moment I received Rosa’s engagement note. Believe me, I was devastated. Then when you said Patrick had proposed, I couldn’t spoil your happiness.’

‘Oh, Sophie! What am I going to do with you?’

‘Hold my hand when I’m in labour?’ Sophie pleaded, now cradled in Callie’s arms.

‘Of course I will, silly! When’s it due?’

‘About the middle of April.’

‘Phew! That’s a relief. At least you can still be chief bridesmaid.’

‘
Chief
bridesmaid
! How can I? You’re getting married on St. Patrick’s Day, which means I shall be about eight months pregnant! You won’t want me to—’

‘Oh, I most definitely will! For the simple reason I still intend to have that fairy- tale-princess-frock I’ve always dreamed about. Believe me, Sophie, there’ll be so much material in that dress, we’ll be able to hide you, your bump and even a pram behind it!’

Seeing Sophie smile, Callie felt brave enough to ask the one thing that had been bothering her. ‘I’m convinced I know the answer to this question already, but am I right in thinking you haven’t told Carlos about the baby?’

‘I was planning to tell him when he came over last month. If you remember, José had a relapse, and Carlos wasn’t able to make it in the end.’

‘Yet, if he was over here in September, and you conceived in July, you must have known by then?’

‘Not really. Because, since Mum and Dad died, my periods have been so irregular.’

Callie gave a sharp, dry laugh. Sophie looked up, puzzled. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘We are. Just look at the two of us. Both supposed to be qualified nurses, and we can’t even tell when one of us gets pregnant!’

*

Taking comfort from Callie’s repeated offers of support, Sophie helped her friend prepare for the pre-Christmas Ball.

‘So – have you finally decided what you’re going to do?’ Callie asked, admiring her newly manicured fingers.

‘Yes. Once I’ve had the baby and taken the permitted maternity leave, I intend to go back to work. Have you heard they’re opening a crèche at the hospital? I’ll arrange to leave him there. That way, I’ll be on hand if I’m needed.’

‘Don’t forget, Patrick and I will always baby-sit if you want to go out.’

‘Callie, much as I appreciate your offer, I hardly think I’ll be in a position to go out. Besides, when I’m not working, I want to spend all my time with him.’

Wriggling her fingers to dry the nail polish, Callie looked up, bemused. ‘
Him
? You already know the sex?’

‘No. I just have a strong feeling the baby will be a boy.’

‘You could be wrong. Looking at you now, I’d say you were carrying a dainty little ballet dancer. I still can’t believe you’re pregnant, especially when I think how little you eat. Promise me you’ll be sensible and look after yourself.’

‘I promise. I don’t want to end up looking like Jill Swallow, that’s all.’

Callie smiled knowingly. ‘Of course! That’s why you’ve taken to wearing the trouser uniform! Jill said the tops looked like maternity smocks.’

‘Mmm. I’m hoping to conceal the pregnancy for as long as I can. Aunt Edna always says no one knew Mum was expecting me until she was five months pregnant.’

‘That reminds me. What do Edna and Monty think about the baby?’

‘They – er – don’t know. I can’t bring myself to tell them.’

‘Surely they’d be over the moon? You’re the only family they’ve got, Sophie. It’s the next generation … Don’t you see?’

‘I hadn’t looked at it quite like that,’ Sophie said, picking up a comb.

‘How
had
you looked at it?’

‘To be honest, I never told Edna and Monty the truth about Carlos. I pretended it was simply a holiday romance, which I suppose it was in a way.’

‘Rubbish! I don’t want to upset you further by opening up old wounds, but I still maintain Carlos truly loves you. For what it’s worth, I’m still prepared to bet that once José had a relapse and that old bat of a granny, along with her henchman, Augusta–’

‘Maria-Clara and Augustina,’ Sophie corrected.

‘Like I was trying to say, before I was so rudely interrupted, I bet that old granny and her maid had something to do with this. They probably threatened Carlos with disinheritance and excommunication if he didn’t marry Rosa.’

Putting the finishing touches to Callie’s hair, Sophie paused, solemn. ‘No, Callie. I'm sure you’re wrong there. Carlos had money of his own. He wouldn’t let himself be swayed by such things. Although I appreciate your concern, I’d prefer not to talk about Carlos any more. And, if you don’t get a move on, you won’t be ready when Patrick calls for you.’

Callie took a deep breath. ‘You’re right. I didn’t mean to interfere. Next time I start going on about it, you have my permission to tell me to shut up.’

Helping Callie on with her dress, Sophie fastened the back zip and secured the hook and eye. ‘Wow! Don’t you look gorgeous? Between us we’ve done a great job.’

‘You mean
you’ve
done a great job!’ Callie stared with disbelief into the mirror. ‘Crikey! Is that really me. You don’t think I’ll turn into a pumpkin at midnight, do you? I simply
love
the way you’ve done my hair. Mum will never believe I’m going out not wearing a scrunchie!’

‘You could try wearing it as a garter,’ Sophie teased, holding up the elasticated green and white spotted fabric.’

Callie threw back her head and laughed. ‘Sophie, you might have helped me lose loads of weight, but never in a million years would I get that scrunchie round my leg!’

Watching a proud and delighted Patrick lead his fiancé to the car, Sophie was suddenly overwhelmed with melancholy and a desperate longing for Carlos. Choking back tears, she cleared away her makeup tray and recalled Callie’s earlier words. ‘
I
still
maintain
Carlos
truly
loves
you
.’

‘I thought you did, too,’ she said to the solitary photograph on her bedside table. ‘God alone knows how much I love you.’

Overcome with tiredness and despair, Sophie considered an early night, perhaps with a book or even one of the many magazines Lottie had brought round only yesterday. Fixing her gaze on her bookshelves, she caught sight of the novel she’d taken to Portugal.