When Summer Fades (8 page)

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Authors: Danielle Shaw

BOOK: When Summer Fades
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‘For your information it was
Mood
Indigo
. And yes, I have stopped humming it.’ Sophie flashed a delightful smile. ‘Now it’s something else. I suppose that means a double dose of bad luck. Which brings me back to the beginning of our conversation. How do I get out of tonight?’

Nagged on all sides by assorted members of the Callaghan family, as to why she should go Sophie conceded defeat with the words, ‘
Get
a
free
meal
out
of
him
Sophie
and
get
your
own
back
on
that
rude
bastard
’ ringing in her ears.

An hour later, Mary Callaghan placed a comforting arm on Sophie’s shoulder.

‘Ignore my uncouth family, Sophie my dear. To be sure, all they think about is their stomachs. My advice, for what it’s worth, is go. Didn’t you say this – er – Carlos wanted to discuss something important? Perhaps he intends to apologize. Callie tells me he was very rude about your dear little flat.’

‘Which isn’t surprising. Rosa says the garage at their villa is bigger than my flat.’

‘Jesus, Sophie!’ Colleen’s boyfriend whistled. ‘Why don’t you see if this Carlos has any brothers?’

‘He has. His name’s Cristovao, but he’s a lot younger than Carlos. Rosa says she’s forever falling out with Cristovao because he’s always making fun of her.’

‘Hmph!’ Callie snorted. ‘Knowing Rosa I’d interpret that as meaning Cristovao doesn’t spoil her rotten as Carlos does.’

‘Perhaps,’ Sophie said, reaching for her jacket. ‘Anyway as I can’t have Sean for my toyboy, I’m afraid no one else will do.’

Sean grinned a lopsided smile, and tugged at his carrot-coloured hair, he knew Sophie was only teasing but he often found himself making comparisons between the chubby, down to earth Colleen (with her blue, Irish eyes and mass of jet black curls) and the strangely enigmatic Sophie. Sophie, whose amber eyes and tawny coloured hair reminded him of a Pre-Raphaelite painting he’d once admired in a London gallery.

 

Chapter 5

 

‘She’s very beautiful,’ Sophie remarked to Carlos, watching Rosa walk away to the ladies’ powder room.

‘Yes,’ he acknowledged. ‘She’s also terribly spoilt. I expect you know her mother died when she was only a baby? Then my aunt married her father and became her stepmother.’

‘Rosa tells me she always thinks of your aunt as her mother.’

‘Aunt Elisabete is a very caring person. She said she’d like to meet you. Rosa has said many flattering things about you.’

Flustered and unable to meet Carlos’s gaze, Sophie fiddled with Gavin’s ring. She’d worn it tonight, simply because it was one of the few pieces of jewellery she possessed. On her right hand it no longer signified engagement. Looking up, she felt Carlos’s arm brush her hand as he filled her glass.

‘I was sorry to learn of your parents’ accident,’ he said at length. ‘Have you no brothers and sisters?’

‘No. It’s just me, Uncle Monty and Aunt Edna, my father’s sister.’

‘Is that Monty as in General Montgomery?’

Sophie smiled. ‘They both share the same surname, but that’s where the similarity ends. Uncle Monty was in the navy. He and my aunt have a hotel in East Anglia.’

‘Really?’ Carlos said, taking in their opulent surroundings.

‘Oh! It’s nothing as grand as this. Just a small hotel – but extremely popular. The same people go back year after year. Monty and Edna make everyone so welcome.’

‘It must run in the family. You made my cousin very welcome, Miss Fuller...’

Feeling her face flush with colour, Sophie wondered what was coming next. ‘I've tried to, Mr Martins but as you’re probably aware—’

‘Carlos, please. Mr Martins is far too formal.’

‘Then you must call me Sophie.’

‘Very well. So tell me … Sophie, what were you going to say about my cousin before I interrupted you?’

‘Only that as you’ve probably guessed, I was somewhat reluctant to take her in the first place. I was merely doing Celia a favour. Just a weekend, she said.’

‘And a weekend became several weeks?’ Carlos fixed Sophie with a questioning gaze, his eyes reflecting the colour of the candles on the table. ‘Tell me, what would you say if I asked you to take care of Rosa until Christmas?’

‘Christmas? You wouldn’t want Rosa to stay at Victoria Villas until Christmas! I heard you tell Celia...’ Sophie refrained from repeating what she had heard him say, exactly. Suffice it to say it hadn’t been terribly polite.

Carlos shifted in his seat, for once strangely ill at ease. ‘Ah! Yes. As I recall, I was speaking to Miss Sheffield when you returned from work yesterday morning. I owe you an apology Sophie. You see your flat – charming as it is – is not quite what the family had in mind when we sent Rosa to England. However,’ he put up a restraining hand, sensing Sophie was about to interrupt him. ‘Rosa has made it perfectly clear she is determined to remain with you at Victoria Villas. Unfortunately, I get the distinct feeling you would not be quite so enthusiastic at the prospect?’

  Shocked by what she’d heard, Sophie reached for her wine and took a deep gulp.

‘There’s no need to decide now,’ Carlos replied, topping up her glass. ‘As long as I can tell Rosa I have asked you. We can discuss the finer points later.’

So
that’s
why Rosa had been so long in the Ladies, Sophie concluded. Why, the cunning little minx! What was it Carlos had said about her earlier?
Very
young
and
very
spoilt
? She also knew how to twist her future fiancé around her little finger!

When Rosa eventually returned to the table, Sophie was still fiddling nervously with Gavin’s ring. ‘See how Sophie’s ring catch the candlelight, Carlos. It match with colour of candles and also your eyes.’

Fixing her cousin with a curious smile, Rosa placed her hand on top of his. ‘Isn’t that funny?’ she said slyly. ‘Sophie has a ring of engagement but no fiance′ and I have the fiancé but no ring!’

Carlos studied Sophie’s hands with a puzzled frown. ‘You are engaged, Sophie?’

‘Not anymore,’ said Sophie, hurriedly, anxious to avoid any mention of Gavin. She need not have worried however, Carlos seemed far too preoccupied disentangling his hand from Rosa’s grasp while his eyes filled with … with what Sophie puzzled? Alarm? Anger? Surely not, it was obvious from the way Carlos behaved towards Rosa that he cared for her. Then why, Sophie asked herself, was he unable to meet her gaze?

Newly composed, Carlos grinned and reached for a bottle of water to fill his glass.

‘My dear Rosa,’ he teased. ‘Remember what Grandmother says? You are always so impatient. You are also far too careless to be trusted with a ring. Knowing you as I do you would probably lose it. You must wait until— ’

‘Our engagement party?’ Rosa held out fingers varnished with mahogany nail polish, in anticipation of the priceless ring she would wear. ‘That will be fun I think.’

Carlos raised concerned eyebrows and lifted Rosa’s hand, anxious to change the subject.
Fun
wasn’t quite how he’d describe getting engaged. ‘Dare I suggest you don’t wear this disgusting colour nail varnish? You know Grandmother would never approve.’

Sophie gulped nervously. When Carlos released Rosa’s hand she sensed he’d almost reached for her own. What was he going to do? Make comparisons between Rosa’s mahogany coloured talons and her own much shorter nails, painted palest pink. In panic she quickly hid her hands in her lap. Conscious of her gesture, Carlos fixed her with a curious smile and motioned for the bill.

‘That could be one of the points we mentioned earlier. Discourage Rosa from using that disgusting colour on her nails. That’s if you do decide to let her stay?’

Was he asking her or telling her? Sophie pondered. The question however remained unanswered, rising from the table Rosa clapped her hands. She’d got her own way after all. ‘Just to make sure I don’t use it again,’ she grinned triumphant. ‘Sophie must come back with me next summer and stay for our engagement party.’

Leaving Beckford General with Callie on Monday evening, Sophie couldn’t believe her eyes. Hurrying towards her with a package in his hands was Carlos!

‘Sophie! I’m so glad I caught you. Rosa said you would be leaving about now.’

Carlos looked back at the hire-car, left with its engine running, parked on double yellow lines. The ambulance coming in through the gates would have difficulty getting past if he didn’t move quickly.

‘This is for you,’ he said. ‘I hope it’s OK.’

‘What is it?’

   ‘Something to make up for the weekend you took pity on Rosa,’ he called, returning swiftly to his car. ‘Goodbye. See you next summer.’

With a feeble wave, Sophie could only stare after him in bewilderment. ‘He’ll have to hurry,’ she murmured, looking first at her watch and then at the package in her hand. ‘His flight leaves at 7.45.’

‘Never mind about that!’ Callie cried. ‘Just tell me who
he
was?’

‘Carlos of course.’


Of
course
? Of course! Sophie Fuller! No wonder you’ve been keeping that little secret to yourself. Why, he’s simply drop-dead-Pierce-Brosnan-gorgeous.’

‘I know,’ Sophie sighed. ‘He’s also Rosa’s future fiancé.’

‘That’s not a problem is it? They’re only supposed to be getting engaged. It doesn’t necessarily follow they’ll get married.’

‘It does if you’ve got a grandmother like Rosa’s.’

‘Stuff Rosa’s grandmother. What I want to know is what did he mean by
see
you
next
summer
and more importantly, what’s in that box?’

‘I’m not sure. I didn’t quite catch what he said. Something about the first weekend Rosa stayed with me?’ There was a gasp when Sophie tore back green and gold paper to reveal a black and gold box. ‘Oh!’

‘Oh! Indeed,’ Callie repeated. ‘Van Cleef & Arpels no less. And a pretty hefty-sized bottle at that.’

Sophie stood open-mouthed. ‘Fancy that. He must have remembered getting me out of the bath to answer the phone. Rosa had used all my bath oil.’

Callie dug Sophie in the ribs, eyeing her suspiciously. ‘Oh, really? Well promise me next time he comes your way, you won’t stand there gawking like a goldfish. Just drag him into the bathroom and ask him to scrub your back!’

Closing her mouth, Sophie fixed Callie with a horrified stare. ‘Callie!’

‘By way of that little display, and despite your earlier protestations, do I take it you are having Rosa until Christmas?’

‘Yes, but only for the moment. I’ve agreed to review the situation at New Year. That’s when the family will get together to decide if Rosa comes back to finish her course. Carlos said he’d ring me at New Year.’

‘Did he indeed? How very interesting, I bet you can’t wait for New Year.’

‘Callie, do shut up! Carlos is already spoken for.’

There was a disgruntled ‘hmph!’ when Callie clambered into the Mini and reached for the seat belt. ‘Crikey! Who’s been wearing this? Camilla “stick insect” Markham?’

*

Saddened by Carlos’s departure, Rosa looked at the clock and turned red-rimmed eyes in Sophie’s direction. ‘Do you think he will be there yet?’

‘I should think so. Even now I expect he’s on his way to his apartment. He said he’d ring the moment he arrived?’

Rosa nodded, dabbed at her red-rimmed eyes with a tissue, and reached for a bottle of nail polish remover. Was her colour nail polish really disgusting?

Hearing the telephone ring, Rosa forgot all about nail polish and ran to answer it. Even later when she was getting ready for bed, she turned deeply sad eyes in Sophie’s direction. ‘Sophie, I am so sorry you are no longer engaged.’

‘Please don’t be, Rosa. It was all a big mistake, because I didn’t love Gavin enough to marry him. I’m sure you haven’t made that mistake with Carlos.’

Rosa paused, her head on one side. ‘No. I love my cousin very much, because he takes care of me like a big brother. He’s also very generous and buys me many presents.’

‘You can’t marry Carlos simply because he buys you lots of presents!’

Rosa gave her usual toss of the head. ‘Perhaps not but no matter, because next year after the engagement party, when I have my beautiful diamond ring, I expect I will love him like a husband.’

*

When Christmas arrived, Sophie found herself missing Rosa more than she’d imagined. The flat appeared strangely quiet and empty without the sound of bubbling laughter, and mischievous brown eyes glinting every time Rosa tried out a new nail polish.

‘For your own sake I shall confiscate all these bottles, before you sneak them into your luggage,’ Sophie had threatened. ‘You can have them when you come back. That’s if you are coming back after Christmas?’

‘Of course I am! Why shouldn’t I?’

Sophie held up a lobster-coloured bottle. ‘Your family might think I’m a bad influence. If your grandmother sees you with fingernails this colour, she’ll have Augustina deep fry them in batter!’

‘Oh, Sophie you are funny,’ Rosa had cried, hugging her warmly. ‘I shall miss you so much. I wish you were coming home with me for Christmas. Such a shame you will be working.’

 

Those same words had been were echoed by Callie but as Sophie had already explained, she still found Christmas a traumatic time. It also meant someone else in the nursing team could spend Christmas at home with their family.

‘You’ll get your reward in heaven,’ said Callie, going off duty on Christmas Eve. ‘As far as Rosa’s concerned you’re already an angel.’

‘Since when have angels had sandy coloured hair and hazel eyes? I thought they were all blue-eyed blondes.’

‘Speaking of blue eyes, or in this case navy-blue eyes, have you heard from Carlos?’

‘Not me personally. Rosa was the last to speak to him. He rang to say he’d be meeting her at the airport.’

‘Lucky old Rosa. Shame you couldn’t have gone back with her for Christmas, especially as you’d been invited.’

‘I don’t believe for one minute I was invited. Rosa knew I had to work.’

‘Correction. You didn’t
have
to
– you volunteered. By the way, any chance of getting away at New Year to see Monty and Edna instead?’

Sophie hesitated. ‘No, because I’m working at New Year, too. And before you start going on at me, let me get a word in edgeways. Aunt Edna and Uncle Monty won’t be at Casa Edna for New Year. Believe it or not they’re closing the hotel and going to the Algarve. A special pensioners’ package, by all accounts.’

‘That’s a shame,’ Callie reflected. ‘By the time Monty and Edna return, you’ll have Rosa the Lodger back again.’


Paying
guest
, please!’ Sophie cried, indignant, imitating Celia Sheffield’s clipped Queen’s English. ‘Lodgers at Victoria Villas! Whatever next?’

*

Next, as far as Sophie was concerned, were numerous postcards from both her aunt and Rosa. Edna always wrote in such detail – possibly setting a record for the most news written on one single postcard. Unlike Rosa, whose large, looping, illegible scrawl, left little room for anything other than that she was having a great Christmas. This meant, by the time she reached the bottom of the card there was barely enough space to write her name. Everything was signed, ‘
Miss
you
,
R

or

See
you
soon
,
R

or

Don’t
work
too
hard
,
R
.’

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