Fool for Love (Believe #2) (40 page)

“Yeah, she has.”

Nodding, Sophia picks up a dishcloth and starts to wipe the counters.

“I’m going to be very frank now, Suzy, and I’d like to ask you to keep what I say between the two of us.”

Frowning, I hesitate.

“If I can, I will. I don’t want to keep things from Garrett,” I explain when she stops to look back at me, raised eyebrow in place.

Resolutely, she walks past me and opens a cupboard, taking down espresso cups.

“I loved Cecilia as if she were my own daughter,” she starts, and my body freezes up with apprehension.

Turning, she tilts her head at me.

“But I never thought that she was the right fit for Garrett, to be honest.”

My eyes widen in surprise.

“It’s true,” she continues, voice quiet. “She was too…” Frowning, she gets a faraway look in her eyes, as if she’s not seeing me anymore. “I can’t really put my finger on it, but when it comes down to it, she was too selfish in many ways. Spoiled. She never took Garrett’s wish to take over
Mama Rosa’s
seriously, for instance, even though he was quite clear about it.”

Turning her back, she switches on the espresso machine next to her.

“But I’ve always believed that I shouldn’t stand in my sons’ way when it concerns matters of the heart. So I didn’t meddle when Garrett called me after he’d proposed to her, elated with the news that he was to be a father.”

I take a couple of steps towards her but her next words stop me, shaking me to my core.

“I knew that Cecilia was having an affair with Vincent.”

I gasp.

“What?”

Turning around, the anguish I see in her face makes me wish we knew each other well enough that I could go to her and wrap her up in my arms.

“I saw her and Vincent downtown days before. It was quite clear that they weren’t just friends meeting for lunch, and when I confronted Vincent, he…” She stops, wrapping her arms around her midriff.

“He didn’t deny it.”

“Garrett doesn’t know, does he?” I whisper.

Hunching her shoulders, she shakes her head.

“Why not?”

“I was going to tell him,” she whispers and finally raises her head. “That night, at the engagement party, before utter devastation broke loose, I realised that I couldn’t let Garrett go through with the wedding. I was going to ask him to meet up with me the next day, and then…” Her voice breaks, and I can’t stand to watch her torment any longer. We may be strangers, but I can’t just watch her fall apart without
trying
to offer her some sort of comfort in her grief.

I close the distance between us, and she jumps slightly when I put my arms around her. But then I feel her relax against me, and I rock her gently from side to side, just like she did for me only a couple of hours before.

“Why are you telling me all this, Sophia?”

I’m so confused by her revelations.

“Because I’ve realised lately that keeping secrets for so many years aren’t good for any of us,” she sniffles before leaning away from me. I let my arms fall from her waist and take in her smudged makeup. I still don’t understand why she chose
me
, of all people, to confide in, but maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe people just need to unload their worries to a stranger sometimes.

“You have to tell him that you know, Sophia,” I urge her gently. “You can’t keep something this big from him.”

“I know. I’ll tell him soon, but not tonight.” Blinking rapidly, she winces. “I’m sorry about going off like that.”

I smile at her and step away. Trying to look anywhere but at her until my eyes fall on a stack of paper napkins on the island to my right. I quickly move to pick up a couple and hand them to her.

“Please don’t be embarrassed,” I try to reassure her as she dabs at her eyes and blows her nose.

“I swear that wasn’t my intent when I started.”

I wave a hand at her. “Don’t be silly – but if it’ll make you feel better, we’ll pretend it didn’t happen.”

Frowning, she shakes her head slowly.

“No, I don’t want to pretend. This family has had enough of that for years. But maybe we can let it go for the rest of the evening, yes?”

“Oh, absolutely.”

“Good. Now…” She turns and points at the espresso machine. “Do you take sugar with that?”

I grimace, causing her to laugh – exactly what I was going for – and then quickly decline her offer.

“No, thanks. Why ruin something as heavenly as espresso?”

Her smile grows wider.

“So true. I’m glad I’ve gotten a chance to meet you,
cara
.”

I can feel a blush creeping up on my neck.

“Thank you. So am I.”

Her hand lifts, and when she places it briefly on my cheek, I smile, touched by her gesture.

“You should definitely remain in the city, Suzy. I’ll have to tell Garrett to think of something that’ll persuade you to stay.”

“All he has to do is ask me, and I will.”

The enormity of what I’ve just said hits me, and I feel winded. I put a hand up to cover my mouth.

“Oh, gosh, did I just say that?”

Sophia’s trilling laugh reaches my ears even as my eyes cloud over. Trying to clear my sight, I blink rapidly.

“Yes,
cara
, you did.”

Groaning, I cover my eyes, but peek through my fingers when I feel her hand closing on my wrist.

“I can’t force him to want me,” I whisper. “Plus, there are all the practical details to consider as well.”

“Now, don’t think that far ahead, Suzy. Just keep doing whatever you do that makes my son’s eyes light up every time he looks at you. Then I’m sure he’ll want to keep you forever.”

Breathing deeply, I lower my hands, overcome with emotions.

“I really like you, Sophia,” I whisper. “Thank you for making me feel so welcome.”

“And the feeling’s entirely mutual,
cara
.” Turning away, she opens another cupboard. “Let’s see if I can’t find us a treat to go with our
espressos
.”

When my mama waits for Suzy to walk ahead of her, pausing at the threshold to the kitchen, I raise my eyebrows in question.

“I love her,”
she mouths at me, smiling wide.

Chuckling quietly, I shake my head before turning in my seat to face my dad. Something’s been niggling in my mind all evening, and now that we’re alone, I can voice my concern without risking the women to overhear us.

“Do you have any idea how Giancarlo and Easton know each other, Dad?” I ask him.

I turn to face him fully.

“I don’t know, son.” He grimaces before he sits back in his chair. “I wish I did.”

I clench my fists, looking down at my arms resting on the table. Tension coils in the pit of my stomach. Not thinking about the sorrows from my past has become a habit over the years. If I allow them the power to penetrate my thoughts, I’d become consumed with grief, and I no longer wish to dwell in the darkness.

Not since Suzy came into my life. I realise that now.

“There’s been talk that he’s become
‘friends’
with a couple of cops the last couple of years, though.”

I raise my eyes when my dad’s voice pulls me back to the present.

“That’s odd. Giancarlo never seemed the type to corrupt people.”

When I think back on my former father-in-law, I remember him as a man who laughed a lot. One who was fiercely protective of his family. A man who always had a kind word for us kids when we visited.

Until the last time I saw him, I’d never heard him raise his voice in anger.

At Cecilia’s funeral.

My dad’s voice brings me back from the memories assaulting me.

“You’re right, it doesn’t fit him at all.”

“Do you…” I hesitate and sit back, mirroring my dad. “Do you still see him and Maria?”

He shakes his head.

“No. After they sold the house a few years ago, as you know, your mother tried her best to keep in touch; but it became clear that they just wanted to forget us. To move on. It saddened me to lose our friends, but I kind of understood them, too.”

I grit my teeth and look away from him.

“I don’t blame them for severing all ties with me,” I spit out. “I killed their daughter, after all.”

I feel a firm grip on my shoulder and look briefly at my dad.

“Stop, Garrett.” He’s leaning towards me, but I hardly register the pain of his hold on me. Sorrow, anger, and determination flicker in his intense gaze, forcing me to pay attention. “You have to let go of the past, my son. Enough is enough, do you hear me?”

“How can you even say that? You lost a son, dad, and it was because of
me
.”

He sighs and shakes his head at me.

“Yes, I did. And when I look at you, I see you
and
Vincent – both of my sons. It pains me, and I miss him terribly, but…”

My heart is galloping away a mile a minute, and I hold my breath as I wait for him to go on. He takes a deep breath, blinking rapidly. A muscle works in his jaw as he continues.

“But I still have one son left, and I can’t live the rest of my life knowing that you’re still feeling so guilty. It’s tearing me apart, son. You have to
live
, Garrett. Live for
his
sake, if not your own. You conquered the drugs – you can overcome this guilt, too. I know it.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat as I stare into his compassionate eyes.

Nodding once, I whisper, “I’ve never understood how you and Mama were able to forgive me.”

His hand moves to my neck and he pulls me closer until our foreheads rest.

“You’re our son,” he whispers. “No matter what, we’ll never stop loving you. We’re just grateful that we haven’t lost you, too.”

His words are like a balm to my soul. In my heart, I know that my dad forgave me a long time ago, but it’s not until now that I let them inside.

“Thank you, dad,” I whisper. “I’ll try, I promise.”

“
Bene.
Now.” He releases me and we sit back, both clearing our throats. “What are your plans regarding that lovely girl, Garrett?”

His question throws me for a loop.

I cringe. “We’re not going to talk about my love life, are we? I’m almost forty, dad.”

He lets out a low laugh.

“No, we’re not. But you know your mama and me. We always stick our noses in where they don’t belong.”

I snort and look away.

“Yeah, I guess you do.”

Sighing, I reach for my glass and take a small sip, contemplating my answer.

“You’d be a fool to let her go.”

“Come now, dad.” I place the glass carefully back, still avoiding his probing eyes. “I can’t give you an answer to your question.”

“Hm. You mean, you won’t.”

“Maybe,” I concede, tilting my head. My lips form a crooked smile. “We enjoy each other’s company, that’s all.”

He shakes his head.

“So stubborn,” he grumbles.

My smile grows wider. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

He raises his glass at me.

“Touché.”

Female voices draw nearer, and I know our quiet moment will be interrupted soon. I frown slightly at my dad who’s grinning at me.

“This is going to be fun to watch,” he murmurs.

“What is?”

“You falling in love, my son.”

Before I can protest, my mother and Suzy walk back into the dining room, both carrying trays.

“I found some
mandorla
, Robert,” my mama says. “I thought they would be nice to have with our
espressos
.”

I stand up and pull out Suzy’s chair next to me. Smiling at me, she places her tray with the cups on the table before taking her seat.

“Sounds perfect,” I hear my dad’s reply, but I only have eyes for my waif. Her skin is glowing, her eyes sparkle with suppressed laughter, and she’s relaxed. She seems as if she belongs here with my family.

With me.

I listen to my mama and dad bickering good-naturedly, but Suzy is all I see now. I feel shaken to my core, but for the first time in years, the shadows of my past don’t push through. Instead, they leave me alone, and I sit back, enjoying the rest of the evening.