Page 37 of Nobody's Girl

“Oh, god, Mr. Zacca, I’m so sorry. I thought you knew…I…” Sofia’s knees were weak and she sank to the floor. “Please, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, my dear. Thank you for being the only one decent enough to tell me. Do you know where my wife is staying?”

Sofia told him and he thanked her again, in a stiff voice, before hanging up. Sofia cursed loudly, tears close. What the fuck had she just done? Without thinking, she grabbed her coat from her bedroom and took off. It had begun to rain hard, but Sofia had only one thought now – get to Adria and warn her. It was Sofia’s mess to clean up now.

She ran through the rain-drenched streets, not caring that her clothes were soaking wet. As she approached the hotel, she wondered if they would stop her from getting in. Luckily, the doorman was distracted by an arriving limousine and Sofia slipped in quietly and went to the elevators.

She rode, thankfully alone, to Adria’s floor and it was only at the door of her suite that Sofia stopped and took a breath. She knocked twice and waited. Adria opened the door, and Sofia was surprised to see she was in her robe, her hair messy, her face flushed.

“I’m so sorry, Ms. La Loggia, but I can to come straight away.” Her words were tumbling out of her mouth and Adria, ever the mother, pulled her inside and put her arm around her shoulders.

“Breathe, dear, breathe. What is it? Has something happened to Ivo? Is he hurt? Are you hurt?”

Sofia shook her head dumbly. “No, no…it’s Walter, I mean, Mr. Zacca. He called you see, and I didn’t know that he didn’t know about the…cancer. God, I am so sorry.”

Adria took a moment to process what Sofia was telling her. She nodded her head slowly. “It’s okay, it’s alright, dear.” She sighed and led Sofia to the couch. “Sit with me a moment.”

They sat in silence, Adria holding Sofia’s hand. Sofia studied the older woman with worried eyes. “Ms. La Loggia? I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am.”

“Darling, call me Adria, would you? Look, he had to know sometime.” She noticed Sofia was soaking wet. “Mio Dio, Sofia, you’re soaking. Let me get you a towel and some hot tea.”

Sofia was bemused. “I should be the one looking after you,” she said with a shake of her head and Adria laughed.

“Darling girl, I’m Italian. I wrote the book on taking care of loved ones.” Sofia flushed and Adria smiled at her. “I didn’t know Ivo had told you about my illness.”

“He didn’t…Clemence did, by accident. And I told Walter by accident. Dear lord, what a mess.”

“It’s my own fault,” Adria’s voice came from another room, then she was back with a towel. She handed it to a grateful Sofia, who smiled her thanks.

“Walter called the apartment looking for Ivo, and I was stupid enough to blab my mouth.” Sofia rubbed her face, glad she wasn’t wearing make-up. “I only asked him if he knew what I could do to make you feel better while you were having treatment.”

“You are very sweet.”

There was a cough from the bedroom and Adria grinned at Sofia’s shocked face. “Darling, a woman has needs. A nice uncomplicated hook-up with a distinguished gentleman. That, I can tell you, make me feel a whole lot better.”

Sofia started to laugh and soon Adria joined in. Sofia, forgetting she was talking to a movie star, held her hand up for a high-five which Adria, grinning, delivered. “Good for you.”

Adria hugged her. “I’m sorry I haven’t made the time to get to know you better, little one. My son is crazy about you, absolutely head over heels. We must spend more time together before I go back to the States.”

“I would like that very much. How is your treatment going?”

Adria’s smile faded. “Better than expected. Darling, there are some things I don’t want to discuss with anyone, I’m not being rude, it’s just, the more I dwell, the worse I feel.”

“I understand. Look, now I am here, can I do anything?”

Adria stood up. “You could order us some tea, while I go get dressed. I’ll let my friend know that I have a family visitor, and to come back later.” She gave Sofia a mischievous wink and Sofia grinned. Adria disappeared into the bedroom and Sofia heard low voices and laughter.

She went to the desk and looked for the room service menu. She had just found it when she heard Adria returning. “No, you can say hello, of course, we’re not kids sneaking around of course, but then I’d like to spend some time with my friend. Dinner, later?”

“I would like that.” A very familiar voice answered Adria and then they were in the room with Sofia.

Sofia froze, the shock icy cold. From his expression, Fergus Rutland was as stunned as she was. Sofia’s mind was a delirium of confusion and anger and she blurted out the first thing she could think of. “Dad?”

Fergus Rutland rocked back a little but steadied himself and tried to smile as Adria looked between them. “Hello, darling. My god, Sofia, it is good to see you.”

Sofia, to her eternal shame, burst into tears.

Chapter Sixteen