Page 38 of Nobody's Girl

Sofia sat stiffly on the chair in Adria La Loggia’s suite, not looking at her step-father. Adria, realizing what the situation was, made them both sit. “Talk,” she ordered, giving Sofia a stern look, but also her hand squeezed her shoulder. She bent down to kiss Sofia’s cheek. “Just talk. If you get upset, I’ll be right in the next room, darling.”

Fergus cleared his throat now. “Thank you for giving me some time, Sofia.”

Sofia said nothing. Every time she looked at him, all she could see was the man who had abandoned her, who had disrespected her mother. Fergus was studying her.

“Sofia, I just wanted to say…I was wrong. I was wrong to throw you out. Especially on that day.”

Sofia gave a humorless snort. “Yes, because there’s always a good day to throw a person out of their home. I’m really not interested in apologies, Mr. Rutland, so you can save yourself the speech.”

She got up but Fergus raised a hand towards her. “Please, just a few moments and then you never have to see me again.”

Sofia hesitated then sat down. “Say what you need to, Mr. Rutland.”

Fergus gave her a half-smile. “It was Dad a little while ago.”

“A slip of the tongue. The Dad I knew died the day of my mother’s funeral.”

It was with satisfaction that she saw him flinch. “Sofia…I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I was almost half-crazy with grief and every time I saw you, I saw your mother. I think what she would have wanted, now, is for us to reconcile.”

“Just when I’m making my mark on the world. Such a coincidence.”

Fergus’s expression changed, became annoyed. “Nonsense.” He sighed. “Sofia…time has passed, I’ve healed. And I want my daughter back.”

“You have a daughter. That pit viper called Tamara. Do you honestly think I want anything to do with you – or her – after you couldn’t even show my mother the respect of burying her in the Rutland family plot? Humiliating her even after death and you expect me to believe you grieved for her?”

Fergus stood, his irritation obvious. “This is ridiculous. Sofia, you had no visa when you came here. You’re working here illegally. Come home with me now before you’re thrown out of the country. Or worse.”

Sofia stood too. “Are you threatening me?”

“I’m merely stating a fact. Don’t you think your raised profile won’t attract the attention of the French immigration department?”

Sofia raised her chin. “Only if someone informs them. Are you saying you’ll go to them if I don’t come home with you?”

Fergus didn’t answer her but met her gaze. Sofia felt like screaming. “You bastard. I did what you asked. I went away and I would never have bothered you again. So why now? Because you can’t bear for me to be happy? You’re a sick fuck.”

She didn’t see the slap coming. Fergus’s hand connected with her face, full force, and Sofia staggered backward.

“Enough!” Adria was back, clearly having been listening. She got between them, her green eyes blazing, her anger a furious thing. “You. Get out, now. You never hit a woman, least of all someone who you abandoned.” The Italian woman was in Fergus’s face now, and he stepped back, alarmed. “Did you know Sofia nearly died? When she was living on the streets where you put her? Meningitis. No? You didn’t know that? Of course, you didn’t because you banished her! Get out, figlia di puttana!”

Fergus hesitated only for a second more, then, with a last glance at Sofia, grabbed his jacket and left. Sofia was trembling and Adria turned to her, her expression softening. She wrapped her arms around Sofia and hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry I asked you to talk to that…” She could barely spit his name out. “Darling, I promise you this now. You will not have to go home with him. We will work something out.”

Sofia closed her eyes. It had been such a long time since she had been held by a maternal figure, that she didn’t want it to end now. She felt as if the last year’s hurt and pain was running rampant through her body. “He’ll go to the authorities. He’ll get me kicked out of the country. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that he had spit in him. I never realized it when my mom was alive, but I guess Tamara got it from him.” She looked up, tears in her eyes, then felt embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Adria. My family drama is the last thing you need right now.”

“You are my family,” Adria kissed her temple. “Now, that my dinner date has been shown the door, why don’t we go grab something and I’ll call Ivo.”

Sofia nodded. “I’d like that. But what about Walter?”

Adria sighed. “I called him and left a message. He’ll be fine, Sofia. Look, Walter and I…he is my best friend but sometimes I feel as if we need to have some kind of disconnect. We’ve been divorced for years and yet we are both guilty of cleaving to each other. Walter has a new lover, so he tells me and I want him to be free to pursue that without feeling as if my illness means he should be here.”

“I’m so sorry I blabbed it out like an idiot.” Sofia chewed her lips. “Now I think of it, I think Clemence thinks Walter knows too, from what she said.”

Adria shook her head. “No, Clemence did know Walter was in the dark. We discussed it at length. She knew Ivo was keeping it from you for the same reasons – he thought you had enough on your mind and I agreed. Clemence told you?”

Sofia nodded, suddenly feeling confused. “Why would she…I don’t understand why she would do that. Maybe…pregnancy brain?”

Adria smiled. “You’re being kind, but I think we both can guess what’s going on with Clemence. She’s jealous, Sofia. It’s almost time for the baby and she’s feeling emotional. It can’t be easy for her to see you with Ivo, especially when she sees how much in love the two of you are.”