“No, I’m sorry, ma’am,” she responded in broken English.
“Damn it.” She spun around and planted her hands on the hips. She surveyed the house from between shuttered eyes.
Had he already left? She moved back into the house and checked the bedroom they’d shared. The bed was made. Her eyes were drawn to his empty bedside table and she thought again of the beautiful arrangement she’d left there. The gift he’d discarded.
Because he had been upset! Angry! Hurt!
Yes!
He had discovered something whilst interviewing the nanny. Perhaps he’d spoken to Helena, or Eric. Something had happened; it was as clear to her as the diamond she wore on her ring finger.
She ran upstairs again, into the room she’d used the night before and lifted her phone. A little red number called her attention to her messages and she opened them, her heart in her throat with the hope that she’d find Alex had already messaged to explain.
But it wasn’t Alex. It was a number she didn’t recognise.
“I’m here! Only I don’t know where in Corfu you are. Send me the address.”
She frowned, and was about to delete it without replying when the same number began to show on her screen as a call. Impatient, she answered with a gruff, “Yes?”
“Well, that’s no way to greet your sister.”
Sophie felt tears spring to her eyes at the welcome sound of Olivia’s voice.
“You’re here? In Greece?”
“I’m in Kerkyra. I found a bar not too far from the airport. This place is amazing. I could get lost in ancient laneways very happily.?
?
Sophie thought despondently of the exploration she hadn’t done. The island had been beckoning, and she’d been too wrapped up first in Alex, and then in desolation, to do any of it justice.
“I’ll come to you,” she decided instantly. “Only I’ve got no idea how the hell to get to the town, so you’d better make yourself comfortable.”
“Can’t my new brother-in-law drive you?”
“Alex?” Sophie’s heartbeat accelerated. “He could, but he’s … away working.”
“Already? Some honeymoon.”
Sophie’s cheeks flushed. “He’s busy, Liv.”
“I know, I know. The price you pay for marrying a tycoon, ha?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” She dug her toe into the carpet.
“Well? Hurry up. I’ll order you a champagne.”
“Oh… I’ll be driving …”
“Pish. Hurry up. I miss you!”
Sophie laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would have arranged everything.”
She could practically hear Liv’s careless shrug. “I got a deal on a last minute flight. I hope it’s okay?”
“Okay. It’s bloody fantastic. I’ll see you soon.”
She moved quickly back to the bedroom and pulled a colourful dress off a hanger. It was a gorgeous shade of peach and turquoise and flattered her skin tones and eyes. The dress was simple cotton, strapless so that it ran straight across the top of her cleavage, hugged her to the waist and then flared in a short skirt to inches above her knees. It was perfect for the warm weather they’d been enjoying. Sophie slipped a pair of wedge-heeled sandals onto her feet and tidied her hair, then moved through the house.