Sophie couldn’t help the smile that touched her expression. “Maybe. God, I mis
s that kid.”
“I know, tell me about it.” She ran a finger around the rim of her glass. “What are you worried about though? You know Cristiano’s got no interest in kids. He’s the proverbial bachelor. That was part of the problem.”
“Look who’s talking. You’ve gone and tamed one of those, so don’t take it for granted that leopards can’t change their spots.”
“I haven’t tamed Alessandro,” Sophie demurred.
“He’s a renowned … well … you know as much as I do, I presume. And you’ve got him stitched up and loved up.”
“But Alex is nothing like Cristiano.”
“Isn’t he?” Olivia pushed.
“No.” Sophie insisted. She drank her remaining champagne simply to break the conversation and Olivia topped their glasses up to stave off the reappearance of the over-attentive wait staff. “Cristiano’s a bastard. He broke Ava’s heart and left her pregnant and alone. Alex would never act like that. Ever. Family is hugely important to him.”
“Yes, but Cristiano doesn’t know he’s got family in Australia, remember.”
“That’s not Ava’s fault. She tried to tell him. He wouldn’t see her. You can’t possibly be defending him?”
“God, no.” Liv shook her head. “I went with her to Rio, remember. I’ll never forget the sight of our pregnant sister waddling away from his apartment building, having been turned away by his housekeeper.” Sophie’s eyes had a faraway expression. “And we both know what state she was in afterwards.”
They didn’t need to cover that in any more detail. The recollection of those dark days in Ava’s life haunted them all. Thankfully, the sisters were so close-knit that they’d been able to pull together and help her through the post-natal depression and other complications. Between their support and the proper medical attention, Ava had come through the other side and returned to her normal self.
And Helena? Would her brother be able to help her in that unique way siblings had? Sophie leaned back into the leather seat, and focussed on one of the ornate lamps in the corner. Was she denying him the opportunity to help Helena, in a way that he’d never be able to forgive?
“Would you have told him?” Olivia wondered thoughtfully, conjuring out of nowhere an image of Cristiano’s handsome, dark face.
“Absolutely,” Sophie insisted. “He’s the father. He should, if nothing else, have had the chance to support his child.”
“Ava’s doing okay in that department,” Olivia pointed out.
“Yes, but Cristiano is a proud man. He would hate to know how she’s been struggling, and how hard she’s been working.”
“I don’t think he’d care.” Liv shook her head. “Bastard.”
“Yeah.” It was a concise ending to the conversation. However, it was not the last conversation they would have on the matter. For that afternoon though, they filed it away for later prodding, and turned to more pleasurable matters. Hours passed in the blink of an eye, and before Sophie knew it, she was pleasantly fuzzy around the edges from excellent champagne, and her sprits were high courtesy of her funny, spontaneous sister.
“Okay, Mrs Petrides, I think it’s time you took me to meet this sexy husband of yours.”
Sophie felt her heart pound sharply in her chest. Alex. And just like that, her state of relaxation evaporated, to be replaced by one of anxious uncertainty. But what could she do? Her sister was in Greece, and of course she must meet the man who had swept Sophie off her feet. Even if they were barely speaking.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Does he always work so much?” Olivia queried, stretching her legs to catch more of the sun.
“Yes,” Sophie murmured, not opening her eyes for fear of the expression she might see reflected back at her.
“I’ve been here four days and am yet to see him.”
“I’m aware of that,” Sophie’s words were sharper than she’d intended. She softened them with an apologetic smile. If she didn’t take care, Olivia would start to worry that something was wrong. “I’m sorry. I miss him. Our wedding caught him as much off guard as it did me. He can hardly put his projects aside just to wait on us hand and foot.”
“I’m not expecting him to. I only want to meet him before I go.”
“You will. You don’t have firm plans, I thought?”
“Itchy feet, remember?” She teased. “Besides, when he does get back, I don’t want to cramp your style. Having seen how little you two get to see of one another, I don’t want to be the annoying third wheel.”