“But Sophie didn’t know her before.”
“No. But her sister Ava had post-natal depression after her daught
er was born. As you no doubt know, it was a very harrowing time for Sophie and she was able to spot the symptoms easily.”
Alex shifted his weight and sipped his scotch because he couldn’t meet his friend’s eyes.
“I saw you coming out of her room that night.”
“What night?” Eric queried diffidently.
“The night I proposed to her. It was late. She was hardly dressed.”
“Oh. Wasn’t she?” His gaze narrowed. “You can’t seriously think I’d cheat on your sister? And with our nanny?”
“Sophie is more than just a nanny,” Alex retorted angrily. “She’s beautiful. She’s … I thought … I presumed you would have found her irresistible.”
“Like you did?” Eric queried with a disappointed smile.
Alex nodded warily.
“I’m telling you, mate, she’s a stunner, but I’ve only ever had eyes for your sister.”
“But you were in her room.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “She borrowed money.”
Alex stared at him, silently prompting Eric to continue.
“I told her I’d give it to her, but she insisted she wanted it to be a present for the kids, from her.”
“What?”
“That’s what she wanted the money for. To buy tickets to a show for the kids.” He shook his head. “Your wife’s all heart.”
Alex nodded. His wife, all heart or not, was missing. And he could no longer keep it to himself, because he needed his friend’s help.
* * *
Sophie had fine drops of paint splattered down the front of her shirt, and her blonde hair had copped a fair few spots of it too. She ran a hand over it and grimaced. It didn’t matter. It was just paint.
London was, at any time of the year, her favourite place in the world. But now, in the lead up to Christmas, it was more beautiful than anything she’d ever seen. The streets of Mayfair were decked out in sparkly fairy lights overhead, and even now, in the early evening, it glistened with magic, snow and pale cream moonlight.
The bar was underground. Sophie paused at the top of the stairs while she slipped her gloves off and pushed them into her handbag, and then she began to move downward.
It was absolutely packed with the after-work crowd. Sophie weaved through the people determinedly, heading for the shining wooden bar.
She ordered a bottle of wine, though she didn’t feel like drinking, and took up a table near the window. The associations gave her a bad case of nerves, but she couldn’t wait to see Eric again, and to hear about the boys. She stared at the table top, and tried to relax. But the feeling of merriment that surrounded her was absolutely at odds with her deep well of grief.
Christmas would be here soon. And she would spend it alone. No Liv, for she seemed to have disappeared into technological thin air. Ditto Ava, who was probably trying to work out just how the hell to conceal Milly from Cristiano while he was physically on the same property as them.
And no Alex.
She pushed aside the well of pain.
It was only one year, and truly, it was just another day. What did it matter that she’d always loved the festive season? That it was a highlight of her year to decorate the tree and make mince pies and pudding?
None of that mattered.