Oh boy, I hope you’re both sitting down.
Because I’ve just agreed to marry him.
And that’s not even the shocking part…
Ava’s fingers shook as she scrolled through her contacts and dialled Sophie’s number. It connected almost instantly; the deep voice of Alex greeted her.
“Ava, Merry Christmas. Sophie has left her phone in the kitchen again. She’s forever losing this thing. How are you?”
“Hi, Alex. I’m sorry to interrupt but I wonder … is she free?”
“Of course, just a moment.”
There was the scuffled noise of children’s laughter and footsteps before the receiver was picked up and Sophie spoke into it.
“Hey! Merry Christmas!”
Ava swallowed. At the happiness in Sophie’s voice, Ava wasn’t sure what to say. Was she overreacting? She had always been the worrier in the family. Was she worrying needlessly now?
“Ava? What is it? Is it Milly? Cristiano?” There was silence as Ava mentally tallied all of the information she had kept from her sisters. Not intentionally. But she’d been so wrapped up in her own mess of a life that she hadn’t known what to say about her relationship with Cristiano. How could she explain it to them? To those who had nursed her heartbreak and pain?
“No, no. It’s Liv.”
“Liv?”
Sophie felt a prickle of tension in her spine. She eased herself down at the table and took a deep breath. “What about Liv?”
“Didn’t you see the email?”
“No. I haven’t checked my phone all day. I’m sorry. What is it? What did she say?”
“You and she are as bad as each other,” Ava grumbled angrily. “First you and Alessandro, and now Olivia.”
“What about Olivia?”
“She says she’s getting married to some guy. God, read the email.”
Sophie shook her head. “I don’t know how to while I’m talking to you. What did it say?”
Ava began to read, her voice shaking from shock as she relayed it in its entirety.
Sophie dipped her head forward. “That’s all she said?”
“Yes.”
“But who? She never said anything? What? When? I just … I don’t understand.”
“No. That makes two of us.”
“Alex will be able to help.”
“He can try, but Olivia’s disappeared into thin air. The agency she worked for have no clue. Her home phone’s not ringing. Her mobile’s making a weird blee-blee-bloop noise whenever I call it.”
“No, she wouldn’t do that to us. She’ll be in touch. Soon, too. This is Liv! She’s the glue! Come on, Ava. She’ll be okay.”
“She’s too bloody trusting is what she is. Any guy with a smile and a nice car and she’s sold.”
“She’s not that bad.”