The Second Time is Sweeter, page 21
“Hi,” he said from the foot of her bed.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and a loud sob wracked her body. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t.” He took the hand not hooked up to IVs. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have sent you to rehab months ago.”
“There you go again. It’s my fault. Not yours. You didn’t need to do anything. But from now on, things are going to be different.”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t want to live like this anymore. I hate myself. I want to stop for good.”
God, how he wanted to believe that. But he’d heard it one too many times. He sat on the edge of her bed. “Luce, you have to leave. You can’t come back here, not for a long time.”
Her eyes were wet. “Mom’s house?”
“I’m selling it.”
If he had a hard edge to his voice, he couldn’t help that. Lucy seemed stuck. She needed a big shove toward her future. This was his shove.
“Our house.” She nodded, letting the tears fall unrestrained. “I screwed it all up.”
“It’s just time to move on. Too many ghosts there.”
“I wish I was stronger. Like you.”
“You’ll get there.” He took a tissue from the box nearby and rubbed her tears away. “The police are going to need to talk to you. There’s going to be an investigation.”
“I was afraid of that. This must look bad for you.”
“No one cares about that.”
“There’s no one to blame but myself. I’m the one who mixed Xanax with alcohol.”
“Why did you go back to his house?”
“He had some of my things and I wanted them back.”
“You could have asked me—”
“So you could have wound up beating him up and losing your job? No. It was something I had to do. No one forced me to stay and drink. Don’t blame it on him.”
“He hit you,” he said through a steel-encased jaw. “How about pressing charges now?”
“Sure. But I just want him out of my life. If I’m going away that will take care of it.”
Until the blockhead came upon the next woman, but he couldn’t worry about that now. Lucy was right and he had to focus on her now. First order of business would be to get her help. He’d take care of the idiot later but take care of him he would.
“Riley. Please be careful. He really hates you now. I think you humiliated him, and he doesn’t take that sort of thing well.”
“I can handle him.”
“I won’t feel comfortable until he’s locked up. Watch your back. Don’t get complacent.”
“Never.”
Lucy picked up his left hand and twisted the ring on his finger. Cracked a smile. “Does this mean what I think it does?”
He couldn’t help but feel a small smile coming on. “Yeah.”
She leaned back, appearing wiped out by the ten-minute conversation they’d just had. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.”
“Thanks.”
The nurse approached. “I think she needs her rest now.”
“I’ll check back in later,” Riley said. “Probably going into work.”
Lucy nodded. “I’ll be here.”
He’d make calls to arrange rehab for when she checked out of the hospital. Sophia sat in the waiting room, and when she saw him, her eyes filled with such obvious affection for him that a wave of love hit him hard and fast, threatening to take him under. It had always been that way for him when it came to her. Sinking. Falling. Walking around like he’d been hit with the stupid stick.
She stood and he pulled her into his arms, tight against him.
“Is everything all right?” Her voice sounded muffled against his chest.
“Yeah. Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 19
Because Riley would be dropping by the station, Sophia decided to go to the restaurant.
Every now and again when he was in town, Daddy-o stopped by the restaurant to check in on old employees and praise Sophia on all her efforts, but it had been some time since he’d done that. She wondered what he’d think of the changes Angie had made to the menu. Most of all she considered whether telling him the news about her and Riley in a public place might be a better proposition for all concerned. Safer. After all, her father didn’t even like it when someone raised their voice in the restaurant. Waving over your waiter or waitress? Please. Tacky. Take a chill pill and wait. Italian dining was an experience in its entirety and waiting merely a part of it.
Sophia walked in the back door to the kitchen. “Hey, everybody. How’s it going?”
Angie turned to Sophia. “Your father said you wouldn’t be in because of a sick friend. Is this sick friend about six foot one?”
“No. It was Lucy, and I don’t want to talk about it. Is everything running smoothly so far?”
“He’s driving me crazy.” Angie hissed, lowering her voice enough that Sophia had to get closer to hear. “You know how he intimidates me. He’s like Frank Sinatra and I’m…I’m…not Frank Sinatra.”
“You’re exaggerating. You’re the chef. Do your thing and ignore him.”
“Oh, so easy for you to say!” Angie stirred with a vengeance.
Raul flitted around every station, not stopping long enough to be near Angie for long. Big clue it was a tense night for the chef.
Daddy-o burst through the kitchen doors. “Angie, how’s that fettuccine doing? Oh, Sophia! Here you are.”
Sophia went into her father’s arms. “Hi, Daddy-o.”
“I thought you were visiting with your sick friend. You deserve a night off, mi amore! What are you doing here?”
“I won’t be here long, but I wanted to talk to you anyway. And this might be a good time.”
“Oh, I don’t know. We’re quite busy here tonight.”
“I’ve got this, Mr. Abella!” Angie kicked the oven door shut.
Daddy-o was always so oblivious to these gestures indicating the stirrings of World War III. Sophia gave him a tight smile. “I’m sure you have a minute or two to spare me.”
He laughed. “Let’s grab a table in a minute. Right after I check on the spaghetti sauce.”
“Oh, God!” Angie yelled.
“What is it?” Daddy-o startled. “Are you all right?”
“I have a cramp!” Angie stalked off.
Sophia sighed and smiled at her father, who looked puzzled as he went for the spaghetti sauce. Knowing Daddy-o, he’d conclude the cramp to be a feminine problem and wouldn’t ask any more questions.
“Meet you out there.”
Sophia passed by Mama’s photo and repeated the nightly gesture. To be honest, part of being at the restaurant every night meant “seeing” Mama and letting her know all was well at Giancarlo’s, her second home. Sophia had missed the ritual during her marriage when she’d been off in North Carolina with Riley and had determined not to let that much time ever slip by again.
If it isn’t too much trouble, Mama, would you send me a little help down here tonight? Send down some good juju. I have to tell Daddy-o something he’s not going to be happy to hear. Something he might be shocked to hear.
And Eileen, nowhere in sight.
But Sophia hadn’t lied. Not exactly. Besides, whether or not she was married would be her decision entirely. A much bigger decision than running this restaurant or closing on Mondays. Daddy-o thought her fully capable of making those decisions, so surely he’d understand and be behind her on this one. Yes, that’s right. He would.
Sophia caught Lizzie’s arm as she whizzed by. “Bring me two glasses of Brooke’s Cabernet and keep them coming. No, bring the bottle. Bring two.”
“Two bottles? What’s up?” Lizzie asked.
“I’m telling my father tonight. About Riley.”
“And the non-divorce?”
Sophia nodded like someone who’d lost neck control. A sound somewhere between a wheeze and a moan came out of her mouth.
“Can’t it wait until I go home?” Lizzie whined.
“No, I need people here. Lots and lots of bodies. You don’t understand. He won’t even raise his voice.” She took a seat in a booth and rearranged the silverware. Re-folded the napkins. Twice. Waved at the Wilsons, party of three, as they were leaving.
Finally, Daddy-o joined her. “Ah, you waited for me.” He uncorked the wine, sniffed the cork, poured, swished and took a swallow. “I’ll have to tell Brooke this Cabernet is a little too nutty. What do you think?”
She would have to say that nutty was a perfect flavor for this family but that was beside the point. Sophia took a sip and nodded. “I like it.”
He shrugged. “It’s only my opinion.”
Sophia took in a deep, even breath. He seemed in a good mood tonight and would be reasonable.
“As a man who’s served and graded wine for over thirty years.”
Right. “It might be a little nutty.”
He shook his finger at her, smiling. “You have always had a mind of your own, haven’t you?”
Sophia gulped her wine.
Daddy-o frowned. “That’s not the way your Mama and I taught you. You must savor the experience.”
She took a sip and swished the way she remembered being taught by her parents at the dinner table. Smiled at Daddy-o. Cleared her throat. “So. I’ve got some good news.”
“Wonderful.”
Or not. “I think it is. See, here’s the thing. I’m not actually, if you want to get right down to it, technically…divorced.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m—not divorced. Riley and me. Still married.” Oh God, the ring. She hid her left hand. Had he noticed? She had planned on easing him into the ring.
“What? I paid Guiliana Hart for an easy divorce. That’s what she said! Easy. Never trust a lawyer.”
“You said it was cheap.”
“No matter. Surely it’s just a paperwork glitch, no?”
One heck of a paper glitch. It got stuck in her desk drawer and never made its way to the United States Postal Service. Oopsie. Sophia poured more wine, and thanked God she was right-handed.
“I-I never sent Riley the papers.”
He frowned. “That could be the problem.”
“Yes, I’m fairly sure that’s it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I never wanted the divorce? I just put it away and forgot about it. Next thing I know, it’s sitting in my desk drawer collecting dust. What a story, huh? One for the grandkids! How do you like that? Oops, I forgot to get divorced. Silly me.”
Daddy-o wasn’t laughing.
She cleared her throat. “Then a really funny thing happened. Riley came back to town and took over for Bert. You remember Bert? Of course, you do. What a stupid question. Anyway, he rented the house next to mine. I mean Riley, not Bert. Bert retired. Well, you remember. And I saw Riley every day, right next door! How funny, huh?”
Still no laughter. Obviously not funny. She got that. She didn’t think it was funny at first, either.
Sophia took another gulp of wine. “It turns out that Riley doesn’t want the divorce either. And so we…he and I were just thinking, hey, why bother? You know?”
“Why bother.” Daddy-o drummed his fingers on the table.
“Exactly.” She continued to hide her left hand under the table.
“Let me see if I understand this. It’s ‘too much trouble’ to get divorced.” He raised his fingers in air quotes. “You’re going to stay married to the man who broke your heart. Did I miss anything?”
“You missed the fact that I still love him.”
He shook his head. “No, no. You’re not thinking straight again.”
Maybe I’m actually thinking for the first time in my life.
“You never asked me if I wanted a divorce from Riley. A month later you hauled me to the lawyer, and I couldn’t talk to you about it. It was just too sad.”
“Eileen tried to talk to you.”
It was true. She had, and Sophia wouldn’t listen. Eileen wasn’t her mother. “I think you both assumed a lot. Yes, I had a broken heart, but I was also pretty young and stupid. Maybe even a little…spoiled.”
“Bah! I never spoiled you. I only tried to protect you.”
Riley had done the same. What a mess her life had been, loving two men who each in their own way had tried to protect her. And Daddy-o, still stuck in his old-school ways.
“But you should have at least asked me if I wanted the divorce.”
He went palms up. “You left him. What am I to think?”
“That maybe we could have worked it out, given time? What would Mama say? Would she have thought I should get divorced or try to work it out?”
“Don’t try to distract me with talk of your mother! You let me think you were divorced, all this time. What do you think Mama would say about lying to your father?”
“And I’m really sorry about that. I should have told you a long time ago. Ignoring something doesn’t make it go away. I know that. I tried to ignore the way I felt about him for a long time. And I figured if he wanted the divorce, he’d do something about it. But he never did.”
“Things are different in today’s world. There’s no shame in being a divorced woman, so they tell me. Don’t let that stop you.”
“I’m not ashamed! Marriages don’t work out for all kinds of reasons. And I know we were young, but one thing hasn’t changed for me. I do love him, and I probably never stopped.”
Lizzie approached, tiny steps like one would walking on a tightrope. “Can I take your orders?”
“I’m not hungry,” Sophia said, folding her napkin into eighths.
“Tell Angie to bring me the Fettuccine Alfredo, and to be sure to first drain the pasta in such a way as it doesn’t stick together.”
“I’ll tell her.” Lizzie sauntered off.
Lizzie would never in a million years tell Angie.
“Angie knows how to cook pasta,” Sophia felt compelled to say.
“Of course, she does. But reminders never hurt anyone. Your mother made the best pasta. Homemade. But I’m sure you remember.” He took a sip of his wine, his eyes misty. “I wonder what she’d say about all this.”
“I do too. All the time.” Sophia clasped her hands in front of her, left hand included. “And I think she would approve. She was always a big believer in true love and second chances.”
“Your mother was, yes. Your sister calls this the ‘song of the truly desperate,’ or what happens when two people who aren’t any good for each other just keep coming back for more of the same.”
“Anna’s not a romantic.” Sometimes Sophia doubted her oldest sister was even Italian. “But Riley and I are good for each other. Things are different now.”
He wanted children. Her children, an important point of distinction. For another, he was no longer going to be away for long stretches of time, risking his life every day. And lastly, he wasn’t keeping the tough stuff, the ugly stuff, away from her. He’d told her about Lucy and let her come along. Best of all, he’d seen firsthand that she could support him too. This taking care of each other thing went both ways, and Riley had finally realized it.
“And,” Sophia said, ready to bring out the big guns. She had a black ball, corner pocket and would hit this out of the ballpark, mixed metaphors and all. “I’m going back to school to finish my degree. Now, don’t get excited. Not Berkeley, and I’ll probably do it online, but I’ll get my degree.”
As she suspected, the news pleased her father and he gave her a wide smile. “What changed your mind?”
“I regret not finishing. Sometimes it’s not all or nothing. I didn’t like Berkeley, but that didn’t mean I had to quit school altogether.”
On the other hand, had she not dropped out and been out celebrating with Melanie, would she have ever met Riley? She’d like to think so, but on the other hand maybe everything had happened the way it had for a reason. Fate.
“I’m happy to hear this. You’re so smart. Always knew you’d figure it out.” He smoothed down the edge of his napkin. “I don’t like this, you and Riley, but I’ll get used to it. Again.”
“Thank you.” She reached for her father’s hand.
“I trusted you with this restaurant, which was your Mama’s heart. Maybe I should trust you with your marriage, too. And that’s what I think your mother would say.” His eyes were now full-on watery.
“I love you, Daddy-o.” She squeezed his hand.
He smiled and swiped at his eyes. “Does this mean you’ll be living together again?”
Things did seem to be headed in that direction, but she hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Her hand drifted down to her stomach. She might already be pregnant. So many huge life decisions were ahead of them, but this time they’d make them together. He’d never leave her again.
“We haven’t talked about it, but we probably will.”
Daddy-o sighed and reached for his wine goblet. “Sounds like you two have a lot to talk about, bella.”
When Daddy-o was right, he nailed it.
“But you’ll both come over for dinner? How about this Friday night? Eileen would love it.”
“I’ll talk to Riley, but I’m sure we’ll be there.”
CHAPTER 20
As Riley suspected, Lucy’s boyfriend was nowhere to be found when it came time for questioning. Instead, Luther interviewed everyone who’d been at the party with Lucy and got a big fat zero for his efforts. When Lucy collapsed, it had been one of the women at the party who called for help. They’d all given as much information as they could, but, frankly, as Lucy had indicated, no one forced the pills and alcohol down her throat.
No, that dubious honor would go to his sister. He thanked God she’d be okay. At least for now. It didn’t mean he wasn’t going to help go after Dick with everything he had.
“Sorry about your sister,” Jennifer said as she slipped on her jacket.
“Hey, thanks for staying late.” He probably didn’t appreciate Jennifer enough, and all she did around here. She’d put up with his mercurial moods for a month now and hadn’t quit on him yet.
