Searching for Sofia, page 43
‘Jack!’ she whispered, in a voice that was barely audible. ‘I am sorry that I left you. So sorry! I was confused. It was all just, so awful!’ Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke.
Jack shook his head. Yes, it was awful, of course. No, she should not be sorry. It was dreadful and confusing. He understood!
‘I have missed you, so much,’ he whispered in reply. ‘Every single day, I have thought of you! Wondered where you were!’
Still barely believing what his eyes and ears were telling him, he glanced again at the little girl. The child cowered behind Sofia’s legs, and Jack determined that, whatever her story was, whatever Sofia may have been through in her time away, he did not care. Sofia had come back to him, and that was enough.
Bending down on one knee, he looked into the little girl’s eyes, and he felt sorry for her. What had she been through, to leave England and her home? He imagined how strange she must be feeling right now, thrust amongst hundreds of strangers in this crowded room in a foreign country.
‘And what is your name?’ he whispered, gently holding out his hand to her, inviting her to take it.
The child’s reply was clear, her voice bearing a distinctly British accent. ‘My name is Andreana,’ she replied. ‘Andreana Marian Tomlinson.’
‘Andreana... Andreana Marian Tomlinson. Well, I am very pleased to meet you, Andreana.’ He shook her hand solemnly, and then turned it over and kissed her fingers, as a gallant knight might kiss the hand of a fair maiden. She giggled.
Standing, Jack looked into Sofia’s eyes, his confusion welling up.
‘Sofia?’ he asked as he tried to make sense of the child’s answer. Andreana... for Andrés, perhaps? Ana, Sofia’s mother? Marian after his own mother? Tomlinson?
‘Jack, Andreana is our daughter. She is yours. I am so sorry.’ Tears spilled from Sofia’s eyes, and Jack shook his head, reaching out, his own eyes blurring as he pulled her to him. He held her tightly, determined that never again would he let her go.
As he did, Jack felt the little girl tugging against Sofia’s dress, captured in their embrace. He pulled back and bent low, lifted Andreana into his arms and smiled at her before pulling Sofia to him again.
‘My Sofia,’ he whispered. ‘I can hardly believe you are here. Please tell me that this isn’t all a dream! I don’t think I could bear it if this isn’t really happening!’
But she was here. The familiarity of her sweet aroma, the softness of her breath, the warmth of her arms entwining his neck, her hands reaching out to stroke his face, her lips on his... It was all wonderfully, undeniably real.
Jack raised his head as clapping and cheering filled the room. Not for them. Not for Jack’s painting. For, while it would always have the distinguished status of being counted amongst the finalists, Sofia was not the 1945 Archibald Prize’s winning entry.
But that didn’t matter to Jack. Nothing mattered to him other than that Sofia had returned. Sofia, with their child, with his own sweet little Andreana. Jack’s heart was beating so hard, he felt it might explode with joy. Such happiness! Fulfilled. Completed. All he’d ever wanted, since he’d first laid eyes upon Sofia all those years ago in Paris, was to have her by his side and here she was—her eyes expressing the deep love he’d always known she had for him, as he had for her. Seven long years had passed since they’d lost Scotty, and in losing him, had been lost to each other. There was so much he wanted to know of Sofia’s story. Her time away from him, how she’d coped alone, bearing a baby and then being caught up in the war in Europe. But there was plenty of time for that. Now it was enough that she was here with him, and Jack knew for certain that nothing would ever separate them again.
THE END
Don't miss out!
Click the button below and you can sign up to receive emails whenever Penny Fields-Schneider publishes a new book. There's no charge and no obligation.
https://books2read.com/r/B-P-LIZP-BEZTB
https://books2read.com/r/B-P-LIZP-BEZTB
Connecting independent readers to independent writers.
Did you love Searching for Sofia? Then you should read Sofia's Story by Penny Fields-Schneider!
The loss of her child leaves Sofia Tomlinson broken in mind and spirit. What is wrong with her, that everyone she loves dies? Convinced her husband, Jack, is also in danger, Sofia makes the agonizing decision to leave him and return to the home of her childhood.
On the ocean crossing, Sofia's fragile state draws the attention of fellow traveller Marcus Edmunds, a psychologist whose professional interest soon becomes personal. Despite his efforts to dissuade her, Sofia sets forth for Malaga where she plans to reunite with her father and brother—a journey thwarted by Franco's brutal grip on Spain and Hitler's march across Europe.
Determined to forge an independent life for herself, Sofia joins the British Nursing Service, but the battlefronts of World War Two offer no relief from her agonizing past. When the ever-steadfast Marcus presents her the chance for happiness, she realises it is an offer she should not ignore.
Will Sofia accept the hope he so willingly offers, or will ghosts of her past continue to haunt her?
Sofia's Story is the fourth book in the Portraits in Blue Series. It is a tale of love, loss and redemption set in the early 20th century against a backdrop of bohemian art worlds and the theatres of World War Two across the globe.
Read more at Penny Fields-Schneider’s site.
Also by Penny Fields-Schneider
Portraits in Blue
The Sun Rose In Paris
Shattered Dreams
Searching for Sofia
Sofia's Story
Standalone
The Woman Who Painted The Seasons
Watch for more at Penny Fields-Schneider’s site.
About the Author
An avid reader from a very young age, Penny has always aspired to be an author. In recent years, she became seduced by the world of art, dabbling with paint and brushes, attending art courses and visiting galleries. Penny aspires to create works of historical fiction that leave readers with a deeper understanding of the art world as well as taking them on emotional journeys into the joy and heartbreak that comes with family, friendship and love.
When Penny is not writing, she enjoys helping her husband on their cattle farm in northern NSW, loving every minute she can spend with their children, grandchildren, friends and family.
Read more at Penny Fields-Schneider’s site.
Penny Fields-Schneider, Searching for Sofia
