'Why are you being so nice to me?' he asked abruptly, eating the ice cream she had purchased for him when they stopped for gas.
She smiled as she looked at him. 'Isn't that what I'm supposed to be?' Grandfather stated—
'Shall we exclude your grandfather from this?' she asked sharply.
'But he didn't care for you.'
She exhaled a sigh. 'I didn't care for him either,' she admitted ruefully. 'However, I like you.'
With wide blue eyes, he looked up at her. 'Do you?'
'Yes.' She smiled at his surprise.
'But I haven't—I haven't been—'
'Very polite?' she teasingly concluded. 'I doubt I would be if I thought, as you do, that I was out to hurt someone you care about.'
'Are you?' he asked, frowning.
She shook her head. 'No,' she replied simply. 'I would never intentionally injure your father.'
Hugh ate his ice cream in silence for several minutes, clearly thinking. 'Do you have any children?' he inquired abruptly.
To say she was taken aback by the question would be an understatement; it rendered her speechless for several seconds. 'I've never married, Hugh,' she finally replied.
He gave her a scornful look. 'I understand that having children isn't always necessary,' he said angrily.
He realized far too much for a ten-year-old boy, and he had been far too influenced by Darius Mcklerin. But it's possible that if he'd lived in the same house as his grandfather until his death six months ago, it would have been unavoidable. Nonetheless, his worldliness was a little unsettling for someone so young.
'I haven't had any children either,' she joked.
'Do you want some?'
'
Hugh
'Are you planning on marrying my father?' He gave her a serious look.
She suddenly realized why he was questioning her. 'No, I'm not,' she said softly. 'However, I would have loved to have had a son like you.' She answered the question he was far too self-conscious to ask.
'How about Sarah?'
'I'm sure she's adorable,' she smiled. 'She is,' she says. He nodded proudly, as if he were a much older brother. 'I'm showing her how to count.'
'I'm sure you teach her a lot, Hugh,' she said with a smile.
'But don't you want to be our mother?'
'Hey, remember this is me?' she teased. 'The woman you said you'd kill if I ever went near your father again.'
He flushed uncomfortably. 'Then maybe I was wrong about you.'
'Only maybe?' she smirked, her brows quirked mockingly. 'Grandfather said,' she lied, 'I'm sure your grandfather was a good man, Hugh.' 'And how much he adored you.' He didn't, however, know everything. He didn't know who I was.'
'No,' Hugh stated solemnly.
It was the closest he'd come to admitting his grandfather was wrong about her, and Sophia wisely left him to mull it over. 'Your ice cream has melted.' She handed him a tissue to wipe his brow.
It was nearly twelve-thirty when they arrived at Bella Mcklerin's house, a massive redbrick structure with extensive gardens that must be a child's paradise. Sophia thought again how wrong it was of Raphael to take his son away from all this.
'Hugh!' As soon as she heard the car in the driveway, Bella Mcklerin rushed out to greet her grandson, hugging him tightly as he ran into her waiting arms.
'Sophia!' She raised her head to greet you warmly.
Bella Mcklerin, a small motherly lady with silvergrey hair and warm blue eyes, had taken her by surprise from the start. Sophia had been perplexed as to how such a lovely woman could be married to such a cold, unfeeling man.
'Come inside,' Bella Mcklerin smiled, her arm still around Hugh. 'We can all go out to lunch together.'
'I have to go back,' she says. Sophia shook her head, knowing that even this brief involvement with Raphael's family would irritate him.
'Don't be silly,' the older lady said dismissively. 'I'm still waiting to hear how this young rogue came to be with you.' She ruffled Hugh's hair with affection.
'Sophia is living with Daddy,' Hugh stated flatly. 'Where is Sarah?' he inquired eagerly.
'Hugh, up in the nursery!' His grandmother stopped him as he was about to run up the stairs. 'Have you thanked Sophia yet?' she inquired softly.
He appeared to be uneasy now. 'I appreciate you driving me home,' he said stiffly.
'And, Hugh, you know we have to talk about your leaving school in this way, that your father is going to be very angry?' his grandmother interrupted him again.
His shoulders drooped in defeat. 'Yes.'
Bella Mcklerin's face softened. 'But he hasn't arrived yet,' she said with a smile. 'So hurry up and see Sarah.' She shook her head as he climbed the stairs two at a time. 'I wish I had his energy,' she lamented to Sophia.
'Yes,' she replied uncertainly, feeling awkward now that they were alone.
'I insist you stay for lunch,' Bella said softly. 'I'd like to speak with you.'
'Mrs. Mcklerin—
'It was always Bella,' she said emphatically.
'Bella,' she sighed in surrender. 'What Hugh just said is correct; I am staying at Raphael's apartment.' Although the relationship isn't as serious as it sounds, you shouldn't be concerned that I'll be invited to become a member of your family again,' she assured her.
'I was never concerned,' Bella said softly. 'I would have appreciated it.'
'It's your husband—'
'Wasn't always a nice guy. 'Despite the fact that I truly believe his actions were always intended to protect his family.' She smirked. 'I know that doesn't help you right now, but I hope you believe me when I say I had no idea what my husband had done to you until after he died.'
'Bella—'
'Sophia, come up and see Sarah,' Hugh called from the top of the stairs, his blue eyes twinkling with boyish pride in his younger sister.
'Yes, let's go up there and introduce you to Sarah,' Bella suggested. 'I'm confident you'll adore her!'
Sarah Mcklerin, the blonde-haired angel in blue dungarees and a navy blue T-shirt, was impossible to resist! Sophia couldn't, getting down on the floor with her and Hugh at Hugh's request.
Sarah was a little chatterbox who obviously adored her much older brother and constantly talked about her father. It was soon clear that both children missed Raphael terribly, and that as much as they adored their grandmother, their father was the one they desired to be with.
'I think I'll have lunch,' Bella finally decided. 'You've been up here for over an hour,' she said, noticing Sophia's puzzled expression.
'I had no idea.' She rose to her feet, dragging the clinging Sarah with her.
Bella's face softened indulgently. 'You're fantastic with kids.'
She blushed as she handed Sarah to Hugh. 'I really think I should leave right now, Raphael wouldn't like - -'
'Raphael is my son, Sophia, and I adore him, but this is still my home, and you are my guest,' the older woman said firmly, turning to face her grandson. 'Are you eating up here with Sarah or downstairs with Sophia and me, Hugh?'
'Here,' he replied quickly.
Bella nodded, as if she hadn't expected anything else. 'First, get out of that school uniform,' she suggested. 'Sarah's aim isn't as good as it could be,' she chuckled as she and Sophia made their way down the stairs.
Sophia had never felt more awkward than when she sat down to lunch with Raphael's mother, the older woman chatting away as if they had known each other for years. They'd met years before, but were they friends? Never.
'I'm afraid I'll have to leave now,' she said after they'd finished eating. 'It's late now, and—'
'Do you continue to sing, Sophia?'
The question elicited a frown from her. 'Not right now,' she replied evasively, refusing to elaborate on why she didn't, or why she was allegedly living with Raphael.
Bella gave a nod. 'I noticed your voice sounded huskier than usual.'
She looked the other woman in the eyes, seeing understanding in the faded blue. For all her delicate charm, Bella Mcklerin seemed to miss very little.
'Now come with me, my dear,' Bella said as she stood up. 'I've got something I need to give you.'
'Give me?' she asked, frowning. 'I'm not sure what you mean...'
The two women, both of similar height, nodded. 'Something you left here the last time you came.' I would have seen it returned to you sooner if I had known where you were.'
Sophia's perplexity grew. 'I can't think of anything.'
'How come you can't?' Bella gave her a solemn look.
Even before they entered the study and the older woman moved the painting aside to open the safe behind her, Bella had a premonition. Sophia tensed as a familiar manilla file was removed from her possession.
Bella extended it to her. 'I believe this is yours.'
She swallowed hard, speechless, staring in awe at the evidence Darius Mcklerin had used to destroy her five years before.