As the doorbell rang, SOPHIA quickly wrapped a towel around her wet hair, hurrying to answer it, wondering who it could be. They'd had few visitors in the last week, mostly tradesmen, and she was surprised to see Hugh Mcklerin standing on the doorstep.
He, too, appeared perplexed, casting a quick glance at the apartment number on the door. 'I'm sorry, but I believe I—You!' His eyes widened in surprise as he realized what had happened. 'What do you want me to do here?' he demanded.
'I think I should be the one asking you that,' she gently corrected. 'Doesn't this look like a school day?'
'Is my father at home?' he inquired, rudely dismissing her inquiry.
'If it's a school day, it's also a work day for your father,' she pointed out.
His eyes narrowed in pain and confusion as he looked at her. 'What brings you here?' 'You said you weren't having an affair with my father,' he charged.
'I think you should come inside, Hugh,' she said softly as she opened the door wider.
He followed her into the apartment, looking around with interest; his father's apartment was obviously not a place he had visited before!
Sophia regarded him with a frown. He was dressed in a school uniform, a black blazer, a white shirt, and grey slacks, and his hair was cut short. And she had no idea what he was doing here; Raphael wasn't expecting him. If he had been, he would have asked her to excuse herself for the day!
'Please excuse me, Hugh, while I go dress,' she said quietly. 'I won't be here for long.'
'What?' He gave her a hazy look. 'Oh—oh yes,' he said, nodding. 'Okay.'
'If you want a drink or something to eat, go to the kitchen.' She nodded in the right direction, noting how his eyes widened at the suggestion. 'There's cooked chicken and Coke in the fridge,' she added indulgently before heading to her room.
It was only ten o'clock in the morning, Raphael had left for work just over an hour before, her long soak in the bath and washing her hair taking up the rest of the time; Hugh couldn't have left his school in Surrey any later than seven o'clock to arrive here by this time. And it couldn't be a holiday, either, because he'd only been at school for a few days!
Before rejoining Hugh in the kitchen, she changed into tight denims and a fitted veenecked T-shirt, partially drying her hair. He'd finished the chicken, a couple of slices of bread, and was now downing a can of Coke.
'Do you feel better?' she inquired, taking a seat opposite him and pouring herself a cup of coffee.
He gave her a wary look. 'You haven't told me what you're up to here.'
'I repeat, shouldn't that be my question?' she mumbled, her brow furrowed.
'Are you living with my father?' he inquired.
'What do you think?' she asked, mockingly.
'He didn't tell me about you,' Hugh grumbled.
'Don't you think you're a little young to be discussing such—private matters with your father?' she reasoned dryly.
'You said you weren't involved with him,' he said accusingly.
Sophia shrugged, her shoulders narrow. 'Things shift.'
His jaw clenched mutinously. 'I told you not to go near him.'
Her lips twitched. 'I'm afraid a ten-year-old boy's warnings do not frighten me. 'Now tell me why you ran away from school,' she gently encouraged.
He stiffened, his face turning a fiery red. 'I haven't fled—'
'Hugh!' She gave him a stern look. 'Do not add to the sin by lying about it.'
He fixed his gaze on her. 'I don't think I need to tell you anything—'
'You do if you want me to help you,' she gently reminded him.
'I don't need your assistance, Hugh.' She spoke softly but firmly. 'Insulting me will do nothing to improve your situation.'
'You'd tell my father,' he mocked.
'No,' she said flatly, knowing Raphael would never defend her against one of his beloved children. 'But I'd like to assist you, and I can't do so if you keep insulting me.'
Dejectedly, he hunched his shoulders. 'How could you possibly assist me?' he mumbled.
Not by succumbing to her first instinct, which was to hug him until his pain subsided!
Such a gesture would only make Hugh recoil. But he looked so much like Raphael at the time that she couldn't help but want to take him in her arms and cuddle him. Hugh had the appearance of a boy who had had few such cuddles in his life.
'Talking frequently helps,' she advised instead.
'I despise school,' he stated unequivocally.
She smiled ruefully. 'Most children do, but you don't realize how much until you're older.' I've often thought that it would be a better situation if we could go to school as adults—'
'Don't patronize me,' Hugh retorted angrily. 'I despise school and will not return!' Hugh He stood up abruptly. 'I despise it there,' he said emphatically.
Sophia smirked. 'Do you despise it at that particular school, or do you despise school in general?' she inquired.
'I despise Windmuir,' he said firmly.
'Why?'
'I despise the teachers, I despise the boys, and I despise living there!'
Sophia had a feeling the latter bothered him more than anything else, which was understandable given his age, the uneasy harmony of his parents' marriage, and his mother's subsequent death. He would have benefited more from attending a day school and permanently living with his father. But it wasn't for her to say anything.
'Does anyone know you've run away, other than me?' she asked dryly.
He shook his head. 'I'm sure the housemaster has realized by now.'
She gave a nod. 'And he'll have told your father and grandmother about it.' I'd say they're concerned about your whereabouts right now.' She rose to her feet.
Hugh's eyes were filled with fear as he looked at her. 'What are you going to do?'
'To call your father and grandmother and tell them where you are.' Her auburn brows were arched. 'Unless you want to call them?'
'Er—no,' he said quickly, not meeting her gaze. 'You're capable of doing it.'
'Thank you,' she said as she walked through to the lounge, mocking his reluctance.
She first called Raphael's office, only to be told by his secretary that he had left for a business meeting in Manchester over an hour ago. At the very least, she could now inform him that Hugh had arrived safely.
The next call wasn't as simple, with Sophia's palms sweating as she waited for Bella Mcklerin to answer.
'Sophia?' said the older woman, surprised to hear from her. 'Does that look like you?'
She'd told the butler it was Miss Williams calling, and she could understand the other woman's surprise. 'Yes.'
'It's been a long time,' Bella Mcklerin exclaimed warmly. 'How may I assist you?'
The friendliness wasn't what Sophia had expected from Raphael's mother, despite the fact that the other woman had been unfailingly polite in the past. 'I have Hugh with me.'
'You do?' the older woman asked, relieved if perplexed.
'He's escaped from school—'
'I know,' Bella admitted, her voice now agitated. 'I got a call from the school about an hour ago. 'I've been in a frenzy!'
'Well, he's here at Raphael's London apartment, very hurt, very confused—and very determined not to return to school.'
'I see,' Bella responded slowly. 'May I speak with him?'
She caught sight of Hugh's mutinous expression as he appeared in the doorway, clearly listening in on her conversation with his grandmother. 'I don't think he's feeling very talkative right now,' she mocked. 'How about I drive him down to the house and you talk to him then?' she suggested.
'Have you managed to contact Raphael and inform him that I called his office while he was in transit to a business meeting?'
'He is still there, but he should receive my message about Hugh as soon as he arrives.'
Bella sighed impatiently. 'He's never there when he's needed,' she grumbled. 'Would you mind driving Hugh here?' I could always come and get him
'This way will be easier,' she reasoned. 'And we can arrive in an hour.'
'Well, if you're sure it won't get you in trouble...?'
'There aren't any,' Sophia assured her.
'I'd like to see you again,' said the older woman warmly.
She couldn't figure out why, but she didn't ask Bella, instead ringing off to turn to Hugh.
'You heard?' she inquired, knowing full well that he had.
'My father is unavailable, and you are going to drive me to Grandmother's,' he grumbled.
'Is that okay with you?'
'With me?' He was taken aback by the question.
His reaction told her that he wasn't often asked for his wishes.
She was perplexed as to why Raphael couldn't see that he was alienating his son, and that it would soon be too late to intervene. Or perhaps he didn't want to? Had he become so cold and uncaring since Lora's death that he no longer desired the love of his children? She couldn't fathom any parent rejecting their child's innocently forgiving love.
'If you'd prefer to stay here and wait for your father, I can call your Grandmother and explain...?'
'I'd rather go home,' he declared excitedly. 'I can stay with Sarah for a little while.'
Sophia's heart ached for the pain Raphael was inflicting on his son. Hugh clearly missed his little sister terribly, and he would be a much better-adjusted child if he lived at home with her. But none of her displeasure with Raphael was visible as she drove Hugh to his grandmother's house.