Camilla had continued to share the success of her younger sister's brilliant career as if it were her own. She had never had anything to expect from her mother. From her birth in the family, she had hastened to hired a nanny and had systematically devalued Sophie, in favor of her youngest Annie, in whom she had placed all her hopes of success when she saw that she could not get anything from Mayra. She would have continued to talk about the exploits of her darling, beautiful, and so intelligent daughter, if Mayra had not interrupted her verbal flow. Sometimes the idea that she was not his daughter had repeatedly crossed his mind when she saw the very different way she treats her two daughters.
Fortunately, there had been Tim.
"I will always be grateful to you."
She repeated to her friend.
"No problem!" he retorted.
"You and Sonya were practically like sisters when you were little. So I can consider myself your honorary brother. Alright, I have to get away now."
He went to the door, opened it.
"Don't wait for me. Oh, by the way..."
On the threshold he turned:
"Sonya said she'll call you after lunch. There's a five-hour time difference with Canada, so you should expect her call anytime from now on.
Mayra watched him disappear, smiling. Tim was an exquisite boy. Not only had he welcomed them, but he had arranged to receive the things the taxi had delivered and assembled the baby's things, which allowed Mayra to put the baby in it immediately after feeding him.
Mina, the mother of her childhood friend Sonya was the only mother figure Mayra had known. She always insisted that she spend all school holidays with her. Her mother had been too happy to get rid of her. As for her father, the young woman was sure that he had loved her in his own way, but had been too busy earning money that his wife hastened to spend. He had killed himself on the job in order to satisfy Camilla's extravagant demands, and when he died was virtually broke. Mayra let out a sigh. Why dwell on the past? It wouldn't change anything. She was at least lucky to have good friends.
IT was more valuable to keep them than to attempt a reconciliation with those who had abandoned her, such as Etore Merelas. No, it was out of the question for her to think of him! Just because she had had the misfortune to meet him today didn't mean she was going to let him invade her mind again.
Sonya would soon call and Mayra could also talk to her parents, on vacation at home. They had all had the discretion to respect his decision never to speak of Torry's father. Then she would study the job offers in the evening paper. The ideal would be a position of governess, housed, fed, and employers that the presence of her child would not bother. But who would agree to hire him without references? The agency she was registered with had blacklisted her and would never agree to provide her with any certificates.
She pushed those disturbing thoughts aside and went to the room Tim had made available to her to check if Torry hadn't woken up. Sonya hadn't taken long to call and she kept asking questions about Torry's father. Unlike her parents Sonya was and opposed to them. That's when the doorbell rang. Also seeing that her friend had nothing to say to her and also wanting to avoid the subject Mayra said to her:
"Look, I can't talk to you right now."
Without giving him time to answer, she hung up and turned around, praying to heaven it wasn't Etore. It was hard to explain to Sonya that she didn't want to endow her child with a snobby, lying father, expert in the art of seducing women only to reject them afterwards, especially not someone who couldn't listen. a word of what she was saying. After the way he had behaved towards her he would probably start by denying his paternity but the young woman could not rule out the possibility that he might know the truth after this man was not an idiot. The fact that he was able to run such a big business showed his great ability and intelligence.
When Mayra opened the door, she knew her prayer was not answered.
"Where are they?"
The question came from Etore's lips with the velocity of a projectile.
"Who?"
"Your son and your lover?"
With a nonchalant expression Mayra leaned against the door. Without even answering his question, she said to him:
"Leave, please. You probably had your reasons for coming here, but whatever they are, they don't interest me."
"Nope?"
By what mystery could a simple three-letter word sound like a threat? The inquisitive gaze fixed on her sent a shiver down her spine. Under her bare feet she felt the cold touch of the linoleum and on her face the icy breath of the wind blowing up the stairs. Yet she stood in the doorway, with the same expression waiting for her unwanted visitor to leave.
He didn't, however. He contented himself with asking with the greatest courtesy.
"How old is he exactly?"
She should have known. She had however prayed to heaven that this wealthy businessman would not feel the slightest interest in the baby.
Clinging to a tiny hope, she decided to at least try.
"Twenty eight."
Madre di Dio! There, she was exaggerating! Etore tried to contain his impatience.
"A man you just moved in with doesn't interest me in the least. I was talking about your baby. How old is he?
"Ah, you had to clarify"
He had already done his calculations, which allowed him to suggest.
"Seven months?"
Mayra heaved a small, inaudible sigh. She knew from that moment that there was no miracle possible.
"You told me you were protected and I took your word for it. I was misguided in trusting you for this as for the rest.
The women frowned. That Etore believed her to have stolen a large sum of money for his fiancée was revolting, indeed. But, for him to accuse her of having sex without protecting herself and of having lied about it, was beyond the limits. She used the pill at the time, but sometimes she forgot to take it. This was undoubtedly what had happened on the island when she had met the one she believed to be the so-called love of her life.
"Who told me that you had no sex with another man before I get to the Villa? "
Resumed Etore.
"But maybe you can enlightened me on that, unless you don't know who the father is?"