The Ultimate Betrayal (23 page)

Lara didn’t know what to make of the comment Sophia just made, it sounded like Sophia was enamored with Rachel. She’d noticed the overprotectiveness that Rachel showed toward Sophia and wondered if they’d become close during the preceding two weeks. She hadn’t known exactly where Sophia had been, only that she had stayed away.

“Where exactly have you been the past couple of weeks?” Lara asked.

“Not that it’s any of your damn business, but we stayed in Victoria. I got the time off and I wasn’t about to squander my vacation brooding about our failed marriage,” Sophia snapped.

“Who exactly is we?” Lara controlled the irritation in her voice, as she suspected she already knew the answer was Joy, Rachel, and Sophia.

“Rachel was kind enough to join us. Apparently, she was due a ton of vacation and decided she could use a break, as well. I know you think that we spent the whole time grousing about you, but to be honest, your name rarely came up. So relax, we did not spend the whole time lamenting our poor decisions.”

“I don’t give two shits about what is going on with you two right now because our concentration has to be on Dad. Lara, you seriously need some therapy if you thought you would get away with bigamy. Sophia, you need your own brand of counseling for hanging out with the other woman. Don’t let your lesbian drama get in the way of focusing on Dad. I expect you to play the loving couple until Dad is well again and then by all means Sophia, scratch her fucking eyes out.” Marie pushed out her chair and the wood scratching against the floor made a loud noise as she stomped out of the cafeteria.

Lara pinched the bridge of her nose. Nothing was going the way she wanted it to. “God, Sophia, I’m sorry. I have no right to question you and act like the jealous spouse. I sincerely hope you’ve been having a good time. You deserve it. Please don’t make any decisions just yet. I’ve been trying to figure my shit out and I do want a chance to redeem myself—to make us work again. I’ll sell the Seattle office. Hell, I’ll sell the New York office and spend all my time doting on you if it means you’ll give me another chance. I never stopped loving you. I’ll do anything to repair what I’ve torn apart with my selfishness.” Lara grabbed Sophia’s hand and looked into her eyes. She was relieved when Sophia did not pull away.

“Lara, I never expected you to give up your life or spend one hundred percent of your time with me, but it would have been nice not to be apart so much. I don’t know. I can’t make any decisions right now. I need time and I need to focus on Dad.” Sophia pushed away the tray of food. “I don’t really know why we came down to get food because I’m not hungry.”

“I suspect it was more a ploy for Marie to find out what was going on. I’m glad she’s focused on your dad right now, because your sister scares the hell out of me.”

Sophia laughed. “I know, right? She is scary. I’d like to go back to Dad’s room now.”

“Of course. Look, I know things are awkward right now, but I think that both of us can be adult enough to stay at the penthouse at least until your dad recovers and then we can decide where to go from there.”

“I don’t know if that is such a great idea. We can talk about it later,” Sophia answered.

†

Joy and Rachel managed to catch a red eye back to New York that would arrive mid-morning.

Rachel was bouncing her knee up and down and squirming in her seat like a five year old needing to go to the bathroom. After multiple cups of coffee, she was jittery and nervous. She began to second-guess her decision to essentially crash Sophia’s family emergency. Unsure of the exact nature of her relationship to Sophia, an outsider might question her sanity. Although Rachel tended to act impulsively on occasion, this went far beyond her impetuous nature. Something far more primal was motivating her to stand beside Sophia.

She knew that Lara would be right by her side and the thought that they might get back together was making her physically ill. There was no pretense anymore, Rachel was in love with Sophia and after the emergency with her father was resolved, she planned on declaring her feelings to see where she stood.

“Would you stop wriggling around? You’re like a worm on a hook and it isn’t at all attractive.” Joy opened one eye. “You aren’t going to be much help to Sophia if you crash and burn the minute we land in New York. I’ll bet you haven’t gotten one bit of sleep, which coincidentally, I usually wouldn’t give two shits about, but you’ve kept me awake and that just pisses me off.”

“I’m sorry, Joy. I’m worried that Lara will sink her meaty hooks back into Sophia using this tragedy as a springboard.”

“Oh shit, I get it now. You’ve fallen in love with her, haven’t you?” Joy asked.

“The timing sucks to confess that to her, huh?”

“You think.”

Rachel made the sign of the cross over her heart. “I promise not to say a thing until this whole emergency situation is settled. I’m not even going to deny it. Yes, I love her. God, this whole situation is so fucked up. Her father and sister are probably going to hate me on sight. After all, I am the other woman.”

“Oh you got that right. Marie is a real ball buster and her father is full-blooded Italian. He has a special bond with Lara that might save her ass, but you’re toast. He will see you as the homewrecker.”

“Not helping.” Rachel groaned.

“If it’s any consolation, I approve. I know this is a bit unconventional, but I think you two are good together. I also think that while Sophia may be confused, she cares for you. She may even think she’s in love with you. Hard to say.”

“Has she said anything to you?” Rachel asked.

“Even if she had, I wouldn’t be breaking her confidence, but I can tell. It’s all in the way she looks at you. I knew she was attracted to you from the very first moment she laid eyes on you. Can’t say I blame her. As the vacation wore on, I could see something deeper develop between you two. I love Sophia like a sister and if you are the one for her, I won’t throw any resistance your way. I might even try to smooth the waters with Papa Dominick. Marie’s all hot air. More bark than bite. If she sees what I see—piece of cake. She loves her little sister and is very astute so she’ll jump on board if it makes Sophia happy to be with you,” Joy explained.

“Thanks, Joy. At least I’ll be able to jump those hurdles with your support. I haven’t quite figured out the distance issue yet. There are so many obstacles I must be crazy even contemplating a relationship with Sophia. Love definitely makes a person stupid.”

“Maybe, but I would give my left tit for that feeling just once in my life.”

“What about Tanya?” Rachel asked.

“A lot of fun, but definitely not move worthy. I would never consider moving across the country for her like I suspect you are considering right this minute.”

“Guilty. They have hospitals in New York and now that I have a tidy sum from Lara I could take my time finding a position that suits me,” Rachel acknowledged.

“You’re a refreshing open book, Rachel. No matter the danger, you wear that heart of yours right on your sleeve. I admire that about you. I’m far too guarded for my own good. How about a speck of advice, if you don’t mind?”

“Yes, please, I’ll take any advice you want to share.”

“Give Sophia time to realize her feelings. Don’t rush things. She’s likely to be confused and if you rush, you’ll scare her away,” Joy offered.

“You know that will be hard for me because honesty is fundamental to my nature, but that’s good advice. Thanks for being in my corner.”

†

Sophia felt grungy. It was coming up on nearly twenty-four hours since she’d had a shower. She swore she could feel the grease congealing in her hair. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and laid her head back in the chair. She could feel Lara’s eyes on her. To Lara’s credit, she hadn’t left her side since picking her up at the airport. Sophia wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. Her emotions were all over the map. Her father seemed pleased to have all three of them by his side as he went in and out of consciousness.

The doctor came by with the rest of the interdisciplinary team and explained the treatment plan in detail. The next twenty-four hours were critical to determine if another devastating heart attack might occur. He had explained all the options, including surgery. As with anything in life, there were risks attached to each option. Ultimately, it was her father’s choice, but he wanted to know what they thought of each of his options.

“So, Pops, what do you think you’ll decide?” Sophia asked.

Dominick smiled. “You haven’t called me that in years. I think maybe I’ll opt for the angioplasty. That seems to be a more conservative choice with less risk than surgery. I got the impression that it might take care of my issue for now. Quicker recovery time, too.”

Sophia nodded. “I think that’s a good choice. You need to stop clogging those arteries with all that rich food you eat. Maybe you should move in with me so I can monitor your food intake.”

“No, thank you. All I have left is food. Haven’t had sex in a while so don’t take away my one pleasure in life. I’d rather die happy than deprived of my only vice.”

Sophia frowned. “I’m not going to argue with you right now, but just think about it.”

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate you girls visiting and all, but can you stop hovering. Go home and take a shower. I don’t want you stinking up the room,” Dominick joked.

Lara laughed. “You’re an ungrateful old bastard, but you’re right. I should take Sophia home to get a few hours rest because I’m sure she hasn’t slept in more than twenty-four hours. She can get mean when she’s cranky from lack of sleep.”

“I can stay with Dad while you get some sleep,” Marie offered. “You can take the evening shift tonight.”

“Deal,” Sophia responded. “Call me if anything changes and I can be back in a flash.”

“Go, I got this,” Marie answered.

“Come on, honey, I’ll take you home and draw up a nice bath for you.” Lara draped her arm over Sophia’s shoulder and led her out of the room.

†

Rachel shifted the backpack to her other shoulder as she retrieved money from her jeans pocket to give to the limo driver.

Joy grabbed her rolling suitcase and walked quickly to the front of New York Presbyterian.

“Did you find out what room Sophia’s father is in?” Rachel asked.

Joy walked up to the information desk. “No, but I bet this beautiful woman can tell us.” Joy winked at the tiny woman sitting behind the huge desk. Her wrinkled skin stretched as a wide grin overtook her face.

“Can you tell us what room Dominick…?” Rachel looked over at Joy.

“Torre. Dominick Torre. He’s probably in the cardiac care unit,” Joy finished.

“Let me see. Ah yes, he’s in room two fifteen. Let me give you a map of the hospital so you don’t get lost.” The old woman, who Rachel assumed was a volunteer, pointed to the map. “See, we’re right here and you need to go to here. The elevator is right here.”

“It’s just like a supermall where they show you on the map how far away you are from where you need to go.”

The volunteer smiled and Rachel thought she looked like one of those dried apples they made into dolls. She never did understand the appeal for those kinds of crafts. Whenever she went to the farmer’s market, she would shake her head at the number of arts and crafts booths with items that would inevitably make it to some hoarder’s home and turn into a big dust magnet. She had a hard enough time finding her keys and wallet—she didn’t need more clutter to serve as a hidey-hole for her keys. Lara always used to grouse at her when she failed to use the key hook. That was a habit she would never learn and now it didn’t really matter. She could take as much time as she wanted looking for her keys.

When Joy and Rachel reached the room, Joy strode confidently inside, but Rachel hovered just outside when she noticed that there was only one visitor in the room and it wasn’t Sophia. The woman sitting next to the bed, holding the distinguished older man’s hand was a carbon copy of Sophia—only older. Rachel guessed this was Sophia’s older sister, Marie. She looked worried, but smiled when Joy entered.