‘And you? What were you like?’ Cherry pressed quietly.
Sophia opened her eyes, and although they were swimming with tears her voice was strong when she said, ‘I was glad. I still am. Although I didn’t expect… I didn’t think you could become pregnant the first time.’
Sophia had probably had a first-class education, but Cherry dared bet the young Italian girl had little idea of the birds and the bees. Or had had before. She was certainly more well acquainted with that side of things now, Cherry thought ruefully. Sophia had been so protected all her life, so carefully brought up, and perhaps in her culture such privileged young women were virgins on their wedding night, with only a basic knowledge of birth control and so on. Of course Sophia hadn’t had a mother to explain things, and as Vittorio still considered his sister as little more than a child…
What a muddle. Cherry passed Sophia a tissue. ‘And Santo? What does he say about this?’
Fresh tears welled up. ‘I haven’t told him yet. I wasn’t absolutely sure, but today when I was shopping with Margherita I pretended I wanted a lipstick from the chemist and bought a kit. You know—it tells you if you’re expecting a baby or not. After I’d talked to you by the pool I worked up the courage to do it.’ She gazed at Cherry helplessly.
‘So there’s no doubt?’
Sophia shook her head. ‘I’ve—I’ve missed two periods now. But I know as soon as I tell Santo he’ll come and see Vittorio and say he wants to marry me, and I’m so afraid of what Vittorio will do to him.’
And with good cause, Cherry thought grimly. She had only known Vittorio for a matter of hours, but she wouldn’t want to be in Santo’s shoes for all the tea in China. ‘You have to tell Vittorio, Sophia. You know that, don’t you? From all you’ve told me about Santo he isn’t the type to elope or suggest you disappear somewhere with him. He’ll come and see Vittorio, and it’s important your brother is told the full facts by you first. It will give him a chance to calm down.’
‘I cannot, Cherry.’ Real fear crossed Sophia’s pretty face. She said something in Italian and then, realising Cherry didn’t understand, said quickly, ‘He has the temper, si?’
‘But Vittorio has to know, Sophia.’ Cherry stared at the Italian girl helplessly. ‘You see that, surely?’
‘Would you tell my brother, Cherry?’ Sophia grabbed Cherry’s hands. ‘Per favore? Would you?’
‘Me?’ Cherry recoiled in horror.
‘Si. You are a guest in our home. Vittorio will respect this. But me…’ Sophia rolled her eyes. ‘I dare not.’
‘You don’t think your brother would harm you?’ Cherry said gently. Somehow she was sure Vittorio wouldn’t hurt Sophia.
‘Si. No.’ Sophia shook her head, confused. ‘I do not know. But if you tell him he will not lose his temper for sure. I know it is asking much, but I beg you.’
It was asking much—even without Vittorio’s apparent temper to contend with. She had only known them both a matter of hours.
‘We love each other, Cherry,’ Sophia said earnestly. ‘We always have. And I can move into the farmhouse with Santo’s family once we are married. Santo has a room all to himself. It will not be a problem. And his parents like me. His madre—his mother—she is so sweet. Santo can continue working with his father, and I can help his mother in the house. I will be company for her. Santo has five sisters, but they are older than him and married with their own homes.’
Sophia had it all worked out. Cherry stared at the other girl. Had she fallen pregnant by accident, or was she not quite as ingenuous as she claimed? Whatever, the deed was done. A baby was on the way—the true innocent in this tangle—and was to be born to a couple who were little more than children themselves. But from what Sophia had said she and Santo would not be coping with a newborn by themselves, like some young people. With grandparents on hand, their lot would be easier.
‘Now you are sure you’re expecting a baby, you need to tell Santo, Sophia. He has a right to know before anyone else.’ Cherry stood up. ‘He is the father after all.’
‘Si. You are right.’ Sophia stood up too. ‘And if I do this will you tell Vittorio?’
Cherry felt she was between the devil and the deep blue sea—the devil definitely being Vittorio, she thought wryly. But in one way she could follow Sophia’s reasoning that the news coming from a stranger might keep the lid on Vittorio’s rage, and by the time he saw Sophia he might have calmed down a little. Two mights. Two too many, considering she was going to be in the firing line. ‘I’m leaving tomorrow once the car is delivered,’ she warned Sophia.
‘Si, but there is after dinner tonight, or maybe breakfast? Perhaps tonight is better, in case the car comes early, and Vittorio will be more relaxed, more mellow, having eaten dinner and drunk wine. I can disappear early, before coffee. I will say I have the headache. I can slip out while Margherita is seeing to things in the kitchen and tell Santo. Then we come back to face Vittorio together. This is good, eh??
?? Sophia smiled hopefully. ‘And you can tell him it is not Santo’s fault.’
Oh, hell. And all because some ne’er do well had syphoned off her petrol. She should be installed in a nice little pensioni up the coast by now, with nothing more important on her mind than what she was going to have for dinner. The last thing she wanted was to be embroiled in a situation like this, when it could well be a case of ‘shoot the messenger’. Flatly, she said, ‘What would you have done if I hadn’t turned up today?’
Sophia shrugged and then smiled again. ‘But you did, and I will always be glad of it,’ she said disarmingly. ‘I have been praying to Our Lady since I suspected I might be expecting a baby, asking her to help me, and now she has.’
It brought home to Cherry how very young Sophia was, in spite of her womanly appearance. She couldn’t let Sophia face her brother alone. Sighing, she said, ‘After dinner, then.’
‘Grazie, grazie.’ Sophia flung her arms round Cherry and hugged her. ‘I wish you could stay for a while and see me married. I have always wanted a sister.’
‘You’re going to acquire five shortly,’ Cherry said drily.
Sophia giggled, all tears gone. ‘This is true, and they have many bambini. My little one, he will not be lonely.’
Feeling things were again verging on the surreal, Cherry slipped on her sandals. Sophia had gone from desperation to delight in a couple of minutes, and she couldn’t help feeling Vittorio’s sister hadn’t embraced the enormity of the changes which were inevitably going to occur in her life. She just hoped the wonderful Santo came up to scratch tonight. Sophia didn’t have a shred of doubt in her mind that he would offer to marry her.