When Summer Fades

by Shaw, Danielle

  Bending to kiss her on the lips, Carlos murmured in understanding. ‘Alvor was very special for me too, Sophie.’

  *

  In the nurses’ rest room, Callie gazed longingly at a box of chocolates. ‘It’s not fair! All these chocolates from grateful patients, if only they realized what it does to our waistlines.’

  ‘Waistlines!’ Sister Swallow remonstrated. ‘At least you’ve got one, Callie! When I saw you walk in here, I was green with envy. The pounds are simply falling off you. As for Sophie, it’s sickening that she’s so slim.’

  ‘I don’t know about pounds falling off,’ Callie replied, ‘but the kilos are certainly shifting around a bit.’

  ‘And shifting in all the right places,’ Sophie encouraged. ‘So, close that box of chocolates immediately!’

  With a mournful groan, Callie finished her apple.

  ‘Well done!’ Sister Swallow said. ‘If only I had your will power.’

  ‘It’s not Will Power you need. It’s Sergeant-Major Fuller here’ Callie replied. ‘Do you know it’s more than my life’s worth to succumb to temptation?’

  ‘Think of the dress!’ Sophie commanded.

  Reminded of the emerald-green silk evening dress that she’d yearned for so much, Callie turned to Sophie and stuck out her tongue. ‘Spoil-sport!’

  ‘Who, me? Never! You’re the one who wants to get into that dress by Christmas. I recollect something about Patrick taking you to a ball?’

  ‘Please don’t talk about Christmas! It’s only October!’ Jill Swallow exclaimed, rising from the chair. Patting her stomach and plucking at her blue and white top in disgust, she cautioned wisely, ‘If I were you, Callie, I’d follow your Sergeant-Major’s orders. You don’t want to end up looking like me. Whoever designed these uniforms never had me in mind when they sat at the drawing board. My kids are forever telling me I look eight months pregnant in this. Thank goodness we can at least wear trousers!’

  Before leaving the room, Jill picked up a strawberry cream and with a cheery, ‘Well, one more isn’t going to make that much difference,’ popped it in her mouth.

  ‘Hmph!’ Callie muttered. ‘It depends who’s watching you eat it at the time!’

  *

  Several days later, calling at Victoria Villas, Callie peered at the assortment of used teaspoons on the kitchen worktop.

  ‘Sophie. I’m sure there is a logical reason, but what’s with all the teaspoons?’

  ‘They’re for the condensed milk. Uncle Monty has condensed milk in his tea.’

  ‘Monty’s not here, is he?’

  ‘No. But when I was there the other weekend, he was telling me how it reminds him of his time in the navy. Edna loathes it in tea, but apparently likes it on bread and butter. As I felt peckish and not knowing when we’d be eating at the Hallowe’en party, I thought I’d try some.’

  ‘I see,’ Callie said, surveying the collection of teaspoons.

  ‘I think I got carried away,’ Sophie giggled, following Callie’s gaze. ‘I tried some on bread and butter, and liked it – although it ran all over my fingers – then I thought I’d try a spoonful on its own and that led to...’

  ‘Another spoonful?’ Callie volunteered. ‘So, why all the teaspoons?’

  ‘Hygiene, of course. It wouldn’t be very hygienic to keep using the same spoon.’

  ‘But it’s only you who’s been eating it, Sophie!’ Callie peered into the tin. ‘And as it’s practically empty…’

  ‘Is it? That probably explains why I feel sick.’

  Washing a teaspoon, Callie scooped up what little remained from the bottom of the tin.

  ‘Yuk! That’s disgustingly sickly. No wonder you feel ill. When I think how you nagged me for wanting one measly chocolate ... You wait until I tell Patrick! Now get your coat on, Sophie Fuller, because Patrick will be wondering why we’ve kept him waiting so long. I hope, for your sake, all that condensed milk isn’t going to argue with the sausage casserole and chilli con carne Mum’s made for Hallowe’en!’

  Early next morning, Sophie gathered up the post and wandered aimlessly into the kitchen. She groaned, spying assorted teaspoons, which were still left scattered across the worktop. Callie was right: condensed milk, chilli con carne and sausage casserole did not go at all well together! Thank heavens she wasn’t expected on duty.

  Feeling unusually sorry for herself, she made a cup of herbal tea and studied her post. She recognized Rosa’s handwriting almost immediately, and then, to her surprise, she found a letter from Carlos, postmarked Milan. Thrilled to have his letter, she traced her fingers across the page as if hoping to feel his very presence. All too soon however, her heart sank. Not only were there horrendous problems in the Milan office, but also José had suffered a relapse.

  ‘Which can only mean,’ she announced miserably to Carlos’s photograph, ‘you won’t be coming next month, after all.’

  ‘You look absolutely awful, Sophie,’ Callie observed, when, having purchased the emerald silk dress, they made their way to a nearby coffee bar. ‘And I know why.’

  ‘You do?’

  ‘It’s obvious, isn’t it? Condensed milk, chilli and—.’

  ‘Please! Don’t remind me,’ Sophie begged, pushing her coffee away. ‘Anyway, it’s not only that, I’ve had a letter from Carlos. José’s had a relapse.’

  ‘What! You’re joking? I thought he was doing so well.’

  ‘So did I, but it appears we were all wrong, and this changes everything. Carlos won’t be coming in mid-November after all. Of course I always knew things weren’t going to be easy.’

  Studying Sophie’s crestfallen face, Callie patted her hand. ‘Poor you. And here’s me dragging you round the shops when you don’t feel up to it.’

  ‘I’m OK, honest.’ Sophie lied, dabbing at her eyes. ‘But I never dreamt I’d miss Carlos quite so much. Without him, I’m so utterly wretched and miserable.’

  ‘Which isn’t like you at all, is it? Usually you’re the strong one, keeping me going, especially with this diet. Do you know,’ Callie said, eyeing a trolley laden with assorted cream cakes and pastries. ‘I couldn’t even eat one of those now.’

  ‘Not even half an almond Danish?’

  ‘You mean you could eat one? I thought you said you felt awful.’

  ‘I did, but now I’m beginning to feel a bit peckish, I didn’t have any breakfast.’

  Puzzled, Callie ordered an almond Danish and cut it in two. ‘If I can’t get in to my green frock, it will be all your fault!’

  Forcing a smile, Sophie ate her half of almond Danish in silence. Then, wiping at her mouth with a paper serviette, she brushed crumbs from her lap and murmured thoughtfully, ‘Carlos still wants me to go and see the almond blossom.’

  ‘Early spring in the Algarve,’ she explained, in response to Callie’s bewildered frown, ‘that’s when the almond trees are in full bloom. He says it’s as if the fields are all covered in snow.’

  Returning to Victoria Villas, Callie passed Sophie the emerald silk frock. ‘You’re sure you don’t mind looking after this? If I keep it at the pub, one of my sisters will only want to borrow it. This dress is very special to me. I intend to be the first person to wear it.’

  ‘I should think so, too,’ Sophie said, carefully draping tissue paper over the shoulders before placing the dress in her wardrobe.

  ‘At least you’ve got more space now. This time last year, Rosa had just arrived, remember?’

  ‘How could I ever forget?’

  ‘By the way, how is Rosa?’

  ‘Oh, you know, just the same. Her usual madcap self. Here, there and everywhere, by all accounts. I had a letter from her only this morning.’

  ‘Has she found a job yet? Not that I suppose she’s particularly looking for one.’

  Sophie passed Rosa’s letter over to Callie. ‘You can read it for yourself, if you like. She’s supposed to be helping Carlos and Cristovao in the office, but keeps having time off with a tummy-bug.’

&n
bsp; Callie pulled a face. ‘Please don’t remind me! With November upon us, it’s getting to be that time of year again. Tummy bugs, viruses and flu! Rose Ward will soon be full to overflowing.’

  *

  Also full to overflowing were Sophie’s eyes, when she received Rosa’s next hastily scribbled note. Opening the envelope, she fully expected it to contain news of José’s welcome recovery.

  ‘No!’ she cried, as a coil of shock swept through her. ‘It’s not possible! I simply don’t believe it!’ Numbed, she made her way to the phone to ring Callie.

  ‘Sophie! What a coincidence! I was just going to ring you. Didn’t I always say we were on the same wavelength? Guess what – Patrick’s just asked me to marry him! He wants us to get engaged at Christmas. Isn’t that wonderful?’

  ‘Yes ... wonderful,’ Sophie faltered, choking back a sob. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’

  ‘You don’t sound it. Hey! Are you all right? You’re not crying, are you?’

  ‘I’ve ... I’ve just had a note from Rosa.’

  ‘Oh, sweet Jesus! You don’t mean to say her father’s dead?’

  ‘No. She hardly mentioned her father. But she did say … she and Carlos are ... getting married.’

  Twenty minutes later, having rushed straight over, Callie sat down and attempted to decipher Rosa’s hurried scrawl. ‘What does she mean by her “last letter”?’

  Sophie shook her head, dabbed at her swollen eyes and reached for yet another tissue.

  ‘I don’t know! You saw her last letter. It simply said she was helping out in the office, going to the usual parties and night clubs, and that she’d also had a tummy upset.’

  ‘And Carlos said nothing about this when he rang?’

  ‘Nothing specific about Rosa, other than that they’d all been summoned to Maria-Clara’s for dinner, presumably to discuss the problems resulting from José’s heart attack.’

  ‘That shouldn’t have any bearing on Carlos’s relationship with Rosa. Should it? It’s you Carlos loves. How can he—’

  ‘Quite easily by all accounts! Because it not only looks as if he can – he already has!’ Sophie snatched back Rosa’s note and forced herself to re-read it.’

  My Dear S,

  A quick note because C and I are so v. busy. I expect you were surprised to receive my last letter, but with father still unwell, Grandmother thinks it best C and I get married asap. Naturally, we both want you to come to the wedding. We thought early spring – almond blossom time. Don’t you think that would make the perfect setting?

  I’ll write soon with more news. C has been wonderful since father’s illness. I adore him so much. Isn't love wonderful?

  Hugs and kisses,

  R.

  Chapter 15

  In a state of delayed shock, Sophie returned home exhausted. Last night in A & E had been particularly harrowing. As well as the usual drunks and road casualties, a young woman had been rushed in unconscious – a suspected suicide attempt.

  With her usual concern, for both the patient and her distraught parents, Sophie had watched the duty doctor examine the girl’s dilated pupils before ordering the stomach pump.

  ‘What did the parents say?’ he enquired, tersely.

  ‘Sleeping tablets. It’s not her first attempt. Last time, she tried cutting her wrists.’

  ‘Do we know why?’

  ‘Her fiancé was having an affair with her best friend.’

  ‘Silly girl!’ the doctor said, lifting the young woman’s arms to examine the scars on her wrists. ‘Take it from me, Staff Nurse Fuller, no man’s worth killing yourself for.’

  Probably not, Sophie reminded herself, switching on her recently purchased answer phone, but do you ever get over the feeling of betrayal?

  Listening to messages from Callie and Aunt Edna, Sophie was relieved, yet at the same time almost saddened, not to hear Carlos’s once familiar voice. On yet another scribbled postcard, Rosa had said she would be ringing with details of the wedding. By the time she did, however, the answer phone had been installed, and Sophie had made a conscious decision to ignore and scrub out any further messages from Portugal.

  ‘I know you’ve been rushed off your feet at the hospital, so you’re probably too tired to think straight, but aren’t you being a little bit foolish?’ Callie had ventured. ‘Surely it wouldn’t hurt to speak to Carlos just once?’

  ‘Like I was supposed to look after Rosa just once? No, Callie, as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing more to say. I sent Rosa my congratulations, and wrote Carlos a note saying, in the circumstances, I thought it best if he didn’t ring again.’

  Sorting through her post and half listening to the answerphone messages, Sophie studied her reflection in the hall mirror. Well, what did you expect? You asked him not to ring, and he hasn’t! Miles away, still thinking of Carlos, Sophie suddenly gave a start. Celia Sheffield’s voice chugged into her train of thought.

  ‘Sophie. It’s only Celia. Please don’t panic, I’m not asking you to have another student! I’m sure one Rosa Ramirez was more than enough. I just wanted you to know I’m having a small pre-Christmas drinks party, and I’d love you be there…’

  Assuming the message had come to an end, Sophie scribbled a note of the party date, pausing pen in hand when Celia’s voice broke in again.

  ‘By the way! I’ve had an early Christmas card from one of the girls who came over with Rosa. Have you heard? Rosa’s not only marrying her cousin asap, she’s also pregnant! My dear, who’d have thought it?’

  Pregnant? Rosa was pregnant! While shock and anger welled up inside her Sophie tried hard to remember. When exactly had Rosa sent the letter saying she’d been feeling unwell and unable to work? With perfect clarity, she saw it all. ‘That was no tummy-bug,’ she said bitterly. ‘That was morning sickness!’

  *

  Arriving to collect her dress, Callie studied with alarm the dark circles beneath Sophie’s eyes. ‘Oh, Sophie! Why are you torturing yourself like this? You’re still wearing Carlos’s shirt and playing that same, damned record!’

  ‘What same record?’

  ‘The soundtrack from The Jazz Singer. It’s on every time I come round.’

  ‘Is it?’

  ‘You know it bloody well is! OK, so it was one of your mum’s all-time favourites, but I suspect, just like that damned shirt, it also reminds you of Carlos.’

  Sinking wearily into an armchair, Sophie picked up the album sleeve and turned to the pictures on the back cover. ‘I suppose it does, in a way, although Neil Diamond doesn’t have navy-blue eyes. But when he sings Hello Again his voice is so soft and low … exactly like Carlos’s.’

  Shocked and saddened by the haunted look on Sophie’s face, Callie reached across. ‘Can I see that LP cover? I’m convinced we’ve got a copy of it somewhere.’

  With a cursory glance at the coloured cover photos, Callie turned her attention first to the list of songs, and then to a montage of black and white stills taken from the film. ‘Mmm,’ she reflected, ‘I suppose in your case the song Summer Love would be strangely apt. And this picture, where the guy’s with the woman holding a baby, is bound to make you think of Rosa. Especially if, as you say, she’s pregnant.’

  ‘She’s not the only one, Callie ... I am, too,’ Sophie said, her voice trailing to a soft whisper.

  Dropping the record sleeve to the floor, Callie switched off the record player, grasped Sophie’s hand and forced her to sit down beside her. ‘I was going to ask you if I imagined hearing that? But I can see from your face that I didn’t. Sweet Jesus! If you are pregnant with Carlos’s baby – and I assume that it is his baby – you must be at least four months gone! Why the hell didn’t you tell me before? How long have you known about this?’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ Sophie struggled. ‘I thought I was simply a bit off-colour and had a tummy-bug … A bit like Rosa, you see.’

  ‘No, I bloody don’t! I’m also extremely hurt that you couldn’t confide in me.’

&nb
sp; ‘It’s not that I didn’t want to. I wanted to tell you the moment I received Rosa’s engagement note. Believe me, I was devastated. Then when you said Patrick had proposed, I couldn’t spoil your happiness.’

  ‘Oh, Sophie! What am I going to do with you?’

  ‘Hold my hand when I’m in labour?’ Sophie pleaded, now cradled in Callie’s arms.

  ‘Of course I will, silly! When’s it due?’

  ‘About the middle of April.’

  ‘Phew! That’s a relief. At least you can still be chief bridesmaid.’

  ‘Chief bridesmaid! How can I? You’re getting married on St. Patrick’s Day, which means I shall be about eight months pregnant! You won’t want me to—’

  ‘Oh, I most definitely will! For the simple reason I still intend to have that fairy- tale-princess-frock I’ve always dreamed about. Believe me, Sophie, there’ll be so much material in that dress, we’ll be able to hide you, your bump and even a pram behind it!’

  Seeing Sophie smile, Callie felt brave enough to ask the one thing that had been bothering her. ‘I’m convinced I know the answer to this question already, but am I right in thinking you haven’t told Carlos about the baby?’

  ‘I was planning to tell him when he came over last month. If you remember, José had a relapse, and Carlos wasn’t able to make it in the end.’

  ‘Yet, if he was over here in September, and you conceived in July, you must have known by then?’

  ‘Not really. Because, since Mum and Dad died, my periods have been so irregular.’

  Callie gave a sharp, dry laugh. Sophie looked up, puzzled. ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘We are. Just look at the two of us. Both supposed to be qualified nurses, and we can’t even tell when one of us gets pregnant!’

  *

  Taking comfort from Callie’s repeated offers of support, Sophie helped her friend prepare for the pre-Christmas Ball.