Matchmakers, no. 1

by Bernadette Marie

  David paced the floor through the night and into the morning. Sophia hadn’t even called. He was furious.

  He held the box that the glassblower had given him in his hand. He hadn’t had an opportunity to give her the gift he’d brought back from Hawaii. On his dresser now lay the picture of her and her parents that he’d taken from her apartment. He thought she should have it with her.

  No matter what time her flight had been, she’d surely have landed in Rome by now and should have called. He’d had enough waiting. Dammit, he’d call her.

  He opened his cell phone. The digital clock on the phone read 3:00 a.m. He hit her name on his speed dial. He heard it ring. He heard it again. Then he heard a tap on his door.

  Quickly, he flung it open with hopes that somehow she’d be there.

  Carissa stood in the doorway in her pajamas. Her eyes were red and swollen. In her hand was Sophia’s phone.

  “It was on her bed.” She clutched the phone to her chest. “Do you think she’ll come back?”

  He gathered his daughter in his arms and held her tight. He didn’t have an answer for her this time.

  Sophia had meant to call home, but there had been no time. The moment they’d stepped off the plane, the paparazzi were there. She’d never get used to the press as Pablo had.

  He wrapped his arm protectively around her, and Pierre walked a few steps behind them. She’d been Pablo’s front for so many years, but she’d never realized it until they walked through the airport in Rome. She thought of all the pictures her grandmother had hanging in the hallway of her house. It was no wonder David had assumed Pablo was her lover.

  Pablo had them driven straight to his rehearsal hall, and they began putting together their program. He threw out songs to them, they played, and he sang.

  “Bella! What have you been doing?” he screamed. “You’re flat!

  “I most certainly am not.” She was edgy from lack of sleep and disappointment from not telling David goodbye. Pablo hadn’t even given her the time to call him again.

  “Get it right.”

  “Bite me,” she huffed out under her breath, but he heard it.

  “Oh, Americans!”

  “Oh, stubborn Italians!”

  The sliver of a smile creased his lips, and Thomas stifled a laugh at the piano.

  “She’s home!” He tapped his hand on his heart. “She’s home.”

  “Pablo, let’s break for dinner.” Pierre laid his hand on Pablo’s shoulder, kneading it gently. “We’ve all been up too long, and rehearsal is going nowhere.”

  Pablo took his hand in his and kissed it.

  “Okay, my love. Dinner.”

  They packed up their belongings and, again, huddled together as camera flashes pursued them to their car.

  “I hate them all!” Pablo let go of Sophia’s hand and grasped Pierre’s in his own just as soon as they left the rest of the world outside the limousine. “Since the moment that woman left our ensemble, they have been like vultures. They will rue the day they came up against Pablo DiAngelo.”

  Pierre wiped a lock of hair from Pablo’s forehead. “Soon, my love. Soon it will all be over, and we will have nothing to hide. And they can take all the pictures they want at our ceremony.”

  Pablo kissed Pierre’s fingers.

  “Speaking of weddings.” Pablo lifted Sophia’s hand and raised an eyebrow. “This?”

  “Yes, this.” She tilted her hand to examine the ring that had adorned her finger a decade earlier. Thomas shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and Pierre shook his head and patted her knee.

  “Oh, Sophia, why did you come?”

  “Pablo asked me to.”

  “He’s mine, not yours. I’ll take care of him.”

  “Oh, I meant no disrespect.” She bit her lip and turned her body toward Pierre.

  “I know, but he’s pigheaded!” Pierre held his hand up in defense to stop Pablo from speaking. “He thinks he needs your image to guide him through this life. But he’s wrong. I love him, and that should be enough.”

  Sophia suddenly realized the conversation wasn’t for her. It was for Pablo, who took Pierre’s face in his hands and kissed him full on the mouth.

  When they pulled apart, he murmured, “Ti amo.”

  “Then act like it. When we step out of this car, hold my hand, not hers.”

  “I can’t do that.” He dropped his head.

  “You’re a coward!” Pierre crossed his arms over his chest and one leg over the other, bouncing his foot in defiance.

  “Yes, I am. But as we leave the Vatican, I will hold your hand.”

  “I quit,” Sophia piped up, and all the men stared at her.

  Pablo turned to face her. “I beg your pardon.”

  “I mean when it’s all over, I quit.” Saying the words filled her with optimism.

  “Now, Sophia, just because I’m fighting with him doesn’t…”

  She shook her head. Everything seemed clearer now. Brighter.

  “No, no. It’s not that. I just realized that I love David more than this now. I want to marry him and have children with him. Carissa!”

  “Carissa?” Pierre snorted a laugh. “What’s a Carissa?”

  “She’ll be my daughter!” She was giddy inside. Her stomach fluttered, and her heart raced wildly. “Oh, I’ll be a mother! And he wants to adopt more children!” Her voice had laughter in it, and Pierre smiled even though Pablo was frowning. Thomas had turned his head and stared out into the lights of Rome. She reached for her purse. “I have to call them.”

  Sophia searched through her things. She couldn’t find her cell phone in its usual compartment and began tossing items from her purse onto the floor. But her phone wasn’t there.

  “Damn!”

  “Bella, we will be done in a few days. Enough of this silliness.” Pablo crossed his arms over his massive chest and looked straight ahead.

  She knew he was right. David wasn’t going anywhere. He’d be home when she got there. It might be rough for a few days, but he’d accept her apology. But damn! She wanted to talk to Sally Foster. She’d told her she had a good chance at the house. She hadn’t thought about leaving town and losing it all together. She had to get to a phone.

  Thomas handed her his phone just as the car came to a stop.

  “Thank you.” She smiled at the young pianist, who warmly returned the gesture.

  She began to dial as she was pulled from the car. Chaos ensued, and she was forced to slip the phone into her purse and forgo the call. There were photographers and people everywhere, all waiting to get a peek at Sophia and Pablo. Pierre and Thomas were their regular two steps behind them when Pablo waved to his admirers and took her hand in his. Sophia lowered her head to get through the crowd.

  She’d always hated living the public life, and Pablo had always embraced it. A reporter yelled from the crowd.

  “Sophia! What’s the scar on your neck from?”

  Instinctively her hand shot up to her bare neck. No one had ever seen her without her trademark scarves or pearls. Warrior! Warrior! Damn! She wanted to cry. Then another question flew from the crowd.

  “Beautiful ring! Are you two getting married soon?”

  God! They thought Pablo was really her fiancé.

  Another yelled out, “Pablo, what about your affair with Pierre?”

  Pierre’s face flushed red, and he lunged after the reporter.

  Sophia couldn’t tell who hit whom first, but a moment later, she was on the ground next to Pablo, armed guards surrounding them.

  Pierre lay unconscious, blood trickling from his mouth.

  Carissa was filling the house with a Pablo DiAngelo song, and David could smash the cello into a million pieces, the way he was feeling.

  He’d just picked up this morning’s newspaper when his cell phone rang. He flipped it open. He’d given up on it being Sophia.

  “Mr. Kendal, I’m with the title company. We need to set up a time for your closing on Thursday.”

&nbs
p; Right. David had to move on with his life.

  He scheduled the closing.

  His coffee had gone cold. As he opened the paper, everything went bitter.

  The entertainment section of the paper sprawled over the table. Photos of Sophia and Pablo, hand in hand, made his chest tighten. Their fingers were interlocked. The story went on about a rock on her hand and a wedding in their future. Someone had even caught them on the plane sleeping. Her head rested on his shoulder and his on her head, and a blanket covered them both. Very intimate.

  He’d been such a fool. He crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it in the trash. Within the week, he and Carissa would be taking Hope to their new home and starting a chapter of his life he’d never anticipated. And it was obvious he’d be doing that without Sophia.

  Mandy called later in the afternoon, and David felt his stomach flop.

  “I’d like a ride to the doctor.”

  “Are you okay?” Panic vibrated through his voice.

  “I’m fine. Seems I can’t get behind the wheel of that old car anymore.” She laughed. “I thought maybe Carissa could take me.”

  “She moved her audition. She’s there now. I’ll come get you.”

  Within the hour, he was driving Mandy to her doctor’s appointment. His palms were sweating, and his heart was racing. He should have been doing these things when she was pregnant with Carissa.

  “Why do you have a doctor appointment in town?”

  “I’ve never been far away from you guys. Not physically, that is.”

  “You’ve been in Kansas City the whole time?” His eyes darted from the road to her.

  “Yes.”

  He almost said, It would have been nice if you’d come by to see your daughter, but it wouldn’t have been true. He shook his head. The woman would never cease to amaze him.

  He helped her out of the car, and she checked in at the desk. She was escorted back to the exam room within a few moments of arrival.

  David made himself comfortable in the waiting area. The receptionist puttered around the room, tidying up the kids’ toys in the bucket and the magazines on the tables.

  “Oh, he’s a sexy one.” She smiled as she laid the magazine on the table beside him. “Wouldn’t mind him burning my eggs in the morning.”

  David couldn’t help but look at what seemed to be a perfectly mannered woman. What would make her say such a thing? He looked down at the magazine she’d laid by him, and, as big as life, there was Pablo in his black tuxedo, mouth open, no doubt an amazing sound escaping it.

  Curiosity had caught him. He opened the magazine, which was dated a week earlier.

  The article was all about Pablo DiAngelo and his lover, Pierre Van Volden. He tucked his lips between his teeth and read. Caught with the flutist in an intimate situation, he’d denied the rumors. The article went on to talk about the quick dismissal of Sandra Valdez and the absence of Sophia Burkhalter.

  David shook his head. He certainly had never cared for Pablo DiAngelo. The man had given Sophia a life she otherwise would never have had, but he was deceiving the world, too. Sophia would figure that out eventually. He was just afraid it was going to be too late.

  His attention snapped back to the matter at hand when a nurse entered the waiting room.

  “Your wife would like to see you.” He stared at her blankly as she spoke. “Mr. Kendal?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mrs. Kendal would like you to come back and see the pictures of the baby.”

  Mrs. Kendal? There had to be a mistake, and he’d put an end to that!

  The nurse opened the door and Mandy lay on the table, her enlarged stomach exposed. The doctor in his white coat slathered her stomach with a gel and rubbed a wand over her skin.

  “Mr. Kendal, you’re just in time.”

  Mandy held her hand out to him, and he took it. The image came up on the screen, and his heart was gone.

  “Isn’t she beautiful?” Mandy asked. David could only nod.

  “Is she okay?” He directed his question to the doctor.

  “She looks really good. Your wife is dilated at a three. You should see this little one in a day or so.”

  David’s eyes and heart were lost to the image on the screen. Would she look like Carissa? Would her hair be black as coal like hers? Would she have her brown, puppy-dog eyes?

  “Okay, Mrs. Kendal, go ahead and get dressed. I’m going to speak to your husband in my office.” The doctor patted her knee.

  David followed the doctor to his office and sat down in the chair opposite the doctor, who laid Mandy’s file on his desk.

  “I’m glad to finally meet you. This has been a long road for your wife. She’s been very strong about it all, but I know she’s scared.”

  David hated Mandy for making him take part in this charade. But in order for him to get custody of the baby, they had to think he was her father.

  “She’s made up her mind. She knows what she wants.”

  “I think we can sustain her life, at least for a little while, and we can get her on a donor’s list. It wouldn’t be pleasant for her.”

  “And she’s agreed to this?” David moved to the edge of his chair. His jaw clenched.

  “No. She’s sure that when the time comes, she wants to go.”

  David couldn’t decide if the settling of his stomach was relief or understanding. He wouldn’t want to be kept alive, but still be dying, either.

  “I’ll go with her wishes.”

  The doctor nodded. “She said the two of you have a seventeen-year-old daughter.”

  “Yes.” Even though that was the truth, he didn’t like the way it sounded.

  “Well, I’m sure she’ll be a big help to you. But Mr. Kendal, please consider helping her change her mind. She’d want to see the baby.”

  David said he’d discuss it with Mandy, and he left the office and returned to the reception area. Mandy joined him a moment later, looking paler and more fragile. She took his hand and steadied herself. He had to wrap an arm around her shoulders to help her to the car.

  He lowered her to her seat and walked around to the other side. He slid behind the wheel and took a deep breath. “Why am I’m listed as your husband?”

  She turned toward him and spoke softly, “I thought it would be easier.”

  “You’ve had me down as your husband since the beginning, haven’t you?” She nodded with her eyes averted. “You knew I’d take this baby?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t see the harm. I figured if you took her, they couldn’t question me. If you didn’t, no one would know any better.”

  “Show me your driver’s license.”

  “What?”

  “Show me!” He watched her as she pulled it from her wallet. “Mandy Kendal. How did you pull that off?”

  “I just changed my name. I thought...”

  “I don’t want to hear it.” He gripped the steering wheel. “You’re right. It will make it easier.”

  When they reached the motel, he helped her out of the car and noticed she was gasping for breath. “Will you be okay?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll call 911 if I need something.” She stumbled past him to her door.

  “Why are you staying in a motel?”

  She unlocked the door to her room and pushed it open.

  “I sold everything off so there wouldn’t be anything left when I died. The papers in my purse explain it all. I even have my burial expenses paid for, so all you’ll have to do is sign me over, and they’ll take care of the rest. Nice and tidy, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, nice and tidy.” Hope would be his child—and her mother was staying in a fleabag motel. It wasn’t right. He moved toward her. “You know, you could stay with...”

  “No. I know you’re wary and think I’m going to do something at the last minute and mess up your life. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have drawn up papers.” She laid her hand on his chest. “I’ve changed. I’ve lived a life of lies, and I’ve paid for them. My
children, however, never deserved to have to pay for my mistakes. You’ve seen to Carissa, and she turned into a wonderful woman. I could never have given her the life you have. I want Hope to have that same chance. Give that to her, David.”

  “I will,” he promised.

  Mandy took a shallow breath. “Sophia will be a wonderful mother.”

  The words punched David in the gut.

  “We’ll see.”

  He helped her into her room and got her situated. “I’ll be around if you need me. Tomorrow I have a meeting. So if you need anything...”

  “I’ll be fine.” She held out her hand to him. “David, thank you again.”

  He only nodded and left her.

  She was right. He was leery as hell over her change of heart. He’d never been too convinced that someone as messed up as Mandy could have changed. But he was witnessing firsthand a complete turnaround. In fact, he was beginning to feel sorry for her. Shaking the thought from his head, he drove away. He’d felt sorry for her last time, and it had cost him the woman he loved. He winced at the thought. It just might have done it again.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Carissa watched her dad hang up the phone as she blew on her fingernails. The color of the polish only irritated her now. She should change it, just for spite.

  “What did Ms. Foster say?”

  “The house on Cherry Street sold already.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess we should just keep ours and decide what to do.”

  “Dad, I can go to school out by the new house. I know it’s too hard to commute. Besides, I can be there to take care of Hope.”

  “It’s not fair to ask you to do that. You’d have to give up your job and first chair. You earned that chair. You worked hard for that. Sophia would be proud.”

  “She will be proud.” She put a positive twist on the words she spoke, which his were lacking. “Don’t give up on her, Dad. Pablo’s not in love with her. He’s in love with the flutist. I don’t think she’s ever thought of Pablo that way.”

  Her father cringed and let out a sigh.

  “She might come home to us, honey, but it won’t be just us, will it?”