Chapter Two.
Robert just sat there.
Stunned into silence.
Sophie loved him.
His Sophie.
The woman he had spent years loving, loved him back. The only reason he hadn't told her how he felt was because he knew he was too old for her. Elizabeth had seen life, had lived life. That was part of the reason why Robert had fallen in love with her. They could grow old together, live the rest of their lives together.
But there was something about Sophie that Robert just couldn't shake. She made him feel alive, feel like he was 21 again. He had seen her at her lowest and seen the strength and the resilience that she had shown. And Sophie had been there for his little girl when he couldn't.
Again, he had to chuckle to himself. He had spent most of his life wondering when he was going to fall in love, if he was going to fall in love. He was Harvard's most eligible bachelor for crying out loud. And now he found himself in a situation he would do anything to get himself out of.
However, with Sophie away, it gave him plenty of time to think things over. He carried on his life as normal. Teaching at Harvard, having lunch with Elizabeth, spending time with his daughter and writing his book.
Sophie would text him from time to time, letting him know how she was doing and what was going on. Apparently her grandmother had had some kind of stroke and was now in a high dependency unit, unable to do much. Sophie was heartbroken. Having lost her family at a young age, Robert had helped her to reconnect with family that she thought she had lost and she was able to live her life again. But now, she may be losing the last part of her family that she had.
Then, one day, as Robert was sat in his office at Harvard, his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID. It was Sophie. He answered it.
"Sophie?"
Robert? She sounded as though she had been crying.
"What's happened?" he asked, concerned.
Grandmére passed in her sleep last night. Another stroke, the doctors think, but she went peacefully.
"Oh Sophie, I'm so sorry."
Thank you Robert. I'm sorry but I won't be home for a few more weeks at least.
"Don't be sorry. You need to be with your family right now."
Thank you. I'll be home soon.
"Sophie?"
Yes Robert?
"What you said as you were leaving…"
Oh. That. Robert, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it. I mean you're with Elizabeth…
"Sophie, I was going to say I love you too."
You do?
"Sophie, I've loved you since we said goodbye in Scotland. I just didn't tell you because I thought you would be interested in someone your own age."
"Oh Robert, it couldn't have been anyone else. You saved my life. You helped me find out who I am."
"I just needed you to know how I felt. I know its complicated."
Robert, she said and he could hear her smile, when is your life not complicated!
"I just need time. I need time to think things over. I love Elizabeth, but I have a feeling that it won't belong before our careers pull us apart again, but I can't break her heart, not just yet."
I know Robert. And I wouldn't ask you too. I'm not that kind of person. I can wait. It's just nice to know how you feel.
"Take care, Sophie."
Au Revoir, mon amour!
Robert leaned back in his chair and sighed.
This was not going to easy.