Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long for this update. It took a long time for me to work out what I was going to say next. Well,I hope you enjoy it and please leave a review. It is the reviews that keep me going!
Sophie stood in the arrivals lounge, the Italian voices and writing that surrounded her coming as a relief to her. It had taken three long days for the flights to be restarted and Sophie couldn't describe how good it felt to be back in Italy again. She stood, biting down on her lip, clutching her carry on bag. She felt as if the letter was burning a hole in the leather bag and she was not sure how much longer she could take it. Thinking about the letter from her mother made that horrible sting of painful memories come to her and she had to prevent herself from allowing tears to take over her.
"Sophie" She heard "Sophie my darling"
Breaking out of her thoughts, she looked up. Her eyes met with Charlie's pale blue orbs and she felt some of the weight of her worries being lifted from her shoulders, as if Charlie was supporting it, supporting her. She smiled to him, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly, as if she was afraid that he was going to vanish completely. "Oh Charlie, thank God I'm finally with you" She whispered, burying her face in his chest.
"Shh baby" Charlie whispered, stroking her hair. "I'm with you now, and we are going to sort out this mess with this blasted letter. I promise"
Sophie nodded looking up at him. "Okay" She murmured intertwining their hands and walking with him. They collected her luggage and got into the car. He leaned across to give her a light and soft kiss, to which she happily returned. Charlie smiling and steering one handed, kept a firm but loving hold on her hand as if sending silent comfort. Sophie smiled sweetly to him. "Thank you"
"You are always welcome Soph" Charlie said softly. "I hate to see you sad like this. I want to make you happy again sweetheart"
The drive to the vineyard was quiet, with Sophie only saying a few words here and there. When Charlie pulled up outside the old stone building, they could see Claire standing outside waiting for them. She ran a hand through her hair and looked to Sophie with great care and love in her eyes. She smiled lovingly, putting her hands out to the young women. "Come here my darling"
Sophie gave a teary smile, stepping forward to be enveloped in Claire's arms. She rested her head on her older women's shoulder as Claire ran her hands through Sophie's long blond hair, kissing her cheek and forehead. There was something in a hug from a grandmother that Sophie couldn't find anywhere else and the thought of it brought tears closer to falling. She clung to that feeling in Claire's hug, her heart aching. She loved Claire dearly, but this love made her think of the loss of her own grandmother, Amelia. There wasn't a day when Sophie didn't miss her. She pulled away slightly, looking at Claire's face as tears started falling.
"Oh Sophie, dear" Claire gushed. "Please don't cry, I hate to see my little angel sent friend upset. Charlie and I are here to help you through this, you're not alone anymore"
Charlie stepped forward, placing a hand on Sophie's shoulder and kissing her temple. "You go with Gran baby, I'll gather your luggage and put it in our room, then I will come and join you"
Sophie nodded, wiping her eyes and taking Claire's hand. The kindly women smiles putting an arm around Sophie and leading her inside to the warm and homely living room of the house. They sat down together as Claire grabbed a tissue and carefully wiped Sophie's tears away. "Why the tears Sophie?" She said. "You're here now"
"I know" Sophie whispered. "But, oh Claire, you are so kind to me and treat me like your own daughter and it just makes me think of me not having this feeing of love of a maternal figure before, I only had my grandmother. But she's gone now"
Claire smiled sympathetically, feeling as if she had just started to open the window into Sophie's past. "I see darling. Now, listen to me Sophie. I love you as if you were my own child. You did such a kind thing for me, a complete stranger and I will repay you with my love. If you ever did someone maternal to talk to, I want you to know that you can come to me, whatever the problem is" She said, stroking Sophie's tear covered cheek. "You understand that?"
Sophie smiled and nodded. "Thank you Claire" She smiled hugging her.
Charlie came in and sat close beside Sophie, taking her hand in his. He wanted to get straight to looking at the letter, but didn't want to push Sophie into talking about it. "Sophie" He said. "About this letter". He looked across at Claire for a moment and saw her shoot a disapproving glare in his direction, and he knew she was saying "Don't push her, you're not in court now Charles' with her eyes.
Sophie sniffled, grabbing her bag and pulling the letter out of it. "It arrived a week ago. I'm too scared to open it. I don't know what she wants. It's been too long, too long since she left me. I hate her"
Charlie gently took the letter from her and set it on the table before taking her into his arms. "Shh shh Sophie, it's going to be alright. Whatever she wants, we will sort it out together, no matter what" He said drawing shapes on her back with his fingers. Claire stroked her hair softly, wanting to bring some comfort to her.
Sophie sighed sitting up and wiping her tears away. "You're right, I'm being foolish" she said taking hold of the letter again. "I guess I better see what's in this"
Charlie nodded, even though he suspected that Sophie's sudden change of heart about the letter was simply trying to cover up the pain and sorrow that hid behind her now brave face. He could tell that this letter was not going to be pleasant and that it was going to hurt her but he wanted to do whatever he could to protect her from the pain and hurt, no matter what it took.