Mirka breathed a sigh of relief as Roger picked up the phone.
"Hello Mirka dear." He said "Can I help you?"
"Disaster has struck." Mirka explained "Sophie's fallen in love with some German guy called Ben Squire who she met earlier. They're going out for dinner tonight!"
"Ah, yes that is a problem." Roger sighed "How is Rafa going to take the news,"
"You're going to tell him?" Mirka asked incredulously "Are you insane? Remember what happened last time?"
"He's on the court with me at the moment. It's not fair for him to be kept in the dark about the girl who he is caring for." Roger explained "Look, if we keep it from him he'll be more upset and his feelings will be growing for every day. The sooner the better."
"It's your funeral," Mirka warned "This will bring about bad times."
She hung up, not believing her husband's reasoning. She had planned to try and make them realise how much they meant to each other like they had been doing on the would surely be the end of the budding relationship.
"Hey Rafa!" Roger called over to the other side of the net "Come over here a second."
Rafa did as he was told, confused.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Well I just got a phone call from Mirka, who just got a phone call from Sophie saying that she's found herself a boyfriend. His name's Ben Squire. They're going out for dinner tonight." Roger explained pretending to be happy "Isn't that great for Sophie?"
Rafa was silent for a moment.
"They're going out for dinner tonight?" Rafa confirmed.
Roger nodded.
"Then I must go back to the hotel and get her the dresses I bought her," Rafa decided.
"You're not angry? You're not sad?" Roger asked
"I am both, I told you how I felt yesterday, but on the other hand things are so much simpler now. Now Sophie and I can just be friends like I wanted."
"So let me get this straight," Roger started "You bought the girl you love some expensive, I presume, dresses which you are going to now give to her so that she can look good on her date with her boyfriend who is not you. Is that what you always had in mind for these dresses?"
"Of course not but I am friends with Sophie," Rafa explained "Friends do this kind of thing for each other."
"So you're not going to try and win her over?" Roger asked "You're going to give up?"
"How do I deserve her any more than this Ben?" Rafa argued "If she wants him more than she wants me then that is her choice."
"I'll tell you how you deserve her more. You showed her a kindness without even knowing her. You gave her a place to stay for the night and plane tickets home. You flew to England to make sure she was all right, took her to hospital, comforted her and slept there for the night and to this day you're still watching over her. If Ben's done more than that in the space of one afternoon then I would be surprised. Please don't give up on her." Roger said.
"I see her as my my little sister now," Rafa said "All of those things I would have done for a sister but with no romantic intention. Plus this benefits her because she needs a family. I've made up my mind."
Rafa patted Roger on the shoulder before leaving to get the dresses. He pulled out his phone to call Sophie, find out where she was.
"Hey Rafa!" Sophie said happily "I've got some great news to tell you,"
"Is it about Ben?" Rafa asked not wanting to hear the story again.
"Yeah, did Mirka tell you then?" She asked.
"Mirka told Roger who told me. I'm very happy for you," Rafa tried to sound enthusiastic.
"Thank you. So what did you want to call about any way?" Sophie asked.
"Well I found out about you going to dinner and I remembered that I had some smart clothes to give you so I just need to know where you're staying." Rafa explained.
"Oh you shouldn't have!" Sophie said "I was about to go out and get some myself. But either way I'm at the Bollin Hotel, just round the corner from where you play the tournament."
"Okay, see you in a minute." Rafa hung up, both reassured and sad. Sad because her relationship with Ben was confirmed but reassured because she really seemed enthusiastic about him and that meant that she would be happy. He walked around the area with a map up on his phone until he found the rather unimpressive building. It was small and a quite dirty white but was labelled with the Bollin Hotel so Rafa could assume that he had found the right place. Adam, although Rafa did not know his name, was standing at the counter.
"Hello, is there a Sophie Richardson here?" He asked.
"Yes, Room 3." Adam said "Wait a second, aren't you Rafael Nadal?"
"Yes," Rafa smiled.
"Miss Richardson said that she was with you," Adam said "Wasn't sure that she was telling the truth though to be honest."
Not knowing what to say to that Rafa just smiled and went to the third room, rapping on the door.
"Come in!" Rafa heard Sophie's voice.
He opened the door and went into the room where Sophie and a stranger, presumably Ben, were sitting on the bed.
"Ah Ben this is Rafa," Sophie introduced us "Rafa this is Ben."
"Pleased to meet you," Rafa said, shaking Ben's hand. He opened the bag which he was carrying and took out the two dresses and pairs of shoes.
"I got these in Manchester after the hospital threw away your purple dress." Rafa explained lying them flat out on the table. Sophie squealed in delight.
"Oh I don't know what to say!" She smiled brightly "And I'll never choose which one to wear tonight. Ben, which one do you like more. The purple outfit or the black outfit?"
"Well I'll be wearing a black suit so probably the black dress," Ben decided "So Rafa, are you like related to Sophie or something. Why did you just randomly get her these dresses, they look pretty expensive."
"Yeah Rafa,how expensive were they?" Sophie asked, suddenly realising that maybe Rafa should be payed back.
"I can't remember," Rafa lied "But either way you don't need to pay me back. And in answer to your question Tom I am not related to Sophie in blood but I have come to think of her as a little sister."
"I'm touched Rafa," Sophie smiled "I didn't know that we were that I don't know how I could ever thank you enough for these dresses."
"A hug for your big brother?" I suggested.
"If that's what you wish for," She shrugged and we embraced. Everything felt so right when we were pressed so tightly together and I had to fight to stop myself from crying realising what I had lost.