“Yes to both.” Sophie curled her feet beneath her on the couch.
“My father is often troubled these days—afternoons and evenings, mostly. That’s when it’s the worst.” John grimaced, swallowing a generous sip of sherry.
“I understand that’s common with ill health,” Sophie said. She didn’t want to say impending death, but she was thinking it.
“It is, but it’s still upsetting or at least annoying.” John sounded more annoyed, she noticed.
“Of course.” She waited a long beat for him to speak again. He seemed to have a lot on his mind.
“And Evan. What did you think of him?” John asked, a tight smile on his face.
“He was friendly enough.” She didn’t want to say anything ill of his brother. Sophie actually hadn’t found him polite or friendly at all, but there was no reason to stir up trouble between the two of them. Once he was the owner of Haven House, perhaps his brother would be moving out anyway. It was surprising to her that both brothers still lived with their father, even though the house was large enough for a family of twenty. It was an old fashioned thing to do, even for the wealthy, at least in America.
“I doubt it, but it’s nice of you to say so.” John grimaced. “He’s not so bad once he warms up to you, but Evan has more of our father’s personality.”
“And your mother?” Sophie asked. She realized he hadn’t mentioned her.
John frowned. “She died when we were very young—just boys. I remember less of her every year, it seems. I can still hear her voice in my head some days, but her face, I can’t seem to conjure it up anymore.” His voice shook.
“I don’t mean to upset you,” Sophie said, touching his arm.
“You’re not. It was a difficult year. I had polio as a young child, and she died at the end of the year.”
“I see. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you.” The polio explained his limp and the cane.
“It was, and my father didn’t make it easier. He and my mother fought bitterly over a mistress he had. God knows what happened to that woman.” John laughed bitterly.
“I’m so sorry.” Perhaps it was her own recent loss, Sophie was sure, but tears gathered in a knot in her throat.
“Don’t be sorry for me. I have all of this, and now I have you,” he said, giving her an intense gaze. “Nothing else worked out for me in the relationship department that I thought might.” He paused as if he wanted to say more about that, but he didn’t. “That’s over now, though, and I know things are going to be good for us both.” But his unsmiling face made her question whether he believed it or not.
He was either often sad or moody. Sophie hadn’t decided yet. If he was sad, perhaps she could make him happy again or at least try to.
* * * *
She went to the nursery after John said goodnight, in hopes of feeding the baby. Carla was rocking her, and Maya cooed in her arms.
“She’s doing very well,” Carla said softly. “I think she likes it here.”
“Good. She seems happy. Has she eaten lately?”
“It’s been a while.”
“I’ll give her her next feeding. I’m used to being woken up, so I’ll just come in when she cries later.” Sophie took the baby from Carla and sat in the other white rocking chair.
“She is a lovely baby.” Carla straightened up the room as they spoke.
“Thank you.”
“It must be wonderful to be a mother,” Carla said with a wistful look.
“I like it, mostly. It is hard work, though. And you are so young. You have time yet.” Sophie rocked Maya.
“I’m 23. I guess I do have time. I didn’t want to marry so soon, definitely.” She gave Sophie a sly glance.
An alarm went off in Sophie’s head. “Oh, I can understand that. I married too young—at 18. I don’t recommend it.”
“I turned someone’s proposal down a few months ago whom I was dating and broke the relationship off, too,” Carla said, a small smile on her lips.
Sophie already had her suspicions about the man Carla was talking about, just by the way the other woman was acting, but she didn’t want to ask. She wouldn’t. Humiliation burned inside of her.
“It was John,” Carla said. “I thought you should know now. I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness between us.” She fixed the sheets in the baby’s crib, turning her back on Sophie for a moment.
Any awkwardness? Sophie thought. “Of course not. Thank you for telling me.”
“On a lighter note, I’m working on my college degree when I can—taking one class per semester. I try to do weekend classes so that I can be here as needed.”
“Have you had this job long?” Sophie asked.
“Oh no. I applied just before you came.” Carla twisted her hair absentmindedly, her dark eyes glinting.
“I see.” This was all very strange. She and John had ended their relationship, yet Carla had still wanted to be in this house, to work near him. Nothing added up. Most women would have stayed as far away as they could after the end of a relationship, but perhaps the pay was so good, Carla had wanted the position.
“John hired me since he knew me and was confident that I had experience with children due to my brothers and sisters. There are seven of us.” Carla laughed softly.
“Seven! My goodness.” Sophie shook her head. “That is really something.”
“My parents are Catholic as am I.” Carla shrugged. “It leads to large families.”
“Of course. I’ve met a few myself.”
“Well, I think I’ll be getting to bed now. I’ll be up bright and early to tend to Maya since you don’t need me for the feeding later.” Carla stretched, showing off her perfect figure in the sweater set and slacks she was wearing.
“Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep well,” Sophie said.
When the door closed behind Carla, she blew a breath
