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“I’m sorry things became difficult,” Lola said at a loss to understand exactly what had happened.
Sofia laughed softly, a smile of reminiscence on her face. “It was a complicated situation. Very complicated. Alessandro and Francesco were infuriated with me when they found out I was seeing Luca. They didn’t want to listen to what I had to say. That’s why I never had a chance to say goodbye. My brothers forbade me from meeting with him and when I tried to sneak out one last time, I was caught. The next day Francesco announced we were moving away. Since my parents’ death, my brothers have watched over me and they considered what I’d done an act of disrespect. However, it wasn’t like that at all. The heart wants what the heart wants and I wanted to be with Luca. I wasn’t the only one who took risks and made difficult decisions. He did too. We were in love and nothing else mattered.”
Sofia fell silent and Lola waited, her heart aching for her friend.
“But that’s all in the past now,” Sofia said, her voice a mixture of sadness and determination. “I can’t allow my old feelings to become new again. I’m sure very little has changed. Luca is still in Italy. My brothers will still become furious if he tries to speak to me. They’ll still forbid me from seeing him. I just wish I could have seen Luca one last time before I left. I wrote to him and explained why I disappeared so suddenly, but I told him not to write back. I didn’t want for him to make promises he couldn’t keep. From the beginning we knew the situation was impossible.” She fell silent for a few steps before she spoke again. “I definitely don’t expect him to love me now after all this time has passed.”
“Any man would be a fool not to cherish your love. I’m happy you sent that letter and I’m even happier you’ve received a response,” Lola said, unsure how to comfort Sofia. “And there’s no way to predict what has transpired in the time you’ve been apart.”
“That’s true, I suppose.” Sofia sighed. “As soon as we return and I’m alone in my room, I’ll read what he wrote. For better or worse.”
“No matter what the letter contains, it will be good to know,” Lola reassured her. “It may offer some clarity to the situation.”
Sofia wrinkled her nose. “In some ways it’s easier not knowing. Then I don’t have to make any decisions or learn things I’d rather not. I would be a fool to invite more disappointment.”
Lola squeezed Sofia’s hand. “I understand. I think you should do what feels right. You’ll know in your heart what choice to make.”
They walked on in silence until they rounded the corner and approached the front steps of the boarding house.
“Sofia, look,” Lola whispered. “I think the new tenant has arrived.”
Up ahead, a tall, fair-haired man carried a large valise and set it down near the front steps of the building. Two smaller bags were also on the pavement while a hackney waited in the street. When the man turned to pay the cab fare, Sofia squeezed Lola’s arm tight.
“Quanto è bello!”
“What does that mean?” Lola asked, noticing Sofia’s fixed attention on the stranger.
“He’s so handsome,” Sofia whispered. “How can I live in the same building as this man? My brothers will become more protective than ever and I’ll be worried about my appearance all the time.”
“You’re beautiful. You do know that, right?” Lola asked with a little laugh. “Let’s say hello.”
“No,” Sofia objected in a hushed voice. “He hasn’t noticed us and that’s fine with me.”
“It would be better to meet him while your brothers aren’t outside, don’t you think so?”
“That’s true,” Sofia said, taking a deep breath. “All right, I’m ready.”
Lola stifled a smile at how quickly Sofia had changed her mind. Together they walked to the front stoop. The gentleman was even more handsome up close. He wore a pair of dark gray trousers, matching waistcoat and white shirt, of which he’d rolled up the sleeves to reveal strong forearms, lightly dusted with pale brown hair.
“Good morning and welcome to the neighborhood,” Lola said.
The man turned from where he was busy searching through one of the bags he’d set near the bottom of the stairs.
“Hello, ladies,” the stranger replied as he gave them his attention. “I’ve rented the upstairs room in this building but I’ve forgotten where I put my key. It’s here somewhere.” He patted his waistcoat pocket and shook his head as if frustrated.
“I’m Miss Gallo. I live downstairs with my two brothers,” Sofia said cheerfully.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the man said with a smile. “I’m Mr. Wright.”
With the conversation stalled, Lola introduced herself. “I’m Miss Morgan and I lived here until recently. In the room upstairs, actually. I hope you find it as comfortable as I did.”
“I’m sure I will,” Mr. Wright replied quickly. He leaned down and opened the outside compartment of one of his traveling bags and then checked the other valise as well. “I know I have the key here somewhere.”
Lola looked at Sofia, but her friend only shrugged.
“I suppose you should contact the landlord if you need another key. While I can unlock the door to the stairwell, I no longer have the key to the room upstairs. I returned it once Miss Morgan moved out.”
“No, I understand. I would never wish to inconvenience you,” Mr. Wright said. “I was running late and didn’t want to miss the coach from Hampshire. I think my hands may have been moving faster than my brain,” he explained with a bit of self-deprecating humor.