Nothing New for Sophie Drew: a heart-warming romantic comedy, Katey Lovell [booksvooks .txt] 📗

An ambulance was parked on the driveway but there were no sirens or blue flashing lights.

I noticed the net curtains twitching in the house across the street.

Norma opened the door before I reached it, and from the way her cheeks sagged and the vacant look in her eyes I knew what she was going to say. The tears started to fall before she even said the words.

“He’s gone, pet. He’s gone.”

The park was already rammed with people when I arrived. Couples sat on checked picnic blankets with food and drink brought from home, others standing in groups with drinks in their hands, more still browsing the food stalls. I’d not had anything other than the slice of Victoria sponge Norma had given me, which I’d nibbled at to be polite, but I didn’t have an appetite.

The last thing I’d felt like doing was going to the festival, but she’d insisted.

“Fred would hate for you to change your plans because of him. Please go, Sophie. There’s nothing you can do here.”

And I’d replied numbly that I would.

The evening was humid, almost muggy, and the post-storm evening sun was bright enough to warrant sunglasses, although mine were at home. Raising my hand to my forehead to shield my eyes from the glare, I scanned the crowd for Eve. She’d been well up for the festival, extending the weekend for as long as possible.

Just as I was contemplating leaving, thinking I’d never be able to find a familiar face in the crowd, there was a hand on my shoulder.

“Hi there.”

I didn’t need to look into those deep dark eyes, or to take in the charming smile. I’d have known that Scouse accent anywhere. Darius Welch.

“Sophie! We found you!” Tawna swept me into a hug. With her cloud-like hair and the hit of her fragrance she all but knocked me off my feet, as if the events of the day weren’t already enough to leave me reeling. I’d texted her and Eve to let them know about Fred, telling them I didn’t want to talk about it yet in case I got emotional. Grief is a weird beast. One minute you’re numb, the next you’re raw with it. “It’s so busy! We were just saying it was going to be impossible to get to wherever you and Eve were.”

“I’m right here.”

“It’s good to see you, Soph,” Darius said, taking a step closer. He bent down to hug me too, it was bewildering to experience his arms around me for the first time in so long, to breathe in the scent of his neck. “You’re looking good.”

I’d worn the jumpsuit from Max’s shop, hoping that by wearing something nice I could trick myself into feeling better.

“Thanks.”

I struck up a conversation with Johnny, but was aware of the weight of Darius’s gaze on me.

A band took to the stage, a grungy-looking outfit with ripped black jeans and misshapen T-shirts that had faded to grey. The drummer nodded his appreciation for the faint ripple of applause, raising his drumsticks in a salute. They opened with a cover, and a slightly ropey one at that, but the crowd, there for the atmosphere, not the music, weren’t bothered.

When Tawna declared she was dying of thirst, dragging Johnny to a nearby stall for liquid refreshment, Darius and I were left alone.

“Why did you come? Tawna must have told you I’d be here. Did you just want to put pressure on me to make a decision about the money?”

His eyes caught with mine and despite my inner fury, my tummy flip-flopped. Our relationship was always about the extremes – sizzling hot or frozen out. Lukewarm was never an option.

“This isn’t about Nadia, and it isn’t about the money either. I wanted to see you, Soph. The truth is, I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“You didn’t have to gatecrash a night out with my friends.”

“I tried to talk to you at the party, I’ve asked Tawna to give you messages.” He paused, looking at me with large doleful eyes. “I’ve loved you so much for so long. I’d give anything to go back in time and take back the awful things I said.”

“You told me I was vain.”

“I had no right to do that. I know that now.”

“I did it because I wanted your approval.” Saying that aloud made my heart hurt. “I didn’t believe I was good enough for you.”

“If anything you were too good for me. I know Eve hates me and says I don’t deserve you. She’s right, I don’t. But that doesn’t stop me loving you. Nothing will.”

“Then why did you flirt with other women right under my nose? I wanted to feel loved, Darius. All I ever wanted was for you to love me and be there for me.”

“I know.” His shoulders sagged in a way that made me believe his remorse. “I’m sorry.”

His apology was a surprise. Darius Welch wasn’t the kind of man to admit to his mistakes.

“It was never to do with you,” he said, running a hand through his hair. A strand flopped in front of his face and he cocked his head to keep it out of his eyes. I was overcome by a sense of déjà vu which almost knocked me sideways, a distant memory of when our relationship was new. “I was weak, and I loved the attention. It was selfish of me, but at the time I didn’t think of how it made you feel. I loved you so damn much. So damn much.”

The music from grungy band came to a halt and I clapped as they said their thank yous, mainly because I didn’t know how to respond to what Darius had said.

I’d loved him too, that head over heels love that is ten-a-penny in youth but doesn’t often come around once you hit adulthood. I’d had the daydreams about our wedding day, spent hours practicing my signature as “Sophie Welch”. Looking back it sounded childish, whereas at the