Free When Summer Fades by Danielle Shaw Page A

turned back to the flat, still humming the same familiar song. ‘Oh stop it!’ she scolded, reminded of Callie’s dire warning when the tune escaped once more from her lips. ‘Go and find something else to play!’
    Kneeling in front of her parents’ extremely varied and extensive record collection, Sophie selected blindly. She only hoped it had nothing to do with jazz. Cautiously prising the LP record from the shelf, she gave a well-what-else-did-you-expect sort of sigh. In her hand was the soundtrack of the film The Jazz Singer . She frowned, would you class Neil Diamond as jazz?
      With blue moods, musical and otherwise banished from her mind, Sophie scanned the list of song titles on the record sleeve. Some she recognised, others she didn’t. With only a vague recollection of the film she opted to play the second side first.
    I know Hello Again and Acapulco , she thought, her spirits lifting as a result of new-found space in the tiny bedroom. And with her meagre collection of summer clothes winging their way to The Nag’s Head, she could at least sing about sunnier climes, even though she couldn’t afford to visit them.
    She was still humming Acapulco later that evening when the front door opened and in walked Carlos and Rosa. Rosa was carrying a vast array of Harrods bags, which she waved excitedly in the air.
    ‘Sophie! Just see what Carlos has bought me. I’ll try everything on right away.’
    ‘But Rosa … there isn’t time. I have to—’
    ‘Of course there is! Carlos didn’t book the table for dinner until nine o’clock,’ Rosa called, amidst much rustling of carrier bags and tissue paper.
    Sophie looked up helpless. Carlos was eyeing her uniform.
    ‘There really isn’t time. I promised I would get in early. I was late reporting for duty last night.’ The words slipped out before she could stop them. Carlos, astute as ever, caught them and considered the implications.
    ‘Then do I assume you were late because of me? In which case, I can only apologize Miss Fuller. I must also apologize for Rosa’s insensitivity. In many ways she is still a child. I hope you can forgive her. She speaks very highly of you, you know. Perhaps, in time, she will learn a great deal from you.’
    Sophie was dumbstruck. What did Carlos mean? There was no chance to find out however. Rosa came dashing into the hallway wearing a velvet mini-skirt, cashmere sweater and beige, knee length boots of the finest leather.
    ‘Now I am ready for the English winter,’ she cried, her face glowing.
    ‘Yes. It’s all very nice Rosa,’ Carlos complimented, knowing only too well that his cousin would need more than that for an English winter. ‘But we must not forget Miss Fuller has to work.’
    ‘Oh, do you really have to Sophie? I thought you could have dinner with us at Carlos’s hotel. He is staying—’
    Anxious to leave Sophie kissed the young woman on the cheek. ‘Rosa, I’m sorry. I really must go. Some other time, perhaps?’
    Disappointment on Rosa’s face soon gave way to sheer delight. ‘Why, yes of course! You can join us tomorrow night instead.’
    ‘Tomorrow? I thought your cousin was returning to Lisbon tomorrow.’
    ‘I was,’ Carlos replied, softly. ‘I have now decided to spend Monday in our London office. If you would care to join Rosa and myself for dinner, Miss Fuller, there is something I should like to discuss with you.’
    That sounds ominous Sophie thought, watching Rosa hurry back into the bedroom where she tumbled a navy blue cashmere coat onto the bed. Reaching for her own familiar and rather tired looking, navy-blue raincoat, she headed for the door.
    ‘We’ll pick you up at eight o’clock,’ a firm, yet dignified voice called after her.
    *
    During late Sunday-afternoon lunch at The Nag’s Head, Sophie pleaded with Callie. ‘Look, all I’m asking you to do is help me think of an excuse why I can’t go.’
    ‘Why should I be doing that?’ Callie grinned mischievously, her lilting,