Together Again

“Sofia, have you really thought about this?” Lois eyed her best friend carefully. “Going back to Sicily just for the divorce is risky. What If Lorenzo comes after you.”

“I have to do this, Lois. I can’t move forward with Marco or anyone else while I’m still legally tied to Lorenzo.” Sofia lifted her slender shoulders into an elegant shrug. “He made his choice two years ago, and now it's time for me to make mine.”

Lois sighed as touched her hand across the dining table they shared in their small apartment. “You're talking about the same man who has been pestering your father and every single person who knows you for the past two years just to know your whereabouts.”

“Can't you just do this from here? You know he won't let you go that easily once he gets you.”

“I know, but I have to do this in person. My father will be with me, and my lawyer is very strict and discreet. It’ll be fine.” Sofia tried to sound confident, as the sound of a taxi honking outside made her jump.

Sofia's long dark chestnut brown hair hung over her shoulder, and she reached behind her neck and twisted it into a knot behind her nape. “That's my ride. I'll call you once I get there. Wish me good luck.”

“Well, the only luck you need is to make sure Lorenzo doesn’t find you.” Lois grimaced.

“No, what I need is to find out Lorenzo has had a partial loss of memory and no longer remembers me, and now he is sweet, kind, and considerate and will grant me my divorce just so I can live my life in peace.”

She walked up the stairs into the entryway and turned to hug Lois, squeezing her so tightly she worried her bones would crack. “Don’t miss me too much, ok.”

“I definitely won’t.” Lois grinned. “I’ll be so occupied working the next night shifts. Just get me those sexy Italian boots.”

“I definitely will.” She blew a kiss as she hurriedly walked away. She climbed into the taxi and gave a final wave to her best friend.

“To the airport, please,” Sofia instructed the driver as she got in.

“Going on a trip?” the driver asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

“Italy,” Sofia replied curtly, not desiring small talk.

“Ah, Italy. Beautiful city,” the driver said, trying to make conversation with nosy and unwanted questions.

“You work there?”

Sofia faced him head on. “Yeah, I'm paying you to drive, not to interrogate, so how about focusing on the road instead.”

Her rude remark silenced him, and she watched wickedly as the man’s mouth made silly movements, opening, and closing in rapid succession.

She settled back into the seat, trying to adjust to the nervousness she felt in her stomach as she thought about returning to Sicily.

As she relaxed back staring blankly at the car window, she let her mind wander back to the past and how she’d gotten so far.