There were so many emotions still raw between them despite the distance. None of them had tried to break the silence and bridge their differences. When Thaddeus Castille had packed Zoe up and out of her house, so much had been severed to the point that Gabriella had also left the country.
“How does a person break such a silence?” Julia wondered aloud.
Picking up the phone, she dialed the number Sandra had given her.
Her heart beating madly, she listened as it rang twice then a decidedly British voice answered, “Castille townhouse,”
“H-hello,” Julia swallowed hard, trying to keep her courage. “My name is Julia Girgorio. I am looking for Signora Gabriella Castille. Is she available?”
“I am sorry, Mrs. Castille is not in.” The answer came and Julia’s heart plummeted, “Would you like to speak to Mr. Castille instead?”
“Yes.” Julia answered quickly. Mr. Castille would be Danny, she thought.
“Very well, please wait a moment.”
Sighing, Julia glanced at the clock. The kids were at the neighbor’s house in the pool. Hopefully they’d be a while before they came back in search of snacks. The waiting felt like hours. Julia couldn’t help grimacing at the cost the call was going to incur.
“Danny Castille.” He sounded distracted and so grown up.
“Danny, how are you,” Julia said. “It’s your Aunt Julia.”
There was a short silence on the other side and for a moment Julia was afraid he’d hung up on her. She breathed out in relief when he spoke.
“Tia Julia, this is a surprise. Are you alright? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong,” Julia soothed. “How’s everyone?”
“Everyone is fine,” Danny replied. “They’re all keeping busy, how about you?”
“The twins are growing. We’re good,” Julia said.
This was harder than she’d thought.
“That’s good, Tia Julia.”
The title made Julia smile; Gabriella had trained her children well.
“Well, I don’t know how else to tell you. I was hoping to talk to Gabby but she’s not in.”
“Yes, Mamma is out doing errands,” Danny offered. “How can I be of help?”
Julia sighed.
“It’s Steve. He’s getting released in November. There’s a hearing on the fifteenth of November after which he’ll be out on Parole. Sandra Carpenter, remember her?”
Danny was silent on his end, so Julia continued.
“Anyway, she says that if Zoe testifies that it will stop his parole. She sent a letter to Zoe actually. I’m calling to find out what she’s decided.”
“How long ago was that letter sent?” Danny asked, clearing his throat.
“Four months ago. It was in April. Right when we found out,” Julia answered. “I’m sorry about this. I wouldn’t have called if Zoe had answered the letter.”
“Are you tied up with anything at the moment?” Danny said then.
Julia frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I think it would be better if you came to London,” Danny said.
Julia gasped. She had children and a business what was the matter with her nephew?
“Look—
“Your problem with Steve is more complex than you imagine.” Danny cut in. “It can’t be solved on the phone. I’m guessing you want Steve behind bars as much as the rest of us.”
“Yes,” Julia said quietly.
“Come to London. I’ll send the jet to pick you up in New York. Bring the twins; I’m sure you’ve got managers who can handle your bookstores. I’ll hand you back to the butler; he’ll take care of all the details. I’ll see you soon.”
Julia sat in surprised shock for the next fifteen minutes as the Castille butler took the details she provided. Afterwards, she sat wondering how Danny had known she owned bookstores and thinking it unbelievable that they would all be in London soon. She had a lot of explaining to do with the twins.
*****
Chapter Ten
“I have a solution for every problem,” Sylvia Hellinski said to Zoe.
It was Tuesday morning. They were in Sylvia’s office where Zoe was reclined on a chaise staring at the painting on the ceiling and Sylvia sat on a comfortable armchair studying her patient.
Well, the patient/doctor relationship blurred when it came to Zoe, Sylvia thought with a frown.
They’d been together for eight years now. Zoe was the reason Sylvia had moved to Athens. She’d been hired by Thaddeus then to take care of Zoe. Now, Sylvia lived and practiced psychiatry in the city, and Zoe was like a daughter to her. It was fascinating how much she cared for the child.
“You’ve been quiet all morning,” Sylvia accused. “What’s bothering you?”
“Nothing,” Zoe answered in Greek, a fact that made Sylvia frown.
“You’ve decided to revert back to family roots. Why not speak English. It’s perfectly fine.”
“I don’t feel like it,” Zoe replied.
“Ah, we’re hiding,” Sylvia said. “What has happened between Friday and Monday?”
“Why should something have happened?”
“Yesterday, you were quiet too. We didn’t talk much,” Sylvia said. “Today it’s the same. It’s Tuesday. I can’t imagine why you’ve suddenly decided you won’t talk. Is it Robbie?”
There was no answer to that. Sylvia scribbled on her note pad. “He’s been quite the news lately. Did you call him?”
“You know damn well the last time I talked to him, he hated me,” Zoe said.
“Hmm…” Sylvia smiled. “You still feel he hates you.”
“You weren’t there. You didn’t see how he looked at me,” Zoe said.
“Fine, how about this, four months away from your life. How do you feel?”
“Marvelous.”
“Obviously that’s why you’re lying on that chaise and I’m sitting here,” Sylvia said. “It’s okay to express your feelings. I won’t tell anyone.”
“What more do you want to hear?” Zoe snapped. “I’m miserable!”
“Edgy and cranky,” Sylvia observed making a show of writing on her pad. “Could be feeling insecure—
“Stop it!” Zoe said sitting up, her dark eyes glaring at Sylvia. “You don’t have a solution for this one. No one does.”
“What is the problem? So far I can’t see any. If you asked me, you’re just being an idiot, running away from a perfectly good life and a sexy man who loves you. You’re crazy,” Sylvia said. “You’re still wearing his ring, you know.”
“What ring?” Zoe demanded waving her left hand at Sylvia. “I gave it back.”
“That’s not the ring I’m talking about.” Sylvia nodded to her other hand.
Zoe stared down at her right hand in surprise. She hadn’t thought about it. It didn’t seem possible to be without it. On her right hand, she still wore a promise ring with an R and a Z intertwined in an intricate design of emeralds. Robbie had given it to her in Paris. He owned one too. She hadn’t thought to remove it, because....
How could she take it off when she still loved him?
“Talk to me,” Sylvia said when she noted Zoe’s panicked expression.
Zoe got off the chaise. She put her hands into her tight jean pockets, and strolled to the windows.
Athens was just like any other city. Crowded, loud, congested traffic jam, it seemed strange to imagine that this place was so old. The city of ancient history, mythical gods and amazing empires, all of that greatness was history now, to be read in books.
When would her past become history, she wondered. She desperately wanted it to be history so that she could move on, have a life and love with all her heart. She wanted to be without fear.
“Steve Harden is up for parole.” Zoe heard herself say into the silence. “If I don’t show up for the hearing on November fifteen, he’ll be out.”
“Sweetheart,
” Sylvia dumped her writing pad on the stool beside her and got up to stride to Zoe. Without hesitation, she pulled the girl into a hug.
“Who else knows?”
“No one,” Zoe answered, her voice muffled against Sylvia’s shoulder. “I haven’t told anyone except you. They’re all happy, Sylvia. Uncle Thad, Aunt Athena, Kenny, the nightmare is over for them. This is—
“A burden you can share with them,” Sylvia said gently. “You don’t have to do it alone. I’m sure Kenny won’t mind taking you to Ohio for the hearing.”
“But I can’t,” Zoe said in panic.
Pulling away from Sylvia, she pushed her hair back from her face.
“I can’t be in the same room as that monster. Not again, not ever. He-he still scares me. I-I c-can’t. I-in my dreams, I-I’m not able to escape him.”
“Breathe.” Sylvia urged, when Zoe started hyperventilating. “Breathe, relax, no one will take you there.”
Sylvia sighed as she helped Zoe take control again.
“What if we keep talking about it for a while? You may change your mind by the time November comes.” Sylvia suggested with caution. “It could be you are trying to work through your panic at the possibility of having to face him.”
“Panic cannot begin to describe what I’m feeling. I can’t even think about it,” Zoe said shakily, she clenched her fingers to control her fear. “I can’t breathe.”
“Alright,” Sylvia soothed, “one step at a time. Let’s change the subject back to Robbie. What about him? Is that why you let him go?”
“He doesn’t love me,” Zoe said with a shrug, going to lie on the chaise again.
“That’s ridiculous. He does love you. He is punching reporters because of you.” Sylvia scoffed staring at Zoe as though she’d grown two heads.
“You misunderstand. I’m saying Robbie loves Zoella Mya, the girl who has it all, the normal one, and the one without a past. He is in love with a woman who is no longer there.”
“You are getting complicated now. Love is very simple,” Sylvia said.
“Is it?” Zoe demanded. “If it was wouldn’t I still be hanging out with my own family? Gabriella Castille wouldn’t treat me like a leper. I’m damaged goods, I know that well enough.”
Shaking her head, Zoe sighed.
“Besides, if love is so easy, why haven’t you married? You’re almost thirty-five.”
“I haven’t found him yet.” Sylvia defended with a grin. “Unlike you, pixie, your soul mate happens to be a very gorgeous Irish hunk. He loves you.”
“He loves Zoella Mya,” Zoe said bitterly. “He wouldn’t spare time for a certifiable nut with anxiety problems and nightmarish memories.”
“That’s because you never gave him a chance to try.” Sylvia chastised. “How do you make judgment on something you haven’t tried? You’re being selfish making the decision for Robbie.”
“Logic doesn’t count in this,” Zoe said refusing to examine Sylvia’s comment. “Besides, what’s done is done. I have to live with the consequences now. Robbie has already moved on. You’re supposed to be helping me move on.”
“Ah,” Sylvia said, finally putting it together. “You’re hoping to make everyone forget the big scandal, jump it all and go back to your days when you were an obscure classical musician.”
“You scare me,” Zoe said, staring at the painting on the ceiling.
“I’m paid to decipher things,” Sylvia said moving around her office mulling over the fact that Zoe hadn’t refused the assessment. “You’ll certainly make Chris Stone happy working so much again.”
“It will benefit both of us,” Zoe said. “This is the best I can do right now. I haven’t told anyone because I know they’ll want me to go for that hearing. I can’t do it. I know it.”
“What can I say?” Sylvia sighed. “Promise to tell me if you need help. And Zoe, when the anxiety gets too hard to handle, stop and breathe, alright.”
Zoe nodded. “I gotta go.”
Sylvia nodded. “Be strong, love.”
*****
Once Zoe left, Sylvia sat behind her desk thinking about Zoe’s problem. Sometimes justice was served in peculiar ways, she thought. If it were up to her, Steve Harden would rot in jail forever.
Why would they let him out?
Sighing, she thought about the first time she’d met Zoe Castille.
She’d been working at the Lake West hospital in Cleveland. She’d been fresh out of medical school, and was working the psychiatric ward. At around twelve in the night, she’d been getting files from the emergency room when the ambulance came.
A frenzied staff had rushed over to help the fifteen year old female victim of an assault and rape. The girl was covered in cuts and bruises; it was obvious she’d fought valiantly against her attacker. The deep cuts on her wrists, ribs and legs had made her lose a lot of blood. She was unconscious and in five minutes, she’d gone into cardiac arrest. Tensions were high as the staff fought to save her. Sylvia had known that it was because they were all feeling she needed to survive, so that the person who’d caused her this much pain could pay.
Once they’d stabilized her, the girl was sent up to the I.C.U where the vigilant nurses and doctors watched over her. That was when the attending physician had assigned her the case.
“If and when she recovers, she’s going to need a lot of help. No one survives that kind of attack and is okay. I don’t have to remind you that this is a high profile patient. Her mother is some rich mogul; the uncle is a prominent prosecutor. You’re going to need to be firm.”
“Yes doctor.” Sylvia had said.
For a week, the young girl had remained unconscious, mainly because she’d sustained a concussion in the assault. By the time the second week began, Sylvia had been eager to meet her patient. She came in one afternoon to check on her and was about to leave when the girl sat up, eyes wide. She started trying to get out of bed, whimpering at the pain her injuries caused her.
“Shh…” Sylvia hurried to her, reaching for the bruised hands.
“Let me go. Please, he’s coming for me.” The plea came in a sob; she kept fighting Sylvia. “He’s coming. You-you have to help me.”
Sylvia leaned in so that frantic eyes were looking into her own green ones. In a soothing voice, she said, “you’re safe now. Okay, you’re safe. I’ve got you.”
Tears slid down that battered face at the words, it was obvious she wanted to believe Sylvia.
“He kept coming no matter- no matter- how-much—
“Shh...You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I’ve got you alright. Do you understand me?”
When the girl looked around, uncertain, Sylvia said, “You’re in hospital. There are many people around, nothing will happen to you here.”
“No one came when I called.” The answer came to that, dark eyes closing tiredly. “I called and called.”
“I promise you’ll be safe here. I’ll hear when you call.”
“Don’t leave me,” the girl said quietly. “Please.”
Sylvia blinked back tears as she carefully unclenched the bruised fingers holding a sheet and held them gently in her own. Why anyone would do such a thing to this beautiful girl. The slender fingers trembled a bit and she chafed them gently trying to soothe. Her gaze moved to the bruised face and the tangled hair spread on the pillow. Anger at whoever had done it rose inside her and she’d needed to let go of the bruised fingers before she hurt them.
Wiping tears away, she’d moved away from the bed and turned to find the attending physician watching her.
The recovery had been more difficult than any of them imagined. Sylvia sighed at how low they had gotten and the many highs that had promised change. She wouldn’t tell Thaddeus about this latest news. This one would come from Zoe.
****
On the drive back to the villa, Zoe stared out the window at the passing scenery her mind numb. Some times
thinking could be exhausting. Figuring things out that were so screwed up was tiring. It was better to be numb and just take in the world as it was. A familiar building came in to view and Zoe asked,
“Tony, will you stop in here for a moment.”
“Sure.” Tony turned the car into the parking lot fast.
Zoe smiled as she read the sign at the entrance. It said Athens Music School. She’d spend a lot of time in this place. She’d played music in the large auditoriums that were so old the acoustics were incredible. She’d given concerts when she’d first started out.
Getting out of the car, she smiled at Tony before she looked up at the imposing building. This place held great memories for her.
Tony handed her a cap and a pair of reading glasses. Once she’d pulled them on, they started for the entrance. Hands in her pockets, Zoe looked around the front lawn. Students sat in groups talking, others rushing about in urgency. Music filled the air in a clash of singing and musical instruments. The school was full of creative energy. A smile flitted on Zoe’s lips when a clown rushed passed them.
Entering the building, Zoe had to step aside as three girls went by her animatedly discussing a piece by Beethoven. Staring after them, she felt saddened by the fact that she’d never really made solid friends in this place. She’d been too shy then, too broken to let anyone in.
Continuing on, she strolled through the school just listening and absorbing. Pausing at the door to a secondary auditorium, she listened as an orchestra practiced.
Their sound was good, but unrefined, she thought.
Not like the orchestra she’d passed at the larger auditorium. This orchestra was playing a variation of a piece based on the devil’s trill. They were managing to a point, she knew the point would come too as they botched it miserably.
Their conductor erupted in frustration, as to be expected.
It was natural instinct. She walked into the room, headed for the stage without much thought.
“If you keep screaming at them, they won’t see what you want them to,” she heard herself say in amusement. “Be gentle.”
The tall man in a white shirt and black pants turned to her in anger. His dark eyes glinting daggers at the person who dared interrupt such an important session.