Page 47 of A Play for Love

“Nice place. Is this where Sofia grew up?”

“Yep. We have about twenty seconds to turn around and head out the door,” Shaun said.

“Nope. I’m doing this.”

“Well, well. If it isn’t Shaun Sterling, or should I say Kind?” A tall woman with short dark hair walked into the room.

“Rose.” Shaun nodded. “This is Dr. Nathan Kind.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Kind.” She extended her slender hand. “So, gentlemen, what can I do for you?”

“I’m here to talk to you about Sofia,” I said.

She looked at Shaun and then back at me.

“You know my daughter?” she asked as she walked over to the bar. “Scotch, gentlemen?”

“Thanks, Rose,” Shaun spoke.

“No, thank you. Yes, I know your daughter very well. She’s my fiancée.”

She stopped pouring the scotch momentarily, looked up at me, and then filled the glass.

“What exactly do you want, Dr. Kind?”

CHAPTER17

Nathan

“First, you have the right to know you have a grandson. His name is Nicholas.” I pulled my phone from my pocket and brought up a picture of him and Sofia.

She studied the photo, and I could see the sadness in her eyes.

“He looks a lot like Sofia. My daughter looks happy.”

“She is. She’s also a mother to my seven-year-old daughter, Ella. This thing between the two of you needs to end.”

“Sofia chose to run away.” She shot Shaun a look.

“Oh, come on, Rose. She only ran because your grip was so tight, and you wouldn’t listen to her,” Shaun said. “You gave her no choice.”

“She’s a child who threw a temper tantrum. She had a good life here and the best of both worlds. She had a loving boyfriend whom she kicked to the curb for no reason and a bright future at the ABT. She is an incredibly gifted prima ballerina who gave it all up. She gave up her life, and to me, that is inexcusable.”

“She gave it up because she was suffocating,” I raised my voice as my finger pointed to the floor. “You were suffocating her to death. You were making her live your dream. Your dream, Rose!”

“Who the hell do you think you are coming into my home and speaking to me that way?”

“The man who loves your daughter so much and who would die protecting her. She told me all about you and the things you’ve done.”

“And I’m sure she exaggerated to make it fit her narrative.”

“Nah, Rose. She told it like it was,” Shaun said. “I was there for some of it, remember?”

“I told Sofia that every action has consequences, and she would suffer greatly if she left. She made her choice, and now she can suffer the consequences of her decisions.”

“Wow.” I shook my head. “Is that why you never returned Sofia’s call after she reached out to you?”

“As I said, she will suffer the consequences of her decisions. I honestly don’t know why you’re here, Dr. Kind. A reconciliation between Sofia and I will never be possible. Did she send you here?”

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