‘You don’t have to do that, Dad,’ Sophy mumbled, beyond embarrassed by their effusiveness now.

‘Oh I do. I am.’ He was halfway through the crowds—off to find the manager who was in charge of the sales.

Sophy looked at them. It was weird how her heart could sink and lift at the same time. Wasn’t this what she’d wanted? To have their approval? To ‘wow’ them like this? So why was she feeling so deflated? ‘Guys, you don’t have to.’

And she realised the problem. It wasn’t them she’d wanted to impress. She wanted Lorenzo with her—here to witness it, here to stand beside her. She’d be so proud then.

Her anger flared within—with herself. She’d spent so long wanting this moment—for her parents to be proud of her. How could she let a guy, especially one whom she’d known for all of three weeks, ruin it all? Why was what he thought suddenly so much more important than everything else?

She made herself smile. ‘I’m really glad you like them.’

‘Like them?’ Her mother looked stunned. ‘Sophy, we had no idea.’

Sophy shrugged her shoulders. ‘You’ve been busy. I’ve been busy too—I did it in my own time.’

‘Why didn’t you tell us you were displaying them tonight?’

‘I wanted an honest reaction.’

Her sister frowned. ‘You were that insecure?’

‘Yes,’ she admitted. ‘I guess I was. Still am.’

‘Oh, Sophy,’ her mother scolded but folded her into a hug at the same time.

Sophy smiled. They did look good. The jewellery gleamed in the cases, the display was slick, professional anddifferent—vintage inspired but thoroughly modem.

‘Darling, I can’t buy that necklace.’ Her father came back.

Sophy looked up.

‘It’s already sold.’ He was beaming now. It was just like the smile he’d worn when Ted and Victoria had both graduated with their first class law degrees, the smile she’d never seen him bestow on her before. ‘Apparently it was the first item that went. Several of the other pieces have sold now too. It’s a huge success, Sophy.’

Sophy flushed with pleasure.

‘Apparently it sold within five minutes of them opening the doors tonight. Someone was obviously keen.’

Sophy’s flush deepened. Her thoughts instantly flicked to Lorenzo—had he done it? Was he here for her as a surprise? Had he bought the necklace because of what they’d shared? Was this his way of apologising?

Her heart soared with hope.

‘Sophy, there’s someone here wanting to talk to you.’ Her brother touched her shoulder.

Sophy spun, blood thundering in her ears as she looked through the crowds. He was here—he’d come. Someone tapped her other shoulder and she turned again, getting hopelessly giddy, and too full of hope.

‘Surprise?!’

‘Oh!’ Sophy gasped. ‘Rosanna!’ She threw her arms around her friend and hugged her close—hiding her disappointment in her friend’s shoulder and her tight hug.

‘You didn’t think I’d really miss it did you?’

Sophy shook her head. She couldn’t speak, her heart full and yet bleeding at the same time. She had such a great friend, such a great family. She had no right to be feeling so crushed. She looked into her friend’s smiling face. ‘Oh, thank you so much for coming.’

* * *

Lorenzo sat in his car, still too shocked to even turn the key. He was parked just down the road from the theatre—had been since ten minutes before the doors opened and that was an hour ago now. Fool that he was, he hadn’t been able to resist.

He’d been going to go—say sorry, or something. He hadn’t meant a word of what he’d said yesterday. He’d done it deliberately—pushed at her until she pushed him away. But she was right, he’d been lying. Of course she was special. She was so special he was terrified.