Chapter 4 - THE VIOLINIST WHO REMEMBERED
Gabriel Bellini met Sophia at a small café the following morning.
He was seventy-two.
His hands trembled slightly when he lifted his coffee.
Sophia placed her mother's letter on the table.
Gabriel read it.
His eyes filled.
“She trusted me,” he whispered.
Sophia stared.
“Who was she?”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Your mother was one of the most gifted dancers I've ever known.”
He explained that Lucia Romano had trained with some of the best instructors in New York.
By nineteen, she had been offered a place in an international ballet company.
But her father, Vittorio Romano, refused to let her leave.
He wanted her to marry a businessman whose family controlled valuable shipping contracts.
Lucia refused.
Gabriel paused.
“She loved someone else.”
Sophia leaned forward.
“Who?”
“A musician.”
Sophia's heart pounded.
“My father?”
Gabriel nodded.
“His name was Daniel Bell.”
Sophia stared.
Her mother had told her Daniel died before she was born.
Gabriel continued.
“He was a pianist. Kind. Talented. Completely unacceptable to the Romano family.”
“What happened?”
Gabriel looked away.
“Daniel disappeared.”
Sophia felt cold.
“Disappeared?”
Gabriel nodded.
“Lucia believed Vittorio had arranged it.”
Sophia covered her mouth.
“Was he killed?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“I never found out.”
He reached into his coat.
Then placed a photograph on the table.
Lucia stood beside a handsome young man at a piano.
They were smiling.
Sophia touched the photograph.
For the first time in her life, she saw her father's face.
Gabriel watched her.
Then said quietly:
“There's something else.”
Sophia looked up.
“Your mother was pregnant when she fled.”
Sophia nodded.
“With me.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
He swallowed.
“She was carrying twins.”
