Author's note:

Hey, guys. Because of the length, I've had to split chapter 11 into two parts. Here's the part 1. Enjoy it.

-

Nikki Hamilton wasn't the type of person who could easily be surprised or shocked. Ever since childhood, she was a very reasonable person, with her legs standing firmly on the ground. She believed in herself, her choices and that she would always make the right decision in certain life situations. That was kind of the main reason why she was writing psychological thrillers. Yet...Darnell was the first sign that she wasn't so good at reading people. Nikki had totally misjudged her former fiancé, which had cost her a good part of life invested in wrong things. The result was her coming to the hot tropical place in Florida. On the other hand, the mentioned paradise had brought a big trouble named Daniel Linares. Once again, Nikki found herself in a tangled situation but the question was whether this time she had estimated well the person she allowed to enter inside her walls?

While she was sitting on the lounger, watching Daniel hugging a woman, the copy of his dead girlfriend, her mind was racing around the same question. How could she allow this to happen to her?

Daniel finally moved away from a mysterious woman, telling her something but Nikki couldn't hear him. Then, they both started walking toward her. She stood up, trying to get her shit together.

As Daniel and an unknown woman were approaching, Nikki could see certain differences between Sofia and her and sighed in relief. For a moment, she thought she was losing her mind.

„Nikki..." Daniel called her name. „I want you to meet Patricia Lopez. Sofia's sister."

Sister? This mysterious woman was actually Sofia's sister? That explained the extreme similarity. Nikki wasn't able to compose a normal sentence. Finding that Sofia had so similar sister was shocking.

„Umm..." she muttered but Patricia just stretched her hand toward her, not giving her a time to finish what she wanted to say.

„Nikki Hamilton," she said with a gentle smile. „When I was coming here to greet Dan, I couldn't even dream of finding him in a company of Nikki Hamilton."

Nikki was still silent but she accepted Patricia's stretched hand, shaking it slightly in greeting.

„Considering your state of shock and the fact that Dan has introduced me as Sofia's sister, I guess he has told you everything about her and I guess you've seen her picture at Brian's because in the first few moments you looked like you've seen the ghost. Don't worry...I'm not my sister and I'm over a year older than her. The dead don't return back to life."

At her last statement, the other woman was opening and closing her mouth, not knowing where to start from, while Daniel was just shifting uncomfortably in place.

„What is it? You're both quiet."

Patricia smiled somewhat indifferently, which made Nikki even more confused.

„You know who I am?" she finally asked, making a normal sentence.

Patricia looked at her and nodded.

„How wouldn't I know my sister's favorite writer?"

Her eyes instantly went wide, looking questionably first at Patricia, then at Daniel.

„What?"

Now it was Patricia's turn to be confused.

„You haven't told her?" she asked her, now former brother in law. Daniel looked like he wanted to escape from here.

„Tell me what?"

The Latina turned her attention toward Nikki again. The other woman had a feeling like there was Sofia looking at her...like there was a person from the picture in Brian's shop looking at her.

„Brian and Sofia were both crazy obsessed with your stories. My sister had both signed copies of the Silhouettes. I think they're still somewhere in the house. I'm really surprised that you don't know about this."

Nikki was standing there, with her mouth wide open, just staring in front of her. Why hadn't Daniel mentioned this to her? Why Brian and Marina hadn't mentioned it? After telling them about her current feelings for the tall man, she kind of expected them to tell her everything important. But it didn't seem like this was the case, because nobody hadn't mentioned anything about Patricia and the fact that Sofia was fond of her books.

„I'm sorry if I've caused an awkward situation, it wasn't my intention to do that," she interrupted her thoughts. „Listen...are you two for a drink? Dan, I haven't seen you for so long and I would really like to know more about you, Nikki. By the way, you could tell me how you two have found yourselves in the same place."

Daniel squinted his eyes. Since Patricia mentioned Sofia's interest in Nikki's books, he didn't give one glance the shocked writer.

„Patricia...were you at home? You know...visited your parents?" he asked.

The Latina nodded.

„I left my things, greeted them and then came straight here. Mom told me to invite you for dinner tonight. They haven't seen you in forever and they both would be happy for you to join us. You too, Nikki. I hope you can come too. I'll show you Sofia's books."

Nikki was screaming inside. This conversation was becoming more and more unpleasant and intimidated. How to refuse Sofia's sister?

„Umm...Nikki, do you have anything against canceling today's training and umm...going for a drink with Patricia?" Daniel asked, somewhat uncomfortably.

A sound of his voice had startled her a little. The man was finally speaking to her.

„No, of course, we can postpone the training until tomorrow. You two go alone, I have to umm...do something. I sure you have a lot to chat about," she said, hoping they both were going to accept her response.

Patricia was somewhat disappointed but Daniel's face showed a huge relief. She knew this situation was kind of new for him and he had a difficult time coping with everything Patricia had revealed today.

„But...I can count on you tonight, right?" the Latina asked.

Nikki was silent for a few moments and then she sighed quietly, nodding in confirmation.

„I'll call Dan and make plans with him," she replied.

Patricia smiled broadly. Daniel, on the other hand, just nodded, not knowing how to deal with this. The other woman said goodbye to the duo and then headed to Brian's shop. She was still visibly upset and somewhat terrified by the new situation. Brian owed her many explanations. In one way or another, Nikki intended to make him tell her everything.

As she was approaching the shop and her, at the moment best friend, she felt even more angrier.

After a couple of minutes, she finally entered the shop, seeing Brian and Diego at the counter. Both men raised their heads, smiling cheerfully at her, but not for too long.

„What the fuck, Brian? Why the hell haven't you told me Sofia has a sister?" she snapped immediately.

Brian and Diego's eyes were wide open.

„What's going on here?" Diego asked in confusion. Nikki had completely forgotten that not everyone was familiar with her current situation. That's why her dark-skinned friend couldn't understand why she was so upset.

„Nikki..." Brian started but she didn't allow him to explain.

„Don't you think this is an important information I should've known about?!" she asked other question angrily. „Also the fact that Sofia had loved the Silhouettes? How could you and Marina not say anything about this to me?"

„How do you know about Patricia?" Brian responded with a counter question.

The woman was walking in circles like the tiger closed in a cage.

„Because, I just met her, Brian! When I first saw her approaching, I've almost lost my shit because I was sure I'm looking at Sofia. Do you have any idea how I felt? I can't get over the shock and really don't understand why you didn't tell me about her. This isn't a small thing."

Brian was surprised by her response. He didn't know Patricia had returned to Naples. Diego was still confused, his eyes traveling between totally upset Nikki and his somewhat frightened boss. He didn't understand what was happening and why all this drama about Patricia.

„Diego, can you take over for a while?" Brian asked, already approaching Nikki. „I have to talk to her."

Diego convinced them that they can go and that he would take care of customers. Together, Brian and Nikki went out onto the streets.

„Listen, I didn't want to talk in front of Diego, but we also can't talk here, on the street. I could take you to Lowdermilk if you want. There's a little bit quieter, I think," Brian explained and Nikki just nodded nervously.

Two friends were walking together toward the park that Brian had mentioned. There was an unpleasant silence. The man was hoping he could cheer up and calm down his upset friend, who hadn't looked at him once.

When they were already at the entrance, Brian was looking for a less crowded place. The nearby bench wasn't occupied so he gestured to it. Both of them sat down on it and Nikki looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.

„First...sorry I haven't mentioned Patricia to you," he started with an apology. „She has been living in Mexico for a few years now with her relatives, going to school there. She's usually coming home in the summer months, but since I haven't seen her coming this year, at the beginning of June, I was convinced she wouldn't come at all. Understandable, given to the mood in her house."

Nikki interrupted him by raising her palm.

„Whatever. This's isn't an excuse, Brian. I believed that, after I tell you everything about my feelings, you would tell me everything I need to know."

Brian ran his hand through blue strands of his hair.

„I'm really sorry, Nikki. Please, don't be angry."

„No...you know, Brian, today I'm invited to dinner at Patricia and Sofia's parents' house. Together with Dan. I'm invited because, apparently, Sofia loved The Silhouettes. Do you have any idea how I feel right now?" she explained her feelings angrily. Brian was feeling bad about his friend.

„I know," he replied. „Marina and I should've told you. I'm so sorry."

The woman just sank down, looking at her feet. She wanted to be angry at Brian but getting angry wouldn't change things. There was no use.

„God..." she said, squeezing her eyes. „It's okay...I guess. I think it's the best for me to go to the hotel and try to calm down. I have to find a way for this to go smooth."

„Do you really have to go?" he asked.

„I can't go back now. I've already said I'd come."

He nodded, getting up and grabbing Nikki's shoulders, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

„Are we okay, Nikki Hamilton?"

She looked down at the side, not wanting to give him the pleasure to be right but his small smile made her give up.

„I'm still mad," she said warningly. „But we are...for now. This has to be the last time. If there's anything else I need to know, please, tell me now."

He convinced her that now, she was familiar with everything she needed to know. After a short greeting, they went in different directions. Nikki had returned to the hotel to have a little mental preparation for the dinner with Daniel, Patricia, and her parents, while Brian returned to the store.

He hadn't even entered yet, and Diego was already in front of him.

„Am I crazy, Brian?" the man asked.

„I wouldn't like to answer this question."

He wanted to pass by his friend, but Diego didn't give him a chance.

„Patricia came home?"

„Why are you questioning me? You've heard it for yourself."

Diego rubbed the back od his neck.

„Okay...I'll pretend like I haven't noticed Nikki's anger and her constantly looking at Dan in last month. I don't know anything. Will this be okay?"

Brian wasn't surprised by Diego's prudence. He already knew about his friend's ability to make quick and right conclusions.

„Perfect!" he replied briefly, returning to the counter and his job.

-

Nikki had just applied her make-up when her phone started ringing. The small device informed her that she had received a message.

I'm out, waiting for you. Dan.

The woman was looking at the message for a few seconds, then sighed and locked the phone again. She decided to pick up her belongings and join Daniel in front of the hotel. Before leaving, she looked at herself for one more time in the mirror. The combination of long, tight jeans and white, short-sleeved shirt looked decent enough for this evening. Satisfied with her appearance, Nikki emerged from the room.

As she got out, nervousness grew more and more. Then, she saw Daniel's back.

„Hey..." she called him and the tall man turned around, looking at her and smiling slightly.

„Ready?" he asked.

As much as I can be. Instead of sharing her thoughts, she just nodded, grabbing him under his arm, as they went together to his car. This would be the first time Nikki would see him at the steering wheel.

„Listen...I'm sorry for getting you into this. And for not telling you that Sofia loved your books. She and Brian were totally obsessed with your writing. Umm...I really don't know why I haven't mentioned it to you before."

Nikki wasn't surprised by his apology. Brian was also trying to apologize. She realized it was pointless to lose her shit over the things she couldn't change.

„It's okay. It's important that this evening goes smooth, without any unpleasantness. Should I know anything before we get to their house?"

The man rubbed the back of his head.

„Well...her parents are Arnold and Zamira. They are both immigrants from Cuba and have been living in Naples for almost thirty years. When we get there, don't be surprised if the mood is gloomy...they both have a lot of trouble coping with Sofia's leaving," Daniel explained and Nikki couldn't not to notice him mentioning how Sofia had left. He hasn't described her „departure" with the right word. He had never admitted out loud that his girlfriend had actually passed away. „I don't know...Patricia will anyway tell you everything about herself. It's unbelievable how much that woman can talk. But...long story short...she's been living and studying in Mexico for six years, coming home only at the summer months. This year, she came home a little late, probably because of of...well, the circumstances. I don't know why she changed her mind about staying in Mexico for the whole year, but here she is."

Nikki was trying to absorb everything Daniel was telling her about Sofia's family, so she didn't even notice when he had parked in front of the large house, typical of Naples.

„We're here," he informed her.

She got out of the car, looking around. In her estimation, the light-yellow colored house had three floors and the yard with the driveway was carefully arranged. She wondered if they had hired someone to take care of the house and yard? Daniel pointed out at the entrance door. They approached and the man pressed the bell. Nikki took a few deep breaths, preparing herself for what followed next. The door soon opened. They came face to face with a smiling man, in black trousers and a shirt.

„Daniel!" the man called her companion excitedly, pulling him for a strong male hug. „I'm so glad to see you, son. You haven't been here for so long."

Both of them entered the house and Nikki noticed Daniel's, to put it mildly, total surprise by the warm and cheerful welcome.

„I see you brought a date. Girlfriend?"

Nikki and Daniel widened their eyes, shaking their heads in shock. Daniel cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable. Boy, Nikki understood him. There they were, standing in front of his dead girlfriend's father, who asked them if they date each other like it's the most normal thing in the world.

„No...not a girlfriend. Just a friend. I'm her surfing instructor," he explained. „Umm...Arnold, meet Nikki Hamilton, the author of The Silhouettes series."

Daniel calling the man by his name just confirmed the obvious. The man was indeed Sofia's father. But he didn't seem dull or sad. Quite the contrary, he looked happy. The woman looked down, feeling somewhat embarrassed by Daniel's statement of her as the author of the Silhouettes. Still, she understood him. Daniel didn't want to create a wrong impression in front of his former father in law.

„Nikki Hamilton?" the other man asked, surprised.„But how?"    

-

Author's note:

So...meet Sofia's older sister Patricia. She brought a few new facts Nikki wasn't familiar with. I would love to know what do you guys think about her and everything she revealed?

If you enjoyed reading this part, please, don't forget to vote or comment. I would be thankful to you.

Part two is coming later on today.