With Mrs. Kostas? She was in her late forties.
Her friend’s emotional outburst took Fran by surprise. “I was just having some fun with you.” She’d never seen Kellie explode this way before.
“I’d rather talk about you. Has Rob called yet, wanting you two to get back together?”
“No. In fact, I’ve heard he’s involved with someone at his work.”
“He’ll soon realize he’s lost the best thing that could ever happen to him.”
“Spoken like my best friend.”
Kellie had been the maid of honor at Fran’s wedding. Four years ago Fran had married Rob Myers after meeting him through mutual friends in Philadelphia. He was an upcoming estate-planning attorney working for a prestigious local law firm. On their third date she’d told Rob that she could never conceive, so if he didn’t want to see her again, she’d understand.
He’d told her he didn’t have a problem with adoption. It was a great option for childless couples. Besides, he was interested in her, and he had proven it by marrying her. After a year passed, she’d brought up the idea of putting in adoption papers, but he’d said it was too soon to think about and kept putting her off.
Eventually she realized he had issues and she suggested they go for counseling so they could talk about them in depth. But the counseling revealed that with the busy law practice thriving, he no longer had the time or the interest to enlarge their family, especially when the child couldn’t be their own flesh and blood. Fran was enough for him.
But she wanted children badly. After three years of a married life no longer happy or fulfilling for either of them, they’d agreed to divorce. It was the only way to end the pain. Since then Fran had decided marriage wasn’t for her. Kellie scoffed at such nonsense and told her she would find the right husband for her no matter what.
“Kellie? I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty. Let’s stop at the village I can see up ahead and get ourselves a drink at one of those cute hotel bars.”
“It’s only twelve more miles to the Persephone,” her friend responded in a clipped tone. “We’ll order room service and have dinner in our suite where we can relax. But, of course, if you can’t wait…”
“I hope you don’t mind.”
Kellie’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, further proof her friend was barely holding herself in check. “Of course not.”
There was no softening of her tone, or a reassuring smile. Right now, Fran was more concerned with Kellie, who’d been driving over the speed limit. She never used to drive this fast. After they stopped for a soda maybe Fran could prevail on her friend to let her drive the rest of the way. She’d use the pretext that she’d never been behind the wheel of a Mercedes before.
Fran wanted both of them to arrive at the resort in one piece. With this wind, the driving could be dangerous. To her alarm, the idea came into her head that Kellie wasn’t even seeing the road. Intuition told her the once flourishing Petralia marriage was having problems.
Not Kellie, too.
By the time they reached the village proper the wind was so powerful there was actual debris in the air. “Stop in front of that hotel on the corner, Kellie. It’s starting to hail. Let’s make a run for it.”
The small ice balls pounded down, emptying the street of people rushing to take cover. All the shops and cafés had taken their display items and tables inside. When Fran entered the hotel bar with Kellie, tourists and staff alike were huddled in groups talking and gesticulating while they brushed themselves off.
“Kellie? You understand Greek. What are they saying?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
Fran followed her friend over to the counter where Kellie got a waiter’s attention. He rattled off an answer to her question. She turned to Fran. “Someone in the back was listening to the radio and heard that tornado-like winds have swept through the area. There’s no television reception right now. The police have issued a warning that everyone should stay indoors until the danger has passed. It’s a good thing you wanted to stop here.”
Considering the violence of the elements, it was providential they’d been passing by this village. “Let’s get a drink and find a place to sit down while we wait this out.”
After being served, they carried their sodas to an unoccupied bistro table. By now the hail had stopped and a heavy downpour had descended.
Kellie frowned. “I can’t believe this weather.”
“Since it made the six o’clock news, maybe you ought to call and let Leandros know you’re all right.”
Her jaw hardened. “He knows. Whenever I leave our apartment, my bodyguard Yannis follows me. If my husband is interested, he’ll phone me.” She pulled out her cell and checked everything. “Nope. No calls yet. See?” She showed her the screen. “No messages.”
“Kellie—” Fran put a hand on her friend’s arm. “Tell me what’s going on. I’d planned to wait until morning to ask you that question, but since we won’t be leaving here any time soon, I’m asking it now. I want to know what’s happened to the happiest wife I’ve ever known. Where did she go?” The reason Kellie had wanted Fran to come to Greece was no longer a mystery.
Kellie averted her soulful brown eyes. “Maybe you should be asking Leandros that question.”
“He’s not here. You are. What’s wrong?”
Kellie’s face was a study in pain. “I’m losing him, Fran. In fact, I’ve discovered I never really had him and I can’t stand it.”
Her friend’s emotions were so brittle they’d crack if Fran pushed too hard. Instead of arguing with her that it couldn’t possibly be true, she took a deep breath before saying, “Does this have anything to do with the fact that you haven’t gotten pregnant yet? You’re probably putting too much pressure on yourself to give Leandros a child. These things take time.”
“Since I’ve been diagnosed with seminal plasma hypersensitivity, that’s the understatement of the year. I’ve never wanted to talk about it, but you deserve an explanation.
“Our marriage took a crushing blow when I discovered that the painful itching and hives I experienced after intercourse was because my body is allergic to Leandros’s sperm. When the doctor told me twenty thousand-plus women suffer from it in the U.S. alone, I couldn’t believe it.”
Fran shook her head. “I had no idea.”
“I know. Growing up, I never knew such a problem existed. Leandros had to have been devastated, but he was wonderful about it. He’s worn a condom every time, but I know deep down he must hate it.
“The doctor knew we wanted a baby and said we could try artificial insemination with a good hope of success. They have to wash his sperm of the proteins first before the procedure is done. We’ve been trying that method since last year, but unfortunately it hasn’t worked for us. He said he’s willing to adopt. How’s that for irony after what you’ve lived through? At this point I’m thinking it’s just as well,” came the bleak admission.
Fran couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about Karmela Paulos. She came to work for Leandros a month ago as part of the typing pool.”
Ah. Karmela. The woman couldn’t get to him by other means, so she’d insinuated herself into the office. Now things were starting to make sense.
Karmela