She needed one more day to be with her parents and get her packing done. Then she’d fly to Athens and make a connecting flight to Washington, D.C. Without the twins to care for, it was imperative she put an ocean between her and Andreas.
A knock on the door broke her concentration. “Gabi? Are you in there?”
It was Leon’s voice. She hurried across the room to open it. He looked worse than Deline, as if he hadn’t slept in days. “Come in. Your wife said you’d be over.”
He followed her into the living room. “I’m not going to have a wife much longer.”
There was nothing she could say to comfort him on that score. He knew better than to ask her questions about their conversation since she couldn’t answer them out of respect for Deline. “But you do have two little babies who need their daddy. What plans have you made?”
“For the time being I’m going to keep them with me at my villa here. Estelle, the housekeeper, is going to take over as their nanny until I can find a permanent one. Mother will help. The family is around right now, turning one of the bedrooms into a nursery. Everyone’s anxious to help me get them settled. Needless to say, my parents are eager to love their newest grandchildren.”
“I’m sure they are.”
“Gabi?” His bloodshot eyes had gone moist. “I’m aware of how much you and your parents love them. This has to be a very difficult moment for you.”
“It is. I won’t lie to you about that, but you gave them life. They need you more than my folks and I need them. The sooner you take over, the sooner they’re going to become yours, heart and soul.”
“You know my home will always be open to you.”
“Of course. In two months I plan to fly back to Crete to see my parents for a week. By then Kris will have had his operation and be recovered in time for all of us to have a reunion.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it. We’ll have a family party where everyone can get acquainted.”
Gabi wondered how she would live until she saw them or Andreas again. “The next time you’re with your brother, please tell him thank you for making the arrangements here. It’s been a lovely vacation for me.”
“Andreas is the greatest friend a person could have.”
I know.
Together they packed up the children’s things and put them in his car. Leon had already installed two infant carseats in the back. Then came time to carry the children out of the house and buckle them in.
Throughout the process they stayed asleep, not having any idea that the next time they woke up, they’d be home with their daddy for the rest of their lives. And Andreas would always be their loving uncle…
Such lives they were going to lead being the sons of a Simonides!
She was thrilled for them. For herself, she was dying inside from too many losses in one day. Don’t lose it yet, Gabi. Remember why you sought out Andreas in the first place.
Leon came around and hugged her hard. “You’ve been a guardian angel all this time. I’m never going to forget. Before I go, let’s program in each other’s cell-phone numbers. I’m afraid I’ll be calling you pretty constantly until I get the hang of being a father. The children will be wanting you all the time.”
“For a day or two maybe.”
Gabi ran back in the house to get her phone. In a minute they were both set and there was nothing else to detain him. He climbed in behind the steering wheel. She shut the door. Leon pressed her hand one more time before turning on the motor.
Leave now before my little darlings open their eyes.
She waved until everything became a blur.
The minute the helicopter touched down on the helipad behind the villa on Milos, Andreas climbed out. He’d just come from Irena’s, where he’d told her everything. She deserved to know about the twins and the strange circumstances that had brought Gabi into his life.
Even in her pain, Irena demonstrated a rare graciousness before he said goodbye. Now he was anxious to find his brother. He assumed everyone was out at the pool enjoying dinner. After he ate, he’d disappear with his brother.
As he drew closer he could hear his family talking. They sounded more animated than usual. He couldn’t help but be curious over the reason why. When he descended the last flight of steps, he saw their large clan congregated around Leon and his parents. To his shock they were holding Kris and Nikos, but the babies weren’t happy about it.
Andreas’s heart thundered in his chest. He jerked his head to the side looking for Gabi. He felt as if it had been weeks instead of hours since he’d last seen her, but there was no sign of her.
Leon caught his glance and came striding toward him. He pulled Andreas over to the wall where they could talk in private.
“As you can see, the secret is out now. The family knows everything.”
Andreas had to admit he was relieved. Now he didn’t have to bear the burden of it alone. “Did Deline get a look at the twins?”
“This afternoon. Then she flew back to Athens. I’ll be receiving divorce papers shortly.”
Unfortunately he’d been afraid of that. “Where’s Gabi?”
“On her way home.”
It appeared Andreas had just missed her. “You mean the resort.”
“No. I mean the States. She said she’d be back in two months for a visit with her folks. That’s when I plan to get both our families together.”
Two months?
His guts froze. “You mean she’s already left Milos?”
Leon stared at him in surprise. “As far as I know.”
“And you didn’t stop her?”
His brother blinked. “Take it easy, Andreas. Why would I do that?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” he fired back. “Gabi’s been their mother for the last three months. She must be out of her mind with grief right now.”
“I’m sure she is, but we both agreed it had to be this way so I could bond with my sons. In this case a complete break was necessary if the babies are going to look to me for their needs now.”
Andreas couldn’t argue with her logic or Leon’s, but after the brief intimacy they’d shared the knowledge that Gabi had left Greece made him feel as if his tether had come loose from the mother ship and he was left to float out into the dark void.
“She asked me to thank you for the vacation arrangements in Apollonia.”
He rubbed the back of his neck while he tried to take it all in. When he thought of her response on the beach, and at the door yesterday…Didn’t it mean anything to her?
“Bro?” Leon whispered. “Did you hear what I said?”
Yes. Andreas heard him, but he couldn’t waste any more time talking. “Leon? Do me a favor and make my excuses to the family while I go inside for a minute. I’ll be right back.”
While his brother stood there looking visibly perplexed, Andreas raced up the side steps. When he was out of sight of the others he called the resort. “I’d like to speak to Lena. This is Andreas Simonides.”
“One moment please.” He paced until he heard her voice. “Kyrie Simonides? What can I do for you?”
“I understand Ms. Turner checked out today. Did you order a car for her so she could be driven to the airport?”
“Not to the airport. She went to the pier to get the ferry.”
That