First came the service of the betrothal with the rings. Nikos had bought her a diamond ring, and a gold band for her to give to him, but she produced a ring he immediately recognized as Kon’s. Nikos was so moved by Tassos’s gesture, he choked up during the marriage sacrament.
It was followed by the crowning and ceremonial walk. Three times around the priest, who at the end removed their flowers. After they kissed the Bible, he pronounced his blessing on them.
“For better or worse, you’re Mrs. Vassalos now,” Nikos whispered as they walked down the aisle holding hands. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I—I’m fine.” Her voice faltered. “Just thirsty.”
“There’s water in the vestibule, where we’ll sign the documents. Then we’ll go outside for more pictures.”
By the time she emerged from the church with her bouquet, her cheeks looked flushed. Nikos urged everyone to hurry with the well-wishing and the pictures, but all of them were pressing for the bridal kiss. He did it swiftly, noticing Stephanie was fading fast. No wonder there was little response.
“Are you going to be sick?” he asked as he helped her into the car.
“No,” she replied, but her voice trembled. “I’m just feeling weak and overheated. I’ll be all right in a minute.”
“In this weather a wedding like ours is brutal, but it’s over now. The taverna will be cool. It’s only a mile away. Drive fast, Yannis.”
“I feel a fraud, Nikos. I’m a hot weather girl and don’t know what happened to me in there.”
“You’re pregnant and have been through an arduous marriage ritual.”
She lay back in the corner with her eyes closed. “Once was enough. I fought so hard not to faint in front of you.”
“You made it. I’m very proud of you.”
Stephanie started laughing. “I had no idea it would be an endurance test.”
“Why do you think I put it off all these years?” he teased.
“Sorry. You must be stifling in your uniform. In hindsight I can see why you wanted me to wear the sundress.” She let out a little moan. “I shouldn’t have tried to find you in the first place. It forced you to have to go through all this.”
With those words he felt as if he’d been rammed in the chest. She had no idea what was going through his mind. “Don’t ever say that again.”
* * *
Stephanie groaned. She’d said the wrong thing and had upset him, but it was the truth.
She might not have forced him with a sniper’s rifle, like the ones in his closet. But the chance that this baby could be his had served as the ultimate weapon. Stephanie wasn’t a fool. She knew he had doubts about its true paternity and wouldn’t be satisfied until a DNA test was done, thus the reason for bringing up the possibility of divorce.
Over the last three months her heart had been hardened against him for his desertion of her, only to be softened after he’d insisted on either keeping her as his mistress or marrying her for the sake of their unborn child.
The only child he would ever have...
Their child, who would know its father and love him.
That’s what this whole day had been about. She couldn’t lose sight of that pertinent reality. After letting out an anxious sigh, she sat up straighter in the seat. “Forgive me for my show of temper. I can be a crosspatch sometimes. This has been a beautiful day and a wedding every bride dreams of. The flowers were beautiful and I love my ring. Thank you for making it all possible, Nikos.”
“As long as you’re feeling better and there’s no harm to the baby, it’s all that matters.”
His need to protect had come out. No wonder he’d snapped. She had to remember that and watch what she said from now on.
“We’re headed for the most traditional taverna on the island, where there are few tourists. The owner’s family makes their pasta and dolmadakia by hand. Besides oven-baked lamb and spit roast with lemon potatoes and garlic, you’ll enjoy stuffed zucchini and meatballs, called keftedes, that melt in your mouth.”
“I love meatballs.”
“They’re made in a tomato sauce that’s out of this world.”
Nikos sounded hungry.
Within fifteen minutes they were all assembled inside the authentic Greek restaurant, where everyone laughed and ate with great relish to the accompaniment of music. Stephanie found Kon’s family members charming and felt the women’s acceptance.
More pictures were taken, and toasts rendered, along with speeches from everyone including Yannis. It was clear they all loved Nikos. At one point he reached for her and kissed her warmly several times on the mouth, to the delight of their wedding party.
She couldn’t drink alcohol and instead opted for a spoon sweet, which was a fruit embedded in syrup. “You taste delicious,” he murmured as she kissed him back, always telling herself it was for the pictures that would go in the family album.
The evening wore on in a celebration she would always cherish, but when she looked around, she felt an ache in her heart that Nikos’s family wasn’t a part of it. As for herself, she wished her mother were still alive and could have been here.
If there’d been time, Stephanie would have invited her friends who’d met Nikos on vacation. But it wasn’t meant to be, because this had been pulled together on an emergency basis. Every flash of light from the diamond solitaire on her finger seemed to be sending a warning. You may have had a wedding with all the trappings, but remember, it’s the baby he wants, if it’s his....
She felt Nikos’s gaze on her. “It’s still too warm in here for you. I can see your eyelids are drooping. It’s time to get you back home to bed, where you’ll be cooler.”
He stood up and announced they were leaving. “Stephanie and I thank you for making this day the most memorable of our lives.” On that note he ushered her out of the taverna. Twilight had stolen over the island, giving it a magical feel. Nikos helped her into the car. Once more Yannis drove them down the hillside.
In the distance she saw the yacht. Nikos had called it home. Until he bought them a place here on the island to live, it would be hers, too.
Tassos and Elianna had followed them and brought half a dozen of the flower sprays from the church to decorate the lower lounge. His kindness today had touched her deeply and she gave him a hug before Nikos went up on deck with him. Besides being a good friend, he and her brand-new husband were in business together and had a lot to talk about.
Elianna started to leave, but Stephanie touched her arm. “Before you go, would you mind unbuttoning the back of my dress?” She put her veil on the couch to make it easier.
An odd smile broke out on the other woman’s face. “You don’t want Nikos to do it?”
Stephanie averted her eyes. “He wants to talk to Tassos right now.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
Elianna got busy. “It’s the most beautiful dress I ever saw. How did you get it fastened?”
“Yannis helped me.”
She let out a quiet laugh. “With all these buttons, it must have taken quite a while. Nikos didn’t mind?”
“Yannis told Nikos to go away so he wouldn’t see me until we left for the church.”
“You are the envy of every woman in the Oinousses. People here thought he would marry Natasa Lander.”
“I understand she’s very lovely.”
“Yes,