Hestia didn’t give her a verbal answer, but got to her feet. After setting the album on the dresser, she put her arms around Stephanie and hugged her. “You must come for Christmas and stay the whole day. Everyone wants to meet you. I won’t take no for an answer.”
Stephanie’s heart warmed. “We’ll be there. Even if Nikos is still upset with his father, he won’t dare refuse to accompany me if I go. He hovers around me constantly these days. Sometimes he follows me when I have to go to the bathroom!”
Laughter bubbled out of her mother-in-law. “That’s how my husband was with all three of our children, doubts and all.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m going to leave so Nikos won’t find me here when he comes home.”
“Yannis will see you out to the dock.” Stephanie handed her the album to take with her.
“He’s a treasure, but I’m sure you’ve learned that for yourself by now.”
“Definitely.”
“Take good care of yourself, Stephanie. Your time is close.”
“Don’t worry. Nikos does it for both of us.”
They both laughed as they started up the stairs. Stephanie felt as if she was floating. Already she loved Nikos’s mother.
December 17
Nikos lounged against the door of the car while he waited for Stephanie to come out of the school. After going to her doctor’s appointment with her, he’d driven her straight here. He was glad this would be her last day of Greek lessons. Her due date was two weeks from tomorrow. Dr. Panos had told her to rest and keep her feet up. Nikos intended to see that she followed his instructions.
Just when his patience had worn thin and he was ready to go in and get her, the school doors opened and his wife emerged with her teacher. Borus Paulos had come highly recommended, but all Nikos could see was that he was enamored of her in the jacketed white sundress she’d bought that first day shopping.
The man gesticulated while he continued talking. Nikos doubted he’d noticed him waiting, but Stephanie saw him. She waved before saying goodbye to her teacher. Then she started walking toward him.
For a moment he was transported back to the Caribbean. He’d been walking along the beach with Angelo when he saw this woman in a wet suit with a fabulous body. Her hair looked gilded in the sun. She was coming to meet Angelo on those long, elegant legs.
When she drew closer, her gaze suddenly switched to Nikos. Her eyes were an impossible blue color, dazzling like rare gems. Her voluptuous mouth curved into a friendly smile. She looked happy and excited because they were going to dive. At that moment the most remarkable sensation had passed through Nikos’s body and he was never the same again.
That same electrifying feeling was attacking him now as Stephanie approached the car and their gazes met. He lost his breath. This woman with child was his wife! Whether the baby was his or not, he realized it no longer mattered to him. Somehow over the months they’d become his family. If he’d seen this day while he lay recuperating in the hospital, he would have thought he’d lost his mental faculties along with the ability to walk.
“Sorry it took me so long to get away,” she said a little breathlessly. “Borus is a talker when he gets going.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Her tutor couldn’t help his hormones raging in her presence. In fact, the way Nikos himself was feeling at the moment, he didn’t dare touch her while they were in front of other people. He opened the passenger door to help her in, seduced by the strawberry-scented shampoo she used in the shower. When her swollen belly brushed against him by accident, his heart gave an extra beat in wonder, while she let out a gentle laugh.
By some miracle she’d stayed incredibly healthy throughout her pregnancy. She’d never developed the serious problems he’d heard various married business associates talk about. Though she complained of swelling and the chloasma she insisted made her resemble a raccoon, he’d never seen her more beautifully feminine.
It had taken control almost beyond his endurance to stay away from her. Because of his injury she’d wrongly assumed he couldn’t make love to her as he’d done on the island. But only one thing had held him back. Stark staring fear.
She didn’t know what it was like to worry that he might cause harm to her and the baby during a flashback. It was the only force strong enough to keep him locked up in his room night after night. After living together this long without an incident that left bruises on her, he refused to allow anything to go wrong now.
After lunch they were going to do the last of their Christmas shopping. Just a few more presents, nothing taxing. While they were gone, he’d instructed Yannis to put up the little Christmas tree with lights he’d bought and smuggled on board. The lounge was the best place to surprise her. It wasn’t a tradition Nikos followed, but he knew Americans were big on it, and such things were important to his wife.
He darted her a glance before he started the car. “Hungry?”
“You know, for once I’m not? But if you want to eat before we shop, that’s fine with me.”
“What I’d like to do is get the gift buying over with as fast as possible and go back home. I’ll cook today and surprise you with something you haven’t had before.”
She smiled at him. “I’d love that.”
“Good.”
With the much cooler late autumn temperatures, she appeared to thrive. He could only marvel at her energy.
“Let’s shop at the main department store,” she suggested. “That way we can find everything we want under one roof.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” He headed in that direction. “Just so you know, Tassos phoned while I was waiting for you. He and Elianna have invited us to their house for their family’s Christmas Day party.”
He felt Stephanie stir restlessly in the seat. “That’s very nice of them, but we can’t go.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
When she remained quiet, he slanted her a glance. “Stephanie? What’s wrong?”
“Nikos,” she began, but her hesitation was plain as day. He saw a guilty look enter her eyes. It surprised him no end.
“You don’t want to go?”
“Under other circumstances I would, but that’s not it.” She shook her head. “I have a confession to make.”
Just when he’d been thinking nothing had gone wrong with her pregnancy, he was terrified she was going to tell him something he didn’t want to hear. On impulse he pulled over to the side of the street and shut off the engine. Turning in the seat, he slid his arm behind her and tugged on a few strands of her hair.
“Are you ill? Is there something you didn’t tell the doctor this morning?”
“This isn’t about me. I...it’s about us.”
In an instant his blood ran cold. “You mean after all this time, you’ve chosen today instead of Christmas to tell me who the father of your baby is?”
“No! Nikos.” Her horrified cry reverberated in the car. “I’m going about this all wrong. Your mother came to see me last week while your father was away in Athens. We had a frank talk about everything. I showed her the sonogram picture. She’s wonderful and I love her already. Before she left, I gave her the wedding album I made for them. She has invited us to spend Christmas Day with your family. I accepted for us.”
After he’d imagined every horrific thing possible that could destroy life as he knew it, her explanation came as a complete shock. It took a minute for him to assimilate what she’d just said. He waited until he’d calmed down enough to talk. “That