jumped with misguided giddiness.
To mitigate that sensation I pressed my lips together and swayed in his arms, hoping the music would soothe my ragged nerves and spirit the rest of this infernal night away.
But, as fate had shown me time and again, hopes and dreams belonged in fairy tales. Axios danced me through three more tunes before conceding the fourth to the mayor.
Thereafter, quickly reclaimed by my so-called doting husband, we moved from group to group, his hand firm on my waist and his piercing grey eyes smiling down at me through each introduction.
His acting skills were exceptional. Our guests lapped up every soft caress, indulgently smiling at my every recounting of why I’d been away as if it was a true Greek love story.
We stopped within every circle long enough to project an image of cordiality before moving on. And I regurgitated the practised story of my absence until I feared I was blue in the face. Until I was ready to scream the truth to the whole world.
Perhaps his shark-like instincts sensed my frazzling composure. Because Ax turned to me as I impatiently waved away another offer of champagne and started to open my clutch.
‘What is it?’ he asked.
Remembering he had possession of my phone, I looked at him. ‘Can I have my phone back? I want to check on Andreos.’
His gaze rested on my face for several beats. Thinking he wasn’t going to answer, I was surprised when he turned to the business acquaintances he’d been talking to.
‘It’s time for us to take our leave. My beloved cannot bear to be away from our son for long, and I find that I’m not far behind her in that sentiment.’
Indulgent laughter followed, quick goodbyes were said, and before I knew it we were heading out to the waiting limo.
Settled into the back seat, I found my senses once again crowded with the sight and sound of Axios. My inability to dismiss him.
‘I could’ve gone home on my own. You didn’t need to leave with me.’
One sleek eyebrow spiked. ‘You wanted me to stay there and reverse the effect of everything we’ve achieved this evening?’ he replied.
‘You seem to be a master at convincing everyone that the moon is made of caviar. I’m sure they’ll believe whatever you tell them.’
He gave a low, deep laugh. Which drained away as his eyes latched to my face. ‘Perhaps I do have this unique gift you speak of, but I also meant what I said. I’ve missed months of my son’s life. I don’t intend to miss any more.’
‘For how long?’
His whole body froze. ‘Excuse me?’
‘How long do you think this phase of yours will last?’
‘You have lost me…’
A thought that had been niggling me despite his assertion rose to the fore. ‘You didn’t want this marriage and we never got around to discussing children. We’re only here because a condom failed at the crucial juncture.’
‘And you think those circumstances beyond my control preclude me from assuming my mantle of responsibility towards my son? Did it you?’
‘I… It’s different.’
‘How?’ he challenged.
‘I love him! I would do anything for him. While you…’
‘What? Speak your mind, glikia mou.’
‘You just want to show off your virility.’
After several tense seconds he settled back in his seat. ‘You’re right. I do want to show him off. He is my son, after all. As for showing off my virility—again, the evidence is there for all to see. But, while you’re wrong if you think you’re the only one invested in Andreos’s existence, I’m aware that only time will prove what I say to you. So I guess the ball’s in your court on that one.’
‘How so?’
‘You’re the one who’s in a hurry to leave. You say you were always going to come back? I’m choosing to believe you. If you want to ensure my devotion to my son is as strong as yours, then you need to rethink the urgency of your divorce demands, do you not, pethi mou?’
Despite his silky tone his eyes bored into mine in the dark interior of the car, and the notion that he was attempting to see right into my soul assailed me.
The thick lump wedged in my throat stalled my answer. Because time was the one commodity I might not have.
THE LIMO SWEEPING through the gates of his Athens mansion drew from me a breath of relief. But I soon realised I wasn’t going to be set free from Ax’s presence when he trailed me up the stairs to the door of Andreos’s room.
I hesitated before the doors—partly because I didn’t want to bring charged tension into Andreos’s presence and partly because a tiny part of me wanted space to dissect everything that had happened this evening. But the greater part of me wanted to keep my son all to myself. Just for a little while.
A sharp cry from within dissipated every thought.
As Ax held the door open for me I entered the room in time to see Sophia lifting Andreos from his changing mat.
She stopped and smiled when she saw us. ‘Good evening, Kyria Xenakis. You’re just in time for Andreos’s midnight feed. Would you like me to warm the bottle for you?’
I waved her away and Ax strode forward to take Andreos from her arms. ‘Go to bed, Sophia. I’ll take care of it.’
With a smiling nod, the young girl retreated to the adjoining bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
Ax adjusted his hold on Andreos, his strong hands lifting him aloft so they were face to face. My breath caught and, recalling his words in the car, I watched father and son stare at each other, one expression showing unabashed curiosity while the other probed with raw intensity as Axios absorbed his son’s every expression as if hoarding it for his memory.
A little ashamed at questioning his motives in the car, I bit my lip as something settled inside me. No matter our personal angst, Axios cared for his son. Perhaps in time he’d love him almost as much as I did.
In that moment I wanted to tell him he would have years of special moments like this if I didn’t manage to defuse the time bomb ticking inside me, but the words remained locked tight in my throat, the need not to have this time diluted with unwelcome outside influence stilling my tongue as I joined them.
Sensing another presence, Andreos turned towards me, his chubby arms windmilling as he babbled in delight. Then delight turned into familiar irritation as hunger kicked in and he whimpered his displeasure.
‘Someone is impatient for his feed,’
