if you don’t want to meet her, I’ll tell her to go back to Egnoussa.”
“No. Don’t do that.” More than anything in the world Stephanie had wanted to meet his mother. She just hadn’t expected their first meeting to happen when she was in full bloom, with swollen feet and her face marked with chloasma, the pregnancy mask. If she could be thankful for one thing, it was that she could carry on a basic conversation in Greek.
Her nervousness increased as Yannis drove her to the port. Together they walked along the pier to the yacht. Stephanie could see his mother looking out from the rail. Her luxuriant black hair was pulled back in a stylish twist. She was trim, and shorter than Stephanie by several inches. With her white slacks and stunning blue blouse setting off her olive skin, she was a true Grecian beauty. This was where Nikos got his fantastic looks.
As Stephanie stepped on board, the older woman turned, focusing her soft brown eyes on her. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said in accented English. “I’ve wanted to meet the woman my son married. I’m sorry it didn’t happen when you came to our home. You need to know I’m ashamed of my husband’s behavior toward you. My name is—”
“Hestia.” Stephanie supplied it for her. “I know your name and I’m so glad you’re here now,” she said in her best Greek. “You raised a wonderful son. I love him very much.”
His mother made a quiet study of her. “For him to have married you the day after you arrived in Greece, it’s obvious how he feels about you.”
Stephanie shook her head. “He married me for the sake of the baby.” Taking a risk, she added, “He doesn’t believe he’s the father.”
Hestia looked stunned. “I don’t understand.”
“Come downstairs with me and we’ll talk.” They went below. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Nothing, thank you.”
“Then come to my room.”
A gasp escaped Hestia’s lips when she saw the bedroom turned into a nursery. Between Stephanie’s bed and everything a mother needed to take care of her new baby, there was barely room to move.
At this point Stephanie’s speech was sprinkled with Greek and English. “Please sit down in the rocking chair. I have something to give you.” She went over to the dresser and pulled out a photo album. “I wish you had been at the wedding. You should have been there. I made this for you and your husband to keep.”
The older woman opened the cover. For the next five minutes she remained speechless as she looked at all the pictures. When she finally lifted her head, tears were rolling down her cheeks. Stephanie saw in those brown eyes all the sorrow a mother could at missing out on her child’s wedding day.
“Nikos told me about your husband’s distrust when you were pregnant with him. I’m afraid the same thing has happened to me. We had only ten days together on vacation last April. We don’t know that much about each other, and so much happened after he had to return to active duty, it raised his doubts about life. About everything.”
His mother nodded sadly. “Even though he could walk, he was on the verge of giving up when we took him home from the hospital.”
Tears welled in Stephanie’s eyes. “He’s much better now, but he won’t believe this is his baby until after Alexandros is born.”
“You can forgive my son for this?”
She smiled. “Didn’t you forgive his father?” Stephanie reached for the sonogram picture and showed it to her. “That was at four months. He was only four and half inches long. Now look at him.” She placed her hands on top of her big stomach.
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
