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 ferry only went to Kimolos.
His adrenaline surged. “Thank you. That’s all I needed to know.”
He hung up. Gabi would have to stay there overnight until there was a different ferry to Athens tomorrow. He had time to make plans.
With his pulse racing, he rejoined the family. Two extremely miserable babies were being passed around. They were looking for the one beautiful, familiar golden angel who didn’t make up part of the dark-haired Simonides family.
No one—not his sisters, his mother or Estelle could calm them. Leon had to take over, but they still weren’t completely comforted. Andreas knew in his gut Gabi wasn’t in nearly as good a shape as the twins were.
His mother shot him a curious glance. “Where did you go? Why isn’t Irena with you?”
Now was not the time to discuss his breakup or the reason behind it. “She couldn’t make it. I had an important phone call to deal with.”
“Have you eaten yet?”
“I’m not hungry.”
She shook her head. “Your brother told us the saga about the twins and the major role you and Gabriella Turner have played in all of it. You’re a remarkable son, Andreas. I love you for your loyalty to him.”
“Deline’s destroyed all over again.”
His mother nodded. “I’m afraid she might not be able to deal with his babies, not when she wants one so badly herself.” Her eyes filled with fresh tears. “But the boys are so adorable. It’s uncanny how much they resemble you and Leon at that age.”
“They have the look of their mother, too. I saw pictures when I was at the consulate.”
“The Turner family must be devastated over their loss. Your father and I would like to meet them.”
“I’ll arrange it.” Just as soon as I catch up to Gabi.
The splotchy face and swollen eyes that looked back from the hotel-room mirror made Gabi wince. She could only hope that by the time she went aboard the ferry taking her to Heraklion later in the day, all traces of the terrible night she’d just lived through would be gone.
She finished dressing in jeans and a white sleeveless blouse. Her hair, still damp from its shampoo, was already curling. The heat would dry her out in no time. With a coat of coral lipstick, she felt a little more presentable to face the day.
After having given Leon all the babies’ things yesterday, she had only her overnight bag to carry down to the pier surrounded with its assembly of fishing boats and other craft. Small groups of tourists were slowly making their way to the same embarkation point where they could see the ferry entering the port.
She hadn’t been anywhere without the chil-dren for so long, she felt empty. Were they missing her? Her eyelids burned. The only way her parents were handling the loss was because they had each other. They were the great loves in each other’s lives.
When she’d thought she’d be raising the twins, she hadn’t met Andreas yet and had been glad she was single. Now she had nothing left except her dreams of a god who’d turned out to be too human after all. More than ever she was eager to get back to her career.
“Gabi?”
She thought she was hearing things and kept walking. When her name was called out a second time, she slowed down and turned around. By then it was too late to stifle the cry that sprang from her throat. Her overnight bag dropped to the ground.
Andreas studied her tear-ravaged face. “I thought so,” his voice rasped.
Her mouth had gone dry at the sight of him. He looked impossibly handsome wearing white cargo pants and a blue crewneck shirt with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows.
“If something’s wrong with the children, why didn’t Leon call me? He has my number.”
He scrutinized her for a moment. “Whatever happened to hello? How are you? Isn’t this a beautiful day!”
Heat spilled into her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. “A man with your kind of responsibilities doesn’t show up at an obscure port off the beaten track unless there’s a dire emergency.”
“That’s not always true or fair.” He stood there with stunning nonchalance. “You’re suddenly making judgments about me. What’s changed since we last saw each other?”
For him, nothing. Though he had a serious girlfriend right now, he enjoyed
