by Amy Ruttan
Although according to Nikos Moustakas, Chris had looked back and regretted it...
Still, Chris hadn’t ever said the words, and she wasn’t going to pursue it. What was the point? It was ancient history now.
They stood in the small scrub room side by side as their patient was taken away to the post-anesthesia care unit.
“You did good in there,” Chris remarked. “I haven’t seen a gallstone that big in so long—although, granted, it’s been a while since I’ve assisted in a cholecystectomy. I’m not usually called on to assist a general surgeon.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad I was able to help. It just sucks that the patient was so close to rupture. She’d probably been feeling ill for months. She said something about how she thought it was due to the untreated water she’d been drinking after the earthquake. She thought that was making her sick.”
“The earthquake did damage the water pipes here, and Mythelios didn’t have clean treated water for some time.”
“Terrible—what a tragedy. We take things for granted, thinking we’ll always have them, until they’re gone,” she said. “Still, it could have been a lot worse. Her gallbladder could’ve ruptured, or she could’ve got pancreatitis—both deadly. At least your clinic was here to help.”
Chris didn’t say anything. He just continued to brood. She knew he was thinking of how his father felt about the clinic.
“Don’t let your father get into your head. Investing in this clinic was the right thing to do. It has saved lives. Many more people would’ve been lost if it hadn’t been here.”
“I know that,” he snapped. “My father is such a pain in my ass. He doesn’t see the value in anything unless it makes him money. He married my mother because she came from a wealthy family. I doubt he loved her.”
“I don’t know about that,” Naomi said, and then she was embarrassed that she’d let that slip.
She didn’t want to get involved in his life again, but, inexorably, she was. She was being drawn in slowly but surely, and she had to put a stop to it.
“What’re you talking about?”
“I think he may have loved her in the only way he knew how, and maybe he was hurt because she didn’t love him back. You said so yourself—your mother left and now she lives in Corfu and wants nothing to do with either of you.”
Chris nodded. “That is true.”
“You two are so alike. So stubborn.”
He shot her a look that was meant to convey the fact that she was crazy. “Well, whatever... But I do not regret opening this clinic with my friends. I care about this island. The only happy parts of my life growing up were spent here with my yia-yia.”
Chris spoke with such tenderness about his late grandmother. It warmed her heart. But she knew how hard his relationship with his father was. She didn’t have that kind of relationship with her parents, so she didn’t know what it was like not to have a parent’s love.
She felt bad for putting him on the spot and forcing him to take part in the bachelor auction, but it was mostly arranged now and the tickets were sold out. There was a lot of money for charity on the line.
She couldn’t get out of it, but she could give Chris a way out.
“Look, if you want to bow out of the bachelor auction, that’s fine with me. I kind of pressured you into it and I know you’re not comfortable with it. And you weren’t happy asking your father for the use of one of his yachts. If you want out of it, I’m okay with that. I don’t want your father to have something else to hold over you.”
Chris grinned at her and that brooding tension melted away. “No, it’s okay. I want to do it—even if it’s just to annoy him. Besides, it’s to help with relief efforts. It will be fun. I just need a tuxedo. I didn’t bring one with me.”
“Do you need help picking one out?”
He cocked an eyebrow as he finished scrubbing. “Are you offering to help?”
“Sure—why not? When do you want to get it?”
“I’m going across to Athens tonight, with Lisa and Evan. Other than Stavros—who has still not decided whether or not to have surgery—I’ve tied up all my other patients here for the next few days because of the auction. And it will give me a chance to check in on Maximos if I’m in Athens.”
“Why are you going over tonight?” she asked.
“Lisa needs a couple of days off before the bachelor auction and her family is in Athens. Anyway, I have to head back now, to pack. Evangelos has a lot of gear.”
“I can help, if you like.”
“Sure,” Chris said. “Only if you want to, though.”
“I do want to. I’m the one uprooting Evangelos from his home while his father takes part in a bachelor auction.”
He chuckled. “He won’t even know.”
“Babies know more than people give them credit for. You told me before that he’s eight months old?”
They walked out of the scrub room and headed toward the small lounge.
“Yes. He was a winter baby. A bit of a New Year’s surprise.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I know you know about how I paid for him...”
“You don’t need to explain. You didn’t want to lose your child. I know how that—” She stopped herself. “I bet it was a horrible feeling. The thought that someone so awful would take away his life.”
“She wasn’t completely awful, and I like to believe that she wouldn’t have done it in the end.”
“Does she have any contact with Evan?”
“I offered, but she wouldn’t even look at him.” Chris sighed sadly. “It was probably easier for her that way. Less painful.”
And suddenly Naomi felt sorry for Evan’s mother. She didn’t want him, but losing a child that you’d carried, even if only for a short time, was devastating. It left a mark on your soul—one that she still carried.
They didn’t say any more about it and had soon changed into their street clothes and headed back up to his house.
Lisa was busy readying things in the kitchen.
“Where’s Evan?” Chris asked as he came up the stairs.
“Sleeping,” Lisa responded, holding up the monitor. She set it down again. “I think I have everything I need for him. But I still need to pack for myself. How long are we going to be in Athens again?”
“Five days, I think,” Chris said.
“Okay. I’ll pack for that.”
Lisa came over to Naomi and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then scurried off to her room.
“This is a lot of gear,” Naomi said as she looked at the meticulously packed bags and the large suitcase.
“Babies are high-maintenance,” Chris teased as he did a double-check and threw in a couple more things. “I have to make up some bottles for the trip, and make sure there are enough diapers. Nothing like a stinky diaper on a ferry to make everyone feel seasick.”
Naomi laughed. “I’ll go check on Lisa.”
Chris nodded. “Sure. We’ll make it to the ferry on time. I swear.”
Naomi headed up to her cousin’s room and pulled out the pair of shoes her cousin had lent her a few days ago. “I’m returning these.”
Lisa smiled. “Thank you. I’ll pack them. You could’ve left them in Athens, I suppose.”
“I didn’t know exactly when you were coming,” Naomi said. “Do you need any help?”
“No, I think I know what I’m packing. I’m going to be staying with my parents for a couple of days, and I have a lot of plans with friends while I’m there. You should come out clubbing with us.”
“I’m past the days of going to clubs, I’m afraid,” Naomi said with a rueful smile. Just the idea of clubbing it with her younger cousin made her cringe.
“Well, you do have to take a break and come to dinner with my parents tomorrow night. They won’t take no for an answer.”
&nbs
p; “That I will do.”
Naomi started folding the clothes that Lisa was tossing onto the bed. And as they were packing, Evan started to cry.
“Oh, no. I’d better go to him. He’s teething again.”
“I’ll go. You keep packing,” Naomi said.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
Naomi slipped out of the room and went quietly into the baby’s nursery. His cheeks were bright red and he was flushed. He stopped crying when he caught sight of her and looked up at her, his eyes moist with tears and his bottom lip sticking out.
“You’re not feeling well, are you?”
Naomi held out her arms and the baby held up his. She picked him up and Evangelos settled right into the crook of her neck, stuffing a fist into his mouth and whimpering, his chest heaving.
Her heart melted as she held him, rubbing his back and swaying. Tears stung her eyes as she thought of her own baby. How she hadn’t been able to hold him...or her.
But she couldn’t deny that it felt nice to hold Chris’s child close to her, and she made her way over to a rocking chair and sat down. Evan was startled for a moment but settled when he realized that she wasn’t putting him down or leaving. That she was going to rock him and savor a moment that had been taken away from her.
* * *
Chris had heard the baby stir and start to cry. He knew that Lisa would be busy packing, so he went upstairs to calm his son down.
He saw that Naomi was holding him. She was swaying back and forth in the rocking chair as if it was natural to her, and Evan looked so calm, so peaceful in her arms.
A pang of longing went through him, making him deeply regret what he’d done to her years ago. How he’d messed up his own life in the process.
Why can’t you have her? Why can’t you marry her?
He shook that thought from his head. He’d hurt Naomi too much, and she’d made it perfectly clear that she just wanted to be friends with him. And even though in this stolen moment she was calming his son, he wasn’t sure that she wanted that kind of responsibility full-time.
She had a good position now—who said she’d want to give it up to live with him and Evan here in Mythelios? That was if he even stayed here, because his life was in such a state of flux right now that he wasn’t sure what he wanted at the moment. He wouldn’t hold her back from her career.
I want this.
Only, he didn’t deserve this, and he wouldn’t ruin Naomi’s life by saddling her with himself and Evan. And he wouldn’t hurt his son by bringing someone into his life who might leave.
Chris clearly remembered how he’d felt when his mother had left him. How it had completely crushed him... No, he wouldn’t do that to his child.
He slipped into the room, breaking the spell. “Naomi, we have to go if we want to catch the ferry to Athens.”
The baby stirred at his voice and held out his arms for him. Chris bent down and took his son from Naomi.
“Okay—what do you need help with?” She got up out of the rocking chair.
“I’ll get Evan into his stroller, and if you can push him, then Lisa and I can handle the rest of the luggage. It’s only a short walk down to the ferry.”
“Sure.” Naomi followed him out of the room.
Evangelos was fussing again, so before Chris got him into his stroller he gave him some more acetaminophen for the pain and then handed him a chilled teething ring to chew on.
Naomi managed the stroller, with the diaper bag and her own purse stowed underneath, Lisa had one small suitcase strapped to the top of the baby’s case and Chris had a couple of suitcases too.
He locked up his yia-yia’s house. Surprisingly, he was sad to leave it.
He didn’t like the city anymore, but he had an apartment arranged for the next few days, and his father’s yachts were all in Athens. He would manage until this bachelor auction was done with.
The three of them looked quite the sight walking down to the ferry. But they were able to board first, because of Evan, and quickly got settled. Lisa watched the baby, who had drifted off to sleep in his stroller, and Naomi got up and decided to stretch her legs on deck as the ferry pulled out of the port.
Chris decided to join her. “What have you got planned for tomorrow morning?” he asked as they walked around.
“Nothing at the moment. I’m taking the morning off before I go to the venue where the bachelor auction is being held in the afternoon. I need to check on a few things there. Then I’m having dinner at Lisa’s parents’ house, apparently.”
“Tomorrow morning I’d like to look for a tuxedo. I’ll have Evan with me, but I need to get it done and I would appreciate help. It’s not exactly easy, shopping with a baby in tow.”
“Sure—I can help you. Where should we meet?”
“I’ll pick you up at your apartment. It isn’t far from mine, and there are some good shops within walking distance.”
“Sounds like a plan. You have everything figured out!”
“I like to plan in advance now. It makes things easier,” he said.
“No more flying by the seat of your pants and living for the moment, then?”
“No, you can’t do that with a kid.”
Her expression softened. “You’re a good father. Don’t let your own father get inside your head. You’re doing an awesome job with Evan. Especially for someone who always expressly said that he didn’t want kids or a family.”
“I’m sorry I said those things, but I really didn’t want them at the time. I do regret that I hurt you, though.”
Her cheeks bloomed pink. “It’s in the past.”
“I know, but...”
“It’s in the past, where it belongs, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore. We’re friends, and I want it to stay that way,” she said. “I’m going to head back inside now.”
Naomi walked away rather quickly and Chris couldn’t blame her.
He’d clearly ruined what they’d had. And he’d always regret that.
CHAPTER TEN
CHRIS WAITED OUTSIDE on the sidewalk under a shady olive tree. Evan was playing with one of the toys that was attached to his stroller while they waited outside Naomi’s apartment.
It was already hot outside, and it wasn’t even midmorning. He wasn’t looking forward to trying on tuxedos, but at least it would be air-conditioned in the stores.
Naomi had been unusually quiet after they’d got off the ferry. She’d helped them get a cab at Piraeus and told him she would see him tomorrow, but that had been it. Lisa had helped him get settled in the apartment with Evan and then had taken another cab to her parents’ place for her days off.
Lisa had invited him and Evan to the dinner tonight, but he wasn’t sure he should intrude on a family meal. Especially when things were slightly tense again between him and Naomi. He didn’t want her to think he was going where he wasn’t wanted.
Naomi came outside and saw them waiting under the tree.
“I see you found a shady spot,” she said, before crouching down to greet Evan with a warm smile and a gentle pinch of one chubby cheek.
“It’s blistering out. This has been one of the hottest summers that I can remember in a long time.”
“Well, let’s get to a store that has air-conditioning.”
“Agreed,” Chris said, and he pushed the stroller along the sidewalk to where the shops were. Naomi was walking by his side and anyone who looked at them might think they were a little family.
It gave him a warm feeling inside.
Don’t think like that.
“Have you spoken to Lisa this morning?” Chris asked.
“No. Why?” she said.
“She invited me to their family dinner tonight. Or rather me and Evan. Apparently her parents want to meet her employer and his son.”
“That sounds like my uncle!” Naomi chuckled. “Are you going to come?”
“Do you want me to come?” Chris asked. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“You wouldn’t be intruding. Come. If Lisa asked you and my uncle wants to meet you because you’re Lisa’s boss, then you and Evan need to come.”
“Okay, we will. I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“You won’t,” she said quickly, but she was not looking at him. “Here’s the shop. I’ll manage the baby and you try on tuxes.”
Chris opened the door and they were hit with a heavenly blast of cool air as Naomi pushed the stroller inside the shop.
A clerk greeted them and Chris explained what he was looking for. He was whisked away to get measurements taken while Naomi took a seat with the baby. Then Chris was given several off-the-rack designer tuxedos to try that would be tailored to fit him exactly.
Naomi waited, with Evangelos in her lap, as Chris went into one of the curtained rooms.
“I want to see them,” she said as she held on to one of the baby’s toys with one hand, keeping her other arm around him. “I don’t want you to let down my carefully planned event!”
“Ha-ha,” he responded as he put on the first tuxedo.
It was a bit too large, but he came out to show her nonetheless.
She wrinkled her nose. “No, that’s not it.”
“I didn’t think so,” Chris said. “I could get this done a lot faster if I didn’t have to show you each one.”
“What? It’s nice in here. Don’t rush.”
He grinned at her and then headed back into the changing room. He repeated the process with two other tuxedos and finally tried on the last one—which was a particularly expensive designer.
As soon as he put it on, it looked almost as if it had been made for him. And it would need very little alteration. It had been a long time since he’d worn a tuxedo. It felt a bit odd to be wearing one now.
He stepped out of the changing room and Naomi raised her eyebrows. Evan clapped.
