Along Came Twins...

by Rebecca Winters

  “Before retirement, he was an insurance salesman who worked very hard. My aunt helped him. They were wonderful to me. As soon as I could, I got jobs while I went to school. My last year of high school, Fran and I went to school in France for an adventure. I paid for half of it, my uncle the other half.

  “With student loans I made it through college, and continued to live with them in order to help them out. That’s because my uncle suffered a stroke that put him in a wheelchair. It affected his legs, but not his mind. Once I graduated, I obtained a good position at an advertising agency. After working there for a year, the three of us decided to take our first trip to Europe.

  “That was about two and a half years ago. When we flew here to Athens, we stayed at the Cassandra. One day while I was trying to get his wheelchair into the elevator, Leandros happened to be walking by, and helped me. That accidental meeting changed my life.” Kellie couldn’t prevent her voice from trembling.

  “It changed both our lives,” he declared with unmistakable fervency.

  Olympia put her palms on the table. “I hope you’ve been listening to each other, really listening, because I want both of you to put yourselves in my role as a therapist. Imagine you’re sitting in front of this husband and wife who’ve come to you. Their nationality, upbringing, social, economic and emotional standings are entirely different.

  “The husband’s parents are living. He comes from a big family with many tentacles, whose name is known throughout Greece. He’s been married before to a socialite, but lost her and their unborn child in a tragic accident.

  “The second wife has never been married, has never known her own parents and has committed herself to helping the aunt and uncle who raised her on a modest income without any other family around. She’s in a country whose language and customs are unfamiliar to her.

  “Kellie? Look at your husband and tell him the second emotion that came to mind when you told him you’d marry him. We already know the first one, that you were painfully in love with him.”

  Her mouth went dry, and her heart was thudding so hard she didn’t know if she could get the words out. She turned and lifted her eyes to him. “I was terrified because I felt so completely inadequate in every way.”

  Leandros started to say something, but Olympia waved her thin index finger at him. “Your wife has just given you the key to understanding her. Do you remember the statement she made on Tuesday, about fearing she would never measure up to your first wife?”

  “Yes.”

  “Now you can understand it was her feelings of inadequacy that made her feel intimidated. Before you override her comment with your well-meaning protests, sit back for a minute and let it sink in while I ask you a question.”

  His expression sobered.

  “After she said yes to your proposal, what emotion drove you?”

  In the quiet that followed, Kellie couldn’t imagine what his answer would be.

  “It’s hard to put into words,” his deep voice grated.

  “Why?”

  His gray eyes sought Kellie’s. “Because I felt so many things.”

  “Name the dominant one.”

  She heard him take a fortifying breath. “Joy.”

  Kellie had felt joy, too. In fact, it had been overpowering.

  “What manner did it take?”

  His black brows furrowed. “I’m not sure I understand.”

  Olympia sat forward. “How did you manifest your joy?”

  “I guess I wanted to give her the world.”

  Following his answer, Kellie started to tell him the world was the last thing she wanted, but Olympia stopped her with another warning finger. “It’s your turn to sit back and think about what he just said, because it’s the key to his personality.”

  Silence filled the room once more. Olympia eyed both of them. “There’s no wrong or right here. What I see before me are two perfectly wonderful people who want the same thing. But you must follow what I’m saying.

  “Leandros? Your problem is that you can give her the world, financially. You want to remove every obstacle from your wife’s path and make her life easier. Being the confident male you are, with few insecurities, you sweep in and take over for the worthiest of reasons. But it makes you a poor listener and blind to certain facts sitting in front of you. In the end you come off seeming cold and insensitive.”

  He looked thunderstruck.

  “Kellie? You have a different problem. You never knew your mother and father and had no siblings. Strictly speaking, Leandros was Petra’s husband before he was yours. You couldn’t get pregnant in what we consider the normal way. You’re tired of not being able to claim anything of your very own. Not even the children growing inside you are strictly yours. All this has made you angry, with the result that your insecurity makes you distrustful and less than sympathetic.”

  A gasp escaped Kellie’s throat. Olympia had hit the nail so squarely on the head, she was astounded.

  “It’s no wonder that when insensitivity met up with distrust, you two reached an impasse in your marriage.”

  Kellie darted Leandros a glance and discovered him studying her intently through shuttered eyes. With Mrs. Lasko’s help, it all seemed so clear what was wrong.

  “Now let’s analyze the positive. Though Kellie’s insecurity caused her to ask for a divorce, Leandros, she threw you a lifeline by suggesting you go to marriage counseling. That’s because she’s a problem solver. She’s had to be to make it through life this far. Consider that when she found out Karmela was working in your office, she asked if she could work there, too.”

  “In all honesty, my friend Fran gave me the idea,” Kellie exclaimed.

  Leandros darted her a shocked glance. “I didn’t know that.”

  Olympia’s brows rose. “The point is, you acted on it.”

  He got up from the chair with a bleak expression on his hard-boned features. “But I was too blind to understand what was happening, and turned you down.”

  “Your blindness was temporary,” Olympia asserted. “You’ve been a winner all your life and aren’t used to losing. Once separated from your wife without being able to do anything about it, you were humbled enough to realize that money and power couldn’t help you obtain the one thing you wanted above all else. In your vulnerable state—a condition in which you’ve rarely found yourself—you grabbed the lifeline she tossed you, and agreed to go to counseling.”

  Kellie felt his penetrating gaze before he said, “It’s a miracle you didn’t tell me it was too late.”

  While a flood of emotions swept through her, Mrs. Lasko got to her feet, signaling the end of the session. “Before you leave, I have homework for you. Leandros? I want you to explore how you really feel about Kellie’s best friend, Fran. I sensed resentment of her at our first session, but I want you to consider the fact that resentment masks jealousy.”

  “Jealousy?” he exclaimed.

  “That’s right. Why does she bring out that emotion in you?”

  Kellie was so surprised by Olympia’s comment, she didn’t realize the therapist was now addressing her.

  “As for you, Kellie, you not only feel guilt over your aunt and uncle’s sacrifice, you feel as if you abandoned them when you married your husband, and are torn between two worlds. These issues need to be resolved in order to stabilize your marriage.”

  Hearing those words, Kellie bowed her head. How did Olympia understand so much?

  “The more you dig, the more you’ll begin to achieve that joy you first felt when you decided to make a life together. I’ll see you on Tuesday. Goodbye.”

  On unsteady legs, Kellie got up from the chair and headed for the door. Leandros reached it first and opened it for her. He must have noticed she was shaken, because he cupped her elbow as he walked her out to the car, parked in the hot sun.

  Before he put the key in the ignition he turned to her with a grim look on his striking Greek features. “Would you find me too insensitive if I told you I’d lik
e to put off our plans for dinner with Fran and Nik this evening?”

  Kellie drew in a deep breath. “I would have suggested it if you hadn’t. What I’d really like to do is forget everything, including house hunting, and fly to Andros.”

  A light flashed in the recesses of those somber gray eyes. “You mean it?”

  “Yes. We have so much to talk about, I hardly know where to begin. I’ll call Fran right now and cancel.”

  “Do you think she’ll be offended?”

  “Disappointed, certainly, but not offended. It’ll be fine.” With Olympia’s startling observations still spinning in her head, Kellie needed to show her husband that she put him first.

  While he started the engine and they backed out to the street, she reached into her purse for her cell and pressed the speed dial. When Fran answered, Kellie turned on the speakerphone so Leandros could hear their conversation while they drove. Everything out in the open. Olympia’s mantra.

  “Kellie!” Fran sounded excited to hear from her. “How did the therapy go?”

  She swallowed hard. “In all honesty, it was so heavy-duty this morning, I’m still reeling. Do you mind terribly if Leandros and I take a rain check for this evening?”

  “You know better than to ask me that.”

  “Thanks for being so understanding.” Kellie had almost said thanks for being my best friend. It was what she always said to her, oftentimes in Leandros’s hearing. When she really thought about it, Kellie realized Fran had figured heavily in her life whether on or off stage. Not until this moment did it occur to her that Leandros needed to know he was her best friend.

  The therapist had picked up on it, while Kellie had been oblivious. Was it possible that in some nebulous way, Leandros felt he came in second in her affections? Before the four of them spent any more time together, this was an area they needed to talk about.

  “Fran? I’ll call you on Monday.”

  “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere. Au revoir.”

  After she clicked off, Leandros turned to her. “If you’re hungry for lunch, we can eat at the hotel before we leave for Andros.”

  She shook her head. “I’m still full from breakfast, but please don’t let that keep you from ordering something.”

  “I’d rather wait until we reach the villa. I’ll alert the housekeeper to get things ready for us.”

  In truth, Kellie had lost her appetite by the end of the session, and sensed Leandros wasn’t any better off.

  Without more talk, they returned to the hotel to grab a few things and board the helicopter. The presence of his bodyguard further inhibited conversation.

  During the flight her mind kept harking back to the conversation at their first therapy session with Olympia.

  “Did you go to Rhodes without your wife?”

  “Yes. Unbeknownst to me, she’d made arrangements for her best friend, Fran, to come to Greece.”

  “Best friend, as in Frato has been your best friend?”

  “She’s been like the sister I never had.”

  “They were going to take a two-week trip together while I was away on business. After making that announcement, she moved to the guest bedroom.”

  Kellie recalled the bleak tone in Leandros’s voice, but she’d been too upset at the time to give it any real thought. It had taken this second session with the therapist for her to remember it, and it sent a stabbing pain of guilt through her.

  Once they reached the villa and were finally alone, she followed him into the kitchen. He’d gone over to the sink and drank from the tap for a long time.

  “Leandros?”

  He slowly turned around, revealing a wounded expression. She took a step closer. “I’m so sorry.”

  Lines bracketed his hard mouth. “For what?”

  “For making travel plans with Fran behind your back at the height of our marital troubles. It was cruel of me and made it impossible for you and me to communicate. But at the time I was too consumed with pain to realize what a selfish person I’d turned into.”

  She could hear her voice throbbing. The tears had started. She couldn’t stop them. “I—I wouldn’t blame you if you never forgave me for what I’ve done.”

  Heartsick, she hurried into the guest bedroom and lay down on her side, clutching one of the pillows to her while she sobbed.

  “Kellie?” When she looked up, she saw him standing at the side of the bed. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

  With tears dripping down her cheeks, she raised herself up on one elbow. “How can you say that? I used Fran to put a buffer between you and me.”

  “That was the only time I’ve ever been hurt by your friendship with her. Olympia caught it because she’s good at what she does.”

  “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because it’s your nature to be kind.” Kellie wiped her eyes with the back of her arm. “Olympia’s a genius. She has me so figured out it’s frightening.”

  His hands went to his hips. “Frightening?”

  “Yes. She was right about my always having wanted something of my very own. When I met you, my heart and soul claimed you on some level I wasn’t even aware of. After a lifelong search, finding you answered the question of my existence. But knowing you had a history with Petra tortured me.”

  “Kellie...”

  “It’s true,” she cried. “I grew too possessive of you. You were my best friend and lover. But instead of running to you with my fears, I held them in and became a shrew of a wife. Olympia’s right. I have been angry, but the fault has lain with me. I’m so ashamed.”

  Convulsed in fresh tears, she buried her face in the pillow. Within seconds the mattress dipped and Leandros pulled her into his arms.

  “I don’t know how you can even stand to touch me,” she moaned.

  His answer was to pull her close. He felt so wonderful and substantial that she relaxed against him, having no desire to push him away as she’d done a few days ago. While in this halcyon state she heard familiar voices calling to Leandros.

  Her eyelids flew open in surprise. “Your parents—”

  Leandros kissed her temple before rolling away from her. “For them to walk in without phoning first, it means they’re either tired of being ignored or they’ve heard the news about Karmela.” As Kellie slid off the bed, he grabbed her hand. “Come on. Let’s go talk to them.”

  “My skirt and blouse are wrinkled.”

  “I don’t see anything wrong.”

  “Well, I should at least brush my hair.”

  “No. I love your mussed look.”

  Leandros. Her heart skittered all over the place.

  They found his parents in the living room. Thea hurried toward Kellie and kissed her on both cheeks. “Forgive us for barging in, but we saw you arrive in the helicopter, and it’s been too long,” his mother cried. She was a beauty in her own right, a stylish and elegant brunette. “We’ve missed you, Kellie.”

  “Indeed we have.” Leandros’s father, an aristocratic-looking man with salt-and-

  pepper hair, held out his arms to her.

  “Vlassius...” She gave him a hug. “It’s so good to see both of you.”

  He held on to her hands. “We retain Christos and Giorgios to keep our son safe. They were so happy to see you back in Athens, they let us know the moment you arrived at the office. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

  Kellie laughed. “I might have known they couldn’t keep a secret, but at least they let me surprise Leandros in his own lair.”

  That brought more laughter.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “MY LAIR?” LEANDROS TEASED.

  When he thought about it, he realized her remark was entirely apropos. After the desolate month he’d spent alone, her presence had been a surprise, all right. While he’d been hiding out in his office like a wounded animal licking his wounds, he’d suddenly heard her voice and seen his gorgeous blonde wife
standing there like a vision. For a moment he’d thought he was hallucinating.

  “Why don’t you two join us out on the patio? We haven’t eaten since breakfast,” he said.

  “Oh, no!” his mother exclaimed. “Let me help.”

  “We have it covered, Mana. Would you like to eat with us?”

  “I don’t think so. We only finished lunch a while ago.”

  In a minute he and Kellie took plates of salad and rolls out to the wrought-iron table. The housekeeper had also prepared iced tea. They could all enjoy that.

  After devouring a third roll, Leandros eyed his parents frankly. “Before you explode from curiosity, Kellie and I have a few things to tell you. Our divorce has been put on hold while we undergo marriage counseling.”

  Their eyes widened, but they didn’t comment. He admired their restraint.

  “It was Kellie’s idea. I fought it at first, because you know me, I think I know everything.”

  His mother laughed. “I never thought I’d live to see the day when you admitted it.”

  “It takes a big man,” his father interjected.

  “Yes, it does,” Thea joked, staring at her husband.

  Leandros thought Kellie had to be enjoying this.

  “As soon as I came back from the States alone, I realized I couldn’t live without her, and finally agreed to it. But remember, we’re not together.” He eyed Kellie. “As our therapist says, we’re a work in progress.”

  “Bravo,” his mother exclaimed. But there was no bravo about it if Kellie believed Karmela’s lie.

  “I apologize for not having returned your phone call yet, but there’ve been reasons,” Leandros went on. “As I informed you a few days ago, I’m on vacation. That’s why I asked Frato to take over for me at the office. For your information, Kellie and I had our second session this morning.”

  Leandros darted his wife a glance. “We probably would have walked up to the villa to visit you later today.” Kellie’s nod confirmed it.

  His mother clasped her hands together and let out a happy cry. His father smiled in obvious satisfaction. Their reactions had to have reassured his wife that they loved her. They’d been crushed when he’d told them Kellie was leaving him.