Leandros sent his wife another glance. If she wanted to tell them their other news, he was leaving it up to her. A hushed silence fell over the room. When it became deafening, he started to bring up another subject, but Kellie suddenly put her glass down and said, “Last week I went to my doctor in Philadelphia for a checkup and found out...we’re expecting twins.”
“Twins?” His mother was so ecstatic, she jumped up from the table and ran around to hug him and Kellie again.
With tears in his eyes, his father followed suit. “This is a great day, a miraculous day!”
Thea’s face was wreathed in a huge smile. “Two grandbabies to love. I can’t believe it! Thank heaven for modern medicine.”
“I can hardly believe the artificial insemination worked,” Kellie admitted. “But the thought of taking care of two babies at once is pretty overwhelming.”
“We’ll all help,” his mother assured her. “Your aunt and uncle must be thrilled. When are you due?”
“March seventh. They’re nearly eight weeks old. The doctor said they’re as big as blueberries, with tiny hands and feet emerging.”
His parents laughed and cried. Inside, Leandros was thrilled, but until he knew unequivocally that Kellie believed in him, he couldn’t celebrate the way he wanted. As for therapy, they still had a long way to go. The only thing helping him right now was that she’d let him hold her a little while ago. She’d even seemed to welcome his arms around her.
He waited until his parents sat down again before asking if there was another reason they’d walked down to his villa unannounced. They shook their heads, clearly mystified by his question.
It meant Karmela still hadn’t played her trump card. That’s why he hadn’t heard from his attorney. He was hoping that not hearing anything yet meant she might be backing down on her threats. If that was the case, then things couldn’t be working out better.
“The therapy we’ve been undergoing has opened my eyes to a dangerous situation that was brewing long before we took our vows. Though we have other issues to work on, this has been one of the big ones threatening to undermine our marriage.”
Both his parents frowned, but it was his father who demanded clarity. “Be explicit.”
“As Kellie and I discussed earlier, there’s been an enemy within our walls. Not only has she done everything in her power to come between Kellie and me, she’s been doing an expert job of destroying Frato in the process.”
“She?” his mother questioned, patently bewildered.
Leandros nodded grimly. “My former sister-in-law, Karmela.”
The shock on his parents’ faces convinced him they would never have suspected Petra’s sister of any wrongdoing. They’d been completely in the dark about her.
“Kellie? Tell them what you told the therapist about the night of our wedding reception. My parents need to hear from you to understand what we’ve been up against. Don’t leave anything out.”
Once his wife began her tale, he watched their reactions. By the time she’d finished, he knew they were horrified.
“There’s more,” he said, pulling out his cell phone. “Once you hear this conversation between me and Karmela at my office, you’ll realize what our family could be up against. Kellie has already listened to it.” He switched on the recording.
While his parents sat there in shock, he eyed Kellie. He could tell she was worried about their reaction. When it had played out, he shut the device off.
“The girl’s clearly unwell,” his father declared.
His mother nodded. She looked ill. “What are you going to do, Leandros?”
“After I took Kellie back to the Cassandra, I went to the penthouse and had a serious talk with Frato. He’s been in love with Karmela for a long time, but when he listened to this recording, it forced him to wake up. Frato’s finished with her. If she tries to get into his penthouse, she won’t be able to.”
“Who would have dreamed she had such problems?”
“Maybe her parents do know, but haven’t been able to help her. It’s anyone’s guess how far she’s willing to take this. Dionne and Zera phoned to find out why I fired her, so she has revealed that much to those in the family who are sympathetic to her. But at this point, anything could be going on. Rest assured I’ve got her under surveillance and have alerted my attorney.”
That didn’t seem to mollify his father. “Has Frato told my brother all this?”
“I don’t think so, Papa, but I could be wrong. They’ve always been close, but this business with Karmela is something Frato has kept hidden for years. I’ve advised him to go on doing his job at the office and say nothing.”
“Well, there’s something I can do!” His father pushed himself away from the table and stood up. “Let’s go, Thea. We’re about to pay a visit to Karmela’s family right now. Let me have your phone, Leandros. They need to hear this so they can take their daughter in hand.”
Leandros shook his head. “Though you know the facts, I don’t want you getting involved. You’ve been friends for too many years. I’m the one who fired Karmela, and she knows why. If anyone’s going to talk to her parents, I’ll be the person to do it. But it may not come to that. Should they contact you about this, then direct them to me. I want your promise on that.”
His mother got up. “But if she should call one of the newspapers...”
Kellie darted Leandros a worried glance. “That’s what I’m concerned about, Thea. Today’s so-called journalists don’t check their sources. Even if it’s all lies, and your attorney forces them to print a retraction, the public goes on believing the lies. This could destroy your reputation and Frato’s. The whole family could be hurt, including Karmela’s.”
“She’s right,” his father muttered. “With you two expecting twins, I don’t like this at all. Does Karmela know about your miraculous news?”
“No. Besides you and her doctor, the only people aware are Kellie’s aunt and uncle, our therapist, Frato, and Nik and Fran. For the time being, we’d prefer the rest of the family doesn’t know about this.”
“Understood. Come on, Thea. We’re going to leave, to give you some privacy.”
The four of them gravitated to the front door. After more hugs, his father said, “Even if you’ve got people watching Karmela, you need the security on you doubled.”
“I’ve already taken care of it.” Leandros eyed him solemnly. “I promise to keep you informed.”
“See that you do. We’re in this together. How long do you think you’ll be staying on Andros?”
Leandros glanced at his wife. “We don’t know yet.”
His mother cupped Kellie’s cheeks. “Whatever you do, wherever you go, you have to take extra special care of yourself now.”
“I agree.”
“I had two miscarriages before Leandros was born,” Thea confessed. “After that, I was never able to get pregnant again.” Her eyes misted. “Those babies you’re carrying are extra precious.”
“I know. Thank you for caring so much.” Kellie kissed his mother again before his parents started walking away.
When Leandros couldn’t see them anymore, he closed the door. Kellie had already gone out to the patio to clear the dishes. He had an idea she was trying to hide her emotions. Once he joined her, they got everything cleaned and put away in no time.
“Leandros?” She turned, resting her back against the kitchen counter. His body was on alert for any change of mood in her.
“What is it?”
“Would you like to go for a walk along the beach with me? I feel like stretching my legs.”
This was the first time since she’d flown back from the States that she was the one asking him to do something with her. Excitement flooded through him.
He almost said, “I was about to suggest it, if you weren’t too tired.” But he’d learned his lesson. Because of therapy, he’d discovered she didn’t like him hovering, let alone sweeping in and taking over. “I could use some exercise myself. Give me a
minute to put on a pair of shorts.”
* * *
Kellie didn’t want to change out of her wraparound skirt. It was the most comfortable piece of clothing in her wardrobe. First thing tomorrow she would go shopping. She needed some loose fitting tops and maternity jeans. Dr. Creer had warned her she’d grow bigger fast.
She went into the bathroom and brushed her hair before fastening it in a ponytail with one of her bands. Though it was late afternoon, the sun was still hot. After applying sunscreen and lipstick, Kellie went in search of Leandros. She found him in the kitchen on the phone, in his bare feet.
He’d changed into a short-sleeved, white cotton shirt left partially unbuttoned. In it and his navy shorts he looked better than any statue of a Greek god. Without her volition, a surge of desire for him welled up inside her.
Glancing up, he finally noticed her, and turned on the speakerphone so she could hear. The conversation with a man she didn’t recognize ended soon enough. “That was the private investigator. Karmela’s been staying at the Athenian Inn and hasn’t left her room all day. He’ll continue to keep me apprised.”
“Leandros... Since we started therapy, you’ve let me listen in on every phone conversation. I know why you’ve been doing it, and I appreciate it. But it isn’t natural or necessary. I trust you, and I believe that when you have something important to share with me, you will.”
Some of the worry lines on his arresting face relaxed. “That works both ways.” He put a couple of water bottles into a pack he fastened around his hips. “I don’t want you to get dehydrated.”
“Thank you for being so thoughtful.” He was being so polite. Too polite. She knew why.
“You’re welcome,” he answered in his low, vibrant voice.
“Before we go, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“I know what it is.”
“No, you don’t,” Kellie countered. “Petra was revered by everyone in your family. You wouldn’t have fallen in love with her if she hadn’t been a wonderful person. Unconsciously, I endowed Karmela with the same qualities.
“When she was in your office and declared she was pregnant with your baby, I honestly didn’t believe her, but I was in shock to realize I was looking at a truly disturbed woman who isn’t anything like her sister. That’s why it took me getting out of there and going back to the hotel to see everything for what it is. I hope you can believe me when I tell you my doubts about her are gone. I do trust you. Completely.”
“Thank heaven,” he answered emotionally. “What do you say we take advantage of the sun?” Her husband never revisited a problem once it was over. He was such a remarkable man.
They left the villa. When they reached the sand, she removed her sandals and dangled them from her fingers while they walked in the opposite direction from the private pier. Kellie saw several boats in the distance. The light breeze was enough to fill their sails, so they skimmed along the shimmering blue water.
Paradise.
She had a lot on her mind and knew Leandros did, too, but neither of them spoke. Slowly they made their way around an outcropping of rocks. It led to a much smaller, sheltered cove where the hillside was filled with wildflowers. No villas had been built here so there were no people around. They had the thin stretch of beach to themselves.
“Leandros,” she said tentatively, “I’d like to talk to you about something important.”
“There are things I want to discuss with you, too.”
“Then let’s sit for a little while.”
His brows furrowed. “You don’t mind getting sandy in that skirt?”
“Not at all.”
After she sank down, Leandros handed her a bottle of water. While she took sips, he put his own bottle to his lips and quenched his thirst. When he’d drained it, he stretched out on the sand and leaned back on his elbows. His dark wavy hair gleamed in the sun while he stared out at the water. Kellie got a suffocating feeling in her chest just looking at him.
“Leandros?” she whispered.
He turned on his side toward her. With his jaw set and his eyes shuttered against the sun’s slanting rays, she couldn’t read his expression, but sensed his emotions were raw. “What’s on your mind?”
“Something Olympia hit on about my guilt over my aunt and uncle really touched a nerve with me. I was the luckiest girl in the world to be raised by them. When I married you, there was a part of me that felt like I was abandoning them. Because of that I suffered guilt, and didn’t realize it could do so much damage.”
His dark brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“If on our honeymoon I wasn’t the same woman you’d fallen in love with, I’m afraid it was because I couldn’t enjoy it completely, knowing they’d gone back to Philadelphia alone. The business with Frato’s and Fran’s observations about Karmela were only a small part of my inability to be myself with you.
“All this time I thought I’d hidden it from you, but when you told Olympia you knew something was wrong on our honeymoon, it really threw me. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but in our case it has come too late.”
Kellie felt his body stiffen. “Go on.”
“I just want to explain why I didn’t like any of the houses we looked at earlier. I know you liked the one with the tiled roof and the courtyard. I liked it, too, but—”
“But what?” He broke in tersely. “Just say what you have to say, Kellie.”
“Do you remember when you were talking to me about the penthouse?”
His eyes, dark with emotion, played over her face. “How could I forget?”
“You said,” she stammered, “you said that you would always have lived on Andros and commuted if Petra hadn’t wanted to live in Athens.”
“That’s right,” he muttered.
“Do you still feel that way? Please be honest.”
“Kellie...I’m discovering we can’t always have everything we want.”
“In other words, you would prefer living on Andros if everything else lined up the right way?”
In a sudden move, he got to his feet and stared down at her with a black expression. “What’s this about? Are you trying to work up the courage to tell me you’re going back to Philadelphia, so I can do what I want?”
“No!” she cried, and hurriedly stood up, shaking the sand from her skirt. “It’s too soon to talk about anything like that. You’re deliberately misunderstanding me.”
“What else am I supposed to think?”
She put a hand on his arm. His body had gone rigid. “Why did you say we can’t always have everything we want? Tell me.”
He eased his arm away, as if her touch burned him. “Surely you know why. I’m aware of how crazy you are about Athens.”
“I am. With all its history and monuments, it’s a magnificent city. But I loved your home on Andros the first time you brought me here. When we were looking at houses with the Realtor, I kept thinking about your villa. No place else in the world could possibly compare. It’s no wonder you love it so much. To buy or build a home in Athens is ludicrous when this is the only home where the children should live and be raised.”
“You honestly mean that?” She heard a tremor in his voice.
“Yes. Their heritage is here with their grandparents and relatives.”
Kellie heard him struggle for breath. “Their heritage is in Pennsylvania, too. Don’t think I don’t know how torn you’ve been over being separated from your aunt and uncle. I always wanted them to move to Greece, but you said no. I didn’t need to hear Olympia’s thoughts on the subject to realize how hard it’s been for you.”
“That’s because I know my aunt. She’s afraid my uncle wouldn’t want to leave their friends. There’s also the issue of his health care companion, and whether my uncle could adapt to a new environment. Unfortunately, my thinking has been foggy because of all my hang-ups. But therapy has made me see I’ve been a fool. I’ve missed them terribly and realize they’ve missed me, too. Naturally, I’ve been
their whole world since my parents died. Nothing else has been as important to them.”
“I’m glad you finally understand that.”
She nodded. “Leandros...if we make the decision to stay together, I want to live here year-round.”
He looked thunderstruck. “You love it that much?”
“I might not have been born here, but I love it probably as much as you do. Olympia was right about me. I do crave something of my very own. Since you told me Petra had never lived in the villa with you, that changed everything for me. I know now there was no third party on our honeymoon. I feel like we could start a new life here, built on a firm foundation. But—”
“But you couldn’t do it without your aunt and uncle living here, too,” he finished for her.
“Yes.”
“I’ve always been aware of that. We need them with us. So will our children. Otherwise we’ll never be completely happy. Come on. On our way back to the villa, we’ll take a detour. I want to show you something.”
After putting their water bottles in his pack, he grasped her hand and held it tightly. Kellie could feel her husband’s excitement. He came alive as they retraced their steps around the point to the next cove. When they reached the path leading away from the beach, she slipped her sandals back on. They followed it until it diverged. He took the trail to the right until they came to a small stone villa.
“Wasn’t this your great-uncle Manny’s house?”
“That’s right. His wife died while I was in college. They never had children. Since his death a year ago, it has stood empty.” Leandros reached for a key left above the lintel, and let them in the side door. It led into the kitchen.
“I remember being in here before. It’s very cozy and charming.”
“With some renovations, I believe your aunt and uncle would be very happy here. It’s all on one floor and would accommodate his wheelchair. We’d hire a housekeeper to take care of them so they could maintain their independence.”
“Oh, if I thought this were possible...”
“Of course it is. If there’s a drawback, it’s that they’d be surrounded by my relatives. But we’d provide them with a car, so they could drive to the different villages, or go visiting whenever they wanted company.”
Along Came Twins... Page 11
