The silence that followed let her know she’d captured their attention. Getting in a more comfortable position, she began her tale. Leaving out their biggest problem, which had to do with artificial insemination and their struggle to get pregnant, she got into the ins and outs regarding Karmela and Frato.
Next she told them about Leandros’s relationship with his first wife, and the many misconceptions Kellie had drawn throughout their marriage. Finally she explained why Karmela was now in the hospital, hopefully getting the kind of help she needed.
“That brings me to the one of the issues in our marriage we still haven’t resolved.”
“You mean there’s more?” her aunt asked in a quiet voice.
“Yes, and it has to do with the two of you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Leandros loves you and wants all of us to be together on a permanent basis. If you feel you could never leave home, then he’s ready to step down as CEO of the company and move to Philadelphia.”
She heard her aunt’s gasp.
“I’ve told him about the house in Parkwood. I already have earnest money down on it. Since you’ve seen it, you know the place is big enough to accommodate the six of us after the children are born. We’ll turn one of the upstairs rooms into a study for Leandros. He’ll do business for the corporation from there.”
“But—”
“Don’t say anything yet, Uncle Jim. Let me finish. Here goes. We’ve decided that if you’re willing to move to Greece, we’ll make our permanent home at his villa on Andros Island and commute to Athens by helicopter.”
“Honey—”
“I’m not through yet, Aunt Sybil. There’s a small, vacant villa only a two-minute walk from his. It belonged to his uncle Manny until he died last year. Thea and Vlassius live only a three-minute walk from the villa in the other direction. We’d all be together! With the
babies coming, it would be heaven.”
She heard sniffing, but didn’t know if it was a good or bad sign.
“Leandros has already talked to his parents about the renovations we’ll have done to make you two as comfortable as possible. It’s a darling, cozy house with the most glorious garden and fruit trees. The beach is only steps away.”
“Tink—”
“We’ll hire a person to help you,” she talked over him. “It won’t be Frank unless he’s willing to relocate with you. If not, we’ll find someone equally wonderful. There’s a small swimming pool on the side of the villa where you can do therapy. The temperature of the air and the water is perfect. Vlassius will be thrilled to take you fishing every morning on his boat, Uncle Jim. Now he’ll have someone to go with him.”
Her uncle made a croaking sound.
“You’ll have your own car, Aunt Sybil. You and Thea can go shopping all the time. We’ll take you to visit all the sites and museums. You can browse to your heart’s content in all the little villages. And something else about Thea. She’s a homebody like you who loves to cook and have family around. There are a bunch of Petralia family members living on the estate. You’ll love all of them.
“In fact, I think you’d be shocked how much you have in common with them. We’ll get you started learning Greek. By the time the babies are born, you’ll be able to converse and understand almost everything. We’ll become a bilingual household.”
“Kellie,” her aunt interrupted her. “You’ve convinced us it all sounds like a dream come true, but you don’t need to go to these lengths because we’re perfectly content here.”
That was her aunt’s stubborn side talking. “If that’s your final answer, then I won’t say any more about it. But since I’ll never be truly content away from you, then Leandros and I will be moving to Philadelphia.”
“Then his parents will be alone—” her uncle blurted.
“In terms of his being their only child, that’s true. But they have brothers and sisters living on the island. They’re not in your situation where you’ve never had family to call on. Of course, they’ll fly to the States to visit us whenever possible. Leandros is determined to make this work, because he loves you.”
Kellie heard her uncle clear his throat. “We love him.... Sybil? We can’t expect Leandros to move here. He’s an important man with a job to do.” His words caused Kellie’s heart to run away with her again.
“I know. I’m only thinking of you, Jim.” Her aunt’s voice trembled.
“Fiddle faddle. Moving to Greece will be a new adventure for us. Before my stroke, we’d planned to spend a lot of time traveling.”
“You can still travel, Uncle Jim. The helicopter will take us everywhere. You can invite your friends to visit.”
“Well, that settles it for me. If you want to know the truth, Sybil, I don’t want to miss a day of watching our grandbabies grow up. Do you?”
Her aunt had broken down crying. “No.”
By now Kellie was dissolved in tears herself. “You two don’t have any idea how happy you’ve made me. Throughout our marriage, Leandros has worried continually about you, but no longer. I can’t wait to tell him.”
“Do you have any idea how different you sound?”
“All I know is how I feel, Aunt Sybil. I’m so deeply happy on every level, I’m afraid I’m going to burst.”
“We don’t want you to do that. It’s awfully late for you to still be up, honey. You need to take care of yourself and get to bed.”
“I will. The next time I call, I’ll put Leandros on the phone and we’ll start making moving arrangements. In the meantime, decide what you want to bring to your new house. Love you. Good night.”
After hanging up, Kellie turned on her side. Oblivion took over while she was imagining when and how she would tell Leandros. It had to be the perfect time and place.
* * *
Leandros had just finished shaving when he had a call from his attorney. “Turn on your TV to the nine o’clock Athenian Morning Show. I’ve heard they’re doing the story on you this morning despite my attempt to quash anything about you. Call me when it’s over and we’ll plan a damage strategy.”
There was no such animal. Karmela had always been one step ahead and hadn’t missed a trick. On a burst of adrenaline, Leandros reached for the TV remote and got in on the last of the weather forecast. Hot and sunny.
“Welcome, everyone. Thanks for tuning in to the Athenian Morning Show. Once again the Petralia Corporation is in the news. Five weeks ago a tornado swept through Greece, taking lives and destroying part of the Persephone, their newest resort outside Thessalonika.
“Today we bring you our top story involving the attractive thirty-five-year-old CEO himself, Leandros Petralia, who’s been involved in a scandal that has rocked the country. He’s been unavailable for comment since the news broke that his striking sister-in-law, Karmela Paulos of the Paulos Manufacturing Company, and one of the secretaries at the Petralia Corporation, is carrying his child.
“Frato Petralia, a cousin who’s vice president of operations, has been installed as acting CEO of the corporation while they attempt to weather this crisis. A reliable source has informed the station that his second marriage, of two years duration to Kellie Petralia, his American-born wife, fell apart because of the affair.
“She’s divorcing him for an undisclosed amount of money. If you remember, his first wife, prominent beauty Petra Paulos, who’d been working for Halkias Textiles, died four years ago in a tragic plane accident along with their unborn baby. More on this story and pending lawsuits will be reported in tonight’s news.
“Moving on to another scandal involving one of Greece’s major banks...”
Furious for what this could do to Kellie, Leandros shut off the TV and got dressed. He was on his way out of the room when his phone rang again. Seeing the caller ID, he picked up eagerly. “Nik?”
“I’m glad you answered. It’s good to hear your voice. I’m just sorry to learn about your precarious circumstances. My brothers both phoned to tell me about the hor
rendous lies put out on the morning news. How can Fran and I help? She’s beside herself for the two of you. Frankly, so am I. You don’t need this while you’re both still in counseling. Karmela’s form of sabotage leaves a taint no matter how you try to squelch it.”
“It’s ugly, all right, but Kellie and I are far enough along in our therapy to have surmounted most of our difficulties, and we know the truth.”
“Thank heaven for that.”
“Tell Fran not to worry. My wife will be calling her shortly to explain. I’m afraid we’re just going to have to ride this storm out. Talk to you later. Thanks for your support, Nik. It means everything.”
Leandros hurried out of the bedroom and down the hall. Kellie’s door was still closed. It could mean she was still asleep, or maybe she was already on the phone to Fran. Practicing patience wasn’t his forte, but once more he held back from joining her, and headed for the living area. He found his parents enjoying breakfast at the dining room table.
His father looked up. “Did you catch the news on TV this morning?”
“Afraid so.”
“It’s pure tripe.”
Nerves twisted his insides. “Have you seen Kellie yet?”
“I’m right behind you.”
He wheeled around to discover his wife dressed in the same blouse and skirt she’d worn here last evening. His heart raced at the sight of her beautiful face and body.
She eyed him intently. “I watched the news, too. You have to hand it to Karmela. With her smarts and energy channeled in the right direction, she could do wonders with anything she set her hand to.”
His spirits plunged. “I wish you hadn’t seen it.”
Her smile disarmed him. “Leandros... We knew she’d do her worst. She wove just enough truth into the lies to make it sound authentic. You and your attorney probably have a plan to deny the allegations. But if you want my opinion, I think we should just leave it alone and go on living our lives.”
“Oh, I agree!” his mother declared.
His father followed with a “Bravo!”
Leandros drew in a fortifying breath, relieved by his wife’s response. “Then the four of us are on the same page.”
Those brown eyes shone with a new light. “I’ve given up on the news stations doing their research and getting documented proof about anything anymore. People who want to believe the worst always will. If you lose business, you wouldn’t want them for clients under any circumstances. In time even they will realize the story had no substance to it. Unless you have other plans, I’d like to fly back to Andros.”
“Not without breakfast, you don’t,” his mother exclaimed. “Sit down. There’s plenty here for both of you.”
Suddenly his appetite had come back. He helped Kellie into the chair, tantalized by her alluring fragrance. “You look rested. I take it you got a good sleep.”
“The best I’ve had in months. How about you?”
As he took his place next to her, a prickling sensation broke out on the back of his neck. Something was different about her. He glanced at his parents. “Do you want to fly back with us?”
“No. We’re going to stay here until tomorrow,” his father stated. “We’ll be meeting up with some of the family later. You two go on.”
Anxious to get away from the paparazzi who’d spring at them at every opportunity, he phoned Stefon to get the helicopter ready. Thankfully, he’d doubled the security on Andros to keep them off his property.
Within ten minutes they’d kissed his parents goodbye and were on their way. En route he phoned his attorney and told him there was nothing to be done for now. After thanking him, he made a call to Frato, who’d insulated himself with extra security so he could get his work done.
His cousin seemed to be in surprisingly good spirits considering his pain over Karmela’s betrayal. Frato wasn’t taking any calls except from his family and Leandros. He did want to know when Leandros planned to return to work.
There was no way to answer that question. If he and Kellie got back together—and that was still an if—then there was a distinct possibility they’d be living in the States. But he was afraid to speculate that far ahead. Though he knew they were making progress in terms of understanding their conflicts and doing something about them, he didn’t know if she could bring herself to live with him again. That’s what this was all about.
The history they’d been through might have been too painful for her to allow herself to be open and vulnerable to married life once more. That he’d been too blind in certain areas and too inflexible on occasion had done a lot of damage. To live with him on faith, hoping he’d catch himself when he was in danger of falling into old habits, was a lot to ask of her. Maybe too much.
Until further notice he’d remain on vacation. Next week was their third counseling session with Mrs. Lasko. A month ago he’d fought the idea of allowing anyone to get into his private thoughts, let alone be willing to listen to any constructive criticism. He found it amazing that in just a few visits, he welcomed any insights their therapist offered that would help in bringing him and Kellie back together.
When the helicopter touched down and they’d made their way to the villa, Kellie turned to him. “Do you think it would be all right if we drove into Chora? I realize there’ll be reporters lurking, but I’d like to buy some maternity clothes. This skirt is the only thing that feels comfortable. My jeans are too tight.”
Her request sent a burst of excitement through him. For once he’d been caught off guard and ran a possessive eye over her curvaceous figure, when he’d promised himself he wouldn’t. As a result he almost didn’t answer her question. “I’ve hired enough extra security to make certain we’re not bothered.”
“You wouldn’t mind going with me?”
It thrilled him, because it sounded as if she really wanted him to come. “To buy some outfits for my expectant wife? I’ve been looking forward to this moment since the day we married.”
She bit her lip. “Me, too. There’s a darling maternity shop I remember passing.”
If he knew his wife, throughout their marriage she’d probably gone in it to look around while they’d both been waiting for the news that she was pregnant. She’d been so brave over all these months, submitting to the procedure. As disappointed as he was each time they found out she wasn’t pregnant, it was her pain that had killed him. He’d felt so helpless knowing there were no words to bring her the comfort she needed.
“Let’s do it. We’ll eat lunch afterward.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Maybe there’s something wrong with me that I’m always so hungry.”
He frowned. “I’m sure there isn’t, but to be wise, let’s make an appointment for you to see your doctor in Athens on Tuesday, after our counseling session. If a problem did come up, he needs to know you are pregnant and living in Greece for an undetermined period.”
Leandros was getting good at tempering his words so he wouldn’t come across as harassing her for a commitment she wasn’t ready to give.
“Actually, I saw him the day I flew in.”
That came as a surprise.
“I wanted to thank him and let him know the procedure finally worked. I’m sure it made him happy.”
“Did you tell him we were getting divorced?”
“Yes. I heard the sadness when he said he was very sorry. He told me to call him anytime....” Her voice trailed off, as if she had something else on her mind. “Give me a minute to change my blouse and freshen up.”
“Take your time. I’ll meet you at the car.”
CHAPTER NINE
AFTER A SHOPPING SPREE that resulted in taking home a couple of loose fitting sundresses, plus three new tops and jeans that allowed for growth, Leandros put the purchases in the car and treated Kellie to a delicious lunch.
When she couldn’t eat another bite, she lifted her eyes to her husband. “I ate too much, but it tasted so good.”
His white smile turned her heart over. “Do you
know this vacation is putting weight back on me?”
She studied his handsome features. “It’s done it to both of us.” He’d looked gaunt when she’d surprised him in his office last week, but with regular meals and rest, he’d started filling out. No man was more gorgeous than Leandros.
“Do you want to go home, or would you like to stretch your legs for a while longer?”
“There’s a cute children’s shop down on the other corner. If you don’t mind, I’d like to pick up an outfit for Demi before we go back to the villa. Fran says she’s growing fast. I imagine she needs the nine-to-twelve-months’ size.”
“I’m ready when you are.” He put some bills on the table and they left the restaurant.
Kellie walked alongside her husband, realizing she had absolutely nothing to complain about. He was his affable, charming self, and he went along with everything she suggested, but a vital spark was missing from his normally vibrant personality.
Every day since her return to Greece, she’d been more and more aware of it. She felt as if she was living with a whitewashed version of the dynamic lover she’d married. All the color seemed to have gone out of him.
That’s your fault, Kellie.
Over the last few days she felt as if they’d unearthed every major problem and now possessed the tools to keep the lines of communication open. But somewhere in the process he’d changed.
Fear clutched at her to think that the problems in their marriage had done something irreparable to him. She knew he loved her. She knew he loved their unborn babies. But he might not feel the same desire for her anymore. Except for cupping her elbow, or steadying her as she got out of the car, he didn’t try to touch her or make overtures as a prelude to making love.
She thought back to the first time she’d met him. It had taken only twenty-four hours from the time he’d helped her get her uncle wheeled into the elevator before he’d kissed her senseless. Kellie would never forget what he told her after he’d finally lifted his head so they could breathe.
Along Came Twins... Page 13
