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The blood pounded in her ears. “Is he getting married soon?”
“Irena’s expecting a proposal any day now. She’s his girlfriend and my best friend. Her family owns one of the major newspapers here in Greece. She heads the travel section department.”
All of a sudden Gabi had to reach for the nearest chair and sit down. Swallowing hard, she said, “Will they be married soon?”
“Irena’s hoping so. He’s in Athens with her this weekend.”
Gabi had to fight not to break down hysterically. It appeared Andreas and Leon had more in common than Deline knew.
Last night Andreas had kissed her senseless. If Gabi hadn’t pulled away when she did, she’d have made the same mistake as Thea. When he’d told her he didn’t have a wife, she’d taken it to mean he didn’t have a romantic interest of any kind at the moment. What a naïve fool she was!
Yet none of it mattered in light of what Deline was going through. Gabi was being incredibly selfish to be thinking about herself at a time like this.
“How can I help you, Deline? I’d like to.”
She looked down at the children. “You can’t. I’ve loved Leon forever and always wanted his baby so badly, but it never happened. Now that I’m going to divorce him, there won’t ever be that possibility. Life’s so unfair.” Sobs shook her body.
Gabi’s heart sank to her feet. “I agree. My father lost his daughter early, and Thea didn’t live long enough to raise her babies. I’m convinced that if she hadn’t developed a heart problem, she would never have told me anything and this situation wouldn’t have arisen.”
“But it did,” Deline stated flatly, “and Leon wants his sons, which is only natural. He’s told his family, so that’s it.” She jumped up from the couch. “This morning he came to my parents’ home and begged me to fly here and see the children before I did anything else.
“I know what he’s hoping for, but he doesn’t understand. Even if I wanted to stay with him and was willing to give our marriage one more chance, I don’t see me in their countenances.” Her voice broke. “I’m afraid I’ll always see her and resent them even though they’re innocent in all this.”
Gabi felt such a wrench, she got up and put her arms around Deline. “I admire you for your gut honesty,” she cried softly. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
Deline relaxed enough to hug her back. When they finally let go she asked, “What will you do now?”
“As soon as Leon comes for the children, I’m going back to Crete and then on to the States. My job is waiting for me.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a manager at an advertising agency. It’s a fascinating business I like very much.” For the twins’ sake if nothing else, she had to keep giving herself that pep talk in front of them. If she ever truly broke down, she might not get herself back together again. “Do you work?”
“Not yet, but I have a friend who has offered to let me work in a hotel gift shop. I’m thinking of doing that so I don’t fall apart.”
Good for her! Gabi could relate. Deline wasn’t only wonderful, she had a backbone. “I wish you the very best. I hope you know I mean that.”
While they’d been talking, Kris started to whimper. Gabi picked him up to comfort him.
Deline studied her for a moment while dashing the tears off her face. “I was prepared not to like you, but having met you I’ve discovered that’s impossible.”
Gabi’s eyes filled again. Leon was losing a perfectly fabulous woman. How sad that he and Thea had ever met. Because of that pregnancy, Thea was no longer alive. But following that thought, if they’d never gotten together, there’d be no babies. She would never have met Andreas. No matter how hurt she was, Gabi could never wish the three of them didn’t exist.
She walked Deline to the door. “Did you fly here?”
“In the helicopter with Leon. He’s gone on to the villa. When he knows I’ve left the island, he’ll be over.”
Things were moving fast. “I hope you have a safe flight.”
Before she could respond, the baby hiccupped, proving a distraction for Deline, who couldn’t help examining his dear little face. “Which one is he?”
“Kris.”
“The one who has to have the heart surgery?”
“Yes.”
“He looks well.”
“I know, but he tires more easily and fusses more than Nikos. He’s a little smaller, too. When they’re grown, he’ll probably be an inch shorter. The doctor said this first operation is going to make a big difference.”
Her lower lip quivered. “H-he’s so sweet.” Her voice caught before she turned away with an abruptness Gabi understood. “I have to go.” She hurried off.
“Take care,” she called after her.
Oh, Deline…
Chapter Six (#ulink_50b17364-8cc1-502f-95aa-bbf861dba22a)
WITH a heavy heart Gabi closed the door. After feeding the babies, she put them down for their nap before checking her watch. It was ten after two. She phoned her mother, but all she got was her voice mail. Gabi left a message that she’d be returning to Heraklion without the children.
While she waited for Leon to come for his boys, she checked airline schedules and ferry crossings to Crete. There wouldn’t be another flight out of the island airport until tomorrow, but there was a ferry to Kimolos leaving from the pier at five-thirty. From there she would take another ferry to Heraklion.
She needed one more day to be with her parents and get her packing done. Then she’d fly to Athens and make a connecting flight to Washington, D.C. Without the twins to care for, it was imperative she put an ocean between her and Andreas.
A knock on the door broke her concentration. “Gabi? Are you in there?”
It was Leon’s voice. She hurried across the room to open it. He looked worse than Deline, as if he hadn’t slept in days. “Come in. Your wife said you’d be over.”
He followed her into the living room. “I’m not going to have a wife much longer.”
There was nothing she could say to comfort him on that score. He knew better than to ask her questions about their conversation since she couldn’t answer them out of respect for Deline. “But you do have two little babies who need their daddy. What plans have you made?”
“For the time being I’m going to keep them with me at my villa here. Estelle, the housekeeper, is going to take over as their nanny until I can find a permanent one. Mother will help. The family is around right now, turning one of the bedrooms into a nursery. Everyone’s anxious to help me get them settled. Needless to say, my parents are eager to love their newest grandchildren.”
“I’m sure they are.”
“Gabi?” His bloodshot eyes had gone moist. “I’m aware of how much you and your parents love them. This has to be a very difficult moment for you.”
“It is. I won’t lie to you about that, but you gave them life. They need you more than my folks and I need them. The sooner you take over, the sooner they’re going to become yours, heart and soul.”
“You know my home will always be open to you.”
“Of course. In two months I plan to fly back to Crete to see my parents for a week. By then Kris will have had his operation and be recovered in time for all of us to have a reunion.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it. We’ll have a family party where everyone can get acquainted.”
Gabi wondered how she would live until she saw them or Andreas again. “The next time you’re with your brother, please tell him thank you for making the arrangements here. It’s been a lovely vacation for me.”
“Andreas is the greatest friend a person could have.”
I know.
Together they packed up the children’s things and put them in his car. Leon had already installed two infant carseats in the back. Then came time to carry the children out of the house and buckle them in.
Throughout the process they stayed asleep, not having any idea that the next time they woke up, they’d be home with their daddy for the rest of their lives. And Andreas would always be their loving uncle…
Such lives they were going to lead being the sons of a Simonides!
She was thrilled for them. For herself, she was dying inside from too many losses in one day. Don’t lose it yet, Gabi. Remember why you sought out Andreas in the first place.
Leon came around and hugged her hard. “You’ve been a guardian angel all this time. I’m never going to forget. Before I go, let’s program in each other’s cell-phone numbers. I’m afraid I’ll be calling you pretty constantly until I get the hang of being a father. The children will be wanting you all the time.”
“For a day or two maybe.”
Gabi ran back in the house to get her phone. In a minute they were both set and there was nothing else to detain him. He climbed in behind the steering wheel. She shut the door. Leon pressed her hand one more time before turning on the motor.
Leave now before my little darlings open their eyes.
She waved until everything became a blur.
The minute the helicopter touched down on the helipad behind the villa on Milos, Andreas climbed out. He’d just come from Irena’s, where he’d told her everything. She deserved to know about the twins and the strange circumstances that had brought Gabi into his life.
Even in her pain, Irena demonstrated a rare graciousness before he said goodbye. Now he was anxious to find his brother. He assumed everyone was out at the pool enjoying dinner. After he ate, he’d disappear with his brother.
As he drew closer he could hear his family talking. They sounded more animated than usual. He couldn’t help but be curious over the reason why. When he descended the last flight of steps, he saw their large clan congregated around Leon and his parents. To his shock they were holding Kris and Nikos, but the babies weren’t happy about it.
Andreas’s heart thundered in his chest. He jerked his head to the side looking for Gabi. He felt as if it had been weeks instead of hours since he’d last seen her, but there was no sign of her.
Leon caught his glance and came striding toward him. He pulled Andreas over to the wall where they could talk in private.
“As you can see, the secret is out now. The family knows everything.”
Andreas had to admit he was relieved. Now he didn’t have to bear the burden of it alone. “Did Deline get a look at the twins?”
“This afternoon. Then she flew back to Athens. I’ll be receiving divorce papers shortly.”
Unfortunately he’d been afraid of that. “Where’s Gabi?”
“On 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.”
