It's All Greek to Me (31 page)
Read It's All Greek to Me Online
Authors: Katie MacAlister
Through it all he held her up when she wanted to sit up, pushing back hard against him as she strained to birth the twins, helping her walk when she wanted to walk, wiping her face when she sat on the birthing chair, and telling her in both Greek and English just how much he loved her as the babies were, at last, born.
Twenty-two hours after he had rushed through the doors of the hospital fearing the worst, he looked down at the two blotchy little red bundles in the incubator, his heart swelling with love.
“I want to hold them again,” Harry said, moving restlessly in her bed.
He left the babies and returned to her side, leaning down to kiss lips that were chapped and scraped from the flying glass in the crash.
He thanked god for the makers of air bags, for the person who first thought up a seat belt, and for whatever angel’s job it was to watch over his beloved goddess.
“They just went to sleep, sweetheart.
The doctor said we have to give them some time in the incubators so their immune systems are strong.”
He thanked god for the makers of air bags, for the person who first thought up a seat belt, and for whatever angel’s job it was to watch over his beloved goddess.
“They just went to sleep, sweetheart.
The doctor said we have to give them some time in the incubators so their immune systems are strong.”
“I know, but I want to hold them again.
I don’t think I fed them for long enough.
Maybe they’re hungry.
Are they crying?”
I don’t think I fed them for long enough.
Maybe they’re hungry.
Are they crying?”
“No, they’re sleeping.
Which you should be as well.”
Which you should be as well.”
“I couldn’t possibly sleep.
I’m too keyed up.
We have babies, Iakovos!”
I’m too keyed up.
We have babies, Iakovos!”
“Two beautiful daughters,” he agreed, seeing the exhaustion in her eyes.
He scooted onto her bed until she could rest against him.
“Two little storms in the making.”
He scooted onto her bed until she could rest against him.
“Two little storms in the making.”
Epilogue
H
arry listened with half her attention to the voice droning in her ear.
Elena, she thought, watching as the twenty-one-year-old leaped about in the pool, splashing and laughing with the same abandon as the two little girls in their water wings.
Elena looked particularly happy.
Could she have a boyfriend at long last?
arry listened with half her attention to the voice droning in her ear.
Elena, she thought, watching as the twenty-one-year-old leaped about in the pool, splashing and laughing with the same abandon as the two little girls in their water wings.
Elena looked particularly happy.
Could she have a boyfriend at long last?
A noise caught her attention.
She glanced over to the massive cradle that sat next to her in the shade of the patio, the cool breeze from the sea making its draperies flutter.
She glanced over to the massive cradle that sat next to her in the shade of the patio, the cool breeze from the sea making its draperies flutter.
Her eyes went again to the two little girls, sadness filling her at the thought of what should be a happy time—the first birthday of her son.
Their friends and family were coming in later in the day to help them celebrate .
.
.
all but Theo.
Their friends and family were coming in later in the day to help them celebrate .
.
.
all but Theo.
“Still at it?”
She made a face as Dmitri moved a chair next to her.
She pulled off the earphones, turning off the MP3 player.
“Trying.
Do I have any earthly use for knowing how to say in Greek ‘his feet are too big’?
Because honestly, Dmitri, that’s all I seem to be able to remember.”
She pulled off the earphones, turning off the MP3 player.
“Trying.
Do I have any earthly use for knowing how to say in Greek ‘his feet are too big’?
Because honestly, Dmitri, that’s all I seem to be able to remember.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad.
How about something simple?
Why don’t you ask me who I’ve been talking to?”
How about something simple?
Why don’t you ask me who I’ve been talking to?”
“Um .
.
.”
Her face screwed up as she tried to sort out the appropriate words.
“Uh .
.
.
what case is that in?
Cases confuse me.
So do declensions.”
.
.”
Her face screwed up as she tried to sort out the appropriate words.
“Uh .
.
.
what case is that in?
Cases confuse me.
So do declensions.”
He laughed.
“Never mind, then.”
“Never mind, then.”
“Where’s your cousin?”
“On the mainland meeting with the mayor about some repairs he’s funding.”
Dmitri fell silent, and Harry had a feeling that he wanted to say more.
Dmitri fell silent, and Harry had a feeling that he wanted to say more.
“Who were you just talking with?”
she asked.
“Iakovos?”
she asked.
“Iakovos?”
“No.”
He slid her a quick glance.
He slid her a quick glance.
She sat up straight, her hand on his arm.
“Have you heard from him?”
“Have you heard from him?”
“Yes.”
“Is he—”
“He says he hasn’t touched a drop since that night Jake smashed all the alcohol.”
Harry sat back, her heart heavy.
“I’ve tried and tried to tell Iakovos that Theo hadn’t been drinking that day the girls were born, but you know how he gets—he just won’t listen.”
“I’ve tried and tried to tell Iakovos that Theo hadn’t been drinking that day the girls were born, but you know how he gets—he just won’t listen.”
“I know you’ve tried.
I told him as well.”
I told him as well.”
“You did?”
She studied his face.
“What did he say?”
She studied his face.
“What did he say?”
“Told me that if I wanted to keep my job, I wouldn’t mention it again.”
Dmitri shrugged.
“I let it drop.
I figured that in time Theo would prove himself innocent or Jake would figure out the truth for himself, but .
.
.”
Dmitri shrugged.
“I let it drop.
I figured that in time Theo would prove himself innocent or Jake would figure out the truth for himself, but .
.
.”
“But he hasn’t.”
She knew that immediately following the accident, Iakovos had coldly severed all ties with Theo, that he had finally reached his limit of tolerance, and didn’t seem to care where his brother went, or what happened to him.
It was the one subject on which they did not agree, a guaranteed argument starter, but as it had its roots in his father’s history of alcoholism, Harry had learned to simply let it be over the three years of their marriage.
She knew that immediately following the accident, Iakovos had coldly severed all ties with Theo, that he had finally reached his limit of tolerance, and didn’t seem to care where his brother went, or what happened to him.
It was the one subject on which they did not agree, a guaranteed argument starter, but as it had its roots in his father’s history of alcoholism, Harry had learned to simply let it be over the three years of their marriage.
“After that night when the twins were born, I was sure I’d have to stop Jake from murdering Theo, but Jake never did go after him.”
“No,” Harry agreed sadly.
“I think Iakovos knew that what we said was true—Theo hadn’t caused the accident, hadn’t been drinking—but it was just the last straw.
So instead he told him to leave.
But enough is enough.”
Her eyes rested on her daughters as they played with Elena.
“If I don’t do something, my children will grow up never knowing their uncle.
What’s Theo been doing?”
“I think Iakovos knew that what we said was true—Theo hadn’t caused the accident, hadn’t been drinking—but it was just the last straw.
So instead he told him to leave.
But enough is enough.”
Her eyes rested on her daughters as they played with Elena.
“If I don’t do something, my children will grow up never knowing their uncle.
What’s Theo been doing?”
“What he knows—working in real estate.
Sounds like he went to New York first, then somewhere in Asia, and ended up in New Zealand.
Now he’s back.”
Sounds like he went to New York first, then somewhere in Asia, and ended up in New Zealand.
Now he’s back.”
“Here?”
Her hopes rose.
“He’s in Greece?”
Her hopes rose.
“He’s in Greece?”
Dmitri nodded.
“I’ve never been one to believe in signs, but if that isn’t one, then I don’t know what is.”
She was about to say more when her attention was caught elsewhere.
She was about to say more when her attention was caught elsewhere.
“Eglantine!”
The voice roaring her name came from behind her, in the house.
She turned, smiling as the tall, dark-haired Greek god—and former world’s most eligible bachelor—stomped out onto the patio, lowering his voice only when he saw the sleeping child next to her.
The voice roaring her name came from behind her, in the house.
She turned, smiling as the tall, dark-haired Greek god—and former world’s most eligible bachelor—stomped out onto the patio, lowering his voice only when he saw the sleeping child next to her.
“Yacky?”
she said, raising her eyebrows.
she said, raising her eyebrows.
He slapped down a piece of paper in front of her.
“What is this?”
he asked with furious intensity, his eyes sparkling with an unholy light.
“What is this?”
he asked with furious intensity, his eyes sparkling with an unholy light.
She looked at the paper.
It was a signed receipt, the kind you get when you pay for a meal with a credit card.
It was a signed receipt, the kind you get when you pay for a meal with a credit card.
“That’s from the lunch that Elena and I had in town yesterday.”
“I know what it is.
It was handed to me because the taverna owner thought someone might be impersonating you.
What, if you don’t mind explaining it, is
this
?”
He pointed to the bottom line.
It was handed to me because the taverna owner thought someone might be impersonating you.
What, if you don’t mind explaining it, is
this
?”
He pointed to the bottom line.
“My name, you mean?”
It was almost impossible to keep her lips from twitching, but she made a huge effort to meet her husband’s ire with innocence.
It was almost impossible to keep her lips from twitching, but she made a huge effort to meet her husband’s ire with innocence.
“That,” he said with disgust, “is not your name.”
“Harry Papamiaowmiaow isn’t right?
Was I close?”
Was I close?”
“Not by any stretch of the imagination.
It’s not that difficult, Harry.
It’s P-A-P-A—”
It’s not that difficult, Harry.
It’s P-A-P-A—”
The twins descended upon them, shrieking and laughing, throwing their wet arms around his legs, clinging to him and chanting with him in their high, sweet tones.
“IO-A-N—”
“IO-A-N—”
Elena joined them, her eyes sparkling as she added her voice to the others.
“—N-O-U.”
“—N-O-U.”
“I just don’t know,” Harry said, looking again at the receipt.
“Honestly, Yacky, I think we should give serious consideration to changing our last name to something easier, like Smith, or Brown.
Oh, I know—how does Jones grab you?
Jones is a lovely name.”
“Honestly, Yacky, I think we should give serious consideration to changing our last name to something easier, like Smith, or Brown.
Oh, I know—how does Jones grab you?
Jones is a lovely name.”
“Melina,” he said, picking up one little girl and giving her a kiss before doing the same to the other.
“Thea.
I hate to break this to you, my darlings, but your mother is deranged.”
“Thea.
I hate to break this to you, my darlings, but your mother is deranged.”
“Deranged, deranged!”
they shouted in glee.
they shouted in glee.
“Don’t like Jones?”
Harry asked, watching the telltale sign of that quirky corner of his mouth.
Harry asked, watching the telltale sign of that quirky corner of his mouth.
He set the wet, squirming girls back on their feet, bent to give Harry a quick, hard kiss, kissed his sister’s cheek, punched his cousin on the shoulder, and finally leaned over the cradle to deposit a kiss on his son’s head.
Elena laughed at them both, giving her brother a wink before she herded the girls inside to change out of their swimsuits.
Dmitri, with a significant glance at Harry, followed.
Dmitri, with a significant glance at Harry, followed.
Iakovos towered over her, this tall, so-handsome-it-hurt man of hers.
He said, with stern resignation, “You simply need to put your mind to it, Harry.
It’s really not that many letters.”
He said, with stern resignation, “You simply need to put your mind to it, Harry.
It’s really not that many letters.”
“I love you,” she told him in Greek.
He looked startled for a second.
“What .
.
.
what did you say?”
“What .
.
.
what did you say?”
She repeated it, standing up so she could fling herself on him, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“That’s what I thought you said.”
Passion kindled in his eyes as she licked first the spot at the base of his neck—the spot that still made her legs go weak if she looked at it too long—and then the lovely place between his lip and nose.
“Sweetheart, what do you think you just said to me?”
Passion kindled in his eyes as she licked first the spot at the base of his neck—the spot that still made her legs go weak if she looked at it too long—and then the lovely place between his lip and nose.
“Sweetheart, what do you think you just said to me?”
She stopped kissing his face and frowned.
“I love you.
I said ‘I love you.’”
“I love you.
I said ‘I love you.’”
“No, you didn’t.
You said, and I quote, ‘The potato hangs below.’”
You said, and I quote, ‘The potato hangs below.’”
“I did not!”
“You did.”
“What earthly reason would I have to say something like that?
I couldn’t possibly say that even if I wanted to.
Thus, you’re making it up.
You may now apologize to me, and if I accept your apology, I will allow you to make hot, steamy love to me, and I will even let you be on top.”
I couldn’t possibly say that even if I wanted to.
Thus, you’re making it up.
You may now apologize to me, and if I accept your apology, I will allow you to make hot, steamy love to me, and I will even let you be on top.”
He hoisted her higher, laughing as he did.
“We’re getting you a tutor, so you can learn the language properly.
I apologize for doubting your ability to speak Greek.
And I will happily make hot, steamy love to you tonight, just as soon as Nicky’s party is over.
Happy now?”
“We’re getting you a tutor, so you can learn the language properly.
I apologize for doubting your ability to speak Greek.
And I will happily make hot, steamy love to you tonight, just as soon as Nicky’s party is over.
Happy now?”
She bit the end of his nose, the love shining in her face.
“I will be completely and wholly happy if you do one thing for me.”
“I will be completely and wholly happy if you do one thing for me.”
“What’s that?”
he asked, sitting down with her on his lap, his fingers moving to the buttons on her shirt.
he asked, sitting down with her on his lap, his fingers moving to the buttons on her shirt.
“Theo.”
His fingers stilled.
She took his face in her hands, her mouth on his as she said, “He’s back in Greece, Iakovos.
Dmitri says he’s been sober since that night the two of you fought.
And he hasn’t even seen his nieces and nephew.”
Dmitri says he’s been sober since that night the two of you fought.
And he hasn’t even seen his nieces and nephew.”
His eyes, always so warm and filled with love, closed for a moment.
“It’s time to start forgiving him, my most wonderful husband.
He’s your brother, and I want him back in our lives.”
He’s your brother, and I want him back in our lives.”
His hands were tight on her waist, but still he said nothing.
“He deserves another chance, my love.
He deserves to have a family again.
Especially since”—she pulled one of his hands around so that it rested on her stomach—“that family is going to be growing.”
He deserves to have a family again.
Especially since”—she pulled one of his hands around so that it rested on her stomach—“that family is going to be growing.”
His eyelids snapped open at that.
“You’re not—”
“You’re not—”
“Oh, yes, I am.
We are.”
She grinned at him.
“I really am lucky you only have one testicle, because we’d end up with twelve kids otherwise.”
We are.”
She grinned at him.
“I really am lucky you only have one testicle, because we’d end up with twelve kids otherwise.”
“You are aware that it is the mother who decides the number of babies—”
“A mere triviality,” she said, waving away such mundane things.
“Please, Iakovos.
For me?”
“Please, Iakovos.
For me?”
He sighed heavily, shifting her on his lap so that she rested back against him, his hands on her belly.
“You’re going to make my life hell until I give you what you want, aren’t you?”
“You’re going to make my life hell until I give you what you want, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am.
It’s what I do best.”
It’s what I do best.”
“If I do this for you, will you learn how to spell our name?”
“Perhaps.
Maybe.”
Maybe.”
“Harry .
.
.”
He growled into her ear.
.
.”
He growled into her ear.
She laughed and turned around to kiss him again, this man she couldn’t get enough of, content that he would do as she asked, and so much more.
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