As she walked to her car, she was left with one heart-wrenching, undeniable truth. You’ll always be in love with him.
* * *
Nico watched the elevator doors close.
A primordial urge to go after her shook him to the core. The desire for her that had burned nineteen years ago blazed hotter than ever. All the pain he’d lived through hadn’t extinguished it. Knowing what she’d done to keep the knowledge of their child from him, hearing her reasons why, still hadn’t killed his longing to be with her. How was that even possible?
Yet she’d left his office as soon as he’d told her about the family party and how the news he had a daughter would get out and impact all their lives. The Mara he’d loved would have stayed and ended up in his arms. But he had to get it in his head that she’d grown up and changed. There was no Mara. She’d turned into Alexa.
This was one time when he needed Tio—the one person who’d been there at the height of Nico’s pain and could understand what seeing Alexa again, now, meant to him. Only his best friend could know what Nico was going through right now and would tell him this insanity would pass. But would it?
Dimitra was a constant reminder of her mother. The thought that he’d never be free of his memories was so terrifying, he rushed over to the desk and buzzed his secretary to tell him that he was leaving. Irena had become his best friend. He’d drive over and talk to her about how he could have a relationship with his daughter that didn’t include Alexa.
* * *
But a half hour later, his talk with Irena on the patio brought no relief.
“Kristos has told me how much Dimitra already loves you, Nico. But she also adores her mother, even if she’s in turmoil right now. You and Alexa are her parents, and you’re both going to be included in her life from now on. The sooner you can handle that the better because... I have news. I would have called you if you hadn’t come over.”
Nico didn’t like the sound of more news and got to his feet.
Irena eyed him with compassion. “Kristos gave her a ring last night.”
He stopped pacing. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. He loves her. Now that her circumstances have changed, he wants to protect the woman he loves.”
“I agree. So it’s up to you and me how we accept the news, even if we still believe it’s too soon. My father-in-law will erupt when he hears.”
“If I know your son, he won’t care and wants to shout it to the world.” Nico had felt the same way about Mara.
She nodded. “He already asked me if we could have an engagement party here, but I told him nothing could be done without her mother being involved.”
Nico rubbed his lower lip with his thumb. “I was with Alexa at my office earlier. She doesn’t think Dimitra will forgive her for what she did. But what you’ve just told me has given me an idea. Do you know Kristos’s schedule for today?”
“Only that he was picking up Dimitra and probably wouldn’t be home until late.”
“Good. That might give me ti
me to tell Alexa the latest news and plan a strategy that will help mother and daughter work through their pain.”
“If anyone can bring that about, it’s you, Nico. But what about your pain?”
“Like you said, the sooner I can handle the fact that Alexa and I are both inextricably involved in our daughter’s life, the better. Thanks for talking to me, Irena. You’ve been a big help. Now I’ve got a phone call to make and will tell you the outcome later.”
He kissed her cheek and let himself out to make the call. Maybe Alexa didn’t want to hear from him so soon, but a part of him rejoiced that he had a vital reason to talk to her before the day was out. What was wrong with him? Where was his loyalty to Raisa to even be thinking this way?
* * *
After picking up some groceries, Alexa drove home filled with anxiety. Dimitra still wasn’t speaking to her, and she couldn’t bear it. After seeing Nico and hearing about his family party, she wanted to connect with her daughter and know how she was feeling about her new family. So far, Nico had been Alexa’s only conduit for information.
Once in the house, she realized no one was home. Phyllis had probably taken her grandfather out on this beautiful day. Dimitra had to be off with Kristos. Alexa put the groceries away, remembering those moments in Nico’s office when she would have given anything for him to pull her into his arms. How insane was that? As if her thoughts had conjured him, her phone rang and she saw the caller ID.
Her heart leaped to her throat before she answered it, struggling to sound normal. “Nico?”
“Have you heard the news?” he asked without preamble.
She trembled. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“That’s good. Do you have plans for the rest of the day?”