“I’d love it.”
“I promise you will.”
He ordered them wine. She felt like they’d gone back to the past. But you’re in the present now, Alexa. Remember that. “How are your friends adjusting to the fact that you have a daughter who now claims some of your time?”
“Tio’s gone, and I’ve never socialized much with my business associates. As for women, there’s been no one recently.” That particular piece of news shouldn’t have pleased her. “Any rare free time has been spent with family and Irena. I enjoy scuba diving with Yanni and Kristos.”
Alexa sipped her wine. “I never did learn.”
“You’re welcome to join us if you ever want to try it. If you remember, I promised to teach you one day.”
As if she could forget anything he’d said or done. “Thank you, Nico. Maybe I’ll take you up on it.”
“When?”
She laughed out loud. “That sounds just like you. I’d say whenever we both have time.”
“I’ll make time.”
“So will I. These days I’m working on a project that will keep me busy for another couple of months.” Alexa wanted to do anything with him, but didn’t want to sound too eager. All she could do was wait for more signs.
“That sounds intriguing,” he murmured. “Tell me about it.”
Their food came and they started to eat.
“After I got my BEd to teach, I went on to obtain a master’s degree in classical mythology. Later on I compiled a series of myths I could water down for grade-school children. It took several years to find an agent. In time a publisher got interested. I worked with their art staff and eventually my collection came out in both English and Greek.”
He stared as if he’d never seen her before. “Congratulations.” His deep voice curled through her. “I remember how much you loved them.”
“They fascinated me. The collection had enough success that I was encouraged to compile another series of myths for young adults.”
“You amaze me you could do it at all.”
“I believe the experience has been cathartic for me. I’ve worked on this collection with a different concept in mind by exploring a basic emotion and making it the title of each story.”
“I’m impressed by your brilliance.”
She smiled. “I didn’t write those myths, Nico. All I’ve done is try to present them in an interesting way for teenagers.”
His eyes narrowed. “Have you included Hera’s myth?”
“No. I—I couldn’t.” Her voice faltered.
“I’m glad. That myth needs to be buried forever.”
Oh, Nico...
Alexa took a deep breath. “If you want to read something creative and historic right out of my grandfather’s incredible mind, you should sink your teeth into his first drafts of his ambassador memoirs on Cyprus. Then he’ll start on his book about his experiences in Canada.”
Nico finished the last of his wine. “I hope you mean that and make them available to me. More and more I’m realizing what an exceptional man Gavril is. He’s had the job of being husband, father, grandfather, then starting again being a father to you and to Dimitra, all the while handling the difficult job of two ambassadorships. Since you’ve inherited his genes, it’s no wonder you’re a star in your own right.”
Heat filled her cheeks. “Hardly that.”
“Do you write under your own name?”
“I’ve always gone by Alexa Soriano Remis. Soriano was my grandmother’s maiden name.”
“I noticed that on the birth certificate. Maybe we’ll find a copy of one of your books in the bookstore here on the island.”