Nico walked over to Gavril and clasped his hand. “I swear I’ll love your granddaughter forever. I’m also making another promise to take care of you for the rest of your life.”
The older man’s eyes filled. He wiped away the moisture as Alexa came back in the living room and kissed her grandfather. She wore the blue-on-white-print dress and carried a handbag. “You’re right. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of.”
Nico helped her out to the car and drove them to headquarters. En route he turned to her. “You look heavenly.”
“Thank you. You look wonderful too. But Nico...there’s something I haven’t told you.” Her voice shook.
“What? That you can’t have any more children? Because if you can’t, we’ll adopt.”
“No. I’m talking about my grandfather.”
“While you were getting dressed, I told him I’d take care of him to the end of his days.”
“But you don’t understand. He needs me. Once Dimitra is married, he’ll be too lonely. I could never leave him.”
“You won’t have to. I’ll be your husband and plan to move in with you.”
She stared at him in utter astonishment. “You have your own home.”
“We’ll have the villa in Sarti for a getaway and to entertain. You can be sure that Kristos and Dimitra will use it a lot. But now that we’re getting married, my permanent home will be with you. I’ll move in while the lovebirds are on their honeymoon. Gavril has taken care of you all these years. Now it’s my turn to help him.”
“I would never expect that of you, Nico.”
“But I want to. Think what he did for me while I wasn’t there. Naturally your grandfather is the most comfortable in his own home with Phyllis taking care of him. It’s centrally located for friends who want to come by and visit. It’s close to my work and the university where you teach. That’s the way our life will be while I do all I can for you and your family.”
Alexa broke down sobbing, the last reaction he’d expected.
“What have I said that has upset you so much?” By now they’d reached headquarters.
She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. “I’m not upset. I’m just overawed by your kindness to my grandfather.”
“He’s a remarkable man, and we’re going to do everything right this time. A new chapter of life is starting, and we’re not in our dotage yet. First we’ll become man and wife as we’d planned ages ago.”
“But I might not conceive.” In desperation she cried, “If we do go through with this wedding, then I want you to give me your solemn promise about something.”
“What’s that?”
“If I haven’t become pregnant within four months, then you’ll move back to your villa. We’ll get a quiet divorce so you can find a woman to marry who can give you a child. It’s what you want and I refuse to stand in your way.”
He turned off the engine and turned to her, giving her a penetrating glance. “Since I got you pregnant the first time we made love, I’m willing to bet the same thing will happen again, so I’ll make you that promise.”
Alexa couldn’t believe it. “Y-you mean it?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“I always mean what I say, but four months doesn’t give us much time. Just so you understand. If you are pregnant in four months’ time, we’ll stay together forever. I want your promise you won’t back out.”
“Of course I won’t. You’re teasing me again.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
He laughed before opening the door. “Now that we’ve cleared the air, we need to go. My pilot is waiting to fly us to Sithonia.”
* * *
The flight to Sithonia presented breathtaking images of the mountains and greenery. It gave a different perspective than driving there. Alexa sat behind the pilot while she marveled over the scenery from the helicopter.
“You’ve found paradise here, Nico. I can well understand why you settled here.”