medical research has been done on your condition. Did your doctor tell you?”
“No. I’ve only seen him once.”
“He’ll no doubt discuss this with you during one of your appointments with him.”
Kellie thought about all the anguish she’d been through hoping to get pregnant. “It doesn’t matter now. I’m going to have my hands full raising my twins.”
“Nothing could make me happier in that regard. But you need to keep in mind what I’m telling you for the future. You’re only twenty-eight. In time you could find yourself remarried and wanting another child.”
She shook her head. “No, Dr. Savakis. That part of my life is over.” Though they hadn’t been able to make their marriage work, Leandros had spoiled her for other men. He’d been the great love of her life. There would never be another.
“You say that now, but one never knows what the future will bring.”
“I—I appreciate that,” she stammered, “but I can’t think about anything else except raising my children.”
“I understand,” he said kindly. “If you have any problems while you’re here in Athens, call me. There’s a Dr. Hanno on staff here who’s an OB and works with high-risk patients. If you’re going to be in Greece for any length of time, I’d advise you to call him and make an appointment for a checkup. Tell him I referred you. And don’t forget. I’m always at your disposal.”
“Thank you, Dr. Savakis. You’ve been wonderful. I want you to know I’ll always be grateful.”
Kellie left his office in the medical building attached to the hospital and took a taxi back to the Civitel Olympic Hotel in central Athens. She was exhausted and hungry. Tomorrow morning she’d approach her soon-to-be ex-husband, wherever he happened to be. Her breath caught just thinking about seeing him again. It was better for her mind not to go there.
Once she had dinner in her room, she’d phone her aunt and uncle to let them know she’d arrived safely.
It was after eleven at night when the door connecting Leandros’s office with his private secretary’s opened. Everyone had gone home six hours go. It was probably one of the security guards, but he still resented the interruption. He looked up to discover his sister-in-law on her way in with a tray of food in hand.
A scowl broke out on his face. “What are you doing here, Karmela?”
“Mrs. Kostas told me you’d be working through the night to get ready for your mysterious trip. Is it true you’re leaving in the morning?”
“That’s not your concern.”
“I thought you’d like a cup of coffee and some sandwiches to help you stay awake.” She put it on his desk.
“You should have gone home with everyone else. I’m not hungry and need total quiet to work through these specs.”
“Well, I’m here now.” She grabbed a sandwich and sank into one of the chairs near his desk to eat. “Don’t be grumpy. I worry about you. So do Mom and Dad. They’ve tried to get you to come to dinner, but you keep turning them down.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Where are you going on your vacation?”
“That’s confidential.”
“I’m family, remember? I like to do things for you.”
“You need to lead your own life. I appreciate the coffee, but now you have to go.”
She didn’t budge. “You shouldn’t have married Kellie. She wasn’t good enough for you, you know.”
His hands curled into fists. Before Kellie had shut the door on him in Philadelphia, she’d expressed the same sentiment to him. He’d been crushed that she would even think such a thing, let alone say it to his face.
But for Karmela to dare speak her mind like this made him furious. She was never one to worry about boundaries. His first wife, Petra, had warned him about it and had asked him to overlook that flaw in her sister.
Unfortunately, tonight Karmela had stepped over a line he couldn’t forgive. Something wasn’t right with his sister-in-law. He recalled the times Kellie had made a quiet comment about Karmela’s familiarity with him. And how many times did you brush it off as unimportant, Petralia?
He fought to control his temper, but it was wearing thin. “You’ve said enough.”
“Ooh. You really are upset.” She got up from the chair. “The only reason I came in here was to help you.” Tears filled her eyes. “You used to let me when Petra was alive.” Only because Petra asked me to be kind to you. “I miss her and know you do, too.”
He’d had all he could tolerate. “Leave now!”
“Okay. I’m going.”
“Take the tray with you.” He kept the coffee.
At the door she turned to him. “How long will you be gone?”
“I have no idea. In any event, it’s no one’s business but mine.”
“Why are you being so hurtful?”
“Why do you continually go where angels fear to tread?” he retorted without looking at her. “Good night. Lock the door on your way out.”
Relieved when the sound of her footsteps faded, he got back to work. In the morning he’d call Frato and go over the most important items before he took off. His eyes fastened on the picture of Kellie that sat on his desk. He was living to see his golden-blond wife again. Though they’d both hurt each other, he’d do whatever it took to get her back.
When Kellie awakened the next morning, she was so nervous to see Leandros again, she decided it was a mistake to have come to Athens. The talk with Dr. Savakis had opened up thoughts and feelings she’d been trying to suppress.
Soon after their wedding she’d been diagnosed with a semen allergy, but the doctor had said he saw no reason why they couldn’t get pregnant. She and Leandros went to their first artificial insemination appointment with such high hopes. Kellie wanted a baby with him desperately. He was eager for it, too, and had made certain his business matters didn’t interfere while they went through the steps necessary for conception to work.
Leandros had been so sweet and tender with her about their situation. Like any happily married couple wanting to start a family, they’d waited for the signs that meant she had conceived. Two months into their marriage, her period came. Leandros had kissed her and loved her out of her disappointment.
“Next month,” he’d whispered.
Knowing he was disappointed, too, she’d loved him back with all the energy in her, wanting to show him she wouldn’t allow this to dampen her spirits. Once again they went back to the hospital, for another try, only to be disappointed the following month.
So many tries full of expectations, but each waiting period had seemed harder than the last, contributing to the problems that had slowly crept into their marriage. What bittersweet irony that now they were divorcing, she was pregnant.
After she showered and got dressed, she phoned for a breakfast tray. Halfway through her meal she panicked. What she ought to do was go right back to Pennsylvania and phone him when there were thousands of miles between them. But it would be the cowardly thing to do. Her aunt and uncle never said as much, but she knew they’d be disappointed in her if she left it to a phone call.
You have to tell him.
You can’t leave it up to anyone else.
Whatever is ultimately decided about the children, he has the right to hear it from you in person.
All the voices speaking in Kellie’s head finally drove her to follow through