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Upon seeing Leo, she pulled her hair back into a loose knot at the base of her neck, drawing his eyes to the delicate spot where her neck and shoulders met. Her loose peasant blouse dipped down on one side, exposing a sun-kissed shoulder as she bent to scoop up a few of Adonis’s toy soldiers.
Leo fought the urge to run his fingertips over her tempting skin and trace the light freckles.
She straightened and shifted her top to cover her shoulder, and Leo wished she hadn’t bothered. He liked seeing this more casual side of her, dressed in shorts and barefoot. White nail polish adorned her toes, making them stand out against the plush beige carpet. Her comfort level around Nefeli and Adonis reminded him of Nia.
A memory of Nia and Nefeli crawling around the floor sprang upon him. Nia’s curls fell into her eyes as she pretended to trumpet like an elephant, her swollen belly pulled nearly to the carpet by gravity. Nefeli trumpeted in reply and she swung her arm in front of her face like a trunk. They were playing zoo only a few days before Adonis was born. Nia was gone a week later.
The happy memory mixed with the sorrow of losing his wife, and he felt moisture prick at his eyes. He blinked rapidly to shoo the tears away, hoping they went unnoticed.
Rose stowed the soldiers in a small drawstring bag and set the bag on the coffee table.
The children dashed into Leo’s arms with a cry of “Papa.”
He hugged his kids before they turned their greetings to Stavros.
Leo needed to score some one-on-one time with his children and with Rose but wasn’t sure how to do it without arousing her suspicion.
Perceptive as always, Stavros said, “I have some work to attend to. But before I go, tell me about your adventures. Did you have a good day?”
“Yes, we went to Del-pie,” said Adonis.
“Delphi,” Rose said. “Remember the f sound in the middle. Try again, Adonis.”
Leo was impressed by Rose’s gentle correction of his son’s mispronunciation.
“Delphi.” Adonis looked at Rose for confirmation.
She smiled at him. “Very good.”
Adonis beamed back at her.
“And what was your favorite thing about Delphi?” Leo asked.
Stavros sat on the couch, and so did Leo. Rose took a chair, and Adonis sat on her lap. Nefeli landed on the floor cross-legged and pulled out some paper doll dresses to color. The tip of her tongue poked out of her mouth as she concentrated—a trait she’d picked up from her mother.
“I liked the rocks,” Adonis said.
“He climbed quite a few of them at Delphi and at the temple of Apollo.” Rose ruffled his hair.
“I liked Apollo better,” said Adonis. “The rocks were flat, and I could walk on top of them.”
“What about you, Nefeli?” Leo asked.
Without looking up, she answered, “I liked the theater.”
“We climbed every stair!” Adonis jumped off Rose’s lap.
Leo couldn’t help but smile.
“Yes, we did,” Rose said. “Lots of stones are required to seat five thousand people, and I think we walked on every one of them. Do you remember what we found at the top?”
“The Olympics!” Adonis ran around the room with a triumphant arm up.
Leo imagined him carrying a torch.
“Almost.” Rose laughed.
Leo liked the sound of her laughter, pure and lighthearted.