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For a long time, neither of us lets go, our arms locked around each other.
“Stay,” he whispers in my ear again.
“I have no intention of going anywhere far from you. There’s no place I’d rather be than here, in your arms.”
Athanasios
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Two Nights Later
I’ma little nervous as I park in front of Madison’s house, and I think my girl notices.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her hand resting on my thigh.
Brooklyn went to the hospital today for a check-up and, as we planned, met me in my office afterward.
“Why does something have to be wrong? We’re just having dinner with your relatives.”
“Athanasios Pappakouris, you’re hiding something from me.”
“Me?” I ask, pulling her in for a kiss and hiding a smile. “Maybe.”
I send a message to Eleanor to let her know we’ve arrived, as she’s an essential part of my plan. Then I step out to open the car door for Brooklyn.
“You’re making me anxious.”
“You were born anxious.”
“Yeah, I can’t deny that.”
My heart is pounding, and I pull her into my arms, stopping her in her tracks. I take her hand and place it over my chest, on the left side. “Feel that?”
“You’re alive,” she says with a smile and a wink.
“Yes, and this heart will beat for you until the day I leave this planet.”
“Athanasios . . .”
Brooklyn has her back to the house, and from my peripheral vision, I see my “plan” approaching.
Soraya and Silas are walking toward us, smiling. She’s holding a small ring box, and he’s carrying a bouquet of red roses. Behind them comes Popcorn, with a card in his mouth, and I’d really like to know how they trained him not to eat the message.
All three are dressed formally. Our little girl is wearing a long dress, and Silas and Popcorn are in tuxedos with red bow ties.
“You’re being too serious.”
“Mama!” the twins call out in unison, and only then does she realize we’re not alone.
When she turns around, she bursts into laughter and looks back at me.
“You didn’t . . . You set me up!” she says, laughing.
“I never said I played fair, Brooklyn. I want you, and I’ve assembled my own team to leave you with no way out.”
She hugs me and then walks over to where the kids are. She kisses each of them and pats Popcorn on the head.
“Is there an order to this?” she asks, pointing at the gifts.