Page 84

“Dinner will be ready soon,” Leo said. “Why don’t you two go see how Yiayia’s doing in the kitchen?” Leo said.
They ran off together, leaving Piper and Leo alone. He took her hand in his. “Do you know how much I love you?” He leaned toward her and kissed her lightly on the lips. “You saved Stelli’s life. And risked your own.”
“Stelli has taught me a lot. I saw myself as so evolved and wise. Don’t get me wrong—I worked hard to bring myself out of deep grief and self-hatred after Ethan’s and then Matthew’s and Mia’s deaths. But I got a little too cocky, threw around a lot of high-sounding advice without putting anything into action. I want the children to be able to come to us with all their hopes and dreams and fears. I was never able to do that with my own parents, and I won’t let the same thing happen to Evie and Stelli.”
“You’re incredible. The kids are so lucky. And so am I.”
She smiled at him and rose from the sofa. “I’m going to see how your mom’s doing with dinner.”
The children burst out of the kitchen just as Piper entered it. “Whoa, where are you off to?”
“Yiayia said dinner’s ready and to get you and Daddy,” Evie said.
Piper laughed. “Okay. Go get your father.”
She walked over to the stove, where Evangelia was stirring a pot of heavenly-smelling soup. “That smells wonderful. Lemons?”
“Avgolemono.Egg and lemon soup,” she said. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” Piper said.
Leo’s mother had come to stay with the children while Piper was in the hospital. She had come up to Piper’s bedside the first night after she’d been released. Pulling a chair next to the bed, she had reached for her daughter-in-law’s hand. “I’m so sorry,pethi mou, I misjudged you terribly.”
Piper had been pleased by the sincerity in Evangelia’s tone and her use of the affectionate term,my child.
“We all made wrong judgments. There were so many things I didn’t know. I wish...” Piper stopped, too choked with emotion to go on.
Evangelia shook her head. “Shh, it’s okay. Don’t upset yourself. The important thing is to move forward. You are strong. Just what the children need. And what Leo needs. I will never forget that you risked your life to save my grandson.” She’d squeezed Piper’s hand. “You are my daughter now.”
All Piper had ever wanted was a mother who loved her, who would take care of her. “I would like that very much,” she said.
“Kala, good. No more misunderstandings between us. If you have a problem with me, you tell me. I do the same. Now, is okay for me to come for a few days to take care of you until you’re on your feet again?”
“I would love that,” Piper had answered. Now Piper put a hand on her mother-in-law’s back.
Evangelia turned from the stove. “Go sit. You mustn’t tire yourself. I’m here to help, remember?” Her voice was stern, but she gave Piper a warm smile.
“Okay.”
Leo and the kids were waiting in the dining room, and he pulled out a chair for her. Evangelia came in with the soup and set it down on the table.
“Who wants to help Yiayia get everything else?”
Stelli jumped up. “I will.”
How different he was after everything they’d gone through. They had turned a corner and the old bratty Stelli was gone. Piper leaned back in the chair, her shoulder beginning to throb. She’d declined prescription meds, having seen too many people quickly become addicted to them. The ibuprofen took the edge off, but it didn’t eliminate the pain.
“You okay?” Leo asked.
She shook her head. “Yes. Just hurts a little, but I’ll be okay.”
Evangelia and Stelli returned with bread and the soup.
“Thank you again, for everything, Evangelia,” Piper said.
“It is my pleasure, sweetheart.” She stopped a minute, then continued. “I know it is not the custom in America anymore”—she held up a hand—“and is okay if you don’t want, but I would love if you would call me Mom.”
The children both looked at Piper expectantly, and she hesitated only a moment. “Thank you, Mom.”