Page 65

A year and a half later

“I wish I had come sooner. I’m sorry it took so long. Almost six months ago, I brought you here, but I still didn’t have the courage to come visit you,” I say to my friend, bending down to place flowers on his grave.

I asked Dionysus to bring him to New York. That way, I could visit him whenever I felt homesick. It didn’t make any sense to keep him alone in California. He had no relatives there. In fact, Keith has no one who will remember him except me and Joseph, one day.

Yes, my husband and I talked about it a lot, and we came to the conclusion that, when Joseph grows up, we will tell him the truth about his adoption.

“I don’t know if you’ve been following the latest news, Keith, so I wanted to tell you that everything was fine in the end. Those who did you harm, the two traitors, were punished. Sue died in that accident I survived, and Cage never even went to trial. He actually died in jail. And I have something to confess to you.”

I look around to make sure I’m alone in the cemetery, but I only see Anderson and the security guards at a distance, waiting for me.

“I think it’s possible that Dionysus, one of the Kostanidis, the Lykaioses, or who knows, all of them together, had something to do with his death. For all I know, the Greeks who are now my relatives can be cruel when it comes to protecting their loved ones. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming them. In fact, I’m grateful, even if I’ll never confess it out loud. In the end, you were vindicated. I love you, Keith. You will always be my best friend, and I hope you are at peace in heaven. I am happy. I have my family and children. A part-time career at Elina’s Association. I have you here with me, and most importantly, I have the love of my life by my side. I promise I won’t wait so long to visit you again. Take care.”

I start walking to the car when I see another vehicle pull up behind Anderson’s.

I smile, shaking my head, and stop walking, waiting for my controlling man to come over to where I am. “Why am I not surprised that you came?”

He kisses me and pulls me into his arms. “I was worried that you would push yourself too hard,” he says, stroking my five-month pregnant belly, and guess what? We’re having twins! Two more Kostanidou are on the way.

“Besides,” he continues, “this is the first time you’ve come to visit Keith since I brought him here from California. An important occasion. For the rest of our lives, I will be present in everything that is important to you.”

“It’s because you say things like that, that you never get in trouble with me, Greek. You manage to be, at the same time, a Neanderthal, and the most loving man in the world.”

“I’ve been practicing, redhead. I’m such a stubborn mule, but I learn quickly. And if there’s one thing I’ve understood since you came into my life, it’s that I never want to lose you.”

“Will you be a perfect husband, then?”

“No, I can’t promise that. I have too many flaws to aim for perfection. But I promise you that I will remind you every day how crazy I am about you, my .”