Page 14

Brooklyn

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The Next Day

"Did he really say that? In those exact words?" Madison asks.

I nod in agreement.

"And how did that make you feel?"

"How do you think? My knees are still weak. Have you even looked at that man?"

"No. I don't admire any man other than my Greek."

I roll my eyes. "All that sweetness is going to give me diabetes, sister," I mock.

She laughs. "Seriously though, I already knew," she says.

"What do you mean?"

"Even when you were in a coma and I came to visit, I caught him looking at you differently."

I feel my heart race against my will. "You're imagining things, Madison."

"Why? Do you think he couldn't possibly be interested in you?"

"I'm certain he isn't. That man, besides being gorgeous, is a respected neurosurgeon, Madison, while I'm...just me."

"Don't belittle yourself like that, Brooklyn. Just because that scumbag fooled you doesn't mean all men are the same."

"How could I have been so stupid, Madison? After everything we went through with our father, how could I let myself be deceived like that?"

She now knows the whole story and has cursed Moses—or whatever his real name is—with every insult imaginable when I told her that my children don't even have a real father listed on their birth certificates.

"I wanted a family so badly. To give my babies more than what we had growing up. And now, they'll never even know who their father really was."

She shakes her head. "It's a good thing that bastard is dead, otherwise, I'd kill him myself. As for Dr. Athanasios, I understand that you're scared and need time to sort things out in your head, but don't close the door completely, Brooklyn. He's not a boy; he's a man. And he knows you're Zeus's sister-in-law. I doubt he's just looking for a fling."

"You're reaching too far, sister. Again, I ask you to take a good look at him. We live in two entirely different worlds."

She chooses to ignore my argument, focusing on what interests her. "He really said he'd come after you?"

"Yep."

"And how did that make you feel?"

"Should've been fear, right? After everything I've been through, the last thing I need is to get involved with someone again."

"But it wasn't fear?"

"No. It was excitement. Butterflies. I'd have to be dead not to feel flattered by the interest of a man like him. But still, I don't have time for any kind of relationship right now. I need to focus on my kids. On starting over."

"You know Zeus will support you. All the Kostanidou will, actually."

"Maybe at first, but I want to stand on my own two feet. I'm so grateful for what they did for Silas and Soraya while I was in a coma, but they’re my responsibility. The only thing I'll accept is the lawyer Zeus offered to help me remove that liar’s fake name from my kids’ birth certificates. I’d rather have only my name there than a false one."

"When they grow up, will you tell them the truth?"

"Yes, Madison. We spent much of our lives living a lie with our father. I'm not going to raise my kids in a bubble."

Thirteen Days Later

"You’ll have to stick to the exercises even now that you’ll be at home, Miss Foster," Paul, the physical therapist, says.

"For how much longer, Paul?" I ask. "Don’t get me wrong, but these exercises are so boring."

He laughs. "I know, but you told me you no longer feel muscle strain when you walk, which means my work has paid off."

"I'm sorry if I sounded rude saying the exercises were boring. They obviously worked. In those first few days after I woke from the coma, I thought I’d never walk normally again."

"You're not at 100% yet, but you're close. A few more weeks, and you’ll be able to say you’ve fully recovered."

"I don't even know how to thank all of you. You've been amazing."

"Now that you're no longer my patient, can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"I give my all to every patient, but I’ve never rooted for someone’s recovery as much as I did for yours. What happened to you was a nightmare, Miss Foster. My mom and I prayed for you and your babies every night. I truly hope that from now on, God blesses you with a good life."

"Thank you, Paul. I have a lot of faith and believe that everything in life happens for a reason. Maybe I had to go through this ordeal. I’ll be fine."

"Oh, you will be," says Miss Inara, entering the room. "Make sure you live a good life, Brooklyn, and don’t forget to visit me. I’ll miss you." She comes closer and hugs me, sniffing.

"I’ll miss you too."

"God, I hate goodbyes," she says.

"This isn’t a goodbye, really. My stepmother’s house is here in Manhattan. I’ll come see you."

"I hope so. I’ll be waiting anxiously."

"Ready?" comes the voice of the man who, against my will, still makes my heart race.

When the three of us turn around, Athanasios is standing in the doorway.

Both Miss Inara and Paul quickly leave, waving goodbye again.

"Yes. I’m waiting for my sister and Zeus."

"I’ll take you."

"What?"

"I’m discharging you, Brooklyn. From now on, you’re no longer my patient. I’ll still monitor your case, but I’ve assigned my best neurologist to take over."

My heart races like crazy. "Why did you do that?"

"I told you I’d come after you. It’s time."

"You can’t be serious. I’m a mess. You could have any woman you want."

"Yes, I could. But I want you." He steps closer, and I shiver. "Are you scared? Just tell me there’s nothing between us, that it’s all in my head, and I’ll leave you alone."

"I’m not afraid of anything," I reply, completely avoiding the question.

I should tell him to stop, like I was advised, but what if I never feel this thrill in my stomach again?

The corner of his mouth lifts at my response, and I’m mortified because I think he can see the dilemma written all over my face.

But he doesn’t use it against me.

"Come on. Your family must be eager to see you."