Page 41

Brooklyn

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Six Days Later

"Did she belittle your profession?" Madison asks, irritated.

Normally, my sister isn’t exactly sweet, but the closer we get to her due date, the more it seems like her hormones are driving her out of control.

"I don’t care. She’s not the first snobbish person I’ve come across. I just wasn’t expecting her to be so rude."

"Rude how?" Eleanor asks, her face hardening.

"I’m biased, Mom, because I really disliked her. His father, on the other hand, seemed very laidback. He even asked me to bring the twins over."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea," my sister says.

"Me neither," I reply. "Honestly, that didn’t even cross my mind. For his sake, I’ll be nice and give the witch another chance, but involving my kids in this equation is a whole different story."

"Mama, nice!" Soraya shouts in her unique language—what I call 'baby talk'—clapping her hands.

"That’s right, love. Mama is nice."

We’re in the kitchen of our house. Madison has been staying with us, following a request from Zeus, who doesn’t want her to be alone in the weeks leading up to the babies’ birth.

It’s late afternoon, and my kids are already back from daycare. They usually nap after they get home, but today they’re unusually hyper.

They’ve danced to their imaginary music—music only they can hear—clapped their hands, scattered toys all over the floor, and handed out kisses.

"See what’s waiting for you, huh? They’re in sync, like they can read each other’s minds."

"I’m so excited for them to be born. I don’t even care about sleepless nights; I just want to look at my babies’ faces."

I smile, happy to see her joy. "I think I’ll have another slice of cake, Mom. It’s so light and soft. Athanasios isn’t coming to pick me up for dinner until around eight, anyway."

I’m getting up when one of the bodyguards, who usually stays outside keeping watch in a car, walks into the kitchen.

"Dr. Athanasios asks that the young lady answer her phone," he tells me.

I roll my eyes.

It’s been exactly half an hour since I left my phone in my room, but Mr. Control Freak can’t handle even the slightest disobedience.

I head to my room and return the call.

"Is everything okay?" he asks as soon as I pick up.

I’m torn between being annoyed by the overreaction and touched by the concern. In the end, I decide there’s no reason to argue. "Yes, everything’s fine. I left my phone in my room. I was in the kitchen with my family, having a snack."

"The twins are already home, right?"

God, this is why I can’t stay mad at this man. Even though his dominant nature borders on madness, he remembers little details like the time my kids get home from daycare, which makes me melt inside like hot caramel sauce.

"Yes, and they’re full of energy today. It’s like their batteries never run out."

He lets out one of his rare laughs. "It’s good they’re awake. I was counting on it."

"Why?"

"Go to the living room door, but don’t hang up the phone."

I walk to the house’s entrance, and when I get there, everyone’s already gathered, probably because Athanasios instructed the security guards to tell my family to go there, too.

"What’s going on?" I ask him.

"Open the door, Brooklyn."

I grip the doorknob, knowing that whatever is outside must be a good surprise because his voice sounds like that of a boy about to pull off a prank.

God, don’t let me fall so fast, I pray silently, though deep down, I know it’s already happened.

I’m not the type to surrender the way I have to him unless my heart is fully in the game. Athanasios won me over without me even realizing it, and now I find myself on a path of no return.

"Aren’t you going to open the door?"

"I’m working up the courage."

“Don’t be silly. Not every surprise is bad, Brooklyn. I’ll show you that for the rest of our lives.”

For the rest of our lives.

His words send a shiver of pleasure through me, but I push the feeling away because it’s too dangerous to trust them.

"What’s happening?" Eleanor asks.

"I think there’s a surprise outside, but he doesn’t want to tell me what it is."

"Come on, Brooklyn, don’t be a coward."

"Listen to your sister," he says.

I finally open the door, but I’m dumbstruck when I see my boyfriend holding a little puppy with a red bow around its neck.

I step back, and the kids see the puppy.

It’s as if they planned it. Both start screaming and jumping at the same time, and I, weak as I’ve become since the coma, cry uncontrollably.

Soraya and Silas are in love with the neighbor’s dog, and every time we run into it on the sidewalk, they lose their minds.

Athanasios steps inside, pulls my head close, and gives me a soft kiss on the lips. "He’s vaccinated and very gentle," he says.

I nod in agreement because I wasn’t even worried about that. I know how careful he is and that he’d never bring an unvaccinated animal near the kids.

"Doggie," Silas tries.

"Puppy," Soraya chimes in, coming closer to where we are.

Athanasios kneels and explains to the kids that they need to pet their new friend gently. The twins may not understand a word, but they seem very focused on the instructions.

I, on the other hand, am too emotional to say or do anything.

Madison comes closer to me. "You’re in love with him," she whispers for only me to hear.

I don’t even try to deny it. "How could I not?" I whisper back. "It’s like he’s devised a plan to win me over, which is ridiculous, I know. A man like Athanasios can have any woman he wants."

"Which means he must be in love too."

"I don’t want to think about that, Madison. There’s a dreamer inside me that still wants the full fairy tale. If I get my hopes up, I could get hurt badly."

"Then don’t think. Just live."