Page 49

Zoe

“Congratulations, baby. Would I sound too smug if I said I knew this was going to happen?”

“How?” I ask my mom, smiling.

“I’m old, but I can recognize a couple in love when I see one.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Danae interjects. “I also noticed when they were at our house. I think we know our kids pretty well, don’t you, Macy?”

I smile when she refers to her son as a child. When I look at him, he’s shaking his head, too, probably for the same reason.

We’re all gathered in the main house on the island, telling my parents over video call that we’re getting married.

Danae and Alekos arrived earlier today, and my mother-in-law—yeah, I guess I can call her that now—was overjoyed when she heard the news.

I still can’t believe it. I feel so happy, but I’m afraid it was all just a dream.

Earlier today, Christos met with his legal team. They said that the false marriage issue would be resolved within two months. My fiancé didn’t like this and demanded a month as a deadline. Then he told me that he wanted us to get married as soon as a judge ruled that my relationship with Mike was invalid .

“So, where are you planning to get married?” my mom asks.

“On our farm,” I answer quickly, looking at Christos.

“You have your answer, my dear mother-in-law. Zoe decides, I say yes.”

I roll my eyes. “As if.”

“Said like that, even a stranger would believe him!” his mother says, laughing. “You and your father are the same. If I let him, Alekos would even choose the color of my underwear.”

“Too much information, Mrs. Danae,” Christos says.

My mother laughs.

There’s a light mood all around, and I wish for a future with a house full of children, family Christmases, and lots of love.

Those last two are already guaranteed. I feel loved and welcomed by both Christos and his parents. That, in my book, qualifies as a jackpot.

“I’m going to talk to Yuri and see if he can help me with the wedding arrangements, and I’m sure Bia will want in as well.”

“Speaking of whom, how is she?” Mom asks.

“Well, after what happened, she said she wants to make changes in her life. She no longer wants to be an agent. She’ll leave everything in Miguel’s hands and take a year’s sabbatical. She’s already a hundred percent recovered from . . . our accident.”

I look at Christos and see his jaw clenching.

“I’m glad divine justice was done,” his mother says. “That cruel man got what he deserved,” she finishes, referring to Mike.

“Well, we have to go now, sweetie. We loved the news. I hope I’m well enough to attend your wedding.”

“You will be, Mom. I’m sure.”

We spend a couple more minutes talking in the living room, but then I excuse myself and leave. I have something to do.

I go up to my room, and with my phone and little Pauline in hand, I leave the house and head for the beach.

Half an hour and many photos later, I sit on the sand, looking out at the sea.

“Hey, friend, I hope you can see from heaven how happy I am. I’m going to marry my Greek, I mean, my Greek god , according to his ego,” I joke. “I didn’t come to talk to you before because, right after the fire, my head was a mess. I don’t know how to deal with difficult news, and I received it in bulk. My parents’ house was destroyed, Bia was in a coma, and in the midst of it all, I moved in with Christos.”

I smile thinking about what he said the other day, that life took a turn and we ended up in the same place—in each other’s arms.

“Needless to say, I’m beyond relieved that my marriage to Mike, which never really worked, even in the eyes of the law, was a lie. He’s such a bad person; I can’t even list which parts I hated the most. No, that is not true. With everything he did to me, the one thing I won’t ever forgive him for was trying to kill my family. God may one day think he deserves a second chance and get him out of hell, which is where I’m sure he is, but I reserve the right to hate him for now. Anyway, I just wanted to say ‘hi’ and reassure you that I haven’t forgotten about our project. The photo shoots will go on, but the modeling career will not last much longer, I hope. I will always carry you in my heart wherever I go, but the time has come to live my life a little too, Pauline.”

“Want some company?”

I look back and see Christos coming my way. I pat the sand beside me. “Yours? Always.”

“Taking pictures with your friend?” He positions himself behind me, hugging me with his arms and legs. I feel surrounded by a wall, and the feeling is delicious.

“Yes. I haven’t done it in a while because I like to send good vibes when I talk to Pauline, and at first, right after the fire, I was really upset.”

“Fucking pissed off.”

“What?”

“You don’t have to temper your feelings, Zoe. You are human, and you have the right to go crazy sometimes. You weren’t upset; you were fucking pissed off because that bastard had nearly destroyed your entire world. He lied about marrying you when he was already married. Then he stole you and, in the end, tried to kill you. You have the right to express how you really feel. Scream, allow yourself to curse, and feel angry.”

“I internalize my feelings. ”

“Most of the time, so do I. I’m not good with words. But I don’t think it’s healthy for you to hold back when you’re angry.”

“Even if it’s with you?”

“Especially with me. We are forever . I don’t want a TV commercial kind of relationship but a real one. I’m Greek, and I have a hellish temperament. I’m controlling and arrogant, and I have no doubt that we will fight many times.”

“You can bet on it. After all, I love making up with you afterward.”

I feel his chest flutter behind me, and I know he’s laughing.

“Am I going to have to take you to sex addiction therapy, future lady Lykaios?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine with my addiction. In fact,” I say, getting up, taking off my shorts and shirt, leaving only my bikini on, “I want more.”

NEW YORK

One Month Later

“Are you telling me I’m single now?” I ask the lawyer who is talking to Christos and me on a video call.

“Yes. In fact, Miss Turner, you have always been. All that was needed was for the authorities to register that.”

Ignoring that we’re not actually alone, I jump into Christos’s lap and hug him.

I was working on a painting when he sent the maid to let me know he wanted to see me. I’ve enrolled in an online painting course to de-stress. I’m not Picasso , but I like my creations. The course has helped me manage my anxiety.

We arrived in New York three days ago. We went back to Boston from Greece because I wanted to see my parents, but Christos had to come here to deal with some business issues.

“Did you hear that? Let’s get married,” I say to my fiancé, happy as a fool.

“Thanks, Steve,” Christos says, ending the call with the lawyer. “Tomorrow?” he asks me with one of his rare smiles.

“Not so quickly. I have yet to give my final approval for the dress. And there are some party details to figure out.”

“Leave it in Yuri’s hands. I’m sure he’ll sort it out quickly.”

“Also, Bia. She already told me that she wants to be the one to arrange the reception.”

“Okay, Miss Turner. As long as it means I won’t wait long until I see you walking towards me in a white dress.”

“And I can’t wait to have you naked on our wedding night.”

“Sassy girl.”

“ Your sassy girl.”

I am finishing the last few strokes on a painting I want to give as a gift to my mother when my phone rings. I don’t answer right away because I don’t recognize the number, but the caller is insistent, and huffing, I give up on trying to ignore it.

“Hello?” I answer, in a bad mood.

“Zoe?”

“Who is it?”

“Nelly Howard. Is this a bad time?”

Mike’s mother? What the hell does she want?

“Huh . . . no. I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize the number.” Nor your voice because you never wanted to interact with me. But I keep that second part to myself.

“You wouldn’t have. We only met once.”

Something in her tone pisses me off, so I decide I’m not going to prolong the suffering. “I don’t mean to be rude, but is there a particular reason you’re calling me? When my parents lost everything, I understand you said you didn’t want to talk to any of us.”

“Yes, I was very angry.”

“With me? Forgive my bluntness, but it was your son who tried to kill me and my family. So if anyone should be mad, it would be me.”

“Yes, I know. I was depressed. The police notified me sometime after the fire at your parents’ house that my Mike had died in a car accident.”

“If you’re expecting me to apologize for not calling to offer my condolences, that’s not going to happen. I have some faults, but falsehood is not one of them.”

“I didn’t expect to hear you were sorry, and I didn’t call to cause a fight, just to have an honest chat. I went back to church, and the priest advised me to try to make amends with the past. Fix my mistakes.”

“I don’t get it.”

“When Mike married you, I knew he was already married. That’s why I didn’t show up at the registry office that day. I didn’t want to be a part of that scam.”

“What? Are you telling me that you knew your son was committing a crime, knew he was deceiving me and my family, and you kept quiet?”

“Yes. I know what I did wasn’t right.”

“Wasn’t right? You let your son drag me into an illegal relationship!”

“I’m not asking you to understand my reasons. I just wanted to apologize. When you become a mother, you’ll see that there are no limits to what you would do for your child.”

“I will never become that kind of mother. Loving a child means raising them with good principles, and that includes teaching them right from wrong. When you failed to tell me the truth, Mrs. Howard, you gave Mike your blessing. I wish you luck in asking God for forgiveness, but you won’t get it from me. Have a good afternoon.”

I hang up the phone, feeling my chest lighten. Maybe that’s what Christos meant about externalizing when I’m angry. I could have offered her my forgiveness, but it wouldn’t have been truthful. I don’t intend to harbor resentment, but I don’t want anything to do with Mike, and that includes his mother.