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Along Came Twins…
Rebecca Winters


Kellie Petralia, soon to be exwife of Greek billionaire Leandros, is miraculously pregnant with twins!As Kellie surprises Leandros with the news, they’re just days away from divorce, but Leandros has other ideas… He’s determined to do whatever it takes to repair their marriage. But can he convince Kellie that miracles can happen twice in one family?












TINY MIRACLES


Two best friends find love, happiness —and little bundles of joy!

Friends Fran and Kellie have been through

thick and thin together since childhood,

and now both are facing the fact that their dreams

of motherhood might never happen.

Follow the two women’s stories as they fall in love

with two gorgeous Greeks, and find happiness

beyond their wildest dreams, as well as the little

longed-for miracles they never thought possible…


Dear Reader,

Along Came Twins is the second book in my series TINY MIRACLES. in my first book, Baby out of theBlue, the heroine had to deal with the problem of never being able to give birth to a baby. in this second book the heroine must go through artificial insemination in order to try and get pregnant—but all seems hopeless.

In real life, one of my dear sisters and her husband adopted two precious babies. Then lo and behold, maybe ten years later, she found herself pregnant— and a year later was pregnant again. They now have four precious children. Our family considers those babies miracles!

I’d like to dedicate this book to my sister Heather and all those would-be mothers waiting for their own miracles to happen.

Enjoy!

Rebecca Winters




About the Author


REBECCA WINTERS, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in salt lake city, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. as well as her favorite vacation spots in europe, they often end up as background for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.

Rebecca loves to hear from readers. if you wish to email her, please visit her website, www.cleanromances.com.




Along Came

Twins…

Rebecca Winters







www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)




CHAPTER ONE


“DR. SAVAKIS? Thank you for seeing me at the end of your busy day. When Dr. Creer, my doctor in Philadelphia, told me I was pregnant with twins, no one could have been more surprised than I was. You wouldn’t know that since my last visit to you before I left Athens, I filed for divorce. It will be final in a few days.”

Her fertility doctor shook his balding head. “After such a joyous outcome, what a pity, Mrs. Petralia. I remember how excited you both were to know your allergy problem didn’t have to interfere with your ability to conceive. Now that you’re pregnant, I’m extremely sorry to hear this news.”

No one could be sorrier than she was, but she didn’t want to discuss it. “I still need to tell my husband, but it isn’t the kind of thing he should hear over the phone. That’s why I’m here in Greece for a few days.”

“I see.”

“I wanted to pay you a visit to let you know the procedure worked. After all we went through together, naturally I wanted to give you my personal thanks.” Her voice caught. “It’s been a dream of mine to have a baby. Despite my failed marriage, I’m ecstatic over this pregnancy. Leandros will be thrilled, too. As you know, his first wife died carrying their unborn child, and he lost them both. Without your help, this miracle would never have happened.”

She should have gone to Leandros first with the news, but decided that by coming to their doctor to tell him her marriage was over, it would make the divorce more real somehow and help her to face Leandros.

Dr. Savakis eyed her soberly through his bifocals. “I’m glad for you and pleased you phoned to see me. How are you feeling?”

“Since the doctor prescribed pills that help my nausea, I’m much better.”

He smiled. “Good. You’ll need to take extra care of yourself now.”

“I know. I plan to, believe me.”

“As long as you’re here, I have information that might interest you at some later date.”

“What is it?”

“More medical research has been done on your condition. Did your doctor tell you?”

“No. I’ve only seen him once.”

“He’ll no doubt discuss this with you during one of your appointments with him.”

Kellie thought about all the anguish she’d been through hoping to get pregnant. “It doesn’t matter now. I’m going to have my hands full raising my twins.”

“Nothing could make me happier in that regard. But you need to keep in mind what I’m telling you for the future. You’re only twenty-eight. In time you could find yourself remarried and wanting another child.”

She shook her head. “No, Dr. Savakis. That part of my life is over.” Though they hadn’t been able to make their marriage work, Leandros had spoiled her for other men. He’d been the great love of her life. There would never be another.

“You say that now, but one never knows what the future will bring.”

“I—I appreciate that,” she stammered, “but I can’t think about anything else except raising my children.”

“I understand,” he said kindly. “If you have any problems while you’re here in Athens, call me. There’s a Dr. Hanno on staff here who’s an OB and works with high-risk patients. If you’re going to be in Greece for any length of time, I’d advise you to call him and make an appointment for a checkup. Tell him I referred you. And don’t forget. I’m always at your disposal.”

“Thank you, Dr. Savakis. You’ve been wonderful. I want you to know I’ll always be grateful.”

Kellie left his office in the medical building attached to the hospital and took a taxi back to the Civitel Olympic Hotel in central Athens. She was exhausted and hungry. Tomorrow morning she’d approach her soon-to-be ex-husband, wherever he happened to be. Her breath caught just thinking about seeing him again. It was better for her mind not to go there.

Once she had dinner in her room, she’d phone her aunt and uncle to let them know she’d arrived safely.

It was after eleven at night when the door connecting Leandros’s office with his private secretary’s opened. Everyone had gone home six hours go. It was probably one of the security guards, but he still resented the interruption. He looked up to discover his sister-in-law on her way in with a tray of food in hand.

A scowl broke out on his face. “What are you doing here, Karmela?”

“Mrs. Kostas told me you’d be working through the night to get ready for your mysterious trip. Is it true you’re leaving in the morning?”

“That’s not your concern.”

“I thought you’d like a cup of coffee and some sandwiches to help you stay awake.” She put it on his desk.

“You should have gone home with everyone else. I’m not hungry and need total quiet to work through these specs.”

“Well, I’m here now.” She grabbed a sandwich and sank into one of the chairs near his desk to eat. “Don’t be grumpy. I worry about you. So do Mom and Dad. They’ve tried to get you to come to dinner, but you keep turning them down.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Where are you going on your vacation?”

“That’s confidential.”

“I’m family, remember? I like to do things for you.”

“You need to lead your own life. I appreciate the coffee, but now you have to go.”

She didn’t budge. “You shouldn’t have married Kellie. She wasn’t good enough for you, you know.”

His hands curled into fists. Before Kellie had shut the door on him in Philadelphia, she’d expressed the same sentiment to him. He’d been crushed that she would even think such a thing, let alone say it to his face.

But for Karmela to dare speak her mind like this made him furious. She was never one to worry about boundaries. His first wife, Petra, had warned him about it and had asked him to overlook that flaw in her sister.

Unfortunately, tonight Karmela had stepped over a line he couldn’t forgive. Something wasn’t right with his sister-in-law. He recalled the times Kellie had made a quiet comment about Karmela’s familiarity with him. And how many times did you brush it off as unimportant, Petralia?

He fought to control his temper, but it was wearing thin. “You’ve said enough.”

“Ooh. You really are upset.” She got up from the chair. “The only reason I came in here was to help you.” Tears filled her eyes. “You used to let me when Petra was alive.” Only because Petra asked me to be kind to you. “I miss her and know you do, too.”

He’d had all he could tolerate. “Leave now!”

“Okay. I’m going.”

“Take the tray with you.” He kept the coffee.

At the door she turned to him. “How long will you be gone?”

“I have no idea. In any event, it’s no one’s business but mine.”

“Why are you being so hurtful?”

“Why do you continually go where angels fear to tread?” he retorted without looking at her. “Good night. Lock the door on your way out.”

Relieved when the sound of her footsteps faded, he got back to work. In the morning he’d call Frato and go over the most important items before he took off. His eyes fastened on the picture of Kellie that sat on his desk. He was living to see his golden-blond wife again. Though they’d both hurt each other, he’d do whatever it took to get her back.

When Kellie awakened the next morning, she was so nervous to see Leandros again, she decided it was a mistake to have come to Athens. The talk with Dr. Savakis had opened up thoughts and feelings she’d been trying to suppress.

Soon after their wedding she’d been diagnosed with a semen allergy, but the doctor had said he saw no reason why they couldn’t get pregnant. She and Leandros went to their first artificial insemination appointment with such high hopes. Kellie wanted a baby with him desperately. He was eager for it, too, and had made certain his business matters didn’t interfere while they went through the steps necessary for conception to work.

Leandros had been so sweet and tender with her about their situation. Like any happily married couple wanting to start a family, they’d waited for the signs that meant she had conceived. Two months into their marriage, her period came. Leandros had kissed her and loved her out of her disappointment.

“Next month,” he’d whispered.

Knowing he was disappointed, too, she’d loved him back with all the energy in her, wanting to show him she wouldn’t allow this to dampen her spirits. Once again they went back to the hospital, for another try, only to be disappointed the following month.

So many tries full of expectations, but each waiting period had seemed harder than the last, contributing to the problems that had slowly crept into their marriage. What bittersweet irony that now they were divorcing, she was pregnant.

After she showered and got dressed, she phoned for a breakfast tray. Halfway through her meal she panicked. What she ought to do was go right back to Pennsylvania and phone him when there were thousands of miles between them. But it would be the cowardly thing to do. Her aunt and uncle never said as much, but she knew they’d be disappointed in her if she left it to a phone call.

You have to tell him.

You can’t leave it up to anyone else.

Whatever is ultimately decided about the children, he has the right to hear it from you in person.

All the voices speaking in Kellie’s head finally drove her to follow through with her agenda.

She asked the front desk to phone for a taxi. In a few minutes she found herself being driven along Kifissias Avenue toward the Petralia Corporation office building in downtown Athens. When it pulled up in front, she paid the driver and got out.

After taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and opened the doors, where Giorgios, looking like a well-dressed prizefighter, sat at the security desk near the entry. When he saw her, he shot to his feet in surprise.

“Kyria Petralia—”

Her chocolate-brown eyes fastened on him. He was one of Leandros’s bodyguards and fiercely loyal to him. “Good morning, Giorgios. It’s nice to see you. Is my husband on the premises?”

“He arrived an hour ago.”

The news relieved her, since she hadn’t relished the thought of trying to hunt Leandros down. He could have been out of the city doing business right now. Then again, he could have been at his apartment here in Athens, or at his villa on the family estate on Andros.

“If you still want a job with him, you won’t let him or Christos know I’m here,” she said in fluent Greek.

His expression turned to shock before Kellie walked around his desk to the elevator located behind him. Unless Leandros made a helicopter landing on the roof after his flight from Andros Island, the elevator existed for his exclusive use when he entered or left the building from the street. For convenience sake it opened to the foyer of his private inner sanctum on the top floor. Giorgios had orders to guard it with his life.

She pressed her hand to the glass by the door, wondering if it would still recognize her code. For all she knew, Leandros had deleted it. But no, the door opened. She entered, still feeling Giorgios’s stunned gaze on her before it closed.

A little over a month ago she’d left Greece, vowing never to return. But a week ago nausea had driven her to make an appointment with her doctor in Philadelphia. When he told her what was wrong with her, a transformation had taken place inside Kellie. It transcended the anguish and pain of the past year and gave her the spine she needed to face Leandros one more time.

Their divorce would soon be final. She intended for nothing to change in that regard, but since this totally unexpected contingency had arisen, it required an alteration in the documents their two lawyers had drawn up. Twenty-four hours should give Leandros’s attorney enough time to take care of the necessary changes.

Kellie was desperate to catch her husband off guard; it was the only way to get through this final ordeal with him. She dreaded it, knew it would hurt, but had no other choice. For that reason she hadn’t even told her best friend, Fran Meyers, she was coming.

Fran was now married to Nikolos Angelis, a good friend of Leandros’s. They lived here in Athens with Nik’s baby niece, Demi, soon-to-be their adopted daughter. If Nik knew of her arrival, he’d have phoned Leandros. Among the legal papers in her purse was evidence of the restraining order she’d placed on Leandros to call off her bodyguard. Yannis had been her shadow for the two years she’d been married to Leandros. But when she’d demanded a divorce, she’d drawn the line at the retired secret service agent following her to the States. Leandros had been forced to comply, with the result that he had no prior knowledge she’d flown to Athens yesterday.

As the elevator carried her skyward, Kellie planned to take care of business as quickly as possible. She knew she’d soon be on her way back home to Philadelphia, where she’d been living with her aunt and uncle for the last month. But that was about to change.

By next week she’d move her aunt and uncle from their small apartment into a lovely four-bedroom brick row home in Parkwood with her. It was a charming residential neighborhood in the far northeast corner of Philadelphia, perfect for children. She’d already put down a deposit. A new life awaited her, but first things first.

When the elevator stopped and the door opened, Kellie took a deep breath and headed through the foyer. She walked past Christos, her husband’s chief bodyguard. He started to reach for his phone to warn Leandros, but she put a finger to her lips and smiled. He nodded and sat down again.

A few more steps and she reached the entrance to her husband’s private suite, which was also protected by a security code. As CEO of the Petralia Corporation, which built resorts all over Greece, he was one of the most successful businessmen in the country and had been a target for crazies long before Kellie had met him.

She had no idea what she might be interrupting, but that wasn’t her concern anymore. It had been on her wedding day, two years ago, when Kellie realized she had an enemy in Karmela Paulos. Karmela was the sister of Petra, Leandros’s first wife, who’d been pregnant when she’d died in a plane crash. At Kellie’s wedding to Leandros, the beautiful, fashionable Karmela would willingly have scratched Kellie’s eyes out if she could have gotten away with it.

Fran had been Kellie’s matron of honor and had witnessed the obvious fact that Karmela had hoped to become the next Mrs. Leandros Petralia. But it didn’t happen, so his sister-in-law had done the next best thing by becoming indispensable to Leandros, first as a confidante to the grieving widower, who was family, and later as a secretary in his inner office, under Mrs. Kostas. With cunning, Karmela had worked her way to the top floor, where she had daily contact with him.

Combined with the stress Kellie had been under because she couldn’t conceive, plus her struggle with feelings of inadequacy, the situation had grown intolerable for her. After much thought and soul-searching, she’d told Leandros she wanted a separation, and had left on a trip with Fran. But because of disastrous circumstances, it came to an abrupt end, with her friend staying in Athens to be with Nik. At that point Kellie had left for Philadelphia.

On the night before she was due to fly back, she’d had a fainting spell and Leandros had taken her to the ER. When the doctor could find nothing wrong, she was sent home with the warning to eat, so it wouldn’t happen again. They’d just returned when Karmela, whose hand was obviously recognized by the security entry, slipped into their apartment, as she’d done when Petra still lived there.

The fact that Leandros said nothing about his sister-in-law letting herself in unannounced had led Kellie to worry that he had more than brotherly feelings for Karmela. After all, she did resemble Petra. Perhaps, as Kellie had confided to Fran earlier, Karmela had become his pillow friend?

Evidently his brazen sister-in-law figured she had free reign with Leandros now that Kellie was leaving him. Her smiling, catlike eyes stared boldly at Kellie as she explained she’d brought some work for Leandros that needed his attention. Before she slipped out the door again, she’d wished Kellie a safe flight back to the States. No doubt she thought she’d seen the last of her. Kellie knew that her presence would knock the daylights out of Karmela, but this wasn’t about her. It was about them—Leandros and Kellie—and their babies.

She put her palm against the glass next to the door. She suspected Karmela’s manipulative smile would falter when Kellie walked into the office and word eventually circulated about the miraculous news. Everyone close to Leandros knew he’d mourned the loss of his first wife and unborn child, who would have been a girl.

Despite Kellie’s impending divorce from Leandros, for him to learn he was going to be a father again would come as a tremendous thrill. But it would deal a near fatal blow to his sister-in-law’s plans to have him for her own.

Kellie knew in her heart that Karmela was waiting for her chance to provide him with a living heir. At least that’s what Frato Petralia had confided to Kellie at the wedding, after having too much to drink.

Frato was Leandros’s good-looking first cousin and closest friend in the family. Still single, he was one of the vice presidents of the corporation, and enjoyed the company of several beautiful women, which didn’t surprise Kellie at all. That evening he’d said quite a few things she didn’t take seriously in the beginning, but over time she realized he’d spoken the truth.

On the day Leandros mentioned in passing about hiring Karmela to work under Mrs. Kostas, she’d tried not to let it affect her. But her first impression of Petra’s sister at the wedding wouldn’t leave her alone. She’d seen the way Karmela had behaved and talked to him. Karmela was no impartial bystander. Two years later the younger woman had insinuated herself into Leandros’s office life, and who knew how much more. But it was all history now.

The elevator door opened silently along the wall away from his desk. Leandros sat in his swivel chair, half turned from her while engaged in an intense business discussion with Frato on the speakerphone. She recognized his voice.

At first glance she realized Leandros needed a haircut and a shave. There were wavy tendrils of dark hair, a shade away from being true black, clinging to his bronzed nape. It looked as if he’d been running his hands through it. The sleeves of the white shirt he wore had been pushed up to the elbows. Given his condition, and the accumulation of coffee cups on the desk, she could imagine he might have spent the night here.

She’d never seen him like this before. He was thirty-four, yet he looked five years older right now. Her normally fastidious, temperate husband was nowhere to be found. Kellie had seen him truly out of control only once before. It was the night she’d told him she wanted a divorce. In a way, this was worse—different, even—because there was a savage air about him. For a second she feared she’d done the wrong thing by coming here without his knowledge. But with so much riding on this, she couldn’t run from him now. Too much was at stake.

Finding her courage, she called out softly to him. “Leandros?”

She knew he’d heard her voice, because his hard, lean body seemed to freeze in place before he slowly swung around to face her.

He’d lost weight. A pronounced white ring encircled his taut mouth, testifying to his incredulity at seeing her here. It stood out almost as much as his gray eyes, which had gone black as pitch at the moment. Their color reminded her of the dark sky before the tornado had struck the Petralia resort near Thessalonika five weeks ago, killing little Demi’s parents.

Frato was on the other end of the phone line, still talking. Leandros muttered something she couldn’t understand, before he hung up. His haunted look sent a shiver of alarm through her body. She sensed he was ready to spring from his chair.

“Don’t get up,” she urged, and walked over to one of the chairs in front of his desk to sit down. Not only had her legs turned to mush at the sight of him, she couldn’t handle him touching her. He was still the most gorgeous man she’d ever known. In that regard, nothing had changed.

Kellie heard his sharp intake of breath. “What in the name of all that’s holy brings you back to Greece?” His deep voice sounded so shaken, she hardly recognized it. His overarching look of disbelief sent a fresh shock wave of despair through her. The month apart had done the rest of the damage to their marriage, crushing the rubble to microscopic bits.

Suddenly there was a tap on the door and Karmela started to enter. “Not now!” Leandros snapped. Kellie had to admit she’d never seen Leandros this upset with an employee. Maybe he hadn’t even realized it was Karmela.

Kellie was shocked by the other woman’s sangfroid before she did Leandros’s bidding. She was tall enough to wear the attractive black-and-white dress skimming her figure. With her hair falling like a silky black curtain, she was extraordinarily beautiful and would cause a traffic jam when she walked down the street.

Since she and Petra shared such a strong resemblance, Kellie could well imagine how his former wife had turned the sought-after bachelor into a married man. Karmela’s hourglass figure was so different from Kellie’s rounded curves.

The younger woman closed the door, but not before she shot Kellie a venomous glance. That reaction alone vindicated Kellie’s belief that Karmela planned to win Leandros one way or another, if she hadn’t already.

“Karmela still works for you, I see. And is still dropping in unannounced. As I recall, the last time we thought we were alone, Karmela dropped by with some papers for you. Though she didn’t find us making love, she certainly could have if we hadn’t been on the verge of divorce.”

That was the first time Kellie had truly feared Leandros had been unfaithful to her with Karmela. Before that time, she’d only worried about the other woman’s behavior.

“She was wrong to have done that, Kellie.”

“It certainly was wrong, but you didn’t say so at the time. I was so hurt when you let her come to work for you, and I told you as much, but you kept her on. We’re almost divorced, yet she still works for you. As I’ve told you many times, your sister-in-law always had a habit of insinuating herself around you.

“Even a little while ago she walked in without as much as a tap on the door, but it’s all right with you because she’s family.”

Why did she sound so bitter? Kellie wondered. It was no longer her concern what Karmela did with Leandros. They were getting divorced. But the thought that he’d replaced her so soon hurt more than she could ever admit.

His beautiful olive complexion darkened with lines. “It’s never been all right with me and I am going to do something about it. I’ll ask you again. Why are you here?” He seemed to have lost some color.

Clearing her throat, she said, “I have news that demanded I come here in person.” She was in possession of certain facts that would alter his world forever.

His hooded gaze pierced hers. “Has something happened to your aunt or uncle?”

Kellie could understand why he’d asked that question. He’d been wonderful to them from the moment he’d first met them. “This has nothing to do with them. They’re fine.” She moistened her lips nervously. “A week ago I was so nauseated, I went to the doctor in Philadelphia to find out what was wrong. I learned that I’m…pregnant.”

His dark head reared back in complete shock. “What did you say?” She heard excitement exploding inside him before he’d even had time to assimilate the news. Though he’d never given up hope they would get pregnant, Kellie had stopped believing such a miracle would happen to them.

She breathed in deeply. “I’m more amazed than you. It seems that the last artificial insemination procedure I underwent worked. Impossible as it sounds, Dr. Creer says I’m already seven weeks pregnant.”

A triumphant cry escaped Leandros. He leaped out of his chair, charged with an energy that transformed him before her eyes. Her pulse raced, because she’d known this would be his reaction. “The doctor said it’s the reason I fainted the night before I left Athens. My periods have never been normal, so I never suspected anything.”

Leandros came around and hunkered down in front of her, like a knight kneeling before his lady. When he grasped her hands, she could feel him trembling. Emotion had taken the blackness from his eyes, filling the gray irises with pinpoints of light. “We’re going to have a baby?” There was awe in his voice as he kissed her fingertips. The news had started to sink in, but he didn’t know all of it yet.

“There’s more, Leandros.”

Fear immediately marred his striking features and his hands gripped hers tighter. “Did the doctor tell you you’re a high-risk pregnancy? Is something wrong?”

“No,” she rushed to assure him. After he’d lost his first wife and unborn child, she didn’t want to put him through such anxiety again. He didn’t deserve any more trauma in that regard.

His expressive black brows furrowed. “Then what do you mean?”

Averting her eyes, she said, “The doctor ordered an ultrasound.”

“And?” His voice shook.

“The technician detected two heartbeats.”

“Two?” His explosion of joy reverberated off the walls of his office. “We’re going to have twins?”

She nodded. “They’re due March 12.”

“Kellie—”

The next thing she knew he’d picked her up and wrapped her in his strong arms, burying his face in her neck. She felt moisture against her skin as he crushed her against him. He’d been at the hospital with her to do his part while they’d gone through procedure after procedure. Every time it turned out she hadn’t gotten pregnant, he’d been there to comfort her and promise her it would happen next time. He never gave up, and now they were going to be parents. But it was too late for them. The situation had put too much strain on both of them.

His reaction to the news was all she could have wanted if they’d been happily married, but that was the excruciating point. Their marriage was over and had been for months.

Soon they’d be divorced. Having his babies wouldn’t solve what was wrong between them. When he lifted his head to kiss her, she put her hands against his chest to separate them, but he wasn’t having any of it.

“Don’t push me away, agapi mou. Not now,” he cried. Before she could move, he drew her back into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her with startling hunger. She could taste the salt from his tears. Her mind and body reeled from the passion only he could arouse.

For a moment she responded, because it had been so long since she’d known his touch, and because she simply couldn’t help herself. But when he moaned and deepened their kiss, she remembered why she was here.

Since he was physically powerful, her only weapon was to refrain from kissing him back until he got the message. He went on kissing every inch of her face and hair till it slowly dawned on him she was no longer participating.

A tremor shook his tall, hard-muscled body before he released her with reluctance. Dazed by his passion, she sank down in the chair behind her. His eyes searched her features, trying to read her. “Are you still suffering from morning sickness?”

“No,” she answered honestly. Though she’d love to use it as an excuse, she couldn’t. From here on out, everything she told him would be the whole truth and out in the open.

Dr. Creer was very worried about her going through a divorce right now. He’d warned her that since she didn’t want to burden her aunt and uncle with her problems, then she needed to find an outlet to deal with all her emotions. Keeping them bottled up inside was the worst thing for her at a time like this. She could tell Dr. Savakis had been worried about her, too.

After being alone with her thoughts for the last month, she realized the doctor was right. She’d gone about things wrong in her marriage. She was sick of trying to protect herself, Leandros and everyone else. But no longer. No more mistakes if she could help it. That’s why she’d come all this way. “The doctor has given me medication for it.”

His hands went to his hips, as if he needed to do something with them. Unfortunately, he stood too close to her, affecting her breathing. “This pregnancy puts a different slant on our impending divorce.”

“I know. That’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

“You do realize that a great deal of our pain came from trying to get pregnant without results,” he reminded her grimly.

“So now that I’m carrying your child, you think that erases everything?”

“No,” he murmured, “but you’ve just brought me news I’m still trying to assimilate. One moonlit night on the sailboat, after we’d been disappointed a second time, you lifted tear-filled eyes to me and asked me if it was asking too much to reach for the stars. I told you we’d keep reaching for the stars and the moon. Now you’ve just told me we’ve been given both!”

“I remember.” She averted her eyes. “Please sit down so we can talk.”

Studying her through veiled eyes, he hitched himself on a corner of his desk. It still wasn’t far enough away from her, but that was as much room as he was willing to give her. “I have a better idea. We’ll go to our suite at the hotel, where we won’t be disturbed.”

He was referring to the Cassandra, the main Petralia five-star hotel in Athens, where he kept an elegant, permanent suite. It was like a small house, really, with three bedrooms, a dining and living room and kitchen facilities.

When she’d stayed at the hotel with her aunt and uncle on their first trip to Greece, that’s where she’d met him. Some of her happiest memories of their life together were associated with the Cassandra before they were married. It would be painful to go there.

“Why do we have to go to the hotel? Why not the apartment?”

He moved off the corner of the desk. “We can’t go to the apartment because I sold it to Frato three weeks ago. I’m living at the hotel.”




CHAPTER TWO


LEANDROS HAD SOLD his fabulous penthouse to his cousin? Kellie couldn’t believe it. Stunned by the news, she said, “What’s to stop Karmela from hurrying over to the hotel with something important for you before the day is out?”

He breathed in sharply. “It’ll never happen again.”

Kellie blinked. “That sounded final. She must have received quite a shock to see me in here with you a few minutes ago, but no worries. I won’t be in Athens much longer.”

In the tangible silence that followed, Kellie lowered her eyes and opened her purse. Inside was the paper her attorney had drawn up. “If you’ll please read through this and consult with your attorney, then we’ll sign it and our divorce can go through as scheduled.”

Leandros made no move to take it. She should have known this was going to be a battle to the end. “That’s all right. I’ll read it to you.

“Point One. If and when one or both children are born, the mother will retain custody at her address in Parkwood, Pennsylvania.”

“Why if?” he demanded in an anxious voice. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”

“No. My attorney simply wanted to cover every contingency.”

Shadows darkened his features.

“Point Two. Liberal visitation rights will be offered to the father.

“Point Three. Both mother and father will discuss times when the mother will bring said child or children to Athens for visitation, and when the father will travel to Parkwood for visitation.

“Point Four. The mother asks for no additional money. The father can decide what monies he will afford for the child or children’s upbringing.”

She looked up at him. “It’s all very simple and straightforward.”

His eyes glittered a frostbite gray. “If you think I’m going to agree to that, then you never knew me.” The words seemed to come from a cavern miles underground.

“You’re wrong, Leandros. After being married for a while, I discovered the real you. That’s why we’ve reached this impasse.” Heartbroken, she stood up and left the paper on his desk.

With a grimace, he immediately wadded it in his fist before pocketing it. “When did you fly in?”

“Yesterday morning. I’m staying at the Civitel Olympic near the north park. You can reach me there after you’ve talked with your attorney.”

Leandros moved like lightning, preventing her from leaving the room. Standing in front of the door, he talked into his cell phone and rapped out instructions. When he clicked off, he said, “You won’t be going back to the Civitel. I’ll send Yannis for your personal belongings and have him bring them to you. We’re flying to Andros right now.”

Where else would he take her? It was his favorite place on earth. Hers, too, except… “You mean where Karmela and her family drop in on a regular basis to visit your family whenever you’re in residence there?”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “They come to visit my parents in their villa. As for my family, they’ve already left for the yearly reunion in Stenies village and will be gone overnight, so no one will be around. In any case, we’ll be staying in my villa. Shall we go?”

So much had happened in the last month, Kellie’s mind was spinning. Since he’d dictated the location for the conversation they needed to have, she was left with no choice but to go along with him.

After grabbing his briefcase, he opened the door that led to the elevator, and stepped in behind her. Their bodies brushed, sending darts of awareness through her as they rode to the roof, where the helicopter blades were already rotating.

She smiled at his pilot, Stefon, before climbing in the back to join Christos. Kellie had done this so often in the past, she strapped herself in before Leandros could do it. She watched him take the copilot’s seat and put on the earphones. Soon they were airborne for the short flight to Andros, an hour and a half from Athens by car and ferry. There was no airport, but with a helicopter, Leandros could be where he wanted in no time at all.

That pang of familiarity attacked her in waves as they left Athens and headed for the fertile green island in the Cyclades that Leandros called home. It was a contrast of craggy mountains, woods, valleys and streams rising out of the blue Aegean.

The Petralia estate was located on the eastern slope of a hillside with its share of vineyards, lemon and walnut groves near Gialia beach. To Kellie, the island was glorious beyond description.

Close by was the picturesque stone village of Stenies, with its paved streets. The cluster of villas on the estate had been built in the same traditional stone architecture of the region. Parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins…all lived in the vicinity.

Leandros loved it because tourism hadn’t been developed in this quieter area, thus preserving the whole place’s authentic character. After their wedding, at the church in Chora, Kellie had thought she’d found paradise on her honeymoon here, until she learned the Paulos family, among other wealthy families, lived on the same part of the island. The two families had enjoyed a warm relationship over the last fifty years.

Once she’d realized this was where Leandros had fallen in love with Petra, Kellie never felt as excited when they flew over on the weekends he didn’t have a business commitment elsewhere. To her growing discomfort, she’d often discovered Karmela and her parents were there visiting Leandros’s family at his parents’ villa. They would always call Leandros and ask him to join them. Their presence had to be a reminder of what he’d lost.

Since his feelings for home were intertwined with his memories of Petra, Kellie imagined he was a prisoner of both. To fight her pain, she’d preferred they stay at the apartment in Athens when she wasn’t traveling with him on business.

Now there was no apartment, but none of that mattered at this point. Wherever Leandros took her so they could talk, nothing would change the fact that they were getting a divorce, children or no children. There were some things they just couldn’t overcome, no matter how much her heart broke at the thought.

She’d done the right thing by coming to him with the news of his impending fatherhood. It was his Godgiven right. If he found a way to prevent the divorce from happening as soon as she’d anticipated, she would still go back to Pennsylvania day after tomorrow, and let her attorney deal with it.

While she was deep in thought, Stefon flew them over the capital town of Chora, where the tourists came in throngs to see its charming Venetian architecture. Farther on she spotted the seventeenth century tower of Bisti-Mouvela and the nearby church of Agios Georgios. Soon they were passing over the Petralia estate. It was a wonderful place with an old olive press building, all part of Leandros’s idyllic childhood and an intrinsic part of who he was.

The first time Kellie ever saw his romantic stone farmhouse with its flat roof, she’d fallen instantly in love with it. When she stayed there with him, she enjoyed the many terraces planted with fruit and nut trees that flourished in the climate, as well as shrubs, flowers and kitchen gardens. Hidden in the foliage was a small swimming pool.

One of her favorite features was the kitchen with its open fireplace. They could eat on two of the terraces, one alcoved between the kitchen and living room, the other above the master bedroom with its own garden and a view of the beach just steps away. Farther along the beach was the private boat dock housing various watercraft, including the sailboat he’d given her. One thing she’d learned early: Leandros loved the water and swam like a fish.

She thought about the babies growing inside her. After they were born, they’d enjoy this legacy from their father. When they came on visitation, they’d become water babies, too. But their roots would be firmly planted in Philadelphia.

There couldn’t be two places on earth more unalike. Almost as unalike as the way she and Leandros viewed their marriage and what was wrong with it. Kellie couldn’t bear to look back at what had happened to destroy their happiness, and fought tears as Stefon set them down on the east side of his parents’ villa.

Leandros was already removing his headset. Now that she was pregnant, she had to expect that he would watch over her with meticulous care for the short time she was back in Greece. He didn’t know any other way. That was one of the reasons she loved him so much.

Too much.

As he helped her down from the helicopter, his pulse raced to see moisture glazing those velvety brown eyes that used to beg him to make love to her. Until this minute, Leandros hadn’t seen a sign of emotion from his normally loving, vivacious wife.

Since Kellie had first told him she wanted a separation, she’d turned into an ice princess, erecting walls he couldn’t penetrate. For the last month they were together, he hadn’t been able to get through to her on any level. The hurt he’d felt had turned to anger.

During the months when she’d gone through one procedure after another to get pregnant, and been so brave about it, they’d both felt the strain. Every time her period came, they both suffered depression and had to fight their way out of it.

Sometimes the strain made them short with each other. Other times there were periods of silence over several days. The emotional turmoil took its toll. By the last month, he didn’t feel he knew his wife anymore. His disillusionment was so total, he’d been devastated.

Only the pregnancy could have caused her to venture back here. Though he was euphoric to learn he was going to be a father, his world would never be right again if the divorce went through without one more attempt to try and heal their wounds.

That’s why he’d planned to leave today, with a proposition to save their marriage before it became final. For her to have flown here with news of their babies had saved him from flying to Philadelphia. Leandros couldn’t have asked for a greater gift than her presence right now.

While the men disappeared to the guest cottage, she walked ahead of him, strolling down the flower-lined path to his villa in her pale orange sundress and jacket. His eyes followed the feminine lines of her hips and legs as she moved. In the summery outfit, his wife took his breath away.

Once upon a time they’d paused and kissed as they made their way along the ancient paths. But he had to push those rapturous memories to the background of his mind and start over with her again in a brand-new way.

Kellie waited for him to unlock the door, then stepped past him into the beamed living room with its simple white walls and hand-carved furniture. Her arm brushed against his, triggering a surge of desire for her with an intensity that caught him off guard. They’d been apart too long.

He set down his briefcase. “Why don’t you rest on the couch by the window and I’ll get us something cold to drink.”

“Thank you.”

When he returned a minute later with an icy lemon fruit drink for her, he found her seated on one end of the sofa, staring out at the beach. He handed her the glass. “Wouldn’t you like to put your legs up? Since we’re having twins, I’m sure the doctor told you to stay off your feet after your long flight from Philadelphia.”

“You’re right, but I had a good night’s sleep at the hotel and ate breakfast in bed before I took a taxi to your office.” She sipped her drink. “It’s a hot day and this tastes wonderful. Thank you.” Her controlled civility was anathema to him.

“You’re welcome. When you’re hungry, I’ll fix us some sandwiches.”

“I’m fine for now, but you go ahead.”

He frowned. “I haven’t had an appetite lately, but I can’t claim the excuse of pregnancy.” It wasn’t meant to be a joke and she didn’t take it that way. “How are you feeling physically?”

She avoided looking at him. “Dr. Creer says I’m in great shape. No problems in sight so far, but twins require special monitoring and I intend following his advice.”

“That’s good. Are you taking any other medicine besides your antinausea medication?”

“Just prenatal vitamins.”

He drank part of his drink, then got to his feet, too restless to sit there. “When you walked in my office, I was on the phone with Frato.”

“I know. I recognized his voice.”

Leandros stared at her moodily. “He’s taking over for me while I’m gone.”

That statement caused her to lift startled eyes to him. “Where are you going?”

“I told him I needed a vacation, but no one knows my plans.”

“You’re taking another one?”

It didn’t surprise him she’d ask that question. A month ago he’d taken time off to fly her back to Philadelphia. He was pleased to detect a note of concern in her voice before she smoothed her hands over her knees in what he recognized was a nervous gesture. “That’s right.”

“For how long this time?”

“For as long as it takes.”

She stared at him. “I don’t understand.”

Leandros rubbed the back of his neck. “I was going to take my jet and fly to Philadelphia today to talk to you about giving us another chance. If you hadn’t come to the office this morning, we would have missed each other.”

Her eyes widened, then grew shuttered, and her lovely features hardened. “It’s too late. Our divorce will be final soon. The fact that I’m pregnant changes nothing.”

“I get that, Kellie, but I’d like you to hear me out first.”

“What more is there to say?” The bleakness in her question crushed him. “I only came to discuss future visitation for our children and get it in writing.”

He had to weigh his words carefully. “Our babies haven’t arrived yet. Until they do, we have a lot to talk about that impacts our lives right this minute. What I need you to know is that I did listen to what you said to me before I flew home from Philadelphia a month ago. To my shame, it took me until last week to come to terms with it. I can’t lose you, so I’ve made a decision that will affect both of us.”

A troubled expression entered her eyes. “That sounds ominous.”

He sucked in his breath. “I’m willing to do as you asked and go to marriage counseling with you.”

Looking dumbstruck, she put her glass on the coffee table. “I thought you didn’t believe in it. I brought up the subject a year ago, but you were adamantly against it.”

He scowled in self-deprecation. “It’s my nature to believe only in myself, but after being apart from you this last month, I recognize how arrogant that was of me. Since you suggested counseling as a last resort, I’m willing to try anything to save our marriage.”

Besides her inability to get pregnant, which had tested them to the breaking point, there’d been other side issues throughout their marriage to exacerbate what was already wrong. One of them was Kellie’s insistence that Karmela had a crush on him. Whenever she’d brought it up, he’d dismissed it, telling her Petra’s sister was simply a clingy girl who needed lots of attention. Her behavior didn’t mean anything. In fact, Petra had asked him to be extra kind to her.

But, he remembered, when Karmela had said last night that Kellie wasn’t good enough for him, something in him had snapped. Mostly because in trying to do as Petra had asked, he hadn’t taken Kellie’s concerns seriously enough, he realized.

She got to her feet, as if on the verge of running away.

“I realize it will have to be someone you trust,” he added, “so I want you to pick the therapist.” Leandros knew this was a drastic departure from his former attitude, but he was desperate. Seeing her again proved to him he couldn’t live without her. “We can do it here in Athens, or we can fly to Philadelphia and find someone there. It’s your choice.”

Without saying anything, she moved over to the French doors and opened them to walk out on the patio. He followed her, inhaling her flowery fragrance and the scent of the lemon trees close by. Incredible to think that inside her beautiful body, their babies were already seven weeks old and growing.

“Are you too embittered at this stage to even consider it, Kellie? I wouldn’t blame you if you were…but I’m begging you.”

She clung to the railing. Still no words came.

“I’ve spent the last week doing research on the best therapists in the city and came up with a list of six names recommended to me. Four men and two women. Let me show you.”

He went back inside and reached for his briefcase. After pulling out his laptop, he set it up on the coffee table and turned it on. Kellie came back in and watched as he clicked to the file so she could see it.

“I was going to give you this list when I flew over to see you, but you can look at it now if you want. All the information I’ve gathered is here. But if this doesn’t interest you, I’ll fly you back to Philadelphia tomorrow and we’ll search for a therapist there.”

She shot him a startled glance. “You can’t just go back and forth from Greece between sessions. Therapy takes time.”

“I can do whatever I want. Frato will be running the company for as long as necessary. He knows the business the same as I do. With both our fathers still alive to advise him, along with other family members on the board, the company will function seamlessly. If you and I decide to do therapy in Philadelphia, then I’ll live there and do business. With your help, of course.”

“My help?”

“Yes. You once asked me if you could work for me. I told you I’d rather you didn’t, but I was wrong about that and a host of other things. We can be a team and scout out a property for the first Petralia resort in Pennsylvania. But since you’re pregnant, we’ll have to proceed as your health dictates.”

“You’re not serious,” she whispered.

“Try me and find out.” He fired back the response. “We’ll buy or build a house in Philadelphia near your aunt and uncle, if that’s what you desire.”

She shook her head. “And take you away from your family and responsibilities?”

“You’re my family. No one else is more important. If we decide to live there, I’ll step down as CEO.”

“I wouldn’t want or expect you to do that. Never!”

He stared into her eyes. “Why not? Don’t you realize no place is home to me without you? I’ll do anything, Kellie,” he vowed. “I know we can make this work. It’s not too late. For the sake of our unborn babies, I’m pleading with you to reconsider. If counseling will help us, then it will be worth it for all our sakes. We’ll postpone our divorce while we’re in therapy.”

If Leandros had said these things to her a month ago…

But he’s saying them to you now, Kellie.

For a proud man like her husband to be willing to undergo therapy told her how far he’d come. She moved closer to the coffee table, where she could see the list of names on his laptop. He’d done all this without prior knowledge that they were expecting twins? She couldn’t believe it.

After supplying her this kind of proof that he was serious, she had to believe he’d planned to fly to Philadelphia today. But for Leandros to submit to marriage counseling…It just wasn’t like him.

He was a dynamic wonder in the business world and a law unto himself. He’d probably last one session and that would be it. She couldn’t imagine therapy working on him. But since she’d been the one to suggest it in the first place, how would it look if she told him no?

Kellie knew exactly what he’d think. During one of their arguments he’d told her she was inflexible, unreasonable and didn’t really mean what she’d said. He would have every right to accuse her now of not putting their children first.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized the wisest thing to do would be to try out one of these therapists in Athens. When the counseling didn’t work, then she’d fly back to Philadelphia and the divorce could go through. She’d have to let her aunt and uncle know. The news would be welcome to them, because they adored Leandros and were crushed by the news that he and Kellie were getting a divorce.

He watched as she sat down and scrolled through the list of names. All seemed to have impressive credentials. She was glad he’d included some women. She preferred their therapist to be a female, who would understand Kellie’s point of view about things. Leandros probably wouldn’t like it, but he’d said this was her choice.

She looked at their ages. The first woman was forty-eight, younger than Kellie’s aunt. The other therapist was seventy-six. That sounded pretty old, but she did have a long record of running a practice. At that age she’d probably seen thousands of couples, with every type of problem, enter her office. To still be in business meant she’d enjoyed a certain amount of success.

“Today is a workday.” Leandros’s deep male voice permeated to Kellie’s insides. “Is there a name on the list you’d like to call now?”

He stood behind the couch, more or less looking over her shoulder. Though he’d sounded in control just now, she sensed his impatience for their therapy to get started. Actually, she was anxious, too. The sooner they met with someone and discovered counseling wouldn’t help, the sooner she could go home and start getting over Leandros once and for all.

“I’m rather impressed with this older woman, Olympia Lasko.” She glanced back at him. “The notes say she’s been in practice forty-five years. That’s longer than any of the other therapists’ histories. I think it speaks quite highly of her.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Go ahead and phone her.”

Leandros didn’t act the least upset with Kellie’s choice. If he was, he’d learned how to hide his true feelings. That ability made him the shrewd genius who’d become one of the leading business figures in Greece.

She reached in her purse for her cell phone and made the call. It rang several times before a woman answered. “This is Olympia Lasko.”

“Oh—” Kellie’s voice caught. “I guess I expected a receptionist.” She spoke in Greek.

“I’ve never used one. Your name, please.”

“Kellie Petralia.”

“What can I do for you?”

“M-my husband and I are on the verge of getting a divorce and need marriage counseling,” she stammered. “Could I see you soon to discuss our situation, or are you too booked up?”

“Both of you come to my house tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.”

“Both?” Kellie had planned to talk to her first and explain things.

“I never see you individually. It’s together or nothing.”

“I see.” She bit her lip. “Then we’ll both be there.”

“What’s your husband’s name?”

“Leandros Petralia.”

“Thank you. When you enter the driveway, keep going until you reach the side door. Just walk in.”

The other woman rang off without making a remark about Kellie’s husband. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people couldn’t refrain from commenting on him and the famous Petralia name. Kellie sat there blinking in surprise.

Leandros walked around to look at her. “When can she see us?”

“Tomorrow at ten. We’re to go to her house. She must work out of her home.”

“Would that we all could do that,” he murmured.

“I can’t believe she had an opening this fast.”

“My dentist always leaves the first hour free for emergencies. It sounds like she operates the same way. I’m impressed already.”

Kellie got up from the couch, unnerved by the prospect of talking to Mrs. Lasko in front of Leandros without any private time first. “She’s very different than I’d supposed.” No chitchat of any kind.

“Let’s keep the appointment. If we decide she’s not the one for us, then we’ll try someone else.”

Leandros was being so supportive, just as he’d always been during their visits to the hospital, that Kellie felt like screaming. But not at him. She was frightened, and nervous of being alone with him. “I think I’m hungry now.”

“Why don’t we drive to Chora and have an early dinner.” He was reading her mind. She needed to be around other people and he knew it. “Do you have any particular cravings at this stage in your pregnancy?”

“Not yet.”

“Let’s try a restaurant you haven’t been to. The Circe is on the far side of Chora. It’s cozy and the cuisine is basically traditional Andriot.” He’d probably been there with Petra. Of course he had, you fool. If the therapy didn’t work out, Kellie would have to take part of the blame, because she couldn’t rid herself of her demons. “You’ll love their seafood mezes and froutalia.”

“I’ve forgotten what froutalia is.”

“A sensational omelet with sausage and other kinds of meat.”

“Oh, yes. That sounds delicious.”

“Good. Why don’t you freshen up first. I’ll meet you at the car parked around the side of the house.”

“I’ll hurry.”

“There’s no need. We have all the time in the world. By the time we get back, Yannis will have arrived with your luggage. You can have an early night in the guest bedroom.”

Her heart ached as she realized how far apart they’d grown. No sleeping in the same bed for the past two months. Most likely never again…

When Kellie went outside a few minutes later, he was waiting for her, and helped her in the passenger side. She glanced at his striking profile as he started the engine. Whether immaculately groomed or disheveled with a five-o’clock shadow as he was now, Leandros’s male beauty stood apart from other men’s.

Her heart thudded ferociously. A month ago she’d never dreamed she’d be on the island with him again, going to a romantic spot for dinner.

During the six-mile drive to town, she stared out the window at the fruit trees dotting the ancient landscape. When she couldn’t stand the silence any longer, she turned to him. “Have you seen Fran and Nik?”

He nodded. “They invited me to their apartment last week for dinner. Demi is thriving and has started to say words even I can understand.” Kellie smiled. “I’ve never seen two people so happy.”

Guilt washed over Kellie for the part she’d played in trying to influence Fran to stay away from the gorgeous Nik Angelis, Leandros’s good friend. The press had labeled him Greece’s number one playboy. Like Leandros, Nik was the head of his family’s multimillion-dollar business and could have any woman he wanted.

In Kellie’s zeal to protect her divorced friend’s wounded heart, she’d done everything she could to get her away from Nik. She’d been convinced he would only use Fran. But it turned out Kellie was wrong. Ultimately, he’d proved to be the perfect man for her, and had married her on the spot. Since he couldn’t give her children and she couldn’t conceive, they were adopting Demi, who’d lost her parents in a tornado. In time they planned to adopt more.

“I’m so happy for them,” Kellie said aloud.

“Me, too.”

To Leandros’s credit, he didn’t rub it in about Kellie’s behavior with her best friend before they’d flown to Philadelphia on his private jet. “I’ll phone her while I’m here.”

“She’ll be delighted. Being a mother has turned a light on inside her.”

You mean unlike me, who’s pregnant but still wants the divorce?

Kellie wouldn’t blame Leandros for thinking it, but again, he kept his thoughts to himself. That was the trouble between them. They were both festering in their own private way from behaviors that had driven them apart.

The therapist would have to perform a miracle for them to put their marriage back together. How ironic that Kellie had been the one who’d brought up the idea of counseling. Yet now that Leandros had finally agreed to it, she was only going through the motions. Deep inside she had no real hope of success.

There’d been too much damage done during those months of planning each hospital visit like clockwork. Everything had to be gauged down to the second—the temperature taking, the preparation, Leandros’s time off from work…. All of it had affected the natural rhythm of married life.

If he suggested they skip a month of going to the hospital, and give things a rest, she was afraid he was losing interest in her. Maybe he didn’t want a baby as badly as she did. When she asked him if he would still love her if she couldn’t give him a child, he’d acted incensed, which in turn made her afraid to approach him again about it.

There were times when she’d feared he needed a break from her, and would tell him to enjoy a night out with friends or go visit his family. If he took her up on the suggestion, she cried herself to sleep. If he insisted on staying home with her, she feared it was out of a sense of duty. The spontaneity of their lives had vanished.

Aside from making sure she’d prepared a good meal for him at night, Kellie found herself spending more and more time playing tennis at Leandros’s club with friends, or studying Greek with the tutor he’d hired for her at the university.

With the gulf so wide and deep between them because of what they’d gone through to have a baby, they were different people now. Her heart ached, because she couldn’t imagine how they could find their way back to the people they’d once been.




CHAPTER THREE


EARLY THE NEXT MORNING Stefon flew the two of them to the Cassandra in Athens. After eating breakfast in their room, Leandros called for his car and drove them to the Pangrati neighborhood, where Olympia Lasko saw her clients.

Silence filled the Mercedes, as it had last evening on their way home from dinner. Kellie had hardly talked to him and went straight to bed once they’d returned to the villa. If she’d gotten on the phone with Fran or her aunt and uncle, he knew nothing about it.

To his relief she’d eaten a healthy meal this morning and shown more appetite than he had. Leandros didn’t know about Kellie, but he’d slept poorly. Not only was he concerned over the process they were about to undergo, he feared Kellie’s reaction. Though it had been her idea, this was new territory for both of them.

After he’d dismissed the idea of counseling in the beginning, he was thankful that she was still willing to try it. When they’d reached Andros yesterday, he’d been terrified out of his mind she would tell him it was too late, and fly right back to Pennsylvania.

Before long, he turned the corner and spotted the Lasko home. It was a moderate-size, gray-and-white two-story house, typical of the settled, comfortable looking residences along the street in the quiet neighborhood. Leandros pulled in the driveway and stopped at the side entrance.

He eyed his wife, who, thankfully, was still his wife. He’d already contacted his attorney to get in touch with her attorney and put off the divorce. The only thing left was to follow through with counseling and pray for a breakthrough. “Shall we go in?”




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