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“Sure.” Mick got to his feet and held out his hand. Mihalis took it, babbling away in Greek.
“English, Mihalis!” Lena called after him.
“Is hard,” he called back.
“Try,” she responded.
He stuck his tongue out at her and everyone laughed.
16
“That was a nice thing to do,” Apollo said when Mick and Mihalis were out of earshot.
“I’m sure he’s frustrated that his child is right under his nose and he can barely communicate with him,” Lena said softly. “We’ll have to teach him a lot more English.”
“It’ll come,” Paige interjected. “Children soak that stuff up like sponges.
“I’m just feeling guilty,” Lena admitted.
Paige and Apollo followed her into the kitchen with the rest of the dishes and Lena started rinsing them to put in the dishwasher.
“You doing okay?” Apollo asked, pausing to put a gentle hand on Lena’s arm.
She nodded. “I’m getting there. It’s going to be such a nightmare to legally make Mihalis mine.”
“Can’t you just adopt him?” Paige asked. “Instead of dealing with whose name is on the birth certificate and all that?”
“Mick and I haven’t really talked about any of that,” Lena admitted. “We’re navigating these waters… it’s still sinking in that we’re back together. Even if it’s temporary.”
“Why would it be temporary?” Apollo frowned. “He’s crazy about you and I’m pretty sure you feel the same.”
“His family is never going to accept me so I don’t—”
“My family no longer has a say in anything I do,” Mick grunted, walking over to Lena and pulling her against him. “They’ve manipulated me for the last time so I don’t want you to worry about that.”
“Where’s Mihalis?” Lena asked weakly.
“Going potty.” He grimaced. “I’m not real experienced with that kind of thing. Does he need help?”
“Not if he’s just peeing, but for number two, he needs to be wiped or he’ll make a mess.”
Mick looked so dismayed Paige and Apollo burst out laughing.
“Dad lesson number one,” Apollo grinned at him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. Even I know how to do this.”
“You’ve done it?” Mick made a face.
Apollo frowned. “Of course—he’s my nephew. You think I’ve never babysat?” They disappeared down the hall and Paige and Lena started to giggle.
“Oh, I’d kill for a picture of his face when you said he had to wipe him!” Paige snorted.
Lena shook her head, smiling. “He’s going to be a great dad. I can already see it in his eyes, how much he wants to bond with his son.”
“Just make sure he bonds with you again, too.”
Lena flushed. “I don’t know how that’s going to work… there’s a lot of water under the bridge for us.”
“He told Apollo he still loves you and I can tell you still love him.”
