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“Why has Nikos never come back?”
The question from her mother had caught her by surprise, Mina feeling the heat on her cheeks as she had quickly looked over at her.
“W…why do you ask that?….I mean he is busy…he has a company to run”.
The soft tinkling laugh had made her fidget nervously, her mother looking gently at her “I saw the way you looked at him Mina…and the way he looked at you”.
Mina had dropped her eyes as she had given a soft laugh “I…I don’t know what you mean” she had stuttered, her mother smiling as she had patted her hand softly “He is a good man Mina…reminds me of his mother, and she was a great woman”.
Looking sadly back she had whispered gently.
“He has no interest in anything other than his company mother. No woman, especially me is going to change that”.
Her mother had looked back, a shadow of sadness in her eyes as she had given a soft sigh.
“Your father made that mistake. I often wonder if he had realised what was most important earlier how all our lives might have turned out”.
Giving a wistful smile she had looked dreamily ahead of her “He often said that he wished that he had trusted his feelings before he became trapped in the situation he found himself in”.
With another look at her she had finished “I hope that Nikos doesn’t do the same thing”.
Giving a half laugh she had looked back at her mother “I’m afraid that you are reading things wrong, Nikos has no real interest in me” adding in a voice that lacked real conviction “nor do I of him”.
The soft silvery laugh had been her mother’s only response as she had chuckled at her daughter, her eyes full of such understanding.
For the rest of the day both had enjoyed the sunshine Mina steering the conversation away from any more Nikos talk, the two laughing often. Alice’s cooking had finally lured them inside, the three enjoying some of her delicious homemade bolognaise, Mina happy save for the thoughts of Nikos which would keep pushing themselves into her mind.
As her mother had retired for the night, she had given Mina a hug looking closely at her.
“Mina…I want to thank you for arranging this…it has meant so much to me…I love you”.
She had grinned back warmly, so happy that she had been able to organise this “I love you too mother….and well I guess we all deserve a nice long holiday in the sun” she had grinned, her eyes full of the love she felt.
“Goodnight…I’ll see you in the morning” she had said softly kissing her cheek.
The rest of that night Alice and Mina had watched a movie, the nurse laughing at the film which she had chosen seeing as Mina had tried to hide the small tear as the hero and heroine had seemed to be losing each other, Mina throwing a pillow playfully at her.
“Stupid chick flicks” she had muttered making the nurse laugh even louder. With a grin Mina had risen.
“OK going to put the kettle on and check on mum” she had smiled as Alice had nodded, continuing to watch the movie, Mina grinning on seeing a small tear on her cheek also.
Moving into the room, she had shivered, not sure why as she had moved over to her mother’s bed. In the moonlight streaming in from the window she had looked so peaceful, Mina smiling softly, before she had frowned. Moving closer she could not see the tell tale rising of her mother’s breast, Mina moving tentatively closer.
“Mum?” she had whispered softly, her hand covering the woman’s on the bed. She had felt the coldness instantly, gasping loudly as she had stumbled backwards a low sound of pain leaving her as she had cried out for Alice. The nurse had appeared almost instantly flipping on the light flooding the room with harsh brightness as she had rushed over to her patient, her professional persona taking over immediately.
From a corner of the room Mina had stood with her hands clasped over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock as she had watched Alice check for a pulse before she had sat back on her heels, her head turning to look at Mina.
“I’m sorry Mina” she had started, seeing the tears that had rushed up to the other woman’s eyes, her head shaking fervently.
“No…no…no” was all the she could manage, the words long moans of pain as she had looked back at her mother on the bed, shock so evident on her features.
Standing up Alice had moved over to Mina taking her into her arms in a comforting embrace, leading her gently from the room.
“She is at peace now” she had whispered as the whole situation had crashed down on Mina, her legs buckling as she had fallen onto her knees to the ground the tears now flooding from her in heartrending sobs.
It was late, well after ten, but Nikos had remained at his office, feeling the need to work, to not be at the villa, so empty for some reason. With a frown he had wondered why he would think that, it never had been before. Picking up the top paper before him he had re-read the contract, his mind once more seeing Mina’s smiling face filling his thoughts, a warm sensation filling his belly.
Scowling he had given a sigh of annoyance, realising that this was the fifth time he had read the same sentence, annoyed at his lack of focus. Nikos Dupris was a very disciplined man, and it confused him that Mina Lane was causing such turmoil in his nicely ordered life. If she did not want to talk to him fine, she had a lot on her mind, her mother’s situation not a good one, cursing as he had once more realised that he had not followed the meaning of the words before him, restarting the sentence once again.
The ringing of his mobile phone had pulled him from these thoughts, as he had answered the call, forgetting to check the caller ID, again not something he ever did.
“Nikos Dupris” he had stated, his tone businesslike as he had once more moved his eyes to the start of the sentence, his whole body quickly stiffening as he had heard Mina, her voice hardly audible as she had sobbed on the other end “N…Nikos”.
Sitting up straight he had gripped the phone “Mina, what is it, what’s wrong?”
“M…my…mother” had been all she could manage, as he had closed his eyes, knowing only too well what that meant. His voice had been soft, soothing as he had quickly risen, moving from his chair “I’m on my way Mina…I will be there soon” another heart-wrenching sob the only sound as he had hung up, Nikos quickly leaving the building.
Reaching the Villa Aqua the driveway had been full with the doctor’s car and ambulance, he assumed to take away her mother. Moving quickly into the airy cool building he had scanned the area for any sign of Mina, his eyes finally falling on her as she had sat so silent, so still in a chair tucked into the corner. Around him paramedics, police and the nurse he had hired milled around, the area strangely quiet for the number of people moving around it. Quickly moving over he had hunched down before her taking her hands which still clutched the cell phone she had used to call him, her body stiff, face pale and shocked.
Taking her hands into his, she had looked over at him, those beautiful eyes of hers so full of despair and sadness, the hurt and loss tugging at him, Nikos wanting to pull her in close to take away all the pain in those eyes.
“We should go” he had whispered so gently, not sure what to say, as she had shaken her head. About to say more her eyes had flown to the general area, a low moan of pain like a wounded animal leaving her as the body of her mother had been moved out to the waiting ambulance. Tears filling her mournful eyes, spilling down her face as she had began to shake, her hands in his trembling violently. Whispering gently he had sat up besides her, pulling her into his arms as she had broke down into heartbroken sobs, her small body wracked with them. Nikos had been only able to hold her against him and make soothing sounds against her head wanting so badly to in some way stop all the hurt she was feeling.
As he had held her, the area around them had slowly emptied, the nurse, doctors and paramedics casting sympathetic looks in their direction as one by one they had all left. Finally only Alice remained, looking at Nikos offering to stay with Mina. He however had shaken his head softly as he had smiled warmly at her for her concern. Promising to phone the next day, she too had left leaving two of them alone, Nikos rocking her in his arms, hers around his neck clinging to him, her head against his shoulder.
For half an hour he had held her, neither talking as he had soothed her against him. When she had finally moved from him her eyes had been red and puffy, her features haunted and full of such pain. Holding his breath, he had never thought her more beautiful than at that moment, his hand stroking her softly.
“Oh Nikos” she had breathed, sniffling gently “I don’t know what to do….what do I do?”
Gently he had moved his arms to lift her, rising in one smooth motion as he had strode with her to the bedroom he knew to be hers.
“You sleep” he had said softly. “Then tomorrow you grieve…just as I did when my mother died”.
Looking deeply into his face she had seen the hurt even now of her death written on his features, knowing that he understood the pain she was going through.
