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Along with Nicky, of course.
Instinctively he lifted Mel’s free hand in his and wound his fingers warmly into hers. She shifted her gaze to look at him, love shining in her eyes.
‘A daughter next, I would recommend,’ the Principessa said to Mel.
‘Oh, yes,’ agreed Mel. ‘That would be ideal.’
‘But you must watch your figure, my dear,’ her mother-in-law reminded her.
‘I fully intend to aspire to be as elegant as you in that respect,’ Mel assured her, and nodded admiringly.
The Principessa gave a little laugh, and bestowed a careful smile of approval on her daughter-in-law. ‘You must visit us in Milan, my dear, when my grandson is old enough to travel,’ she said, catching her new husband’s arm.
‘Oh, that would be lovely!’ enthused Mel. She glanced up at Nikos. ‘Wouldn’t it?’
‘Yes, indeed,’ he said hurriedly. ‘Are you leaving already?’ he asked.
‘Alas, we must. We are flying home this evening.’
The guests were starting to disperse, and shortly after his mother’s departure Nikos’s father left as well, informing his son as he did so that Mel, Nicky and he were also invited to visit himself and Adela whenever they liked.
Nikos thanked him heartily, and saw them both to their car. As he came back into the villa Mel was in the hallway, cradling Nicky, who was now wide awake.
‘He needs a change,’ she said cheerfully. ‘Want to help?’
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’ Nikos grinned. ‘Do you mean a nappy-change? Or a change out of that metre-long silk embroidered concoction he’s wearing?’
‘Both,’ said Mel. ‘And then, if you won’t think me a bad mother, I’ll hand him over to Nanny, and you and I can sneak off to dinner before he needs his next feed.’
She gave a wry little smile of gratitude. It was amazing, she acknowledged, just how easy motherhood was when there was a nanny on hand. And when the baby’s father was as devoted and willing as Nikos was.
‘Great idea,’ Nikos said with enthusiasm. ‘It’s more than time I had you to myself again.’
As they headed upstairs to the lavishly decorated suite that was Nicky’s nursery Nikos said, ‘By the way, we’ve been invited to a wedding—’
‘Oh? Whose?’ asked Mel interestedly.
Nikos gave a glinting smile. ‘Would you believe Fiona Pellingham—and Sven?’
Mel gave her gurgle of laughter. ‘His name’s Magnus,’ she said. ‘But it’s lovely news. I’m so glad for her.’
‘Well, you were the matchmaker there,’ Nikos reminded her.
Mel smiled fondly at her husband. ‘And she was ours in a way, too, if you think about it. If she hadn’t been pursuing you, you’d never have asked me out.’
Nikos put his arm around her shoulder. ‘I’d have found another reason,’ he answered. ‘There was no way I could ever get you out of my head.’
She paused at the top of the stairs to kiss his cheek. Her eyes were soft with love. ‘Nor me you,’ she assured him.
The dark eyes glinted with wicked humour. ‘Love at first sight, was it?’
She spluttered, remembering their intemperate sparring at that first prickly encounter in the sandwich shop. ‘We got all the aggro out of the way,’ she told him firmly. ‘Oh, and on the subject of sandwich shops—I heard that the Sarrie’s Sarnies franchise is going great guns. Thanks to your business loan.’
‘Well, didn’t I promise that if his turnover increased I’d consider funding his expansion?’ Nikos reminded her as they gained Nicky’s bathroom and got to work on the delicate task of parting him from his ornate christening robe.
‘He’s very grateful,’ Mel assured him. ‘And so,’ she added, ‘is Joe. For sponsoring that new homeless shelter he’s in, and the medics for addiction and alcoholism treatment.’
‘Well, I’m grateful to Joe in return,’ Nikos riposted. ‘When I showered him with all those damn pound coins you’d dumped on me in your splenetic rage...’ he ducked as Mel swung him a playful thump of objection, then lifted Nicky free of his gown ‘...I realised you were right about more than just how the booze was killing him—that you were entitled to be put out about the way I behaved to you. And that I owed you flowers to make amends.’
Mel gently laid their infant son down on his changing mat. ‘Well,’ she said, throwing another wicked glance at her husband, ‘you can go on making amends.’ She stepped aside. ‘Go on—your turn for the nappy-change.’
