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‘I know. Me, too. Eleni’s been my mother since I was four.’ He sighed. ‘Sophie, don’t say anything to Dad or Eleni about this, will you? I’d hate them to think I…’ His throat seemed to close.
She nodded. ‘They know you love them, agapi mou. And I know it’s a difficult subject for Dad—like you, he bottles things up. But, you know, they would hate to think that you still carry so much pain around with you.’ She stroked his forehead. ‘They want you to be happy. That’s why they keep pushing eligible women your way. I know you think it’s all to do with business and dynasties, but it’s not that at all. They want you to be as happy as they are. Settled, at the centre of your family.’
‘It drives me crazy.’
‘I know.’ She smiled. ‘I’ve told them you’re big enough and ugly enough to choose your own partner.’
‘I’ve found her. But…’ He shook his head in frustration. ‘Maddie wants children.’
‘And so do you. Look at the way you are with Arianna, telling her stories and letting her beat you in swimming races and building sandcastles for her. Look at how you are with Petros, cuddling him and singing him songs. You’ll make a fantastic dad.’ She paused, and pushed her sunglasses up over her hair so she could look straight at him. ‘Theo, you’re an obstetric consultant. How often does the kind of complication your mother had happen?’
‘Rarely,’ he admitted. ‘But it still happens.’
‘But you said the key word, adelphos mou. It’s rare. And there’s no reason why it would happen to Maddie.’ She sighed. ‘Theo, you have to let it go. Leave the past where it is and look to the future. And you have to take your courage in both hands and face that risk—for both your sakes. If she loves you and you’ve been blowing hot and cold on her, she must be going crazy.’
‘I know. And I don’t mean to blow hot and cold on her. I just…’
‘You think you’re doing her a favour by pushing her away?’ Sophronia rolled her eyes. ‘Men! Theo, that’s not how it works. Trust me. If she loves you, you’re breaking her heart. So tell her—tell her what you told me. If she’s the woman who deserves you, she’ll understand. And she’ll be the one to make your heart whole again.’
He knew his sister was right. Though it was easier said than done. If anything happened to Madison—if he lost her, the way his father had lost his mother—he’d never be able to forgive himself.
‘I believe in you, agapi mou,’ Sophronia said softly. ‘Go back to England. Tell your Maddie how you feel about her. And if Arianna isn’t a flower girl by the end of the year, you are in so much trouble,’ she added with a grin.
Theo smiled back. ‘Noted. And, Sophie?’
She tipped her head on one side. ‘Yes?’
‘Thanks.’ He hugged her. ‘I think that’s why I came home.’
‘To get advice on your love life from your little sister?’ she teased.
‘Sometimes,’ he said wryly, ‘I think you’re wiser than I am.’
‘Of course I am. You know as well as I do that “sophie” means “wisdom”.’ She ruffled his still-damp hair. ‘And I’m female, which gives me an extra advantage over you anyway.’
‘I think,’ he said ruefully, ‘Maddie is going to adore you. And you’re going to gang up on me.’
She smiled. ‘Because we will have your best interests at heart, adelphos mou. Go back to England, Theo. That’s where your heart is.’
‘What, you’re chucking me out already?’
She rolled her eyes. ‘You know you can stay as long as you like. We’ll always have room for you, Theo. But I think you will be happier if you go back to England. Sort things out with Maddie. And next time you come make sure you bring her with you.’
‘I wouldn’t dare do otherwise,’ he said.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MADISON was feeling seriously out of sorts. And it wasn’t just because she was missing Theo. For goodness’ sake, he’d been away all of a day and a half, and she was well past the teenager stage of counting the seconds since they’d last seen each other. He’d sent her a text to let her know he’d arrived safely, and a picture of the sunset the previous evening. It wasn’t as if he was ignoring her.
But she still felt odd. Her breasts were sore—which she assumed meant that her period was about to start, and accounted for the fit of the grumps too. But she also found herself going to the loo more often that day. And at lunchtime the scent of coffee in the cafeteria made her feel slightly queasy.
