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Chapter Twenty-Four
Squaring her shoulders, Helen climbed the stairs toward the columned entrance of the place where she used to feel safe. More than safe, she had felt appreciated for who she was, as if she’d added something special to the Sideris family. Incrementally, over the months, she had started to trust and reveal more of herself.
It was awful yet so familiar to march into a gathering, knowing that she was either unwelcome or barely tolerated. How many times had she visited the Grays and been ignored or looked upon as deficient?
Panic overtook her as she stepped onto the landing. Despite her efforts to deny it, ithurtto imagine the Siderises on the other side of that door. Had they been dissembling all along and reached their limit? Or had something occurred and changed their hearts?
She wanted to believe Nicholas’s reassurances—so much—andthatwas the problem. It was pitiful to be so desperate and vulnerable. Her time in London had felt like a new start, a new life, and she looked upon the years of her marriage with fresh eyes and a determination never to be made a fool again.
Wake up!a voice within yelled.
She stopped walking toward the front door. Never again would she permit herself to be treated as she had in the past. She couldn’t go in and pretend, not if they had only invited her out of a sense of obligation.
“All will be well,” Nicholas said in an achingly reassuring voice.
You don’t know that!“It was a mistake for me to come. There’s no need for this. I—”
“Happy Christmas!”
Helen startled at the chorus of joyful voices, then stared disbelievingly at the smiling faces of Pen, Sirena, and Vassilis.
“Breathe,” Nicholas whispered into her ear. Another wave of shock ran through her when he pressed a kiss to her temple…right in front of his family!
This can’t be real.
“It is Christmas in July!” Vassilis exclaimed, his ivory waistcoat rising and falling rapidly with his hearty laughter. “I declare it so! Come! Tonight, we shall celebrate together!”
Sirena, gowned in a rich gold brocade that matched her eyes, took in the crown of olive leaves adorning Helen’s hair and Nicholas’s arm around her, and clasped her hands over her ruby-and-diamond necklace.
Her patience depleted, Pen came over to embrace Helen. “Oh, and here I was fearing your visit this afternoon had spoiled the surprise! You look utterly astonished, though!”
“I—Iam.” She closed her eyes as an unstoppable wave of emotion and relief wobbled her knees. Nicholas’s arm slipped around her, and she leaned against him.
When she opened her eyes, Pen stared, perplexed, and Vassilis and Sirena looked worried.
“Is thisnota delightful surprise, after all?”
“Oh, Pen,” Helen breathed and reached for her hand. “It’s wonderful. I’m just...” She shook her head, bereft of words.
“We’ll join you inside in just a moment,” Nicholas said firmly.
Once everyone else returned inside, Helen pressed her palms to her cheeks. Pen’s last glance over her shoulder had conveyed both concern for Helen and confusion.
Embarrassed, Helen stepped over to a column and leaned against it. “You knew this was a Christmas party?”
“Yes.”
She sighed shakily. “Did Pen tell you about…”
“About you wanting to celebrate Christmas again? She did.”
It helped that his words were forthright and lacking in pity. “I…I feel a fool. But I don’t think any of you intended that, did you?”
She looked into his eyes for the first time since arriving.
He caressed her cheek with a knuckle. “Of course not. We wanted only to please you.”
“I didn’t know.”
