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“Shortly after dad died, I learned something, something I wish I didn’t know. Something I wish I could change.”
Dimitrios made a noise of impatience. “What the hell was it?”
Anastasios watched idly as Dimitrios crossed to the scotch decanter and lifted the lid, pouring a measure then offering it around. Anastasios shook his head, frowning a little. “There’s not an easy way to say this.”
“Since when has any of us expressed an interest in ‘easy’?” Thanasi said, looking around. “Just tell us.”
He nodded once. “Our father had an affair.”
Leonidas immediately dismissed it. “That’s not possible.”
Sympathy softened Anastasios’ face. “Not only is it possible, it’s fact. It was long running. For many, many years.”
“What?” Dimitrios moved forward, towards Tasso. “I don’t believe it.”
Anastasios nodded. “Everything you are feeling, I felt too, when I first learned of this.”
“And you didn’t tell us, why?” Thanasi pushed.
“That’s not important,” Leonidas said.
“No, it’s not,” Tasso nodded. “But you deserve an explanation. The truth is, I didn’t know how. Learning of his affair shattered me. I wanted to spare you that for as long as possible.”
“What’s happened today?” Leonidas pushed. “Why are you telling us now?”
“Because she’s here.”
“His mistress?” Thanasi demanded, moving to the window.
“No. Their daughter.”
There was a collective silence in the room as the reality of that sunk in, and then, all hell broke loose, as everyone began to speak at once. Mila sat there observing it, knowing each brother so well now, she understood their unique responses, and her heart broke for each of them.
Anastasios made a whistling sound. “Stop talking. Mitéra will come looking for us soon, so I’m going to make this quick.” And as Anastasios began to speak, starting at the beginning, explaining everything he’d learned from the family solicitor, and then the attempts to gain money through the will, to meeting Ophelia in Italy, they listened, aware that their lives would never again be the same. They had a sister they hadn’t known about, another Xenakis, and they had no idea what the hell to do with that information, but it was obvious: they could no longer continue to ignore her existence. Their lives were about to change, beyond recognition.
THE END
