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“Seven weeks, I took Stefano to the doctor’s office with me last Friday, so he’d have that reminder in his head when he got to Sydney and saw all of those gorgeous women.”
“You took him because you wanted to see his face when he saw your baby. I’m so happy for you both Hailey. Without you, I’d likely be married to Demetrius and miserable. Stefano would be his staid self instead of so open and caring towards his family. Elena said the other night that it was as though she had a piece of her Daniel back these last four months. Has it truly only been four months?”
“Seems like a lifetime, hasn’t it? I never knew what to expect when I fell in love. After the mess of my teenage crush, I avoided making deep connections with anyone because I couldn’t fully trust that they were being honest with me, but Stefano has never lied to me about our relationship. I don’t think I could bear it if I ever found out he’d lied to me.”
“He has no reason to lie to you. He adores you. Hearing him call you his love…seeing the expression on his face when he does, as he watches you when you don’t know he is, that is the purest love I have ever seen.”
“He doesn’t do it often, but I love it too,” Hailey stated, and Olympia stopped laughing as she gave her a questioning look. “What?”
“He calls you his love all the time Hailey. I’ve never heard easier words come from his mouth than when he calls youagape mou.”
“I thought it meant my darling,” Hailey said stalling as hope took root in her breast.
“Agape is love, Hailey. I’m amazed Stefano hasn’t forced you to learn Greek so that you’d know exactly what he’s saying to you.”
“I think occasionally he likes that I don’t, and he can say some naughty things while making love to me that don’t make me want to kick him out of bed.”
“Now that I could see, Stefano is the type of man who must make an intense lover, especially with someone who holds his heart as dearly as you do. Elena told me she now knows why none of the Greek girls who threw themselves at him ever stood a chance despite her urgings that he take a Greek bride. Oh, please don’t take that the wrong way…she meant nothing against you by it,” Olympia said seeing Hailey’s shoulders tense.
“No, it’s not Elena’s comment. I know she wanted Stefano to marry someone Greek, she’d been after him to do so for years while we were growing up,” Hailey stated leading Olympia towards the back of the store praying that she hadn’t been seen.
“Then what is wrong Hailey? You look pale and not well. Is it the baby? Are you feeling poorly and want to go rest?” Olympia asked taking over the mother hen fussing despite being several years younger than herself.
“No, I’m fine,” she stated giving Olympia a smile, but she could tell her friend knew it was forced. “Come on, let’s get you into that dress,” she added with a point to the one that would complement Olympia’s dark coloring perfectly. “Xavier will drop to his knees seeing you in it.”
“I truly shouldn’t splurge. Xavier and I have agreed that we should begin to learn how to live within our means. I cannot rely on Father’s allowance for life. I should learn to do something myself to help support Xavier and I.”
“I know you and Xavier have decided to wait for at least two years to start your own family and I support that, and if you are interested in learning something for yourself that is wonderful, but I do know that whether fully, half or a tenth Greek, Xavier will never wish to hear that you have denied yourself something you want because you need to help support him.”
“You are right but perhaps I could find something to do for splurging then, I’m quite good at many things but not great at anything the way you are with your work,” Olympia said, and she smiled moving Olympia back to try on the dress. She glanced over her shoulder, relaxing when the space outside the boutique was clear and allowed herself to go back to being lighthearted to finish their shopping expedition.
Stefano called her on Tuesday letting her know that he would be home on Thursday, and she couldn’t contain her smile the rest of the afternoon. That night and the next day were the longest of her life and she was pleased to find Elena and Theo at the house when she returned from work on Wednesday.
“We hope you don’t mind us dropping in to see you,” Elena stated hugging her tightly.
“Not at all,” she assured them with smiles. “I was afraid tonight would be never ending. Stefano’s flying home tomorrow.”
“Ah, that boy of ours is not smart leaving you here alone so soon after the wedding,” Theo said shaking his head. “He should have taken you with him.”
“I don’t do so well on that long of flights. He would be busy in meetings and I would have stayed in the hotel most of the days rather than risk some crazy Australian trying to whisk me away,” she said making Theo laugh at the idea.
“I suppose he can be forgiven this time but next time he should use his brain and arrange meetings over the internet. It is why it is there, is it not?”
“Either way, he’ll be home tomorrow,” Elena stated, and she nodded sensing something wasn’t quite right with her, but she didn’t want to push too hard.
“Where is Olympia? I haven’t had a chance to speak to her since our shopping trip.”
“Xavier’s mother invited her to stay for a few days so they could work on some wedding arrangements. The house seems so quiet without her there so Father and I thought we’d come see you to brighten our spirits.”
“Then I insist you stay for dinner and spend the night,” Hailey stated seeing Elena’s smile brighten more at the idea. “Perhaps you’d join me in the morning for a ride even? You wear the same size boots as I do so don’t even deny that.”
“I think that sounds lovely,” Elena said at Theo’s nod and they spent the evening enjoying themselves as she did her best not to let them see she wasn’t drinking. Perhaps they’d assume it was solely because she had to work tomorrow but she was sure they’d guess her secret and she wouldn’t deny Stefano that pleasure.
She crawled into bed wearing her new nightgown, wishing Stefano were lying beside her, his hands caressing her body. The last few nights she had been exhausted, falling asleep quickly but tonight her brain would not stop playing over the first time Stefano had called heragape mou. It hadn’t been in front of a crowd, it had been while lying in bed with her, his hands caressing her softly while his lips teased hers. Was it possible he meant it? Could he love her?
She didn’t want to press him for answers and discover it simply said in the heat of the moment; her reason for holding in the words was for fear he would not want them or believe them. They were easily said while in the throes of passion and she wanted more than that, she wanted his heart.
The clock slid past midnight and she grabbed her robe, moving down to the library to see their bookshelf of photos. She ran her hand over the picture frames, smiling as she recalled how it felt to be held by her grandmother, wondering what she would think of her having a child. She had wanted to live to see this, fought so hard to make it through her battle with cancer, but now, she had a prime spot to watch over her and her child.
