An Aegean Prophecy - Jeffrey Siger [68]
‘I get it. I see we’re back to Marathon-style communication. Okay, will do. Enjoy the rest of your holiday. Bye.’
Kouros let out a deep breath and looked around. The sun was almost down. He’d better get back to the apartment and take a nap. Tonight would be a late one. He intended to get plastered. Miserable bureaucrats, they’re everywhere.
‘You just missed your mother.’ Lila was sitting next to the window in her study looking out toward the Acropolis.
Andreas stood in the doorway, staring at her: a Madonna at the window, framed in an illuminated Parthenon against a jet-black sky. ‘How is she?’ Andreas blew her a kiss.
She did not turn. ‘Still as lovely a person as I’ve ever known.’
‘She feels the same about you.’
‘I know.’ She looked at him. ‘She’s all excited about the baby.’ He nodded. ‘How’s the little bugger doing?’
Lila stroked her belly. ‘Fine.’ She looked back out the window.
Andreas grabbed a chair, pulled it up next to her, and sat down. He reached for her hand. She let him take it. ‘Everything okay?’
‘Perfect. Just perfect.’
In Andreas’ experience with women, that generally meant just the opposite. ‘Are you nervous?’
‘No.’
‘Sad?’
Lila gestured no.
‘Then what is it, kukla? I know something is bothering you.’
She turned her eyes toward him; tears were welling up. ‘Disappointed.’
He felt the knife.
‘Why don’t you love me enough to want to marry me?’ Her lower lip was quivering.
He felt the twist. He shook his head. ‘Not now, please. This isn’t the time. You’re not thinking clearly.’
‘I’m not thinking clearly? Andreas Kaldis, even your mother knows how fucked-up your thinking is on this.’
That was not the sort of language he was used to hearing from Lila. And to have his mother brought into this—
‘You just don’t get it, do you?’
‘Maybe I’m just too hung up on this Patmos monk’s murder.’
Lila shook her head violently. ‘No, no, no. There will always be something, some reason, some excuse to fall back on. You, my love, are afraid. Purely and simply afraid.’
‘Of what?’
‘You tell me.’
Andreas paused. ‘Okay.’ He paused again. ‘We’ve too little in common. You know that. It could never work out. You’d be miserable if you had to live your life with me as your husband.’
Lila smiled. ‘Great, you finally said it.’
‘That makes you happy?’
She squeezed his hand. ‘Yes, because until you are willing to talk about it, we can’t work it out.’
‘We can’t “work it out.” It is what it is.’
‘No, this is the only thing that “is what it is.”’ Lila pointed to her belly. ‘The rest is illusion.’
‘Be realistic. Our backgrounds, everything about us is different. What kind of a life could we have together? It would frustrate you to no end.’
Lila smiled again. ‘Owning things, attending gala events, receiving honors, or solving big cases is not life. Those are just landmarks along the way. A life is made up of everyday, simple moments. Like making love in the morning in a bed filled with crumbs from your sloppy toast-eating habits, laughing together at the pigeons in the park who pounced on your souvlaki after you put it down to tie my shoelace when I couldn’t bend over.’ She paused. ‘Your being there when I needed you most, night after night, holding my hand, not knowing if I’d ever come out of my coma.’ She squeezed his hand and placed it on her belly. ‘And sharing moments like this. That’s what a life is. The hard part is finding someone to share those moments with who loves and cares for you as much as I do you.’
He turned away.
‘Andreas. It’s okay to cry.’
‘Haven’t in years.’
‘I know, your mother told me.’ She paused. ‘Don’t worry, we don’t have to talk about this now. I just wanted you to know how I felt.’
Andreas swallowed. Amazing, and I thought she’d be the one who couldn’t handle this conversation now. I guess imminent motherhood toughens you. I have a lot to learn.
Lila stood up and kissed him on the cheek. ‘You have a lot to learn, my love.’
Kouros ate dinner at his favorite place on Mykonos, a little taverna on Megali Ammos beach within walking distance of the old town. Great people, great