Husband By Request
Dominique started walking toward her. A little closer, the gray-haired woman recognized Dominique. Her hands flew to her face in surprise. She made a sound of surprise.
“Good morning, Eleni. How are you?”
“Kyrie Stamatakis didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“He doesn’t know yet, but it’s all right. Paul brought me.”
She stared at Dominique. “You look different.”
“Not exactly like the injured marathon runner you nursed a long time ago? I’ve never forgotten your kindness to me, especially during those first few days.”
A softness entered the older woman’s expression. “You were sick after your accident.”
“Not anymore.”
“The cancer has stayed away?”
Dominique nodded. “Hopefully for good.”
The older woman’s eyes grew suspiciously bright. “How long will you be here?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
At that point Paul said something to her in Greek. Dominique had learned some elements of the language, but she couldn’t follow their rapid conversation.
Whatever transpired, Eleni didn’t ask any more questions. She simply took the shopping bags from her and said, “Come with me.” The emotion in her voice warmed Dominique’s heart.
“I’ll put you in the blue room where Kyrie Stamatakis carried you after your accident on the road.”
If that was Eleni’s subtle way of shielding Dominique from any unpleasant surprises in the master bedroom, like more evidence of Olympia and Ari, then Dominique was grateful for that small mercy.
She and Paul followed the housekeeper inside the home where she’d known such great happiness with Andreas. It was here they’d fallen in love.
Maybe this was a doomed mission. But if she’d faced cancer with such a negative outlook she would never have survived. Hopefully in this ambience Andreas would come to her and let go of his anger long enough to really talk to her. Right now that was all she could hope to expect.
“Is there anything else I can do for you before I leave for Athens?”
Dominique swung around to face Paul. “You’re not going straight back to the yacht?”
“No. I have business to attend to.”
“So do I. Could I fly with you?”
He blinked. “You want to go there today?”
“Yes.”
Before any more time passed Dominique wanted clarification on several vital points. Theo was the only person who could answer those questions for her.
“Just allow me to change into something suitable.”
“Of course.”
She didn’t require Eleni’s help to find the blue room. As soon as she was alone she put on the white sundress with café-au-lait swirls she’d purchased the day before. When she looked in the mirror, she noted with satisfaction that the sun she’d picked up yesterday had made an improvement in her coloring.
After joining Paul in the foyer, she turned to Eleni. “Depending on how long it takes me, I’ll be back tonight or tomorrow.”
“Very good.”