“If I started listing her virtues, I wouldn’t know where to stop. Zoe married early, but it only lasted a year and half because her husband was unfaithful to her. They didn’t have children.”
Lia turned away from him.
“She grew up a scholar and babysat for people to earn money. After winning awards and grants, she put herself through college and graduate school while working at the college bookstore. She’s a professor at UCLA and was awarded a singular honor for her contribution to a film being made in Hollywood about Lord Byron while he was in Greece raising money to help fight the Turks.”
Lia wheeled around. “How did you meet?”
“Quite literally by accident downtown. A truck ran into the taxi she was riding in. My limo was behind the truck and I called the paramedics. The last thing I expected that day was to meet another woman when our separation was only two days old. The two of us became friends first, pure and simple.”
“I don’t want to hear any more about this paragon,” she broke in.
“The ball is in your court, Lia. Where do you want to go from here? Back to court? I’ll undergo a psychiatric evaluation if that will satisfy you. What else must I do in order to have my visitation time with our son?”
He heard her sharp intake of breath. “You can have it starting right now for the next two days while I return to Athens. I’d like nothing better than to take Ari back with me right now, but because he’s looking forward so much to seeing his baba, I’m not going to do that to him. Then you can fly him back on Sunday. I brought some of his things.”
“Thank you for that, Lia.”
“I’ll tell my attorney we’re waiting to hear from Guion. Everything hinges on him should he decide to exercise his rights and turn this into a public scandal. Until his attorney talks to mine, don’t plan to come to Athens to see Ari or I’ll have a restraining order filed against you.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Watch me. You started this by insisting on telling Guion.”
His insides froze because she couldn’t see reason. Lia was terrified of the unknown with Ari’s birth father in the picture. But she couldn’t hold off Andreas for long.
“Did you hear me?”
“I did.” He’d give it until Monday to see what developed on Norville’s side before he asked Yorgos to take action.
“The limo driver is waiting to take me to the airport. Since Ari is asleep, I’ll leave now. He’ll be ready for juice and a snack when he wakes up.”
He watched her disappear from the sunroom before he walked back down the hall to Ari’s bedroom to check on him. His son was still crouched on his stomach in his white shorts and blue sailor top not moving, but he’d be awake before long. Taking advantage of the time, he phoned Zoe.
She picked up on the second ring. “Andreas?”
The anxiety in her voice told him she’d been worried. He needed to reassure her.
“Zoe? Lia has gone back to Athens and she left Ari with me until Sunday. I’ll explain more later. Where are you?”
“Back at the apartment.”
“Stay put. The limo will be by for you within ten minutes. He’ll drive you here. Pack a bag and bring your swimsuit. When Ari wakes up from his nap, we’ll go out to the pool.”
“You’re sure it will be all right?”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“You know I do,” she cried. “You must be overjoyed to see him!”
“Her arrival was a gift. I’ll see you soon.”
“He’s so adorable.” So was she. “I can’t wait.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
Once they hung up, he called his limo driver and told him to pick up Zoe at her apartment. After that he phoned Yorgos to tell him what had happened with Lia.
“Let’s just hope Norville acts quickly to bring this thing to an end, Andreas. If he doesn’t, then your only choice is to inform Lia’s parents of the truth. That’ll be the end of the problems.”