She was tempted to follow Stergios and apologize. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. She should tell him everything now before she lost her courage.
Jodie suddenly felt hot stinging needles prick her skin as perspiration blanketed her. She clapped her hand over her mouth, knowing she was going to be sick.
Her bedroom was too far away. Jodie briskly walked to the door that led to the portico. She stepped outside and welcomed the coldness against her skin. Leaning against the heavy stone column, she took in big gulps of the night air.
Her legs felt shaky as she took the steps down to the terrace. She needed to compose herself before she went back inside. No one was going to notice if she was absent. For once, being invisible had its benefits.
* * *
The party had drifted into the music room. Stergios searched the crowd that had already broken into the usual groups and cliques. The older generation was on one side of the room while the younger relatives were sitting together and checking their phones.
Servants in black jackets and white gloves were serving champagne and dessert on silver platters. He noticed Aleka was at the grand piano playing traditional Christmas carols. Jodie was nowhere to be found.
Stergios tapped Gregory on the shoulder. “Have you seen Jodie?”
“Hmm? Jodie?” Gregory lifted his head and looked around the room as if he was just now noticing his daughter’s absence. “She’s somewhere around here. Probably playing billiards,” he said, preoccupied, as he motioned for one of the waiters.
“Oxi, she’s not.” He had already checked the billiards room. “I saw her step outside but she hasn’t come back.”
“She’s fine,” Gregory studied the desserts on the silver tray the waiter presented. The scent of oranges, cinnamon and cloves wafted in the air. “She’s probably walking around the garden. She does that a lot.”
Stergios had always thought the man was a lazy father but hadn’t Gregory noticed the changes in his daughter? Didn’t he care? She was pale, quiet, and the shadows under her eyes suggested she wasn’t sleeping. Jodie was trying to hide the symptoms of her pregnancy and Stergios didn’t know why she bothered making the attempt.
“It’s been twenty minutes since she stepped outside,” he said as he checked his watch.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Gregory said as he chose a melomakarona cookie that always made Stergios think of Christmas. “We have the best security system on the grounds. If she’s fallen and hurt herself, she can push one of the security buttons.”
Hurt. His chest tightened with dread. Jodie could be hurt and in pain.
Stergios ran out of the room and into the entrance hall. He scanned the area and saw that Jodie still wasn’t there. He stepped outside and onto the portico. The cold air slapped at his skin as the darkness enveloped him. Stergios hesitated, his breath caught in his throat, as he pushed away the memories of the pitch-black wilderness.
There were no Christmas lights on the grounds and the moon was hidden behind clouds. Taking the steps two at a time, Stergios stood on the terrace that was streaked with the weak light from the arched windows. He looked around the side garden and didn’t see the glimmer of her silver dress.
“Jodie?” he called, his voice echoing in the cold air, but she didn’t reply.
Stergios launched down the gravel path, the roar of his blood loud in his ears. He didn’t care if there were security cameras and emergency buttons. He knew what the darkness held. He was aware of how a quiet night could turn dangerous.
He surged unseeingly down the path, driven by the memory of being hunted as a little boy and the terror that had overwhelmed him. Stergios flinched when his broad shoulders caught on a branch. He paused and took a deep breath before he continued. Relief and anger swirled inside him when he saw a faint gleam of silver.
Jodie was slumped on the ground, her arms and head resting on a stone bench. She weakly lifted her head when she heard him approach. “Stergios?” she said in a croak.
“You fool,” he muttered as he pulled off his jacket in clumsy, urgent moves. His hands were rougher than he intended when he draped it around her shoulders. “What were you thinking?”
“I was sick and wanted to be alone.” She gasped when he lifted her into his arms. “Why did you come looking for me?”
“What kind of question is that?” he asked tautly.
“You can’t stand the sight of me,” she said as she huddled into his warm suit jacket. “I’ve caused you nothing but trouble.”
“Don’t remind me.” The memories of the wilderness were beginning to swarm and he needed to get back to the house before he couldn’t fight them back anymore.