“Silly fly” he had cried “missed it again”, Dina pushing the door open and smiling brightly as she had entered the room, running up to him and leaping onto his knee.
“When is Mina coming back?” she had asked in her childlike voice, her face frowning “I miss her”.
Nikos had patted her gently, the realisation hitting him that he was missing her too filling him.
“I don’t know princess…..she is very sad right now”.
Dina had given him a thoughtful look “When Yanis kisses me I don’t get sad” her brows furrowing
“Do you think Mina did?”
Nikos had felt the cold icy fingers of jealousy ripping through him as he had froze, his eyes staring disbelievingly at the small girl.
“You saw Yanis kiss Mina?” he had asked, trying hard not to show the shock his whole body felt.
She had looked back at him, not realising the effect her words had had.
“Yes … then she got in her car and left”.
Her voice sad once more “I am going to tell Yanis off for sending her away” With that she had leapt onto the floor, running from the room in her innocent quest. Nikos had sat back for a few moments, feeling the anger fill him. How dare she lead him on, sleep with him and then turn her affections onto another man? He could see the small red mist dancing before his eyes at the thought of any other man, particularly Yanis, holding her, kissing those soft lips, running their hands over her body. Rising with determination he had moved out of the door. It was time that Mina and he had a talk.
For the past two days, Mina had moved in an almost sleep-like trance, her concentration solely on her mother, who had each day seemed to weaken just a little more. There had been many calls from Nikos, Mina ignoring each and every one, not willing or able to handle dealing with him, so unsure why she felt so much hurt at his having used her. Moving to the pool she had smiled, seeing as her mother had lain so serene against a lounger sitting in the one beside her as she had heard more stories of the years that she had spent there with Alexander, the love for the man still shining from her, Mina once more grateful that she had been able to give her mother this one last gift.#p#分页标题#e#
On the third day, while Alice was looking after her mother, the doorbell had rung. Opening it, she had stood mouth agape seeing Nikos on the doorstep.
“W…what are you doing here?” she had finally managed to stutter out, her voice low, her body jumping to instant awareness having him so close.
“You don’t answer your phone, texts, emails……what else was I supposed to do?”
He had bitten out, his mouth grim his dark eyes flashing angrily.
Raising her hand to rub her brow, she had regarded him warily.
“I have a lot on my mind right now Nikos… My mother…”
His face had instantly softened his expression apologetic as he had shuffled slightly “I know…and I am sorry Mina…but we have to talk”.
Shaking her head with determination she had groaned gently.
“No…no we don’t. It was a mistake….let’s just leave it at that”.
Before he could respond, another voice, a soft almost inaudible silvery one had interrupted.
“Who is it Mina?” Mina’s eyes closing with dread, before opening and looking beseechingly at Nikos.
“It is Nikos Dupris mother” she had replied, allowing the door to open to reveal the man to the small woman who had moved slowly into the hallway.
Nikos had moved his eyes from Mina to the frail woman before him. He could still see the lovely features of the woman who had been his stepfathers mistress, seen the lovely eyes inherited by her daughter. She was smiling with real joy at seeing him, this taking him aback, as he had moved into the foyer of the Villa Aqua.
“Nikos!” she had exclaimed shuffling slowly forward to meet him, Nikos quickening his step to save her from having to strain herself.
“It is wonderful to meet you. Your mother spoke so highly of you”.
Two pairs of eyes had looked back at the small woman with surprise.
“My mother?” he had questioned, the shock so clear on his voice. “You knew my mother?”
Taking his arm, and allowing the tall man to walk with her back to the comfortable living room she had nodded softly, a small chuckle leaving her.
“I suppose many would find it strange, but yes we became good friends”.
As he had helped her to sit on the seat full of pillows, her frail body lost in the cushions, he had looked intently at her.
“I did not know that you knew each other” his tone kindly but questioning.
Her mother had held onto Nikos’ hand, gently patting it.