“Oh Nikos” she had breathed, sniffling gently “I don’t know what to do….what do I do?”
Gently he had moved his arms to lift her, rising in one smooth motion as he had strode with her to the bedroom he knew to be hers.
“You sleep” he had said softly. “Then tomorrow you grieve…just as I did when my mother died”.
Looking deeply into his face she had seen the hurt even now of her death written on his features, knowing that he understood the pain she was going through.#p#分页标题#e#
Laying her down onto the bed, he had turned her in his arms to hold her against him, her back warm against his belly.
“Tell me about her” she had whispered, Nikos gently nuzzling her hair with his cheek as he had began to speak. Slowly, soothingly he had talked, the story of his childhood pouring from him along with the memories of growing up with his mother. He had talked for what seemed hours, smiling softly as her body had relaxed against him knowing that she had finally fallen asleep. Still holding her he had not wanted to let her go, frowning at realising this, feeling as his eyes had fluttered closed too, falling asleep beside her, the scent of her filling him and his dreams.
Waking later, he had rolled over onto his back, his hand moving feeling the empty bed. Frowning, he had pushed the covers off before going looking for Mina. Entering the living room she had been sat cross legged on the floor, wearing only a long t-shirt, and spread around her were the contents of a box, mostly photographs it appeared to him.
“Mina?” his soft voice had caused her to start, her eyes flying to him as she had pushed away the small tear winding down her face “I..I’m sorry…I hope I didn’t wake you” she had stuttered “I just couldn’t sleep”.
Shaking his head he had moved to sit beside her, picking up one of the pictures. With a soft laugh he had looked over at her, holding up the picture “Is that you?”
Mina smiling seeing herself aged about three, so small, with long blonde almost white hair trying to walk in her mother’s heels. Giving a small half groan half laugh she had nodded “Guilty” seeing as he had looked at it once more before turning to her “You were a beautiful child too” Mina smiling so warmly at him.
She had picked up one picture to pass to him, seeing the look of astonishment on his face.
“That is my mother” he had breathed softly as his eyes had taken in the others in the picture. Mina’s mother and father sat close together, Nikos’ mother beside them as she had held a small baby in her arms, all three looking at each other and laughing. His eyes had flown to hers.
“She really did know” he had said in a voice full of surprise and astonishment.
“I guess that there was a lot none of us knew about” she had whispered, picking up another picture in which her father had held her in his arms, the young Mina being no more than four. He had looked happy and proud as he had looked down at her, Mina smiling back.
“Strange that I don’t remember him ever being that way” she had said so sadly. He always seemed so annoyed to see me. My mother said that he felt guilty. Felt that we should have been a proper family – I guess it doesn’t matter now” her voice growing sad once more, Nikos reaching out a hand to touch her cheek, angling her head to look deeply into his eyes “It matters Mina”.
For what seemed like an eternity the two had looked so deeply into the other’s eyes, something so powerful passing between them, before with a small start, he had dropped his to once more look at the strewn images of her childhood. Picking up another picture he had laughed, Mina smiling too as she had recounted the meaning of it, suddenly not feeling so alone.
For over an hour they had sat there, the two laughing together as he had chuckled at her outlandish and often cute images, Mina moaning with embarrassment at many, however finding herself feeling less sad and even happy at all the times she had shared with her mother, warmth filling her. Seeing him stifle a yawn, knowing that it was so late she had shot him a grin.
“We should get some more sleep”.
Nikos nodding beside her before regarding her questioningly “What do you plan on doing Mina…Will you stay here…or come back home with me?”
Turning to look around her, her features had once more grown sad.
“These were my mother’s happiest memories Nikos…not mine, but I see her everywhere here”.
Her voice once more cracking slightly, as she had turned to look at him “I don’t think I can be here alone…so if it is OK with you…I would rather return to your villa until the vote”.