life offers the clearest of insights. And this moment was one of them. For years she'd managed somehow to live with the crippling burden.
Rage. Shame. Betrayal. Sorrow.
All of these.
Now, looking into the depths of Leon's grey eyes, she knew without a shadow of doubt, she couldn't survive with first-hand knowledge of the family Leon and Julia had created with her child. Knowing would be the one thing that would finally break her. She fumbled the door handle, desperate to escape the confines of the car.
As she emerged, Leon stood watching her across the roof. "I'd like to thank you for helping."
"I'm helping Jordan, not you, Leon."
His eyes narrowed, his mouth thinned to an unforgiving line. He pulled a photo from his shirt pocket, allowing her the briefest of glimpses. "In that case you won't want this."
Disappointment seared Veronica. How could he be so cruel?
Afraid of being reduced to begging, she turned and ran up the path. As she struggled to fit the key in the lock, a firm hand gripped her shoulder. She glanced up into Leon's stern face through a blur of tears.
"This is for you," he said gruffly.
He took the key, opened the door, laid photo and key in her palm and guided her gently through the door. Once inside, he closed it behind her.
Slumped against it, she succumbed to reaction.
Her hands shook as she scoured the photograph with hungry eyes. Jordan had grown, his features were more defined. He had her eyes and smile, and the dimple in his cheek, but the heavy brows, square cut jaw were all Karvasis.
Oh yes! Yannis Karvasis has stamped his mould on this child. And for that I'll never forgive him.
The memory of Yannis Karvasis rose up to taunt her.
How could I ever have been so stupid, so naïve as to fall for his facile charm?
Veronica studied the photograph again, shuddering as an excruciating pain lanced her heart. Or so freaking stupid as to accept Leon's offer of assistance?
I thought in Yannis I'd found my dream of a home of my own— I was such easy prey.
She blinked until the weakness passed. She refused to cry.
Ten years ago, the agony she'd expended over her lover's treachery had left her soul-empty.
With an enormous effort, she'd rebuilt her life. Now, in the space of an hour, all that effort proved useless. After days spent wondering how her baby was spending his tenth birthday, she now knew.
He was fighting for his life.
Chapter Two
T he cat flap trembled as Mutley insinuated his body through the aperture. The big cat wove around Veronica's ankles, and sensitive to her distress, leaped up onto her knee.
Veronica hugged him close, rocking back and forth in the old rocker in front of the windows overlooking her garden. Today, she never even saw the slice of heaven she'd spent so many hours creating. Today her agony went far deeper than pottering in her garden could cure.
She buried her face in Mutley's black fur, tears leaking from beneath tightly closed eyelids. The cat purred and rubbed his face against hers.
I never knew I could hurt so much?
And why do I care?
I've had no contact with Jordan since the day he was born.
Bringing him into the world was so hard. Leon rubbed my back, talked nonsense to distract me and at one hour to midnight, he placed my baby, wet and bloody, in my arms.
Jordan was so small, red and wrinkled , and so precious. As I held him, I knew those brief few hours had to last me a lifetime.
The sound of a key scraping in the lock barely registered through her misery.
"Veronica?"
She lifted her face from Mutley's fur surprised to see Tania, the bubbly redhead unnaturally sober. She swiftly crossed the space, knelt in front of the chair and gripped Veronica's hands tightly.
"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice a mere cracked whisper.
"Milas asked me to come. You didn't ring back and we were worried." Tania gently shook her hands. "What did that fiend want, Ricki? What did he do to
Rage. Shame. Betrayal. Sorrow.
All of these.
Now, looking into the depths of Leon's grey eyes, she knew without a shadow of doubt, she couldn't survive with first-hand knowledge of the family Leon and Julia had created with her child. Knowing would be the one thing that would finally break her. She fumbled the door handle, desperate to escape the confines of the car.
As she emerged, Leon stood watching her across the roof. "I'd like to thank you for helping."
"I'm helping Jordan, not you, Leon."
His eyes narrowed, his mouth thinned to an unforgiving line. He pulled a photo from his shirt pocket, allowing her the briefest of glimpses. "In that case you won't want this."
Disappointment seared Veronica. How could he be so cruel?
Afraid of being reduced to begging, she turned and ran up the path. As she struggled to fit the key in the lock, a firm hand gripped her shoulder. She glanced up into Leon's stern face through a blur of tears.
"This is for you," he said gruffly.
He took the key, opened the door, laid photo and key in her palm and guided her gently through the door. Once inside, he closed it behind her.
Slumped against it, she succumbed to reaction.
Her hands shook as she scoured the photograph with hungry eyes. Jordan had grown, his features were more defined. He had her eyes and smile, and the dimple in his cheek, but the heavy brows, square cut jaw were all Karvasis.
Oh yes! Yannis Karvasis has stamped his mould on this child. And for that I'll never forgive him.
The memory of Yannis Karvasis rose up to taunt her.
How could I ever have been so stupid, so naïve as to fall for his facile charm?
Veronica studied the photograph again, shuddering as an excruciating pain lanced her heart. Or so freaking stupid as to accept Leon's offer of assistance?
I thought in Yannis I'd found my dream of a home of my own— I was such easy prey.
She blinked until the weakness passed. She refused to cry.
Ten years ago, the agony she'd expended over her lover's treachery had left her soul-empty.
With an enormous effort, she'd rebuilt her life. Now, in the space of an hour, all that effort proved useless. After days spent wondering how her baby was spending his tenth birthday, she now knew.
He was fighting for his life.
Chapter Two
T he cat flap trembled as Mutley insinuated his body through the aperture. The big cat wove around Veronica's ankles, and sensitive to her distress, leaped up onto her knee.
Veronica hugged him close, rocking back and forth in the old rocker in front of the windows overlooking her garden. Today, she never even saw the slice of heaven she'd spent so many hours creating. Today her agony went far deeper than pottering in her garden could cure.
She buried her face in Mutley's black fur, tears leaking from beneath tightly closed eyelids. The cat purred and rubbed his face against hers.
I never knew I could hurt so much?
And why do I care?
I've had no contact with Jordan since the day he was born.
Bringing him into the world was so hard. Leon rubbed my back, talked nonsense to distract me and at one hour to midnight, he placed my baby, wet and bloody, in my arms.
Jordan was so small, red and wrinkled , and so precious. As I held him, I knew those brief few hours had to last me a lifetime.
The sound of a key scraping in the lock barely registered through her misery.
"Veronica?"
She lifted her face from Mutley's fur surprised to see Tania, the bubbly redhead unnaturally sober. She swiftly crossed the space, knelt in front of the chair and gripped Veronica's hands tightly.
"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice a mere cracked whisper.
"Milas asked me to come. You didn't ring back and we were worried." Tania gently shook her hands. "What did that fiend want, Ricki? What did he do to
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