Page 55 of Secrets, Lies and Love

“You know you can continue here as long as you want,” she says.

“Thanks. I sometimes think you’re not real.”

“Oh, I am. Now the question is: areyoureal, Cici?”

“What?”

“I’m the last person in the world to force someone to tell their secrets, but I know you’re hiding something.”

“I . . .”

She makes a gesture with her hand, interrupting me. “I’m going to give you some advice, Cici, not because I want to interfere in your life but because I’m your friend. It’s obvious that you and Dionysus are crazy about each other. You look like a pressure cooker about to explode. I didn’t expect him to get involved with someone in just under a year since Sue died, but here you are.”

“Elina—"

“Let me finish. It’s an unusual situation, without a doubt, and not because you are his son’s nanny but because the Greeks keep romances out of the house until they choose the one with whom they want to form a family. If Dionysus is risking so much by continuing to invest in this attraction, it’s because he doesn’t consider what you have to be fleeting, even if he himself doesn’t know it yet.”

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

“No offense, but he can have any woman he wants. Why complicate everything by having someone who lives in his house?”

“Maybe because I haven’t given in yet . . .”

“No, I doubt it. I saw you two at the wedding. It will happen, no matter how much you fight against it. If Dionysus wanted to stop things from going any further, he would have fired you. In fact, he wouldn’t even have hired you, because there’s been a clear vibe between you two since the hospital. What I’m trying to say—and I apologize in advance for interfering—is: always be honest with him.”

I feel my blood run cold. “I don’t know if I understand.”

“Your story has some gaps. Where is the person whom you promised you would come to a big city and succeed in life?”

“He’s dead,” I answer, determined to deliver a small portion of the truth.

“Was it a coincidence that you threw yourself in front of Dionysus’s car?”

My eyes hurt with the urge to cry because I don’t want to lie to her. Elina has been nothing but wonderful since we met.

As if God takes pity on me, Odin arrives, saving me from a response.

I start to collect my things, not making eye contact with the woman who doesn’t deserve to be deceived. I have rarely felt so ashamed in my life.

I quickly say goodbye to both of them and start to walk towards the exit, but she says, “I’ll go with you.”

Odin looks from one of us to the other, and I can see that he feels the strange atmosphere, but he doesn’t say anything.

When we are at the door that leads to the street, I hold her arm. “You don’t know my whole story, but I swear to you on all that is most sacred that I’m not a bad person, Elina. I have nothing to hide in that regard, no bad intentions.”

“But are you hiding something about the past?”

“Who isn’t?” I try to change the subject.

“Good point, but keep in mind that we Greeks are spiteful, Cici. If this thing between you and Dionysus grows and he finds out about your past by himself, he might not give you a second chance. My unsolicited advice, which I’ll give you anyway, is: whatever you’re hiding, tell him before he finds out on his own, because be sure he eventually will.”

I leave the building with shaky legs and a racing heart.

I know she’s right, but I’m not ready yet.

I need to get to know him a little better to make sure he won’t cut me out of Joseph’s life forever.

Dionysus

---