Page 88 of Aleko
Lia sighed. “Yes,” she admitted. “Some. But please don’t call it that. It makes it sound like I can fix everything and I can’t.”
Alma had been easy. When asked what she would wish for aside from world peace, Alma had rambled on about dreaming that all her hours filling out paperwork would pay off. Only Derifa had seen Lia raise the wand and sayI wish.The little girl’s eyes had gone wide when the trail of sparks drifted down onto the dusty grass outside the tent. They’d gone wider still when minutes later a man had appeared looking for Alma to tell her that her application had been accepted—she and Derifa were going to a new housing project. Alma had said it was like winning the lottery.
Lia still wasn’t sure she’d done the right thing for Rami. She’d wished away his physical need for heroin, but that wouldn’t fix his broken heart. Maybe the rehab center would get him there, but Lia gave it a fifty-fifty chance. She could only visit and be a friend. There were things magic couldn’t heal.
“This watch really is the best,” exclaimed Alekos, coming out of the house, poking at the timepiece. “It even glows in the dark.”
Lia looked at Pellos, who started to laugh silently, his shoulders shaking.
“And it’s waterproof for up to fifteen meters,” said Pellos.
Alekos looked at them affectionately. “Yes, I see you both pretending not to laugh. I’m sorry. I’m a late adopter. What can I say?”
“It’s fine,” said Pellos shaking his head with a grin.
Alekos looked around as Hudson and Yazmin came out of the house, followed by Trevor and Colin, carrying platters of food. Dinner passed as it always did—in laughter. Lia leaned against Alekos and watched their family smile, talk, and eat. Despite universal doubts, the Greens had produced beautiful sushi rolls and perfectly cut nigiri. They didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leaveGreece, and Alekos didn’t seem to be in a hurry to push them out. And even Sebastian, despite weekly threats of death and dismemberment, seemed to have grown fond of them.
When the dinner dishes were cleared away, and everyone had drifted inside, Lia stayed, leaning against Alekos’s shoulder and watching the sunset. Upstairs, she could hear Sebastian playing his guitar. It was an old song that she couldn’t remember the words to.
Alekos stood up and held out his hand. She smiled and joined him. Their dancing was still a work in progress. Sometimes they stepped on each other, but they were getting better. He gave her an underhand twirl, and she came back into his arms with a grin as they completed the maneuver.
“So,” he said, swaying her gently, “it seems like maybe you like it here.”
“It seems like maybe I do,” said Lia, giving up on any dancing form and sliding her arms around his neck.
“And it seems like maybe you love me.”
“No more than you love me,” said Lia, her eyes twinkling.
“Well, I love you beyond reason, so I will be happy with that. But well…” He paused and cleared his throat nervously. “I thought maybe you might…”
Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a diamond ring. Lia stared at the enormous solitaire that sparkled in the yellow glow from the strings of lights overhead.
“Yazmin and Hudson don’t seem to feel the need. I don’t know. Maybe I’m old-fashioned. I just...” He trailed off. “I should be doing the knee thing. I’m doing this all wrong.”
Lia giggled and wiggled her finger into the ring as he held it.
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s get married. Nothing fancy. Just down to the courthouse, but I want it on paper that you’re mine.”
He lifted her off her feet and spun around in a circle.
“Forever and always,” he said, kissing her, and Eliandra wasoverwhelmed once again with the sensation of coming home.
