Page 83 of Slightly Married
“Girl, that man isn’t going anywhere!” Simone laughed. “You have him as hooked as Mama had Daddy.”
The gates swung open, revealing the familiar driveway lined with cypress trees. The mansion looked exactly as I remembered it, but somehow, I felt like a different person approaching it now.
“I’ll drop by once I’m settled in,” I promised, gathering my courage along with my purse. “Love you, sis.”
“Love you, too.”
I ended the call as the car came to a stop at the front entrance. Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage along with my purse.
The driver opened my door, and I maneuvered my pregnant body out of the car. The front entrance looked exactly as I remembered it, with its grand columns and wooden doors.
I hadn’t told anyone I was coming. Not even Konstantin.
The solemn-faced butler let me in. With a slight bow, he took my suitcases and ushered me inside. He gestured towardthe dining room and said the family was having lunch before disappearing with my luggage.
The unique scent of the house enveloped me as I made my way across the foyer. My heart beat a little faster as I approached the dining room, wondering how they would react to my unexpected arrival.
As I moved through the foyer, my eyes caught on the large portrait of Matthaios, Konstantin, Aris, and Dimitrios with a much younger Santo in formal attire. It occupied a space that had been conspicuously empty during my previous time here.
Even more surprising was the wedding photo of Konstantin and me sitting prominently on the console table. Neither of us was smiling, but it was a good picture, nonetheless.
As I rounded the corner toward the family dining area, I nearly collided with a young woman carrying a stack of fresh linens.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, barely keeping her balance and holding onto the linens. When she looked up and saw me, her eyes widened to an almost comical degree.
“Kyria Christakis!” Maria gasped, her voice hushed but vibrating with excitement. “You’re back! And—” she stared openly at my stomach, “—you’re having a baby!”
I couldn’t help but smile at her genuine reaction. “Yes, I am.”
“This is wonderful news!” she beamed, seeming to forget her professional demeanor in her excitement.
The commotion brought Irida rushing into the foyer, dressed in loose linen pants and a flowing blouse. She froze when she saw me.
“Kayla,” she said, her voice careful. “You’re here.”
“I am,” I replied.
The awkwardness between us was palpable. Irida shifted her weight from one foot to the other. After a moment that seemed to stretch for eternity, she cleared her throat and gestured toward my stomach.
“You look well.”
“Thank you,” I said, placing a protective hand over my bump.
Footsteps echoed on the marble floor as Domna appeared, elegant as ever in a tailored dress. Her hand immediately went to her chest when she saw me.
“Kayla! This is quite unexpected.”
“I’m sorry for not calling ahead,” I apologized, suddenly feeling like I’d made a terrible mistake. “I wanted to...”
“Nonsense,” Domna interrupted, approaching to kiss both my cheeks. “This is your home. You need no invitation.” Her hand reached out, hesitating just above my belly. “May I?”
I nodded, and she placed her palm against the curve where her granddaughter grew. As if on cue, the baby kicked, and Domna’s face cracked into a genuine smile.
“She’s strong,” she said approvingly.
The sound of male voices approached from the direction of the study. Dimitrios appeared first, halting when he saw the gathering. His eyebrows shot up, but a smile quickly followed.
“Well, well! Look who has returned to grace us with her presence,” he said, coming forward to kiss my cheek. “And bringing a precious cargo, I see.”
