Page 11 of The Nicolaides Baby

Nothing about Rowan or the fact she’d had a child with another man bothered him anymore. It was what it was.

He didn’t want to crowd her, so he waited a couple of feet away from the bottom of the steps. But Rowan didn’t tarry when her feet hit the runway. She focused her gaze on him and stepped close enough he could smell the unique scent of baby shampoo coming from her daughter. “I’m so sorry about Andreas,” she said, her eyes swimming with tears and her voice husky with emotion. “I know how much he meant to you.” She sniffled. “I loved him too.” She hesitated only a moment and then surprised him with a one-armed hug.

The ache of loss in his chest was intense, but he held his emotion in check. He’d broken down in private and probably would again. But right now he had too many people he needed to be strong for. “Thank you,” he said, stepping out of her embrace. “I still haven’t quite accepted it.” He attempted a smile. “He loved you as well.”

She moved away from him too, her steps a little awkward. “When can I see Sierra?” God, that hopeful look he was about to kill. “Is Lukas okay?”

“Lukas was airlifted to a children’s hospital in Athens with a dedicated neonatal intensive care unit. He’s holding his own.” He hadn’t seen him yet, but his mother had assured him while his nephew was very small, his prognosis was good. Thankfully he hadn’t suffered any injuries in the accident.

She let out a sigh of obvious relief. “That’s good. And so Sierra’s still at the hospital on Santorini? Has she spoken?”

He held her expectant gaze. How was he going to tell her?

“Leo?” Her already strained features fell into deeper lines of worry when he didn’t answer her. “Please, tell me.”

“Rowan…”

“Tell me she’s going to be okay.” She may as well have yelled. Her low words were that intense.

“Sierra didn’t—”

“No!” She took a step back, her body going limp. “No…”

He moved fast and took Mara from her shaking arms as she sagged against the railing behind her. Without thought, he crouched to grab her collapsing body around the waist and pulled her against his own while Mara wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tightly.

“Mama?”

“Sierra… Oh, God.”

“I’ve got you,” he murmured holding Rowan to his chest as she clutched the front of his shirt and sobbed out her denial and grief. “I’ve got you.” He rocked the Stallings women in his arms while planes took off overhead and workers bustled around them, with several giving them questioning looks. None of that mattered.

In that moment there was just the three of them.

Mara touched his cheek. “Mama sad?” He turned to find the little girl’s bottom lip trembling and her wide, liquid green eyes on him—flecks of blue in their depths something one wouldn’t notice unless they were this close.

“Yes,ee mikri mou.” My little one…

Mara tilted her head, her tiny brow scrunched. “Memoo?” She shook her head. “Me Mara.”

“Yes, you are.” He kissed her nose and then laid his cheek on Rowan’s head. Regardless of their past, he felt he should offer her some sort of comfort while Mara petted over the back of her mother’s hair. He might have even taken a little comfort for himself, so he held Rowan until her sobs quieted and she cleared her throat with a little hiccup.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered into his chest, his shirt pulling where she still clutched the fabric. “I’m being selfish.” She released him and stepped away while wiping her face. “You’ve lost just…just as much.” She took in a shuddering breath and looked up at him and then at Mara in his arms, her eyes widening. “Come here, sweetie,” she said, taking her daughter away from him—something he unreasonably resented.

“You ‘kay now?” Mara patted her mother’s cheek.

Everything about Rowan glowed when she looked at her child, even though grief radiated from her. “Yes, baby, Mama’s okay now.” She petted over the little girl’s red curls and then indicated toward him. “Mara, this is your…” She cleared her throat. “Your Uncle Andreas’s brother, Mr. Leo. Can you say hello?”

“H’lo,” Mara said, giving him a broad smile and rubbing her eyes.

“Hello,ee mikri mou.”

She had her mother’s scowl. “No… Mara.” She was also a persistent little thing. Another thing much like her mother. He couldn’t help but give her a smile—the first true one he’d had since hearing the news of the accident.

Rowan’s own smile was sad, but she seemed to be putting on a brave face for her daughter. “Mr. Leo is saying something else. He’s saying…” She looked up at him, confused. “Whatareyou saying?”

He reached over and touched the child’s soft curls. “My little one.”

Rowan’s eyes widened again, as her already fair complexion blanched. Was she going into shock?

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