Page 103 of The Arrogant's Surrender

“I was wrong, Brooklyn,” she says. “My son couldn’t have chosen better. You are incredibly brave and deserve all the happiness in the world.”

I know they’ve been talking on the phone. Brooklyn also told me about the visit she made to my parents’ house a few months ago. Since then, we’ve been having dinner there once a week, as I used to.

I wouldn’t say they’ve become best friends, but given my mother’s temperament, I can tell she’s been trying.

Still, nothing has prepared me for what just happened.

I watch as Brooklyn hugs her and kisses her cheek. My woman is a much better human being than most. Considering what happened during their first meeting, very few people would have given my mother a second chance.

“Thank you for your support, too, Dr. Pappakouris,” my woman says, hugging me.

“Always here for you, Miss Foster. How are you? Don’t give me a generic answer. I want the truth.”

“I feel relieved. After today, there’s very little left to tie up.”

“We’ll catch her, Brooklyn. Shelley can’t hide forever.”

She cups my face and kisses my chin. “I don’t think I ever thanked you for bringing me back to my family, Athanasios. Thank you.”

“I brought you back to them, but I was selfish, too. Now I know that from the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine.”

“I am yours.”

“Not entirely yet, but you will be.”

She looks at me, and we both know what I mean. We’re heading toward the inevitable.

We’re interrupted by the prosecutor, who approaches to tell us that the jury has reached a decision and is ready to announce the verdict.

“So soon?” Brooklyn asks, looking nervous. “Is that a good thing?”

“It could be, or it might not be, Miss Foster. But let’s stay optimistic.”

Twenty minutes later, I hold her tightly in my arms as she trembles, hearing the verdict: guilty on all charges.

“Almost there,” I say, kissing her forehead. “We’ve partially won. Just one more step.”

In my mind, however, I’m far from satisfied. I wish New Jersey—where they’re being tried because it’s where the crime occurred—hadn’t abolished the death penalty.

We all gather for a big family lunch at Eleanor’s house to celebrate the convictions, even though the sentences haven’t been handed down yet. The prosecutor said it could take a few days.

After the initial tension between Brooklyn’s mother and mine, they are even speaking to each other, although it’s clear that my future mother-in-law—yes, I think I can call her that now—isn’t as natural with Medeia as with the other guests. Probably lingering resentment over what Brooklyn told her about that disastrous first dinner.

“My kids are pestering your dad. I think it’s because they don’t have a strong older male figure in their lives,” my girlfriend says, pointing to Silas and Soraya sitting on his lap, “talking” nonstop.

“I never thought my dad would get along well with children,” I say, cupping her chin to make her look at me. “Hey, I don’t want to ruin your celebration, but I’m leaving in about thirty minutes to see Odin.”

“Did something happen? Did they find Shelley?”

“No. He discovered the truth about Kassia,” I whisper so no one else can hear.

“Can I come with you?”

“I thought you’d want to keep celebrating.”

“No, I’ll stay by your side, just like you stayed by mine these past two weeks. I love you, Athanasios, and I’m here for whatever you need.”

“I don’t know if it’s good news, Athanasios—or if it’s what you want to hear.”

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