Page 58 of Reunited By the Greek's Baby

‘Her mother kept Toula secret from him?’

Even when she’d despised Theo, Isla had tried to tell him about his child. The thought of keeping such a thing secret—

‘She did, and seeing the damage she did to Toula...’ He shook his head. ‘It made me even more determined to help raise our child.’

His blazing scrutiny scorched but Isla didn’t turn away. She’d learned to respect his resolve to be a hands-on father.

‘What happened?’

‘Toula’s mother was a singer and very beautiful. She knew my father, my stepfather that is, before he met my mother. The pair had a brief affair then she left the country. From what I’ve heard, I suspect Toula’s mother wasn’t even sure of her paternity. She loved excitement, new places and male attention but wasn’t good at maternal responsibility.’

His shoulders dropped on a silent sigh. ‘Toula had a difficult time, always on the move, but I suspect the real problem was her mother’s unreliable parenting. Plus she had male friends on high rotation and some of them shouldn’t have been around a vulnerable girl.’

Isla’s chest tightened. She understood the dangers for vulnerable children. Some of the kids she’d known had suffered greatly.

‘Poor Toula.’

Theo inclined his head. ‘She’s got a good heart but she finds somethings difficult. When she came to us she was very volatile and hid a lack of confidence with brashness and acting out. It took her some time to believe that we really cared. Then our father died and that was especially tough as they’d just begun to build a special relationship.’

It must have been tough for Theo too but Isla simply nodded.

‘She was doing really well until she met Costa Stavroulis.’ He scowled. ‘He was handsome and charming but quick-tempered and self-indulgent, partying to excess and dragging her with him. It was the worst possible environment. Alcohol and drugs didn’t help her mental state and nor did his domineering ways. He went out of his way to undermine her so she was reliant on him. Finally she accepted she didn’t like the place she was in and tried to pull back so she could get help. That’s when he became aggressive. He wanted her back.’

Isla’s stomach hollowed. It was such a sad, familiar story. ‘I’m guessing she didn’t invite him to the party?’

‘She told him she didn’t want to see him again plus I’d warned him off, which is one of the reasons I was suspected of assaulting him. Toula was determined to dry out and get her life on track. But he gatecrashed, getting past security when some friends staged a diversion. He was out of control, high on something and aggressive.’

Theo turned to stare across the city. ‘He got into an argument with someone and paid with his life. Toula was one of the first to see him lying there and I can still hear the sound of her screams. They just went on and on.’ Isla threaded her fingers through his and leaned closer. ‘After that she just closed in on herself. She couldn’t function, couldn’t even talk. She’s been in treatment ever since. The one mercy is that her memory of that night is blank, totally erased.’

‘Oh, Theo.’ Isla turned and hugged him close. How much he and his family had been through. ‘I promise I’ll be careful with Toula and take our relationship at her pace. I certainly won’t press her to become best friends.’

Molten gold showed in his remarkable eyes as he embraced her and lifted her onto his lap. ‘Toula’s just as likely to insist that you do.’ He paused. ‘Sorry, now you’re damp.’ But his arms stayed firm around her, just where she wanted them.

‘I don’t care about that.’ She sounded choked up and didn’t care.

‘I’m sorry for upsetting you too.’

As if he were to blame for that horrible series of events. ‘It’s just pregnancy hormones. I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.’

‘But I do, Isla. All the time.’

It wasn’t fair that he affected her this way, his tenderness undoing her resolve to keep her distance. Her heart hammered as she heard herself say, ‘I’ve been thinking. About your invitation to stay here.’

Theo stiffened and she saw excitement in his expression.

‘I’m not saying I want to marry you.’ Though to her consternation just saying the word made her heart tremble with something she could only describe as joy. ‘But I’d like to stay in Athens longer. We need to decide about the future and the best way to do that is if we learn to trust each other.’

She realised she’d been the one throwing up barriers. Theo was the one letting her into his life, giving her access to everything that mattered to him. He was serious about making their relationship work. That humbled her, especially since the reason she tried to hold back emotionally wasn’t because she feared Theo but herself.

‘You don’t trust me yet?’

Isla was silent, searching for the right words. This was momentous and she needed to be absolutely honest but not raise impossible expectations. ‘I trust you, Theo. I trust you with my body, my well-being, and I know you wouldn’t deliberately hurt me.’

‘Of course not, I—’

She stopped his words with her fingertips against his lips. ‘And I trust you to do your best for our baby. I know you’ll be a terrific father.’ Whenever she thought of it there was a warm glow in her belly. She knew Theo would be strong but tender and encouraging. ‘But that doesn’t mean we need to marry. I still have reservations. I need to think through the implications.’

Because she knew now, more than ever, that Theo had the power to hurt her as no one else had. She’d thought parting from him the first time was tough but if she married him it would be because she loved him, even if she didn’t say the words. She didn’t think she had the capacity to pick up the pieces if he shattered her heart again.

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