‘She is,’ Loukas said, slipping his arm around Emily’s waist.
Emily smiled until her face ached. What was it with Loukas and his mother and sister? They didn’t exchange hugs or kisses with him like a normal family would do. She wasn’t sure what to say or do to ease the stilted atmosphere. She’d thought her relationship with her mother was a little awkward at times, but even a stiff broomstick hug and an air kiss was better than nothing.
‘It’s wonderful news about the baby,’ his mother said. ‘I wasn’t sure I was ever going to be a grandmother. Are you keeping well?’
‘I’m having a bit of trouble with nausea but otherwise I’m okay.’
‘We won’t stay long,’ Ariana said to Emily. ‘We just wanted to meet you in person.’ Her gaze moved to Loukas. ‘I know you don’t like impromptu guests but we couldn’t stay away this time.’
‘You are welcome here any time.’ Loukas’s voice was unusually husky.
Emily couldn’t help noticing the way Ariana kept glancing at Emily’s abdomen with an almost wistful expression on her face. Was she worried she might never have the opportunity to marry and have children herself? How bad was her disability? Would it be rude to ask?
‘I’m really happy for you, Loukas. I mean that,’ Ariana said.
His expression gave little away but his voice still contained that deep, gravelly note. ‘Thank you.’
‘So when’s the wedding?’ Phyllida asked with an expectant air.
‘In two weeks’ time,’ Loukas said. ‘We’re not having a big ceremony, so don’t feel you have to attend.’
‘But of course we’d love to come, wouldn’t we, Ariana?’ his mother asked.
‘I wouldn’t miss it for anything,’ Ariana said. ‘Although, if you’d rather not have us there...?’
‘I would love you to be there,’ Emily said. ‘In fact, would you be my bridesmaid, Ariana? My best friend Allegra will be my maid of honour but I’d love it if you would be my bridesmaid.’ The invitation was out before she had time to think about it. Why was she organising a bridesmaid when, strictly speaking, this wasn’t a real wedding? Or at least, not the normal kind. Loukas didn’t want a big ceremony, but she couldn’t imagine having a wedding without a bridesmaid or two. And who better than his half-sister?
‘Are you sure?’ Ariana asked with a look of such longing it made something in Emily’s chest squeeze, like it was being pinched. ‘I’ve never been in a wedding party before. Are you sure I won’t ruin all the photos because of my chair? I can stand for short periods with a bit of support but—’
‘Of course you won’t spoil the photos,’ Emily said. ‘How long have you been...? I’m sorry. Am I being rude to ask what happened to you?’
Ariana glanced briefly at Loukas, her teeth momentarily snagging her lower lip. ‘Hasn’t Loukas told you?’
Emily’s stomach shifted like a shoe on a slippery surface. ‘Told me what?’
Phyllida put her hand on Ariana’s shoulder, her gaze troubled. ‘Come on, love. It’s time you had a rest. Emily too must be exhausted after the flight. We’ve taken up too much of your time already.’
‘No, no, of course you haven’t,’ Emily said, glancing at Loukas, but his expression was in its customary locked-down position. What hadn’t he told her about his sister’s disability? Why hadn’t he told her he even had a sister? What was going on? Why was the atmosphere between him and his mother and sister so strained and awkward?
Phyllida and Ariana left the room, the whisper of the wheelchair’s tyres over the carpet the only sound in the cavernous silence. Emily turned back to Loukas once the door closed quietly behind them. ‘I’ve felt elephants in the room before, but that one was a woolly mammoth.’
‘Leave it, Emily. Please.’ He made to leave the room but she caught up to him just in time and snagged him by the arm.
‘Tell me what I’m supposed to know,’ she said, looking up into his tightly set features.
He put his hand over hers to remove it but she dug her fingers in. ‘It’s no concern of yours,’ he said.
Emily raised her brows until they threatened to disappear past her hairline. ‘No concern of mine? How can you say that when in two weeks I’m going to be your wife?’
His mouth was so flat his lips had all but disappeared. But then he let out a long breath that sounded as if it had come from some deep, dark place inside him. ‘I was the one who caused the accident.’
Emily couldn’t swallow her gasp of shock in time. He had caused the accident that had maimed his sister? She clutched at her throat with one hand, her heart shuddering at the thought of the burden of guilt he must feel. ‘Oh, no...’
‘I ran into Ariana with my car. I didn’t see her in time. She lost control of the new bike she’d got for her birthday and careened down the driveway and on to the road straight in front of me.’ His throat rose and fell before he continued. ‘I slammed on the brakes but I... I’d only had my licence a few weeks. I didn’t have the experience or the skill to avoid her.’
He had been so young himself—a teenager on the threshold of adulthood—only to be assailed with guilt that would last a lifetime. How devastating for him to be responsible for causing such hurt and suffering, even if it had been an accident. ‘Oh, Lo
ukas, that’s so awful and tragic. I’m so sorry for your sister and for you. It must have been a nightmare.’