“I’m not asking you to change your life. You know how much I support you in your career, your choices. I’m not asking you to sacrifice anything for me. I just want to be a part of your journey, to be together.”
It was impossible to string any cogent words together.
“Mila? What is it?”
She laughed then, shaking her head a little, and reaching down to squeeze his hands. “I just…I was already dealing with something when I got here. I’m sorry. I’m a little blindsided.”
“It’s too soon,” he grimaced, standing, putting away the ring.
“No, not at all.” She rushed to add. “It’s perfect.” Finally, the reality of this sunk in and tears filled her eyes. “Really, this is so romantic. Of course,of course, I’ll marry you. Is that even a question?” She sobbed, and he pulled her against him, holding her there, as if to reassure himself this was actually happening. They stood like that for minutes, for many minutes, two hearts mingling, beating in unison, and then, he pulled back, a small frown on his face.
“What else were you dealing with?”
“I’m sorry?”
“You said there was something else that had happened. What is it?”
“Oh, right.” She smiled from ear to ear. “May I see the ring again first.”
He grinned, pulling it out of his pocket, then removing the diamond solitaire from the box.
“May I?”
She nodded, extending her finger, as he slid the ring onto it.
“Perfect fit. How did you know?”
“I know everything about you.”
She laughed. “Wanna bet?”
“Keeping secrets?”
“Not intentionally.”
“I’m intrigued.”
She stared at the ring, then up at him. “I saw my team doctor today. It was a routine physical, that’s all. Or rather, it was meant to be.”
“Oh?”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “And I have been terrified of this moment for so long, because when my mother fell pregnant with me, I know she was miserable, that she contemplated an abortion, that she wished, many times, she hadn’t had me—,” He swore under his breath, holding her tighter. “And I was always so scared that I would feel the same if and when it happened to me.”
“And how do you feel, my love?”
“Oh, it’s completely the opposite. I amdelighted,Leonidas. I practically floated here. The obstetrician estimated I’m ten weeks or so. I think it must have happened on that last night, in Porto Mezi.” She curled her fingers into his shirt. “I think this was fate’s way of making sure we’d stick together. This baby is meant to be.”
He expelled a breath and then kissed her slowly, sensually, his palms pressed against the small of her back.
“I love you more than I knew possible, and yet every day, that love grows and grows. How can you keep giving me such gifts?”
Her heart turned over. “Because you keep giving them right back.”
Epilogue
A YEAR HAD PASSED since Konstantinos’ funeral, and little by little, life had moved on. Grief was a part of them all, still, and his legacy lived on in many ways. From the strength each Xenakis brought to the boardroom, to their steadfast commitment to family. Leonidas looked down at his twins, sleeping in their side by side pram, and then up at his wife, and despite the somber emotion of this dedication ceremony, he smiled.
Today, they gathered not to mark one year since Kon’s passing, so much as to celebrate his life, in a way they hadn’t been able to on the day of his funeral. This was the commemoration of a man who’d fought hard to build an empire, who’d lived his life in technicolour, always the best, biggest, brightest in any room.