The Bridegroom's Vow

“Wait till you get a look at the Egyptian barge from Cleopatra’s time on loan for the event! Five days aren’t going to be enough for people to see everything.”

“I think five days is about all our fair city will be able to handle.”

“That’s what Vaso said. We had lunch with some government officials from the prime minister’s office who were looking around yesterday. They said they’d never seen anything like this in their lifetime. The praise for you is pouring in already and the fair hasn’t even started yet.”

“My secretary will be gratified to hear it. She’s the mastermind behind the entire concept.”

“You’re just saying that because you never like to take credit for anything.”

“No. If you don’t believe me, I’ll have Ms. Hamilton show you the contents of her portfolio after we get there.”

“I’m glad you’re coming home, Uncle.”

“Me, too. See you soon.”

Dimitrios clicked off.

One look at her artwork and Leon wouldn’t believe his eyes. The drawings were remarkable. When everything was over he intended to have the first sketch framed for his office.

As his private jet came into view, his cell phone went off again. “Leon? Obviously you forgot something important.”

“It’s Ananke.”

Dimitrios should have known better than to answer that way, but his mind had been on Ms. Hamilton.

“Yassou, Ananke.”

“It doesn’t surprise me my son reached you before I did,” she began without preamble. “I have to know—Is he willing to stay in school one more semester? Please tell me yes,” she cried.

Her desperation found a vulnerable spot inside Dimitrios. He wasn’t exactly enchanted by the bombshell his nephew had dropped on them.

“I’m still working on it.”

“How soon are you coming home?”

“Late tonight. I told Leon we’d all sit down and discuss this in the morning.”

“Thank you.” Her voice trembled.

“Ananke? Just remember, there’s only so much I can do.”

“You can stop him!”

Dimitrios heaved a sigh. “If this is his destiny, then no earthly power will make a difference.”

The sobbing on her end meant the conversation was over, for the time being, anyway.

He undid his seat belt. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he murmured before ringing off.

As the vehicle pulled to a stop, Dimitrios levered himself from the back of the limo and hurried up the steps of the plane.

“Kalimera, Kyrie Pandakis.”

Instead of his pilots or his steward speaking to him in Greek, it was Ms. Hamilton who greeted him in his native tongue as he entered the plane. It was a first for her. She never failed to surprise him.

“Kalimera,” he said back to her, relieved she was here.

“Hero poli.”

“It’s nice to see you, too.” He responded in Greek once more, impressed by this latest display of her many talents. She’d spoken with barely a trace of accent. Continuing in the same language he said, “Shall we carry on this fascinating conversation after we’ve fastened ourselves in?”

“I’m sorry.” She reverted to English. “I didn’t understand anything else you said after you told me it was nice to see me, too.”

Her honesty was so refreshing, he burst out laughing. For a moment it dispelled the cloud that had enveloped him since his nephew had confided in him.

The rest of his crew welcomed him aboard, but he was barely aware of them as he gave the nod to prepare for takeoff.

“What I just said to you, Ms. Hamilton, was that I was looking forward to a lengthy discussion in Greek, but thought it would be wise to strap ourselves in first so the pilot can do his job.”

“Oh.” She took the seat opposite him and fastened her seat belt. “I’m afraid you’ve heard my full repertoire until we reach Greece. Then I’ll impress you by asking where the post office is, how much does a stamp cost, that sort of thing.”

His chuckle got lost in the scream of the jet engines.

After a smooth liftoff it didn’t take long until the plane had attained cruising speed and they could unstrap themselves.

Out of the periphery he saw that she already had her nose in the notebook she called her bible. He noticed it went everywhere with her.

“Your friend didn’t mind bringing you to the airport so early?”

She lifted her head. “Yanni’s on his way to Athens, so it worked out fine.”

“To be with family?”

“That, and to attend the fair.”

The steward chose that moment to serve them tea. Dimitrios thanked him, then sat back in his seat, wondering why her answer mattered. It was none of his business if she planned to be with her lover in Thessalonica.

As soon as the brew had cooled, he took a long swallow. It was so delicious he drank the rest without pause, then requested more.

Speaking in Greek, he complimented his steward who murmured in the same language, “She brought it on board. Insisted on steeping it herself.”

Intrigued, Dimitrios flicked his gaze to his secretary. For once she had irritated him by being too absorbed with her work. “My compliments, Ms. Hamilton. This tea tastes like the proverbial nectar of the gods.”

She raised her head in his direction. “According to Yanni who won’t drink anything else, that’s the name of it in Greek. He says it comes from the sage that grows wild on the mountains of the Peloponnese. I told him you have a sweet tooth, so he said to add honey instead of sugar. I’m glad you like it.”

Dimitrios should have been appreciative of her desire to please him with a special treat. He was pleased. But for some reason it irritated him that Yanni had any part in her thoughtful gesture.

She opened her laptop computer. “Shall we go over the timetable of events now? I’ve made a hard copy for you. If there’s anything you want to change, I’ll enter it and print it out when we reach Greece.”