“What’s today?” Kostas asks, stepping behind me. I lay Zoe across her changing table so I can change her diaper and get her dressed.
“Today, Miss Zoe is seven months old.” I lean over and blow raspberries on her belly. Her giggles ring out through the room. “Every month when I lived with…” I stop myself, not wanting to bring up Kostas’s brother. With Aris still missing and wreaking havoc all over town, Kostas’s frustration has been at an all-time high. The last thing I want to do is add to that.
“What?” he prompts.
“Never mind. She’s seven months old today, that’s all.”
“Talia.” He picks Zoe up from the changing table then turns to face me. “Whatever happened while we were apart, I want to know. It fucking kills me that I missed out on everything. Your pregnancy, Zoe’s birth, the first six months of her life…”
He’s right. I can’t help what happened while I was being held captive by Aris. And stopping my tradition just because it began while I was at Aris’s house only gives him power he doesn’t deserve.
“I started a tradition when Zoe turned a month old. I would bake cupcakes and after dinner, I would light a candle in one and make a wish. Then afterward, I would take our picture. I would make Aris get it printed and I put each one into a scrap book.”
Kostas smiles softly. “What did you wish for?”
“For you to find us.” I take a breath, not wanting to cry. I started my period this morning, so I know I’m being overly emotional. We’re home and safe, and there’s no reason to cry.
Kostas steps toward me and pushes a wayward strand of hair out of my face. “Looks like this month you’ll have to make a new wish.” He bends slightly and kisses me. It’s sweet and quick, but it still lights my belly on fire.
“Do you still have the scrapbook?” he asks.
“I do. I snatched it when I grabbed our stuff.”
“You’ll have to show it to me,” he insists.
When he steps back, I notice he’s dressed in his suit. “Are you leaving?”
“I need to handle a few things at the office. Handle my parents’ house.”
“Will it be able to be saved?”
“No, but it was fully insured. I need to meet with the agent today to go over everything.” He gives Zoe a kiss, then hands her to me. “I should be home for dinner. Save me a cupcake.” He winks playfully, and I laugh at how damn sexy he is when he’s playful.
After seeing him out, I head into the kitchen to make the cupcakes. My mom comes in as I’m setting them in the oven with a cup of coffee in her hand.
“Did you sleep okay?” I ask, grabbing my own cup of coffee and sitting at the table across from her. Zoe is sitting in her high chair, playing with her new sippy cup and eating her cheerios.
“I slept very well.” She smiles. “That bed is so comfortable. I’m going to have to tell Stefano to buy us one.” She glances into the kitchen. “Baking this early?”
“They’re Zoe’s seven-month cupcakes. I make them every month to celebrate her birthday.”
Mom grins from ear to ear. “Kind of like your birthday pancakes?”
“Yeah.” I laugh, remembering when I was growing up I would insist Mom make pancakes like every day. Not wanting to make them all the time, she would say they were only for special occasions. So, every time I would ask, I would make up an excuse, like it was my twelve-year, two-month birthday. She could’ve totally told me I was full of shit, but she never did. Instead, she would make them every time.
“How’s Kostas doing?” she asks. I hate that I was gone for over a year, but I love that something good came from the shitty situation. A friendship of sorts was formed between Kostas and my mom. And not just between them, but also between Kostas and Phoenix. Well, maybe not a friendship between Kostas and Phoenix per se…but definitely a mutual understanding. Kostas even gave him a job and a place to live at the hotel.
“He’s okay. Just stressed. Aris is still missing, and instead of keeping quiet, he’s apparently trying to create destruction at every turn to bring Kostas down.”
“Has he done anything else since he burned down their parents’ home?”
“Last night they think he tried to burn the hotel down. Some wires got tripped, but Kostas was ready for him and they caught it quickly, so no damage was done. But, of course, they didn’t see who did it. So, now Kostas thinks there’s a rat.”
Mom huffs in disgust. “I hope they catch him soon.”
“Same, but until they do, I think it’s safe to say Kostas will be on edge. I just wish there was something I could do.”
Mom takes a sip of her coffee and when she sets it down, she grins. “What if I take Zoe to the pool house with me tonight, so you can make him a romantic dinner? You can spend some time just the two of you.”
My first thought is there’s no way I’m letting Zoe out of my sight, but then, after I take a deep breath, I remember the pool house is only a few yards away and my mom did raise me. She’s great with Zoe.
“I’ll even ask Phoenix to come over,” she adds, obviously sensing my reluctance. “I can spend some time with my son and granddaughter, and you can have a nice, peaceful dinner with your husband.”
The buzzer goes off, indicating the cupcakes are done, so I head over to the oven and take them out.
“What do you think?” she prompts.
“I think that would be great.” I open the fridge to see what we have. Upon inspection, I find I have everything I need to make Kostas’s favorite: chicken parmesan.
“But not overnight,” I tell her. “Once we’re done, I’m coming to get my baby back.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “It’s so hard to believe that my baby is all grown up.” She stands and walks over to me, enveloping me in one of her comforting hugs. “You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman, Talia,” she says. “A loving mother and a devoted wife. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Mom.” That means a lot coming from her because she’s not only my mom, but my best friend, and growing up, I always wanted to be just like her.
After cleaning up the kitchen, we get changed into our swimsuits and head out to the pool. It’s a perfectly sunny day with not a cloud in sight.
While Mom holds Zoe, I swim some laps, and once I’m done, I take Zoe around in her little inflatable boat that has an umbrella top on it to provide shade. She giggles and splashes in the water. Only getting out of the pool to eat her snacks and drink her juice.
When lunchtime rolls around, I give Zoe back to Mom, so I can grab us something to eat.
“Need help with anything?” a masculine voice asks. Bending to grab my towel, I glance over my shoulder to find Fowler standing right behind me with his gaze pointed directly at my butt.
Since Basil has gone MIA, Kostas and Adrian are out more, so that leaves Fowler and the team watching over us. At first, when I would catch him checking me out, I thought I was seeing things, but the more he does it, the more I realize he’s a fucking perv. And a dumbass because once I tell Kostas, he’s going to kill him. I almost feel bad.
I stand back up and turn around. “Nope, I got it.”