Home to Hellas (The Challenge Series) Read Online Free Page B

without the reminder.
    “Death is hard, but life can be much harder.” Athena sighed and cut the pie, putting a portion on each plate. “Which is one reason I’m so glad for your visit. Dorian…he needs more joy.”
    “Oh?” She took a bite and thanked everything good she was in Greece. “He mentioned business and the government were trying.”
    “Bah.” Athena poured the coffee. “Business and government are always trying. He does well enough. It’s his harridan mother. She nags—which is why I do not complain about Toby and Tucker—I learned from the badger to only want happiness in my family.”
    “What does she fuss over?”
    “Everything, but mostly money. ‘Work more,’ she says. ‘You must quadruple your wealth to double it for each of your children.’ She is a nag who doesn’t understand business. Instead of being happy Dorian does well and is loving life, she worries about the future. If I weren’t but a simple housekeeper, I would give her a piece of my mind.”
    Jenn scoffed. “You could never be called a simple housekeeper, Athena. I’m sorry he has to deal with it. Mother pressure…not fun.”
    “But now you are here and will stay.” Athena grinned. “Stay all summer and then stay longer. I say, forever.”
    Jenn picked a thread on a linen napkin. “I don’t know about that, but I will be here for the next three weeks.”
    “Think big picture.” The older woman held up her wrinkled hands. “A future with Dorian, maybe a little brother for the girls. Yes, I like it. And as his wife, you could stand up to his mother and tell her to—” Her run of Greek probably would have made Jenn blush if she’d understood. She finished with a flourish and winked before diving into her breakfast.
    Jenn let the dear lady’s ramblings die without comment. She didn’t know what the future held; her focus was on learning to live for the moment again. If any of those things had entered Dorian’s mind, he’d never mentioned them. Athena’s wandering thoughts needed to stay fantasy.
    “The doctor will be here later,” Athena said.
    “Could you cancel for me? My knee is better today, and the fewer doctors I see, the better.”
    She tsked. “Fine. I will schedule a massage instead.”
    “I hope you enjoy it.”
    “No, no, sassy girl. You will have a massage. I will run you a bath. And bring you pastry. You are jumpy, and I don’t like it. You sleep in here, and I don’t like it. You are haunted…and I don’t like it one bit.”
    She saw too much. Jenn kept her gaze on the half-eaten pie. Despite the upset, she took another bite. She’d lost weight because she hadn’t been able to keep anything down under stress. She chewed, grateful for the good food and healthy appetite.
    The rarely still housekeeper stood, her plate empty and coffee cup dry. “I need to get busy. Dorian wakes up much too early these days. You should help him with that. I will call in the masseuse for before lunch, and you will be ready.”
    She used to love a good massage. It might be a safe, low-pressure way to re-acclimatize to touch.
    “Yes, I will. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
    “I will make you something special for lunch. Dorian will join you. Make him go swimming again after.”
    “Did you get bossier while I was away?”
    “I am another year older and wiser.” She dashed out the door and waved over her shoulder. “And I am fed up with the ones I love frowning when life is for joy.”
    She closed the door, and Jenn took another bite of pie. The grandmother was onto something, and she embraced her love. She poured a second cup of coffee and watched the waves crest on the beach below. After the knee surgery she’d dreamed of the coast and his embrace for a week.
    She’d finally made it back, yet she hid in her room, alone, with her lover across the hall. She had to let go of her fears or risk losing the person who meant the most to her. Jenn checked her watch. She’d finish her coffee and do