Chapter 12
Caroline awoke in her first day in Greece at what she would have considered an ungodly hour if she were still at home.
The sun was high in the sky and the day was wasting.
She thought about the morning routine she had at home. Kayla and the school run and the missing Shawn.
She did not have to do any of that just then.
She rolled over to the other side of the bed and felt her body collide softly with another warm one.
A smile appeared on her lips. Now that was a very welcome change indeed she thought as her mind drifted away from home and back to the present.
"Good morning," she said to Victor.
"Good morning my dear," he purred as he ran a hand through her hair and then brush it back, kissing her as he did so.
"Oh it is, isn't it?" she asked.
It was a good morning for the two of them.
It was going to continue to be.
After they had got dressed on the plane once more, the two of them had continued to act like honeymooners.
Caroline had known that Victor could be sweet when he chose to be but she also knew that the words which he had said to her where going to live in her soul forever. She did not like to think she was a vain woman thought after everything she had said and done but thought lately she did not think that she could deny it.
It was not just what he said that had convinced her that going to Greece was something which she had to do whether it was right or wrong. It was the way that he made her feel. It was this passion between them and she did not think she was ever going to be able to deny that passion.
Nor did she think she would want to.
By the time they had touched down in Greece it was nearly night time. They had taken off from Salem just after eleven. They had got to Greece just before seven.
Caroline had never been any where she had had to face such a time jump before.
She did not think she could put it into words just how new all of this was for her.
Victor, who was well use to all of this, was patient with his travelling companion as she marvelled at the things which were perfectly ordinary to him. He did not think he was ever going to be able to put it into words, just what a joy it was to see her discover a whole new part of the world.
By the time they had gone to bed she was exhausted and Caroline had slept the sleep of the dead until she had woken in a beautiful room, which smelt of the flowers which adorned it.
"What do you want to do today?" Victor said as he stroked her cheek.
"Everything and nothing all at once!" she beamed as she tried to work out if she wanted to go out in to the city of to just lay by the pool and be at his side.
He settled down beside her and she was blissfully reminded by that that she did not have to make her choice right then.
They had all the time in the world.
X x x
Caroline's suspicions she had never been any where like this before had been confirmed when she got to Victor's family villa the previous evening.
It was everything which she had thought it was going to be.
Light, airy, Grecian. It was Spartan and clean and as a mother the first thing which she noticed was the lack of toys.
She was not going to have to clean anything before she went to bed that night and that was an odd feeling.
"So do you think you are going to be able to be happy here?" asked Victor.
It struck her that he had asked the question as if the two of them were moving into this place of a regular basis.
Which they were not – it was just a holiday, she reminded herself, or the piece of herself which was already rebelling and worrying about her kids.
"Yes." She said with a wide smile as she blocked out everything which was going to be spoil the mood.
And she did think that for the time they had together they were going to be happy here.
They could be as happy here as anywhere…
She turned and went into his waiting arms, from where she had been looking out the window.
"You have no idea how long I have waited for this –" he sighed as he kissed her freely. "For it to be just you and me and no one else."
It felt wonderful to know at least for the days to come they were going to be the centre of each other's universes.
In many ways he had been right what he had said in the car.
This did feel like a second honeymoon to her.
The only problem was she was not with her husband.
X x x
"Do you think mom is having a good time with Auntie Peg?"
"Well, I do not think they are having a good time as your auntie has been poorly but it will have been better for her to have your ma there with her, and she should be on the road to recovery soon," Shawn tried to comfort his son. Or at least he surely hoped she was. If it was not selfish which he was fairly sure it was. But there was no two ways about it, he was already ready for his wife to come home.
Molly and his mother had been grand as had Caroline's mother, if she had been a little quiet. Every now and then he had caught her looking at him in an odd manner and it had almost got to their point where he wanted to say it was not his fault her daughter was gone.
Roman had been very brave since his ma had been away and so had their lovely girls but Kimberly and Kayla had asked for a lot more which he knew was only natural. The girls were so young.
For Shawn it had been an interesting game of role reversal. Suddenly he was not the parent who could claim to have the most novelty value... And he was not sure he liked it and if this was what his beloved Caroline had to put up with on a daily basis then it was no wonder she grew tired of it.
Still there son was only six.
"But momma is not going to get sick?" Shawn did not know. Now he came to think of it he was not even sure what his wife had said her aunt was sick with.
But that was not the way to go about comforting his son.
"Of course not. Auntie Peg is a lot older and your mother is as healthy as a horse," he must have said it with a degree of confidence for it did not take his lad a lot of time to accept the argument with a nod. Still Shawn did not like to see his lad upset or in distress. That was one of the things he just could not stand and he knew he had change it if he could. "What do you think of coming out with your dad on the boats this weekend?"
"Dad that would be so cool!"
"That's settled then – grandma can watch the girls and my number one and I can have a bit of lad's time."
Roman raced off in a much better mood and the truth was Shawn could not wait for it either.
Anything to take his mind off how much he missed Caroline and that was a lot better way than most.
X x x
Even though he was on holiday with Caroline, Victor could not deny that now he was back at home he did want to see his family. Initially the idea of them going out socialising with other people made Caroline feel nervous but when Victor reminded her they were the only ones who had any links to Salem, she did begin to feel a bit more comfortable with the idea.
And it might be a good thing for them to get out and see others.
You could be with once person for too long.
So on the fifth night of their trip they drove from Victor's villa (for he had been the one to inherit their fathers home) down to his brothers smaller but no less lovely one.
"The Kiriakis' do live like princes don't they?" she asked to be met by soft laughter.
"Are you finally working that out my love?" he hummed, as they walked up to the impressive villa. The door opened his brother came out to him. This was the way he wanted them to live permanently.
"Victor is so good to see you," Alex beamed.
"As it is you." The two men embraced like he brothers they were.
Alex Kiriakis Caroline thought to herself had to be the kind brother. As much as she loved Victor she was only to aware he had an edge to him.
But Alex did not and she had a feeling he lived an altogether more wholesome life. This seemed to be confirmed by the dark haired beauty who followed him out of the house.
So this, she thought, was Christina. When Victor had said they were going to see his brother and sister in law he had said his brother had done very well for himself and now she could see why – the villa, the drive, his beautiful wife. She had to admit she felt quite a plain Jane in comparison.
But if Christina saw that then she did not show it.
"You must be the lovely Caroline – we have heard so much about you!"
She could not have been more welcoming as she put an arm through hers and walked wither to the house.
"Victor was told us so much about you!" grinned Christina. "How are you finding being in Greece? I knew he could not wait to bring you here."
"We are having a wonderful time. It is so kind of you to invite us for the night."
"Oh nonsense. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is for us to have you here. And I know how important it is to Victor."
Just as it had been on every night of their trip to date it was a warm pleasant night even if it was boarding on a little bit humid….
She was more than happy to sit on the veranda and while away the evening with them.
"You know it was always mamas hope you were going to find a nice Greek girl. But your American seems like the kind of girl she would like," Alex said as he and his brother walked behind the women.
"I think so too," Victor offered with a nod.
He was glad his brother had taken to her from the first but he was yet to really know her… at least he had a strong point to start from.
"So Caroline, Victor said you went to art school," said Christina.
Victor gave her a look to say she was not to quiz her too much but he had brought her here so they could all get to know one another.
"Yes, I did though it was many moons ago now."
"What do you do now?"
She couldn't very well say that she worked in her husband's fish market.
And so on the way over she and Victor had come up with a cover story.
It suddenly struck her they were only going to get to know a lie that night when she was with them.
"I work in a typing pool."
"And you did some work for Victor and he feel at your feet?" Alex made a guess.
"I am afraid not – I knew Victor from the first time he came over to the states."
"Indeed, our romance should have begun a lot sooner – but she did like to keep me on my toes."
They all laughed at that though Caroline knew that was truly what he believed.
He took her hand and she let him hold it.
She had not realised how lovely it was going to be to be a couple in public.
"How long has it been going on?"
"A few months…"
"And where is it going?" Alex asked clearly really asking if they were going to be hearing the sound of wedding bells any time soon.
Victor brother gave him a stern look and Caroline drank her wine.
Where could it possibly go?
Victor changed the subject to Caroline's delight and she was soon be regaled from tales of their childhood and then she heard Christina's and Alex's romance.
It sounded as if she had been the girl next door and her husband considered himself a very lucky man to have won her hand in the end.
"But of course we were always going to be together, it was written in the stars long before we were born," Christine said with a shrug as if it was obvious.
"Do you really believe in all that?" asked Caroline.
"Of course – don't you?" she asked as she nodded at Victor and for the first time since she had got there she felt as if she was uncomfortable. Caroline shifted in her chair.
She was sure she had not meant to be harsh and it had a lot more all together to do with her own guilt than anything else.
Yet it did feel as if it was a rebuke for all her sins which she knew numbered more by the day.
The silence was broken not by an adult voice but by the cry of a baby. Caroline felt the instinctive need to go and comfort the child and for a moment she could swear blind that that was the cry of her Kayla… but if her child was crying then she was far too far away to hear.
Christina got off her chair.
"Poor baby – it's his teeth, I am sure of it."
She disappeared inside for just a moment and when she came back she did so with a baby who was clearly sleep warmed and groggy and Caroline wanted nothing in the world as much as she wanted to hold him or better still Kayla.
She had a craving for her daughter right then.
And it was the most powerful thing she had known in she did not know how long.
"This is my little Justin," sighed Christina as she hugged the little grizzly one who she loved with all her heart.
"As you can see he is of the same temperament as his uncle," teased Alex.
Victor threw his brother a look but said nothing. His face shone with love for the baby though.
"He is growing up healthy and strong?"
"Yes he is," said Alex with pride.
"I am glad to hear it!"
Christina passed the baby to her husband and excused herself once more to go and get the little ones bottle.
"Honestly never try and entertain with little ones around," she said with a happy sigh which said she did not mind the struggle at all really.
"Victor is of the opinion we should get a nanny," Alexander explained once his wife was gone.
It was obvious what he thought of that suggestion to as he cooed over his boy.
She could not agree more. She had never understood the point of having kids if you here just going to pay someone else to bring them up. She liked to think that even if she and Shawn were rich they would still bring them up as they did. Right by their sides.
"And you?"
"I do not want to miss being with him for a day."
Caroline felt vaguely sick. Both of the Kiriakis' were clearly very devoted parents.
Christina came back out the house with a bottle, reclaimed her boy and kissed her husband's lips in recompense.
It was not too long until the child was happily sucking away as he looked up at his mother adoringly.
Caroline longed for all of her kids but especially for Kayla right then, for the comforting weight of her in her lap.
The men were talking on their own so Christina took a chance to talk to Caroline.
"It is the best thing in the world being a mum."
She could only long to agree and say yes it was but there was no real scope for that right then.
"Do you see yourself with children in the future?" Christina asked. It was as she said that the two Kiriakis brother wondered off together saying they were going to the cellar to pick out another bottle of red wine.
"Oh yes,"
"And a husband?"
"It's wonderful to be married."
Caroline nodded as she reached out and stroked little Justin's head.
"But then maybe you already know what it is to be married," Christina said as she gave a nod to Caroline's hand.
If she had truly not wanted to give the ruse away then she should have taken off her wedding band and indeed since they had left America, Victor had suggested it to her more than once.
When the two of them had been going about one of the markets he had not put it too delicately and just pointed out that whoever she was when she was in Greece she was not Mrs Brady and if she was then she was on the wrong continent.
She had had a hard time trying to repute that one.
Still try as she might she could not take the band off. It was her one link to home as and as long as she kept the band on her finger then maybe there was just one way in which she was being loyal to Shawn. True it was not enough to wipe out all the bad and all the damage she had done to the two of them lately but she told herself that it was something and so it was.
So lost in her thoughts had she been that she had not yet answered Christina and by doing so she definitely had.
Caroline opened and closed her mouth a little but Christina shook her head.
"I am not going to judge you – I know there is too much judgement in this world already one way or another but I will say it is not like Victor to bring home a woman and I have never known him involved with a married woman before."
She did not know if it proved the depth of his feeling or the depth of his stupidity, thought Caroline.
"When the two of us were young we courted a little." She admitted to her. "If it was not for the past then oi would not be here –"
"I am not your husband. You do not have to justify yourself to me."
She shook her head as she was faced with the truth. "Even if I did try and justify myself to my husband I know I couldn't," sighed Caroline.
The two women looked at each other for there was nothing left to say. Caroline had spoken nothing but the truth. Christina rocked back and forth with her son in her arms and vowed never to be caught as Caroline had been.
X x x
"Are you ok my love?" asked Victor as the two of them drove back to the villa.
The sun had set a long time ago and to her it seemed as if they could be the only ones in the world but they weren't and they were the ones she missed right then…
She gave a nod.
Still he was unable to let his worry for her go. She had been quiet during the latter part of the evening.
"What is it?"
When the two of them had been so close of late it did not seem realistic or sensible to keep the truth from him.
"Seeing Christina with little Justin tonight has made me miss the children is all."
She knew when they did leave here she was going to have a hard time feeling too sorry about it. Yes she was going to miss him when they had had such a glorious time together but she longed for her babies as it was - she did not know what she was going to be a like in weeks' time.
"It must be rather strange to be away from them."
Caroline nodded. It was when they normally - well, what took up all her time.
Suddenly when she thought of another week relaxing she did not know what she was going to do with all the time.
But she had no doubt the time would pass and pleasantly too.
Tomorrow was going to be another hot day.
"It is," was all the answer she would allow herself.
They drove the rest of the way back in peace and silence, both of them wondering if anything had changed that night.
It hadn't.
X x x
The week passed more quickly than Caroline had ever imagined a week could. They did say that time flew when you were having fun and at this point she could only agree.
They had gone in to the city, they had gone to the beach, she was sure they had walked for miles. And they had spoken – about books and motion pictures and she had had a chance to buy some new clothes. Even as she had selected them she knew she wasn't going to be able to where them much at home and if she did then she was going to have to introduce them very slowly, for if she did not then they were going to raise too many questions.
But by the time their break begun to draw to a close Caroline felt as if she had had a real rest and as if she and Victor had had some real time together.
The biggest problem was now she had no idea what came next for them.
Victor on the other hand was already making plans.
X X X
"Caroline, listen to me my darling," said Victor as the two of them walked across the sand together.
"I am listening." She promised.
"Tomorrow is the last day we have together here and I – I want you to think about that."
"The truth is I have been having such a wonderful time here I have been trying to not think about it."
That was the response she should say she knew. That was the lover's response and that was the reason she had come. So that the two of them could be true lovers and that was just what they had done.
This time for the two of them had been a blessing.
But as time begun to march on she would be an even bigger liar she knew if she denied to herself that her heart had begun to turn towards home.
She had seen some of the most beautiful works of art and she had even picked up a paint brush herself for the first time in years, and she had had a chance to read and listen to beautiful music…
But the treasure which she had in Salem was unmatched…
He kissed her forehead.
"I want you to think about – about a future in which this does not have to be our last day here together."
"What are you saying?"
"I am saying that I have fallen more and more in love with you with every day that the two of us have passed here and that I am not ready for us to end. I am never going to be either. Caroline, I want the two of us to get married. I want you as my wife."
She felt as if she could have stopped dead in her tracks.
She knew if she was the heroine in one of Molly's books she probably would have swooned in to his arms just then and said yes that was just what she wanted and it was always going to be what she wanted… but she had a husband already.
And as it was, she was not feeling as if she was very heroic just then.
"Victor you know I can never be your wife. I am married to Shawn."
In the eyes of god she was always going to be his wife. And he was always going to be her husband.
And it was not just the case that that was what god thought. It was what she thought to. She did not think she could be otherwise - not for a long period of time. What the she and Victor had had there was magic but she was well aware it was only a blip.
"For now. That can change."
She did not think so. And she did not think she could divorce Shawn in all seriousness. But after all she and Victor had been to one another…. She couldn't just shut down this conversation either.
"What about the children?"
"They could come here. I would love them for your sake."
"No." she shook her head.
She had already done so much wrong. But the kids were her husband's air.
Shawn lived for his family and he would not tolerate any one trying to take them from him, she knew that. It would be the one time she was scared of what he would do.
And they were such wonderful children who deserved to be loved for their own sakes.
"Just think about the education we could give to Roman and the girls here."
But she knew those children already.
Their hearts belonged to herself and to Shawn.
"And may be one day we could give them a baby brother of sister." He sighed as he rested his forehead on hers.
She sighed deeply as the setting sun lowered.
Could she imagine that life? After everything else she had done of late which had surprised her, that was not the hardest thing to do.
Yes she could. And she knew he believed what he was saying to be true.
Maybe he could in a way come to adopt and love her children as his own. Maybe the two of them could make beautiful sons and daughters together.
But when she thought of that life, all she could really see was a man crippled for life. Her man. Her good man.
"I will think about it."
She was not ready to break the spell which the two of them had been under since they had arrived – but she knew in her heart of hearts she was never going to leave Shawn for Victor.
She couldn't. She had had to come round the world to realize that her hearts dearest lay at her side every night and had done for years.
That was not to say she would give up what she and Victor had shared for anything in the world…. But she knew herself better know.
There would be no second trip to Athens, no more time with Alexander, Christina and baby Justin.
She was going to go home.
But tonight was theirs…. just this one last day and night where they could be together.
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