I spotted her and Santo heading for the door and called out, “Tia! Hold up a minute!”
They exchanged looks before Tia shook her head. “Chrys and I got someplace to be.”
“But—”
“We have a lot to do before we head back to Greece tonight,” she said. “Bye.”
They ran out that door, just like they did yesterday. Sure, they probably did have things to do before flying out, but that exit was planned. My child was still avoiding me.
Her polite little distance cut deeper than if she’d just cussed me out. This whole “I’m not mad, I’m just busy” act had me in emotional limbo, getting neither her forgiveness nor her anger. Just nothing.
That conversation two nights ago kept replaying in my mind. The confusion on her face when Aris announced he was the father. The way she’d pieced together that kiss with Kevin, thinking I was taking him back.
Lord, all these months she’d been carrying that weight, and I hadn’t known. We’d finally told the truth, but it hadn’t fixed things between us. If anything, it felt like she’d retreated further into herself instead of letting me in.
“Hey,” I heard Aris’ voice before he wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against his chest, grateful for something solid when everything else felt shaky.
His hands spread over my big belly, and the twins started dancing as soon as they felt their daddy’s touch. That simple moment reminded me that even with Tia acting like I didn’t exist, I wasn’t alone in this.
“I prepared something special for you,” he whispered in my ear, and when I turned my head with a question in my eyes, he added, “A maternity photoshoot.”
“Today?” I nearly choked. The idea of pictures to capture these last weeks of pregnancy was exciting, but lord have mercy! “Aris! I need clothes, hair, and makeup. My legs haven’t been shaved in I don’t know how long!”
He laughed. “All taken care of, I promise you this.” Then he winked at me. “I will shave your legs myself, yes.”
I grinned up at him, feeling my mood lift. “Let’s go find a razor right now.”
An hour later—freshly shaved, properly pampered, and feeling almost human again—Aris drove us to the photo studio.
The moment I walked in, I was swarmed by a team of people. One started working on my hair while another went in on my makeup. A stylist kept parading back and forth with dresses for me to pick from. I chose several, eager to try them on.
Once I slipped into the first one—a flowing champagne-colored piece that draped really nicely over my belly—I stepped onto the set. The photographer positioned me in the natural light, arranging some flowing fabric around me.
“Beautiful, Deanna. You’re absolutely glowing,” the photographer said, camera clicking away.
I was just starting to relax into it, feeling good after all that pampering, when I heard footsteps.
I turned to find Aris in the doorway, looking at me as if he wanted to clear this whole studio out and bend me over the nearest surface.
He’d gotten cleaned up, too—crisp white shirt, dark slacks, hair slicked back. Looking good enough to make me forget we had an audience.
The photographer perked right up. “Perfect! Let’s get some couple shots.”
Aris crossed over to me, spreading one hand across my belly and the other at the small of my back. The photographer directed us into different poses, all of them showing off my stomach while keeping us close.
Maternity shot of Deanna and Aris...
His lips brushed my temple in some shots. In others, we stood forehead to forehead. Through it all, his hands stayed on me possessively.
We went through several outfit changes before the photographer finally called for a break.
“Father, we’re here.”
I turned to see Santo and Tia, both dressed up nicely. Tia wore a formal navy dress, and Santo a fit to Aris’s.
Tia stood in the doorway for a moment, and I could see her deciding something. Then she smiled. “Hey Mom, can we join in?”
My heart swelled. “Of course, baby!”
