“Baba?”
“Yes, Theo?” He missed the little boy and had stopped thinking of Theo as the Theakis heir. How had that happened? When had he gone from thinking of Theo as his nephew to thinking of the boy as his son? It was as if the relationship and his distrust of Ava had nothing to do with Theo. He knew that made no sense. “How was the allergy testing today?”
“Okay, my back hurts and is very itchy.”
“That will go away in a few hours. I’ll have Antonio put some salve on it.”
The little boy talked about other things, games he’d played with his grandfather, and Christos had a new sense of peace about the relationship. He’d asked the doctor to take a cheek swab for a DNA test from the boy while he was conducting the allergy test. He imagined he’d soon have the answers he needed to move forward in his relationship with Ava.
And he needed to know if he or Stavros was the father for insurance purposes anyway.
He wanted to believe Ava, but a part of him, that long-cynical part, was refusing to without proof.
“When are you coming home?” Theo said, a note of something in his voice.
“Not for five more days. Is something wrong?”
“I’m having trouble breathing,” Theo whispered, probably so that Antonio wouldn’t hear him.
“Ask Antonio for your inhaler,” Christos said.
“It’s in the room with Uncle Gui. I don’t want…”
“Theo, it’s not a weakness. Gui has seen me wheezing and using an inhaler many times. Remember when I had to use it on the yacht?”
“Yes.”
“Go now,” Christos said, using a firm and authoritative voice that he hoped his son would obey.
“I…”
“No arguments, Theo. Do it.”
“Yes, sir.” Then Theo heard him calling for Antonio.
Before his butler came back on the line, Ava emerged from the dressing room wearing a slim-fitting black gown that plunged between her breasts and had a slit up one leg. “How do I look?”
“Wonderful. You are definitely getting that one.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked, indicating the phone in his hand.
“Theo was having a bit of breathing trouble and didn’t want to use the inhaler in front of Gui.”
“Let me talk to him,” Ava said, holding out her hand.
“He’s gone already. I’m waiting for Antonio. I’ve got it under control. Go try on another dress.”
“I want to speak to my son,” she said.
“Is he notourson?”
“Yes, he is. I’m sorry. I just have a hard time letting go.”
“You don’t have to let go. We’re partners now,” he said. As he spoke he realized how much he wanted those words to be true. The only way that was going to happen was if he started trusting Ava. Truly trusting her. And trusting her meant not relying on a paternity test.
He’d tell the company lawyers that they’d have to find a way to insure Theo without the test. The boy was clearly a Theakis.
He looked into those beautiful sea-blue eyes of hers and realized the truth that he had been running from. That he was lost without this woman. And if she left him again…betrayed him again…he’d never recover.
