Chapter 28: Twenty-Eight

Eve ran to him, grabbing his legs and looking up. “We got sick, mommy took care of us.” He got her in his arms, kissing her cheek and making her giggle. Henry walked to the counter and sat Eve on it. He wasn’t feeling himself yet and needed some leverage. Jeez! How long has it been since he got the flu?

“Eve, tell daddy more about mommy’s drooling.” He asked and didn’t take his eyes from Melina, who got electric crimson all over and went back to her cooking.

“Lina told me, and I also heard aunty Gabs telling that to Uncle Xanthos at the clinic.”

“I’m gonna kill Gabs.” Both turned to stare at Melina’s mutterings. She inhaled and turned to him. Even though she was feeling at peace and nothing would disturb that, she put a serious face on.

“Lina told you, huh?” He hugged her tight to him, then put Eve down, kissing the top of her head. When the girl dashed away, he turned to Melina. “What’s with her and those cats? She has a unique relationship with them.” He scratched his beard, frowning.

“Be careful, Muffin. You’re not used to the house!” Melina warned her, but the cats were already by her side. “Well, in her imagination they talk to her, it’s interesting to watch.” She turned to him with glinting eyes. “How are you feeling? You’ve got me scared. I almost ended up with you twice at the ER.” She came to him, combing his tousled hair with her fingers and putting her soft palm on his forehead.

“A little dizzy and wasted, that’s all.” It felt so good, her warm hand on him. He closed his eyes, enjoying the contact. “Thank you.” She took care of him, even though he had been an asshole to her, and that meant something.

“What do you remember?” She took her hand away, but kept staring at him.

Something had changed. There was warmth in her eyes. It wasn’t there before. “Not much. I remember sending you the message and slumping into my bed, and after that it’s all hazy.”

“You and Eve must have gotten this nasty bug from Linus, the little boy from the pet store. Eve was fine in about two days. She is still a little fussy, but you…” She couldn’t help looking at him with worry.

“How long has it been?”

“Five days, but you burned with a fever for about three days straight. Here, I’ve made you chicken lemon soup.” Melina put a bowl full of it in front of him. The smell was delicious, but his stomach didn’t agree with it, churning and rebelling against the food. He grabbed the spoon and stirred, looking at the liquid swirl. Melina observed him when he raised his eyes to her. “We need to build up a stronger immune system in you. What’s wrong, you don’t like it?” She asked, biting her lower lip and rubbing her forearm.

“I do. I just have a sick stomach, that’s all.” He gave her a half smile.

“You sound like Eve now. Come on, at least try it. Five spoonfuls, I'll help you count them.” She winked at him and sat by the counter with him. His eyes darkened, and tiny blazes leapt to her skin when a gorgeous smile came to his lips, framed by his scruffy beard. Melina blushed hard and averted her gaze, smiling.

Henry took a spoon to his mouth, savouring the soup not to upset Melina. Only then, he realized how hungry he was, and his stomach was acting funny because of the lack of food.

“Thank you, it’s delicious.” He put another spoonful in his mouth. “We have to talk, Melina.” Henry was back to his serious self, giving her a hard stare.

Melina’s phone vibrated on the table, dissipating the tense moment. “I need to get that. It may be a patient.” He nodded to her, sighing as she grabbed the phone. “Hey Gabs!” she answered with a cheerful voice. “What’s up?”

Henry observed her while finishing his food. She wasn’t that young, awkward girl he once met. She was a woman now. Well, she still blushed like a red rose, but it was different. She became a gorgeous woman with curves the pregnancy had beautifully outlined, a petite who fit in his arms with perfection. Melina was the mother of his daughter and he couldn’t get over that. She gave him the beautiful gift of being a father and the family he longed for.

The only time he had to remember being with her was the night of her graduation, when Eve was conceived. And he couldn’t wait to have a repeat. He craved her like a drug addict and only God knew how hard it was not to know where she was all this time.

Hank didn’t understand what prevented her from taking the Morning-After Pill as she had promised, but he was glad she didn’t. He turned to Eve who blabbered happily with the cats, and it was funny, because they would meow to her as if they were talking to each other. Pride filled his heart. She was the most gorgeous soul in his eyes, and he couldn’t imagine his future without her, despite the short time she has been in his life.

Seeing her on the phone reminded him of the unread message he got a few days back. He retrieved the phone from his back pocket and it was from an unknown number, but as soon as he read it, his face turned into a grimace. He knew the sender. The phony Greek God.

“Do you want to know how much of an asshole you are? Watch the videos. She has a bunch of them in a flash drive in Eve’s bedroom, in a little box on the bookshelf.” The message read.

He pressed play, and a younger, but tired version of Melina was there in the video. Pale as a ghost, with deep dark circles under her eyes, but with a smile so bright that love radiated from her. She was holding Eve, the tiny baby, resting on her shoulder. She turned to the camera with tearful eyes. “Eve, daddy is far away, but tell him we won this battle and we’re going home…” She finished the sentence with joyful sobs.

Melina was everything to him. He glanced at her, talking to Gabs on the phone. She had changed so much! She became a gorgeous, independent woman with curves to die for, but inside that innocent, shy teenager girl full of dreams still lived. Hank loved the way her hips swung when she closed the drawers with them. They were a bit wider than before, perfect to hold them and bring her to him. Her soft curls flew around when she shook her head, and her melodious, carefree laughter vibrated in the room, making him lose his breath.

The naughty and yet shy way she sneaked peeks at him told Hank Gabs was making filthy comments about him, as her cheeks would tint with a delicate shade of pink, filling his mind with sinful dreams.

Another video came to the screen, getting his attention once more. Evangeline was about the size of a six months old baby, all happy playing with her feet on a bed. “Eve, tell daddy we’re good. We’ll have a minor battle in front of us, but we’ll come out stronger.” Her voice trembled, and she trailed off, turning to the person behind the camera. “Why Gabs?” She grabbed the baby in a tight hug, and that was the last thing on the video before Gabs went to her.

Hank felt as if someone knocked him out of his feet. If he got punched in the guts, the pain wouldn’t hurt so much. The air left his lungs, and for a moment everything got hazy. He had to blink several times to dissipate the warm liquid forming there. She recorded every part of Eve’s life for him. If she thought so badly of him, thinking he was capable of so many atrocities, he didn’t understand the reason for the recordings.

Their encounter started all wrong in the past. He had to make her fall in love with him. No one can go back and make a new start, but anyone can start now and make a new end. It would be his focus from now on. Melina’s gaze fell on him. He didn’t know what she saw in him, but concern took over her joyful face.

“Gabs, I gotta go. I’ll call you later, ok. Bye.” She rushed to him. “What’s wrong? What are you feeling?” Her eyes swept all over him. “Out of blue, you’ve got ashen!”

“Melina, we have to talk!”