The Divided Child (66 page)

           
He
pushed me away slightly so he could see my face.
 
"I'm going to give you a chance to reconsider that
question," he said sternly.
 
Then he began to kiss me.

           
Considerable
time passed.
 
When we finally came
up for air, he murmured against my hair, "Convinced?"

           
"Yes,
though I'm tempted to say no and see what happens."

           
His
green eyes gleamed.
 
"Minx!
 
Do you wish to
see me arrested for indecent behavior by that surly airport policeman over
there with the submachine gun slung round his neck?"

           
"No,
I suppose not.
 
Michael might not
want a jailbird for a father."

           
"What
about you?" he asked with deceptive lightness.
 
"Would you care for one as a husband?"

           
"Are
you asking me to marry you?"

           
"Yes."

           
"Why?"
I demanded.

           
"What
do you mean why?"

           
"The
Lieutenant said Demetra's given you custody of Michael.
 
You aren't asking me to marry you
simply because you're trying to round up a mother for him, are you?"

           
He
said through gritted teeth, "This has nothing whatsoever to do with
Michael."

           
"Then
what
has
it to do with?"

           
"It
has to do," he growled, "with the fact that I am enamored, besotted,
charmed, fascinated, enchanted, infatuated, bewitched, and any other adjective
you care to choose that describes a man stripped of all reason.
 
In short, I'm in love with you and want
to spend the rest of my life with you -- if you'll have me."

           
I
suddenly felt like a cat handed a bowl of cream.
 
"All right," I purred.

           
"Is
that a yes?"

           
There
was one obvious way to allay his doubt, and I pursued it with a gusto that left
us both breathless.
 
Afterwards,
however, I noticed he was frowning.

           
"Christine?"

           
"Yes?"

           
He
took my hands in his.
 
"This
isn't too sudden for you, is it?
 
I
know I'm taking things a bit fast, but after coming so close to losing you --
well, it's hard to be patient."

           
“Patience
is an overrated virtue," I murmurred, leaning forward to nuzzle his
neck.
 

           
He
chuckled and pushed me away so he could see my face.
 
"What about Michael?
 
Are you sure you don't mind marrying into a ready-made
family?
 
"

           
"I
don't see why I should, since I love Michael almost as much as I love
you."

           
His
grin disappeared, replaced by an expression that turned my insides to
jelly.
 
He lifted my hands to his
lips, kissing each palm.
 
"I
hope you’re in the mood for an early and extensive honeymoon.”

           
“I
could be persuaded,” I said with a grin, “but what about the surly policeman
with the submachine gun?
 
Perhaps
we should wait until we get back to your hotel?”

           
“It’s
always something,” he said in mock complaint.
 
“Very well, I suppose we can wait.
 
We’ll have to send Michael off to do some sightseeing with
Ari.”

           
“There’s
always the Gorgon pediment at the Archaelogical Museum,” I said with a
chuckle.
 
“It’s not Monday, so the
museum should be open.”

           
Geoffrey
regarded me quizzically.

           
“Sorry,”
I said.
 
“Private joke.
 
All this happiness is making me silly.”

           
“So
you
are
happy, Christine?”

           
“I'm
going to give you a chance to reconsider that question," I said, trying to
look stern, but merely managing to break into giggles, which Geoffrey found a
very effective way of silencing.

           
“Mmmm,”
I murmurred, as he finally set my mouth free.
 
“I think, you’d better not do that anymore until we get back
to the hotel, or I’ll be the one getting arrested.”

           
“Sorry,”
he said with an unrepentant grin.
 
“I felt the need of a fortifying embrace to tide me over.”

           
 
Suddenly, I noticed Michael edging
hesitantly toward us.
 
"I
don't wish to interrupt --" he began.

           
Geoffrey
held on to my hands, despite my attempts to pull them away, and said
cheerfully, "You're not interrupting.
 
As a matter of fact, we’ve something rather important to
tell you.
 
Christine has just
agreed to be my wife."

           
Michael's
owlish eyes opened wide and he let out a boyish whistle.
 
"So that's it!
 
Ari and I rather wondered what the two
of you were, er,
discussing
for so long."

           
"Well,"
I said, suddenly nervous about what his reaction would be to the news,
"what do you think?"

           
He
regarded me solemnly.
 
"I
suppose this means you'll be staying here on Corfu for a few more days?"

           
I
looked at Geoffrey, puzzled.
 
He
shook his head wordlessly and shrugged.
 
"I suppose it does," I said, eyeing Michael warily.

           
"Then
I think it's an excellent idea."

           
"You
do?"

           
"Yes,"
said Michael with a broad grin.
 
"You see, that jet taxiing down the runway happens to be your
flight home."

The End