Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
Spencer
My heart pounded as I ended the call. Hand shaking, I went to put my phone in my pocket. I missed, and it dropped to the floor. Bending down, I picked it up and dropped it again.
He was here. My father was here, in Rockland, with Evan.
I dared not hope, but here he was, just in time for my mating party.
That everyone was here for, including my elderly grandfather, who never completely got over my father’s death. Sure, my father was the odd one, preferring to be a scientist instead of a businessman, but he’d definitely been a favorite.
And my mother…
…no, she’d be so happy. She missed him. She was lonely. I saw it last night.
Something feels… unsettled.
I sucked in a breath. Oh. We had him back.
“Spencer, are you all right? Where’s Evan?” My cousin, Zoie, ducked into the room, looking like a garden goddess in her floral gown.
“That was him; he’s on his way.” I stood, putting my phone in my pocket. I’d sent him to get Grace’s ring because in my nervousness I’d forgotten it at the house. Thank goodness I had.
“Yeah, you’re not okay. What happened?” She leaned against the doorway of the luxury mansion my grandfather had rented for the weekend.
I have my father back.
“I got some unexpected news. Not bad news, just unexpected. Everything will be fine,” I assured her.
“Okay.” Her look said that she didn’t believe me.
They’d all gotten in yesterday. I’d brought Grace over for breakfast to meet them. Just as I’d thought, they loved her.
“I’m nervous,” I admitted.
“It’s okay to love again, Spence.” Zoie came into the room and hugged me. “Honestly, I’m so happy that you found someone. What happened to Elaris was awful, and I know you miss her. You always will. But it wasn’t your fault. You’re a good man and worthy of love.”
“Thank you.” I hugged her back. We’d always been close. My omega cousin now had a powerful pack of her own and an excellent position in one of our family’s companies.
“I also adore Grace. She’s a little odd, but I love her. I can’t wait to take her and Evan to the Temple of Artemis this summer.” Zoie smiled.
“Grace is quite excited to make that pilgrimage with you,” I told Zoie. “I should finish getting ready.”
“Here.” She brought out a box. “You’re supposed to wear the cufflinks.”
The box contained the hideous cufflinks that we all wore for our weddings and mating parties. Here I hoped to get away with not wearing them this time.
Zoie replaced my cufflinks with the family ones. I got out the vest, tie, and pocket square I’d bought at Faun to match Grace’s dress.
“You look perfect.” Zoie straightened my tie and smoothed my shirt.
“You do. You know, after doing some research and seeing the area, I think I really am going to take over that State Street project and make it a multi-use artist colony.” My cousin Daphne appeared in the doorway, in a stunning purple dress.
“I think you should,” I replied. While Zoie was small, curvy, and soft, my theta cousin Daphne was tall, muscular, and angular.
She was a real estate developer, focused on projects that created more spaces for art–both studio space for artists and performance spaces, and was a force of nature.
I was looking forward to introducing her to Riley.
I still wasn’t sure how exactly Daphne would take over the project, but this was a woman who somehow convinced the Greek government to let her renovate a historic theatre so that plays could be held in it once again. If anyone could do it, it would be her.
My phone buzzed. I sucked in a breath. Evan and my father were almost here. Also, it looked like all of Grace’s siblings had come for the party.
“What’s wrong?” Daphne demanded.
“Evan’s here.” I put my jacket on.
“Something’s wrong, but he won’t tell me.” Zoie pouted.
I shook my head as I looked in the mirror and fixed my hair. “Nothing’s wrong. The news wasn’t bad, just unexpected.”
We’d need a cover story, of course. What, I was unsure. Also, I didn’t know what my father recalled, and what he’d been told.
“I’m going to go outside and wait for Evan.” Yes, we needed a story quickly. Also, my mother was with Mrs. K. I should absolutely tell her immediately.
Should I tell her now? No. We needed to get our stories straight. Someone like my father coming back from the dead would be noticed, especially if he showed up at my party. My publicist had even invited a few select members of the press.
Shit. I should tell my publicist too.
After my mother. Yes. One step at a time. I’d meet my father. Get my story straight. Tell my mother–
“Spence, are you good?” Daphne frowned.
“I’m going to meet Evan.” I went outside the mansion. The June sun made the stone driveway sparkle.
Evan’s 4x4 pulled into the massive circular driveway. My heart pounded as I saw my father sitting in the front seat, looking older and bewildered, his hair entirely grey.
His eyes met mine and lit up, making my heart skip a beat.
Baba.
The car door opened, and my father got out. Relief coated me, yes, he looked older, but he seemed okay.
Of course, who knew what mental and emotional tolls his imprisonment had taken on him? Even if he couldn’t remember, I’m sure they’d be there.
“Baba.” I ran over and hugged my father as if I were still fourteen. As I embraced him, he still felt muscular and fit. My suit was a little big, but that’s because I was a little taller and broader. The smell of neutrons clung to him.
“Spencer, my boy,” he sobbed in Greek as he hugged me tight.
“We’re going to need a story, fast. Zoie’s looking out the window at us,” Evan muttered.
“I think what they told me, about me being an unconscious John Doe, will have to work. We can blame it on the super collider explosion,” my father murmured in English. “I still don’t know how it didn’t rip apart space and time.”
Me neither.
“That will have to work.” I hugged him tighter. “We can talk later, but I’m so happy you’re here. I… I didn’t want to hope they’d actually keep their word and bring you to me, and I’m overjoyed to see you.”
Tears filled his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
I tapped my forehead to his. “Don’t be. We have you back, and that is the greatest gift that I could ever ask for.”
“Okay.” For a long moment he just continued to hug me.
“Incoming,” Evan told me. “Hi, Zoie.”
“Evan,” she squealed, giving him a hug. Zoie looked at us. “Theíos?” Her voice went small as she used the Greek word for uncle.
“I told you, it wasn’t bad news, just unexpected. Please, hold off for a moment, I need to tell my mother. She doesn’t know.” I reluctantly let go of my father.
“Sure. Theíos! It’s Zoie.” She gave my uncle a big hug.
“Zoie! Look at you.” My father hugged her. He looked around. “Where is Ilena?”
“With Mrs. K,” I replied. “I’ll call her and have her meet us at the venue. This isn’t where the party is. It’s just the place Pappous rented for them to stay in for the weekend. He’s here along with most of your siblings and their packs.”
The door opened, and Daphne ran out. “Theíos? We… we thought you were dead.”
“It’s quite a story, Daphne, and I’m not sure how much he even recalls.” Taking a step away, I called my mother.
“What’s wrong? Something isn’t right, I feel it,” she demanded.
Did she feel it? Or did she feel him?
“It’s the opposite,” I said as Daphne hugged my father tight. “We have been given the best gift. Are you with Mrs. K?”
“I am. Grace is pregnant?” She perked.
“No, she’s not. I… I don’t know how to say this.” My voice shook.
“Just say it,” she demanded.
“They found Baba. Something happened in the blast, and he didn't die. He was unconscious in a hospital, and they didn’t know who he was this entire time. He was literally just brought to the door of my home, and Evan drove him straight to me. Right now, he’s hugging Daphne and Zoie.
I wanted to tell you before we take him inside to see Pappous,” I blurted, worried about how she’d take it.
“He’s alive. Nick, my Nick isn’t dead?” She swore in Greek. “He probably blasted himself into another universe. I told him that messing with reality would make people grumpy.”
She had? I didn’t know that.
“He seems okay?” Her voice wavered.
I lowered my voice. “He’s feeling guilty about how much he missed. The last thing he remembers is leaving for work. Be easy on him?”
“I suppose. Can I see? Please?”
“Of course.” I took a photo of him with Evan and my cousins and sent it to her.
She swore again in Greek. “It’s him. He’s back. I… I have him back. I knew I felt him, and sometimes I would feel him even though I shouldn’t. Do you know how many times I wished that he was really alive, since we never found a body?”
“Your wish just came true, Mama. I’ll bring him to the party, and you can meet us there? You might need to shield him from everyone. But there are many nice places at the club that you can run off to and talk,” I assured her.
“Yes. Oh, if I’m seeing Nick again after all these years, maybe I should wear the other dress I bought.” For a moment she sounded self-conscious.
“He doesn’t care about your dress, Mama. He just wants you.”
“I… I don’t know how to feel about this.” Her voice wavered.
“Happy, Mama. We have him back. You can now travel the world with him just like you wanted and do all the things you regretted never doing.” I saw the door open, and Pappous peered out.
“What are you all doing out here?” he called, leaning on his cane.
“I need to go. I love you. We’ll see you soon.” I ended the call and ran over to my pappous, my grandfather. The patriarch of the Thanukos family.
“Pappous, we got the best present,” I explained. “They found Baba. He wasn’t dead. Just missing.”
“Nick?” He looked startled.
As he should. Please don’t have a heart attack from the shock.
It was a lot. Not only had he and my yiayia mourned the loss of their son a lot, but they’d taken care of my poor battered heart as I struggled with what I’d seen versus what everyone told me, as my mother grieved losing her bonded mate and the love of her life.