Zoe walked back out then, holding a jug of orange juice in one hand and ice cubes in a cup in the other.
Robbie looked up and said “Pandrépsou me”
She stopped in her tracks and stared at him.
Her gaze moved to Olivia and she asked, “What is the matter with you?”
“He is serious, darling. Answer him already; he does want to marry you so much,” Olivia said.
Robbie met Olivia’s gaze in surprise, before he turned to Zoe and said again, “Pandrépsou me.”
Zoe walked over to where they sat placing the juice and ice on the table; she settled on Robbie’s lap and wound her arms around his neck. Looking into his green eyes, loving him like she’d never loved another.
“I already said yes once before.”
“I know, but you left me at the altar. This time, you must promise me not to do that.”
The pain she’d caused shone in his eyes.
Zoe let out a short breath and hugged him.
“I promise, and yes, I will marry you. Should I answer it in Greek, now that you’re learning it?”
“Of course,” Robbie said, eyes wide, he winked at Olivia over Zoe’s shoulder.
“Nai,” Zoe said. “Yes.”
***
That evening, Zoe was busy helping Olivia set the table for dinner when Tevin walked in to the dining room. She glanced up to greet him and paused when he didn’t answer her. Instead, he leaned on the wall, watching her.
“What?”
“I don’t know what you think he is, but if you hurt him again, I won’t forgive you.”
Zoe placed the plates down, and gave him her full attention. She’d been expecting this; after all, Tevin was a brother to Robbie.
“I won’t hurt him, not that way.”
“Of course, that’s what you promised him the last time. But you weren’t there when we had to pick up the mess.” Tevin shook his head, and looked away from her. “You destroyed him. He won’t survive it again, Zoe.”
“I don’t know what to say to convince you that I’m not going to do it again.” Zoe ran a finger along the table and shook her head. “Time will have to prove me right.”
“What happens now?” Tevin asked. “Do you leave for London with us in two weeks?”
Zoe stared at him for a moment, before she looked away. London and her life there seemed like a dream away. The island had that effect on her. She could forget it all living here.
“That’s what I thought,” Tevin said. “Here, listen to this later.”
Pushing off the wall, Tevin moved around the table to where she was and handed her an ipod, pressing a kiss on her forehead, he squeezed her shoulder and left.
Alone, Zoe put on the earphones and turned on the small gadget. Sitting down on one of the dining chairs, she listened as the electric lead guitar led into the beginning of a song. The husky voice that came in after the introduction thrilled and surprised her as she recognized Robbie’s voice. He was so good.
The words to the song shocked her as she realized she was listening to a eulogy of their love. Grief filled Robbie’s voice; the dirge depressed her and drove her to a place she’d never imagined.
Olivia walked in and found Zoe sitting in a state of shock.
“What’s the matter?” Olivia asked.
“I—
Zoe broke off and turned off the music. She couldn’t listen to it anymore. It hurt.
“I have to do something.”
“Zoe,” Olivia said with a frown.
“I will be back soon. Please don’t panic everyone, I need to do something really important,” Zoe said.
****
Zoe arrived at Villa Thermopolis after eight in the evening. Dressed in a warm sweater and Levis she stood before her uncle and aunt in their drawing room. Athena had hugged her so hard; she’d realized just how difficult it had been for her aunt.
Her pain had seemed so important; Zoe thought sadly, she hadn’t realized it was affecting others so much.
“I am so sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you. I came here to make that apology and to ask you for one thing.”
“What is it?” Thaddeus asked, studying his niece in surprise.
She was whole again; he could see it in her. The uncertainty that had been plaguing her these past months was gone. Zoe looked like a confident woman: one who knew what she wanted. He had to give McClaire credit.
“I would like to invite you to my wedding at the island.” Zoe looked up when she heard Athena gasp in surprise. “I know it is already something you’ve heard, but I promise this time it will happen—
“Stop,” Athena stood up with a glare. “You’re not playing with Robbie again, are you?”
“No.” Zoe shook her head. “I’m doing this for him and for me. Please don’t say no, I want you to be at my wedding so much.”
“What about Steve Harden?” Thaddeus asked. “If you marry McClaire, it means you return to your life. That leaves you wide open for trouble.”
“I only know I want to marry Robbie, Uncle. He matters to me,” she said, her gaze steady when she met Thaddeus’s hard one. “The rest, we’ll deal with as it comes.”
“Can you go there?” Athena asked her hands at her waist. Her thoughts centered on little Sarah, who didn’t need to face that monster of a father. She’d come to love those two children.
Zoe shook her head. “One thing at a time, Auntie, I’m not sure what to do about that hearing.”
“Alright,” Athena let out a sigh, “when is the wedding?”
“On Saturday,” Zoe said.
“That doesn’t leave time to plan.” Athena shook her head. “There is the cake, the dress, the guests—
“Something small, Aunt Athena, we would like a small ceremony, just family and Robbie’s band mates.” Zoe pushed her hair back. “I don’t want to delay anymore. I’ve let fear dictate my life and I’ve lost so much and hurt those I love. Please, don’t refuse.”
“Hush,” Thaddeus said standing up to give Zoe a hug. “You have our support.”
He was glad Zoe was finally showing sense and a strong backbone.
“Thank you.” Zoe grinned wide.
Athena let out a sigh and moved to take Zoe’s hands in hers. Squeezing them gently, she led her to the drawing room door.
“Listen, I think you should talk to your mother. She’d love to be involved in this.”
Zoe shook her head, but Athena gave her no chance to refuse. They were headed to the living room where Julia, Jessica, and Gabriella sat.
“Auntie, have you parched up with Gabby?” Zoe asked. “Is that why you’re doing this?”
“She’s your mother,” Athena said gently. “Call her Mamma.”
Zoe was about to scoff at that remark, when they were suddenly standing in the living room, with everyone’s attention on them.
“Zoe’s having her wedding on Saturday at the island,” Athena announced. “We’re all going to help plan it.”
The announcement had Jessica standing up fast and coming to hug Zoe, which surprised Zoe so much she couldn’t speak. Gabriella and Julia followed. Zoe wasn’t given a chance to protest. The women started making plans without her input.
“I think I should return to the island,” Zoe said at one point.
A general protest had her sitting back down on the couch, while Alain brought in coffee and snacks. Jessica sat beside Zoe on the couch and when the older women got engrossed talking about the dress that would have to be flown in from the designer in London.
Jessica turned to Zoe.
“I’m happy for you;” Jessica said. “You and Robbie are good for each other.”
“There was a time you didn’t think so and you let me know it,” Zoe said.
“I’m sorry for not being the sister you needed, Zoe.” Jessica took her hand in hers and squeezed it. “I don’t want to continue to be that person to you, please let me try again with you.”
r /> Zoe stared at her sister and wondered whether she really was dreaming. Jessica had always been this person she could never talk to. Even when she’d had her first menses, the person she’d told had been the maid downstairs.
“Zoe?” Jessica prompted. Hoping that her sister would at least try to thaw this ice that was surrounding them, she wanted to be her friend so much.
“When I went to your wedding,” Zoe said shyly. “I remember wanting to have been your maid of honor. It would have been right, and I was sorry I wasn’t. So, will you please be mine.”
“Oh my God,” Jessica gasped, and then she threw arms around Zoe and laughed in joy. “I’ll be the best one there’s been. I am going to throw you a party afterwards you won’t forget. Oh my God, I love you. I love you little sis.”
Zoe felt tears prick the back of her eyes as the simple hug healed wounds she’d never realized she had. There were so many cuts in her heart that were being sealed back together with this little scene. Having these women sit with her, planning a wedding that she’d imagined would never happen was mind boggling.
She wasn’t able to leave until it was ten o’clock at night. Athena tried to have her stay, but Zoe wanted to be with Robbie, she didn’t want to be away from him. It was too soon to be apart. Gabriella insisted on walking her out to the car that would take her to the Zea Marina.
“Zoella,” Gabriella started.
“You know, you’re the only one who actually calls me that outside of work,” Zoe said.
“It’s a perfectly good name,” Gabriella replied. “I will not shorten it.”
Zoe chuckled. “You’re always stubborn, never bending.”
“Except now,” Gabriella said. “I won’t apologize to you, because you’ve heard too much of that. I will say that I’m proud of you and what you’ve accomplished despite us.”
“Mamma,” Zoe surprised herself with the word, it had simply slipped out.
But what shocked her even more was the sight of the tears that slipped down Gabriella’s cheeks. Zoe stared at her for a moment, lost for words, and Gabriella looked away, getting a handkerchief from her pockets.
“What’s wrong?” Zoe asked in surprise. “Mamma, please it’s not right seeing you cry, what’s wrong?”
“You calling me Mamma,” Gabriella said. “I’ve not heard it in so long, and it’s just so—
Zoe gasped as Gabriella turned and hugged her hard. Gabriella held her tightly as they stood in the middle of the parking lot.
Zoe had never wanted to stay as much as she did right then. She wrapped her arms around Gabriella too and held on to her mother reveling in comfort she’d once only dreamed about.
Gabriella held her daughter and felt like the world was finally spinning right. Sweeping the dark hair back from Zoe’s shoulder, she said, “Thank you.”
“For what,” Zoe asked.
“Calling me Mamma, I’m going to make sure you believe I deserve it.”
“You are my mother,” Zoe said, the scent of Channel comforting to her.
She’d missed her mother’s hugs. The last time she’d received one of this she’d been fourteen.
“That I am,” Gabriella said proudly.
The driver honked and Zoe looked to the grey Rolls Royce waiting for her. The yacht captain was probably anxious about the tides and had called the driver.
“I have to go now; Robbie will be worried if I don’t go back,” Zoe said anxiously. “I’ll see you tomorrow and we can talk, right?”
“Go on,” Gabriella said, with a smile. “We will have lots of time to talk.”
“Are you sure?” Zoe asked, worried that the next time they met this truce would be gone, and they’d be back to square one.
Understanding her worry, Gabriella pulled back from the hug and cupped Zoe’s cheeks. Kissing her forehead gently, she promised. “I’ll drag everyone to Aledeus tomorrow morning. We will spend the whole day together. Tonight, go to Robbie.”
Zoe nodded and felt a lump of emotion rise to her throat. She wanted to cry from happiness. Heading for the car, she stopped and turned back to look at Gabriella. Rushing back to her, she pressed a kiss on her mother’s cheek, and then hurried back to the car. The action was abrupt and Gabriella was left staring after the car as it drove away.
***
Robbie picked Zoe up from the pier, hugging her as though she’d been gone years instead of mere hours. During the drive to the house, Robbie took her hand in his and pulled it over his lap.
“How was it?”
“Interesting, I wasn’t sure it actually happened. Everyone was excited about our wedding. I’ll have to see if their enthusiasm lasts until tomorrow.”
“I’m glad. I figured that’s what you were going to do when Olivia said you’d left.”
“They are going crazy planning the wedding again.” Turning in her seat to look at him, she said, “I want Ron and Mick to come, do you think they’ll agree?”
“They will,” Robbie said firmly. He would bribe them if he had to.
“I know they still want to yell at me for hurting you, you have to let them.” Zoe’s gaze slid to the dark night when she remembered the music Tevin had given her earlier. “Their anger is justified. I don’t ever want to hear you sing such dark music again. I’ll make it that you write only happy stuff from now on.”
“What dark music?”
“I listened to Broken.”
“I was in a bad place, and Christine wanted results.”
“You don’t have to explain anything to me.” Zoe shook her head again. “I couldn’t write a thing in the past months, Robbie. I haven’t touched a piano to compose anything. It’s all gone.”
“What about the gala Chris is arranging in November?” Robbie asked, worried. Zoe had always been able to write. Being unable to write would scare her more than she would let on. “Pixie, do you need help?”
“Probably,” Zoe grinned. “But, let’s not worry about that now.”
Robbie drove up the driveway to the house and parked the car. Jumping out of the jeep, he came round to her side and opened her door. He pulled her into his arms as she came out, kissing her thoroughly before he closed the car door behind her. Holding her tightly, he sighed and said,
“Come on; let’s go tell Livia she’ll be invaded by the clan tomorrow.”
Zoe laughed at that one and allowed him to lead her into the house.
****
Saturday dawned amid excitement and anxiety for the Castille clan. Despite Zoe’s and Robbie’s wishes, the wedding ended up involving a hundred and fifty guests. Apparently they all had very many close friends. The ceremony would be held at ten o’clock in the chapel at Aledeus. The towns’ people were also invited Livia had insisted they be included since many of them knew and loved Zoe as their own.
Gloria had complained about the abrupt change of plans, but she’d been game when Kelly called her and they decided to make it positive news in the press. There had been lawyers, accountants and estate managers to deal with.
Mick and Ron had arrived on Friday and after a stormy argument with Zoe, they had finally decided that Robbie wasn’t making the biggest mistake in his life. It was a conclusion that Zoe had taken with a shake of her head because she was going to have to prove them right.
And now, seated at her vanity table, she stared at the engagement ring she’d handed back to Robbie months ago. Seeing it on her left hand glinting in the sunlight could almost mean that none of the last months had happened. She could have easily skipped all that pain and resumed her life from that moment she’d sat in a dressing room in Prague.
However, life wasn’t easy: the past mattered as much as the present and the future. What had happened to her had affected her in ways she could never explain, but her experiences had led her to Robbie. Robbie who didn’t judge her, who loved her despite her shortcomings, who understood her and what she needed, it was her privilege now to give him
all of that and more.
Steve Harden had not taken him away from her and that was something she now had against that bastard. Sylvia had once told her to look at it as having as many happy memories as she could get so that she could weigh down what Harden had given her.
This moment, Zoe thought staring into the mirror, was the biggest happiest moment in her life and it outweighed any other memory in her life.
A knock on her door, and Kenny slipped into the room. Looking up at him, she smiled and got up to hug him. He looked handsome in a grey tuxedo. Kissing her cheek, he pulled back and stared at her night gown.
“Aren’t you supposed to be getting dressed?”
“Soon,” Zoe said with a shrug. “I’m so anxious; the house is filling with people already.”
“You only get married once,” Kenny said with a wink. “I don’t think Athena wants to miss out on giving you the best.”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk since I attacked you,” Zoe said, looking up into his silver grey eyes. “So listen, I want to thank you, for what you’ve done for me. For being there for me when even I didn’t know I needed you there.”
“Zoe,” Kenny started.
“No,” she reached up and smoothed his tie. “Are you and Jessica okay now?”
Kenny smiled. “Yes we are.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m glad, you deserve so much.”
“Zoe, you’re getting married, stop giving me speeches. I’ll be around all your life, you know.” Holding her at arms length, he grinned. “I want to see just what kind of grumpy old lady you’ll be like.”
“I think you’ll be the grumpy old man before me, Williams.” Zoe made a face at him, and then turned back to the vanity table.
Picking up the brush, she ran it through her hair, and hid her tears, but he was a smart man. Kenny reached for her hand and stopped her brushing, taking her chin; he lifted her face up to study her wet eyes.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, this is not the face of a happy woman now,” Kenny smiled. “You need to be smiling.”
“Shut up,” she couldn’t believe how lucky she’d gotten to deserve this man’s friendship. “Go bother Jessica now, I have to get dressed.”
“Okay, if I leave will you stop crying?” Kenny asked, brushing away her tears with his thumbs.
Zoe nodded and blinked away fresh tears.
“Alright, I’ll see you at the chapel. Make sure you look your best.” Kenny grinned and kissed her wet cheek. “I’ll go tell Robbie, you’re a mess.”