LITMIR.BIZ

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this trip, they’d talked about September. But Kellie had changed her mind and was insistent on Fran coming as soon as possible. Something was going on; normally her friend traveled everywhere with her husband. It sounded as though she needed to talk to Fran in person.

      Two years ago Kellie had married millionaire Greek business tycoon Leandros Petralia in Athens. Fran had been the matron of honor at her wedding. Though they’d talked on the phone and emailed since then, they’d only seen each other the half a dozen times Kellie had flown home to Pennsylvania to be with her family for a few days. On those short visits Fran could tell her friend was so crazy over her exciting husband, she couldn’t bear to be gone from him longer than a few nights.

      But clearly that wasn’t the case today. Kellie seemed wired, and her show of gaiety was somehow artificial. Physically she was thinner than the last time Fran had seen her. On their five-hour drive to the resort south of Thessolonika, Kellie’s glib responses throughout their conversation weren’t at all like her.

      Fran decided to hold off until tomorrow to have a heart-to-heart with her golden-blonde friend. Right now she wanted Kellie to concentrate while she drove the fabulous slate-blue luxury saloon—too fast for Fran’s liking. As they whizzed along, Fran’s eyes darted to the stormy sky. “Have you noticed how black those clouds ahead are?”

      “Yes. It’s almost spooky and so windy, it’s buffeting the car. That’s very strange. This place is legendary for its sunshine. Wouldn’t you know it would choose today to cloud up for your arrival?”

      “Maybe it’s a bad omen and your hubby came back to Athens early only to find you missing.”

      “Don’t be absurd—” Kellie answered with uncharacteristic sharpness. “He’s got his secretary with him. Maybe they’re really somewhere in the Dodecanese Islands, a favorite place of his when he wants to relax.”

      With Mrs. Kostas? She was in her late forties.

      Her friend’s emotional outburst took Fran by surprise. “I was just having some fun with you.” She’d never seen Kellie explode this way before.

      “I’d rather talk about you. Has Rob called yet, wanting you two to get back together?”

      “No. In fact, I’ve heard he’s involved with someone at his work.”

      “He’ll soon realize he’s lost the best thing that could ever happen to him.”

      “Spoken like my best friend.”

      Kellie had been the maid of honor at Fran’s wedding. Four years ago Fran had married Rob Myers after meeting him through mutual friends in Philadelphia. He was an upcoming estate-planning attorney working for a prestigious local law firm. On their third date she’d told Rob that she could never conceive, so if he didn’t want to see her again, she’d understand.

      He’d told her he didn’t have a problem with adoption. It was a great option for childless couples. Besides, he was interested in her, and he had proven it by marrying her. After a year passed, she’d brought up the idea of putting in adoption papers, but he’d said it was too soon to think about and kept putting her off.

      Eventually she realized he had issues and she suggested they go for counseling so they could talk about them in depth. But the counseling revealed that with the busy law practice thriving, he no longer had the time or the interest to enlarge their family, especially when the child couldn’t be their own flesh and blood. Fran was enough for him.

      But she wanted children badly. After three years of a married life no longer happy or fulfilling for either of them, they’d agreed to divorce. It was the only way to end the pain. Since then Fran had decided marriage wasn’t for her. Kellie scoffed at such nonsense and told her she would find the right husband for her no matter what.

      “Kellie? I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty. Let’s stop at the village I can see up ahead and get ourselves a drink at one of those cute hotel bars.”

      “It’s only twelve more miles to the Persephone,” her friend responded in a clipped tone. “We’ll order room service and have dinner in our suite where we can relax. But, of course, if you can’t wait…”

      “I hope you don’t mind.”

      Kellie’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, further proof her friend was barely holding herself in check. “Of course not.”

      There was no softening of her tone, or a reassuring smile. Right now, Fran was more concerned with Kellie, who’d been driving over the speed limit. She never used to drive this fast. After they stopped for a soda maybe Fran could prevail on her friend to let her drive the rest of the way. She’d use the pretext that she’d never been behind the wheel of a Mercedes before.

      Fran wanted both of them to arrive at the resort in one piece. With this wind, the driving could be dangerous. To her alarm, the idea came into her head that Kellie wasn’t even seeing the road. Intuition told her the once flourishing Petralia marriage was having problems.

      Not Kellie, too.

      By the time they reached the village proper the wind was so powerful there was actual debris in the air. “Stop in front of that hotel on the corner, Kellie. It’s starting to hail. Let’s make a run for it.”

      The small ice balls pounded down, emptying the street of people rushing to take cover. All the shops and cafés had taken their display items and tables inside. When Fran entered the hotel bar with Kellie, tourists and staff alike were huddled in groups talking and gesticulating while they brushed themselves off.

      “Kellie? You understand Greek. What are they saying?”

      “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

      Fran followed her friend over to the counter where Kellie got a waiter’s attention. He rattled off an answer to her question. She turned to Fran. “Someone in the back was listening to the radio and heard that tornado-like winds have swept through the area. There’s no television reception right now. The police have issued a warning that everyone should stay indoors until the danger has passed. It’s a good thing you wanted to stop here.”

      Considering the violence of the elements, it was providential they’d been passing by this village. “Let’s get a drink and find a place to sit down while we wait this out.”

      After being served, they carried their sodas to an unoccupied bistro table. By now the hail had stopped and a heavy downpour had descended.

      Kellie frowned. “I can’t believe this weather.”

      “Since it made the six o’clock news, maybe you ought to call and let Leandros know you’re all right.”

      Her jaw hardened. “He knows. Whenever I leave our apartment, my bodyguard Yannis follows me. If my husband is interested, he’ll phone me.” She pulled out her cell and checked everything. “Nope. No calls yet. See?” She showed her the screen. “No messages.”

      “Kellie—” Fran put a hand on her friend’s arm. “Tell me what’s going on. I’d planned to wait until morning to ask you that question, but since we won’t be leaving here any time soon, I’m asking it now. I want to know what’s happened to the happiest wife I’ve ever known. Where did she go?” The reason Kellie had wanted Fran to come to Greece was no longer a mystery.

      Kellie averted her soulful brown eyes. “Maybe you should be asking Leandros that question.”

      “He’s not here. You are. What’s wrong?”

      Kellie’s face was a study in pain. “I’m losing him, Fran. In fact, I’ve discovered I never really had him and I can’t stand it.”

      Her friend’s emotions were so brittle they’d crack if Fran pushed too hard. Instead of arguing with her that it couldn’t possibly be true, she took a deep breath before saying, “Does this have anything to do with the fact that you haven’t gotten pregnant yet? You’re probably putting too much pressure on yourself to give

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