A Shameful Consequence(41)

Please fit.

She pulled the dress over her head and wriggled the soft fabric over curves that hadn’t been there the last time she had tried it on. As it fell over her hips she was almost scared to open her eyes at her own reflection, quite sure it would look terrible now, but as she looked into the mirror, it looked far from terrible. It looked so much better than she recalled—her bust filled out the dress. The bra made her cleavage look endless, and the wrap of the dress hid any last baby bulge.

It was a dress called confidence, and she felt hers return, felt something else, too, a shiver of excitement, an anticipation as to his response.

If he was expecting her to emerge from the bedroom to tell him she had changed her mind, then Nico was in for a shock.

For the first time since that terrible row with her parents, since she had found out she was pregnant and the desperate survival mode she had been plunged into, she opened her make-up bag, took out her hair tongs and plugged them in and then worked on her face. She applied some mineral foundation and rouge, and coaxed a rather dry mascara wand to please give her one last bat of her lashes, and it did. She ran serum through her thick dark hair and, instead of twisting it and putting it up, or tying it back as she always did, she accentuated the curls by twirling them into ringlets. All she needed now was lipstick, her lips smiling as they were reacquainted with the soft, waxy feel. She stepped into heels that had never been worn, and felt as if she was stepping into herself.

‘Despina is here to watch Leo.’ She heard Nico’s sharp summons and looked at her reflection. A devilish smile appeared on her lips.

‘Just coming.’

God, but she’d have killed for some perfume, to waft out of her room in a sultry haze, or for a heavy necklace to accentuate her cleavage, but her only accessory was her smile.

It was a smile that greeted Despina and completely ignored Nico as she stepped into the lounge.

‘Beautiful.’ The old lady said everything Nico did not. He just stood there, completely rigid.

‘You know where everything is,’ Connie chatted, and then suddenly she remembered. ‘Your niece is ringing you tonight.’

‘Don’t worry.’ Despina dismissed it as if it didn’t matter, but Connie knew that it did. Despina had been talking today about how excited she was to speak with her niece, how much she looked forward to their weekly chat. ‘Do you want to look after him in your house?’ She knew how Despina adored Leo, how much care she would take, and how the elderly couple would love to have him in their own surroundings. They deserved their evening together after all.

‘Are you sure?’ Despina checked. Connie knew it was the right thing to do, but her stomach tightened into a knot when Despina suggested that Paulo bring over the crib and they keep him for the night. ‘Then you don’t have to worry about what time you come back.’

It made sense, it made perfect sense, rather than disturbing them at midnight, but as she nodded, as Paulo came over and she packed a bag of supplies, as she kissed her son goodnight and said goodbye to him at the door, the knot in her stomach was for different reason.

They were alone for the first time.

Somehow with Leo there, she felt safer. Not safer in the physical sense, but he gave her a reason, a topic, a diversion. Connie held her breath as she watched the trio go out of sight—Leo gave her an excuse to be here. Now it was just them.

Her smile didn’t come so readily now but she forced one and turned around.

‘I just saw the car.’ Still Nico said nothing. ‘I’ll get my purse.’

‘Why would you need a purse?’ Nico said. ‘I am taking you out.’

‘Because,’ Connie said, and walked past him. And, yes, her purse was a little faded and not particularly a match for her dress, but she would not leave without it. What would Nico know about the security it afforded, to know that she could leave anywhere at any time? That even through the most desperate of times, there was enough money to get a taxi for her and her child should she need it, though perhaps not enough to pick up the bill in this restaurant should Nico walk out, which, Connie realised, was a distinct possibility in his present mood.

‘Anyway …’ His next words bought her racing mind to calm decision. ‘I doubt you could afford to go halves.’

And she had promised she would not do this.

She could remember all too well the long, painful dinners with Stavros, the family affairs where she had gone home afterwards and to bed in tears. For no matter how she had tried to please him, it had never been enough. She remembered how badly Stavros had spoken to her at times, and she had sworn never again.