A Haven for Her Heart

by Susan Anne Mason

He laughed, then spoke in fluent Greek to the waiter, while the man scribbled down their orders.

  Olivia tried not to stare at Darius, but her eyes were drawn to him like a magnet. Every time she was around him, she grew more impressed. The way he handled himself with quiet confidence yet no trace of arrogance. The gentle way he treated his daughter. Even his grief over Meredith’s death showed how decent and caring he was.

  “Is something the matter?” He watched her, a hint of amusement in his eyes, after the waiter had headed off to the kitchen.

  She dropped her gaze to the tablecloth, her cheeks heating. “I was just admiring . . . your tie.” She almost groaned. How inane did that sound? Her ears now felt on fire.

  He chuckled, as though knowing she hadn’t said what she’d really been thinking. “Thank you. Sofia picked it out for me. She has very good taste.”

  The waiter returned with a basket of some type of flatbread, which he set in the middle of the table.

  Olivia had never been more relieved for an interruption. She plucked a piece from under the cloth and set it on her plate, praying to get her emotions under control before she humiliated herself and ruined the evening.

  Darius gazed at Olivia’s flushed face and wished he knew what she was thinking. Was this all a bit too much for her? Should he have taken her somewhere less blatantly romantic?

  Well, it was too late to second-guess his decision now. He’d have to make the best of the situation.

  He tried hard to calm his nerves as he watched her. She looked so incredibly beautiful in the candlelight. He couldn’t believe she’d agreed to this outing.

  He forced his gaze to his plate. Tonight, he would concentrate on getting to know her better, and hopefully coax her into opening up a bit more about herself. And he wouldn’t make the same mistake he had with Meredith. He would offer no criticism or judgment of the events that had changed her life.

  “What did you order for us, or is it a surprise?” Her teasing question brought him out of his thoughts.

  “No surprise.” He smiled, relieved at a turn in the conversation. “I ordered us roast lamb with rice and grilled vegetables. Lamb is a Greek specialty.”

  “It sounds wonderful. Mrs. Neale does an admirable job cooking for us, but I find her dishes a bit bland. Maybe because I’m used to my mother adding loads of garlic and spices.”

  “This meal definitely won’t be bland.” He winked, then took a sip of his water as he mulled ways to bring up the topics he hoped to discuss.

  Soft music played in the background. Muted conversation and the occasional burst of laughter sounded from the other guests in a room across the way.

  “If it’s not too painful,” Olivia said softly, “would you tell me about your late wife?”

  His hand stilled on his glass. “What would you like to know?” It was a subject he usually avoided at all costs, unless Sofia asked about her mother.

  Another couple entered the restaurant, and the hostess seated them several tables away, enough to ensure their privacy, which suited Darius.

  “How did you meet? How long were you married?” Olivia gave a tiny shrug.

  Maybe it would be cathartic to talk about Selene. Perhaps it was time to test the scab over the wound. “Selene and I grew up on the same street. Our parents were best friends. It became understood that we would marry one day, and when I finished school and got my first job, I proposed. We were married that summer and moved into her parents’ house.”

  “Was Selene Greek as well?”

  “Yes. Her family came over around the same time as my parents. We had so much in common, which was the bond that strengthened our relationship. When we learned Selene was expecting, we became our own little family.”

  Olivia bit her lip. “I wish I’d had the chance to share that with Rory. I wrote to him, of course, but I don’t know if he ever received my letters.”

  He frowned. “Didn’t he write back?”

  “He might have, but by that time I was in the reformatory. After I was released, I found out that my father had destroyed all his letters.”

  His chest constricted at the sorrow on her face. “You must have loved him very much.”

  She raised troubled eyes to his. “At the time, I did. I was so very young, and my father didn’t approve of Rory because he wasn’t Italian, which made him all the more enticing.” She set the bread down on her plate. “We got engaged right before he enlisted, and then I made that one terrible mistake, giving in to him the night before he left.”

  From her frown, Darius deduced she blamed herself more than Rory.

  “I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead,” he said slowly, “but an honorable man wouldn’t have made such a demand, knowing he would be leaving you to bear the possible consequences of his actions.”

  She nodded. “I went through a great deal of anger thinking about that—not to mention fury with my father for his actions.” She straightened her shoulders. “However, I came to realize that living with that type of resentment only harms me and doesn’t change anything.”

  He covered her hand with his. “I don’t know if I’ve told you this, but I admire you greatly for your courage to turn your life into something positive.”

  She shook her head. “Please don’t make me out to be anyone special. I’m only doing what I can to move forward. With God’s help, I’ve found that giving back to others is allowing me to heal.” She gave a sad smile. “Well, except for losing Abigail, but that was another lesson.”

  The desire to comfort her became a physical ache. He wanted to protect her and make sure no harm ever came to her again. “I wish I hadn’t reacted so badly when you suggested we marry. I might have spared you one heartache.”

  Tiny lines appeared between her brows. “Darius, we’ve been over this. I had no right to put you in such a terrible position.”

  His gaze faltered. He’d been so judgmental of her and of Meredith. Yet who was he to judge anyone when he was so clearly imperfect himself?

  The defeat on Darius’s face was almost more than Olivia could stand. Didn’t he realize what a kind and caring person he was? That any woman or child would be proud to have him as a husband and father?

  The waiter arrived then with their meals. He set the steaming plates down in front of them with a flourish.

  Olivia inhaled the savory aroma of meat and spices, and her stomach growled. “This looks delicious.”

  The waiter said something in Greek, which Darius answered, then he left them alone.

  After several minutes of eating, Olivia gained the courage to ask the question weighing on her mind. “You never said how Selene died,” she said softly. “Was it an accident?”

  His features hardened, and a nerve pulsed in his jaw. “No, it was a deliberate act. Selene and her parents were killed simply because they were Greek. A group of rioters set their store on fire. They were trapped in the back, and the firefighters were too late to save them.”

  She gasped. “How horrible.” She couldn’t imagine losing someone that way. How did one go on after such a senseless act of violence?

  “The only consolation was that Sofia wasn’t with them that day. Sometimes Selene took her to the store.”

  “Thank God.” She blinked hard and took a swallow of water. “You must have been devastated.”

  “I was. I could barely function for almost a year. And for a long time after that, I tried to shield Sofia from every part of her heritage, determined that she would never suffer such hatred because she was Greek.” He set down his knife. “That’s part of the reason why I wanted to marry Meredith—to give Sofia a Canadian stepmother as well as the security associated with the Cheeseman name. I’m ashamed at how petty that sounds now.”

  She studied him for several seconds. Part of her was relieved that he hadn’t been madly in love with Meredith and that he’d agreed to marry her for more practical reasons.

  “I can understand how you felt,” she said. “For a while, I was embarrassed about my
heritage too, ashamed that my father was so hostile toward Rory simply because he wasn’t Italian. Yet Rory wasn’t as accepting of my culture as I would have liked, and if we had ended up together after the war, I don’t know if our relationship would have survived.” She’d never told that to anyone, barely acknowledging it to herself.

  “That’s brave to admit.”

  She gave a small shrug. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about our relationship and to view things in a more realistic light.”

  He looked as though he wanted to say something more, but instead he picked up a small dessert menu. “This conversation has gotten far too serious. Would you like some dessert? Baklava is a famous Greek delicacy.”

  She sat back with a sigh. “I’d love to, but I don’t think I could eat another bite.”

  “That’s all right. When you come to Sofia’s birthday, you can try my mother’s.” He grinned. “I may be biased, but I think hers is the best.”

  Olivia laughed. “I’ll remember that.”

  Darius motioned for the waiter, spoke to him in Greek, and the man returned with the bill. After Darius paid it, he looked over at her. “How would you feel about an after-dinner stroll?” he asked. “There’s a pretty park nearby where we could walk off our meal.”

  She nodded, mesmerized by the glow the candlelight cast over his cheekbones. “I’d like that very much.”

  Only a short car ride away, Riverdale Park was just as pretty as Darius had described. In the early evening, with the sun just beginning its descent, a golden aura surrounded the tops of the trees, spreading down to the paths that wound through the grassy areas. Several families were finishing up picnics on the rolling lawns, while some adults played ball with the children. The path ahead was crowded with several couples who’d apparently had the same idea for an after-dinner stroll.

  Olivia breathed in the smells of fresh air and newly mown grass and released a contented sigh. “It’s lovely,” she said. “Like an oasis of greenery within the city.”

  “That’s a perfect description,” Darius said. “There’s even a full-fledged zoo at one end of the park. I’ve taken Sofia a couple of times. Her favorite is the elephant.” He chuckled.

  “Are you serious? There’s an elephant?”

  “There is. Along with lions, monkeys, and alligators.” Darius reached for her hand. “Come on, I want to show you a spot I love.”

  As they increased their pace slightly, he kept her hand tucked in his. He led her down a path away from the main park, where Olivia thought she heard the gentle gurgle of water.

  “That’s the Don River ahead,” Darius said as he guided her over to what looked like a bridge. “Sounds like the water’s moving fairly quick tonight.”

  He tugged her forward, but she hesitated. “I don’t really like heights.”

  “It’s not that bad, I promise. Besides, you can hold on to me if it makes you feel better.” He grinned, then gave her a brazen wink.

  Her stomach gave a slow roll as she followed him, and she was not sure if it was due to the wink or the height.

  When they reached the middle of the bridge, he stopped at the railing. “You don’t have to look down. Just look out. The view is magnificent.”

  He was right. Ahead of them, the river stretched as far as she could see, winding its way through the lush valley.

  Darius’s arm came around her shoulder, and heat from his body enveloped her.

  She held her breath, fresh nerves leaping in her stomach.

  “Sometimes we fail to appreciate the simple things in life,” he said softly. “A stroll through the park. The view from a bridge. A pretty girl to share the evening with.” His free hand came up to caress her cheek, his expression serious. “You are so amazing, Olivia. Beautiful inside and out. I’m not sure how it happened, but I think I might be falling in love with you.”

  Her heart gave a hard thump in her chest, and she blinked, not sure how to respond to his sudden declaration.

  “Now that I’ve come to this realization,” he said, “I have no idea what to do about it. Except maybe this.” His lips came down on hers, brushing them gently at first, and when she didn’t object, he pulled her more firmly against him to deepen the kiss.

  Olivia held on to him as the world around her fell away, narrowing down to the sensations coursing through her system. His mouth, firm yet gentle, giving and taking. The warmth of his fingers on her face. The scent of his cologne surrounding them.

  She tightened her arms around him and surrendered to the pure pleasure coursing through her.

  After a couple of minutes, he pulled back to look at her, his expression dazed. “Wow,” he breathed. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything quite like that.”

  The air fairly pulsed with the electricity winding through them, binding them together.

  Her heart still thumped too fast in her chest. “Neither have I,” she whispered. “And to be honest, it scares me to death.”

  Olivia’s admission thrilled him and at the same time stirred his protective instincts. He tucked her against his chest, keeping his arms around her. “It scares me too. I guess all we can do is entrust our relationship to God.”

  She nodded. “Sounds like a good place to start.”

  He bent to give her another kiss, this one more chaste. “Shall we head back to the car?” he asked reluctantly. “It will be getting dark soon.”

  “I suppose so.” When she smiled at him, he had to use all his willpower not to kiss her again or they might never get off the bridge.

  The walk back to the car and the drive home passed in a golden haze of bliss. With Olivia at his side, he felt he could take on the entire world. The more he learned about her, the more she surprised him with the depths of her courage and intelligence, her compassion and caring.

  When they reached the maternity home, he parked the car and came around to help her out, then walked her to the door, wishing the night didn’t have to end.

  On the doorstep, she turned to him, her brown eyes glowing under the porch light. “Thank you for tonight, Darius. I had a wonderful time.”

  “My pleasure.” He wanted to ask if he could come over tomorrow, or the next day, not sure how long he could go without seeing her. Instead, he said, “I’ll pick you up for Sofia’s party next Saturday. Unless I can think of another excuse to see you before then.” He gave her a slow grin.

  “Do you need an excuse?” She peered up at him through her lashes.

  “Actually, I have a very good one,” he said huskily. Then he captured her mouth in another lingering kiss that left his brain buzzing. “Good night, Olivia.”

  “Good night.” She opened the door and went in, then turned around to wave.

  Walking backward down the flagstones, he gave her a salute, then almost crashed into the gate. With a self-conscious laugh, he let himself out and got into his car.

  No doubt about it, he was in way over his head here. But with this powerful feeling of euphoria rushing through his system, making him feel more alive than ever, he wouldn’t change a thing.

  35

  Olivia hummed as she dusted the furniture in the office. It had been two days since her date with Darius, and she was having a hard time keeping the smile from her face every time she remembered being held in his arms. Arms that made her feel safe and protected, sheltered from reality. And those wonderful kisses—the kind that drugged a girl’s senses and almost made her forget her own name.

  Fortunately, she trusted Darius not to take things too far, unlike Rory, who had used her fear of losing him to compromise her morals. Darius knew what Olivia had been through and had seen the dire consequences—not only with Olivia, but with Meredith as well. Plus, he’d been married before, so he understood the sacredness of a physical union. She had no doubt that he would never put her in that position.

  “I believe that’s the fourth time you’ve dusted that row of books.” Ruth’s amused voice came from the door of the office.

  Olivia startle
d and turned to face her, heat climbing into her cheeks. “Sorry. I guess I was daydreaming.”

  Ruth took a seat at the desk. “I don’t have to ask what—or should I say whom—you were dreaming about.”

  That same smile bloomed on Olivia’s face again.

  “I take it your date was a success?” Ruth pulled out a pencil and opened the ledger.

  A tug of guilt pinched Olivia’s conscience. She hadn’t seen Ruth much since Saturday. The poor woman always seemed to be working or attending meetings in town. Olivia had been too wrapped up first in her grief over Abigail and then in her romantic haze to pay attention to her friend.

  “The date went very well. But I want to hear what’s going on with you. What are all these mysterious outings you’ve been going to?”

  Ruth rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I’ve been meeting with my solicitor.”

  “Your solicitor?” Olivia set the duster on the desktop. “Is there a problem I should know about?”

  “I suppose I might as well tell you.” Ruth laid down her pen and removed her glasses, her gaze steady. “I’m having him rewrite my will. I’ve decided to leave the house and the property to you.”

  Olivia grasped the arm of the chair. “What?”

  “It makes sense, Olivia. I’ll be gone from this earth long before you, and when I am, I want you to be able to continue our work here with no legal impediments. Bennington Place will be yours.”

  Olivia’s hand went to her throat. “I don’t know what to say.” She couldn’t begin to understand Ruth’s generosity. “What about your grandson? Shouldn’t the house pass to him?”

  “I haven’t left Thomas out completely. He’ll get whatever is left. Besides, he’s already inherited the balance of my son and daughter-in-law’s estate. And, sadly, my grandson has no sentimental attachment to me or this house.” She sighed and squared her shoulders. “Anyway, I’ve put the matter in the Lord’s hands and in my lawyer’s. That’s the best I can do for now.” Ruth gave a rather forced smile. “Let’s change the subject, shall we? I’ve been thinking we should do something fun for the ladies this weekend. Something a little out of the ordinary. Maybe we’ll have a game night or play some music and sing songs. Something to bring a little merriment into our lives.”