He shook his head as if tossing away all thoughts of what he’d planned to do to that family. I must send them a gift.
‘He’s absolutely the most beautiful baby in the world.’
‘Thank you, Maggie.’ Lila was glowing.
‘Frankly, I think he looks like Tassos,’ said Kouros.
Tassos smiled. ‘That’s the blessing of having a Winston Churchill-like face. All babies look like you.’
‘When are you going home?’ Maggie’s eyes were glued on the baby snuggled next to Lila on the bed. ‘Tomorrow morning.’
‘She wanted to go home tonight, but her parents insisted she stay the night. After all, the baby was only born this afternoon,’ said Andreas.
‘Parents. Forever protecting their children.’ Lila stroked her baby’s forehead. ‘Now I understand.’
‘Where are your parents?’ asked Tassos.
‘They left with my mother.’ Andreas answered for her.
Lila’s eyes stayed on her baby. ‘They said they wanted to make room for our friends.’
‘Maybe I should leave,’ said Kouros.
‘Don’t worry, there’s plenty of room. I’m only expecting one more. Barbara should be here any minute.’
Andreas glanced at Maggie.
‘Oh, Chief, in all the excitement I forgot I have a message for you.’ Maggie handed him a note.
THE PARTY FINALLY RETURNED TO ATHENS EARLY THIS MORNING AND SWEARS
NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. YOU’VE BEEN HAD. OR RATHER, NOT.
Andreas stared at Maggie. ‘Is this for real?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Is what for real?’ asked Lila.
‘Us.’ Time to change the subject, thought Andreas. ‘I still don’t know what to make of yesterday.’
‘Or what you made of my car.’
Andreas shrugged. ‘Sorry.’
Lila looked at the baby and smiled. ‘All is forgiven.’
‘Pick a name yet?’ asked Maggie.
‘Andreas’ father’s name,’ said Lila.
‘Good choice.’ Tassos smiled.
‘What was it?’ asked Kouros.
‘Tassos,’ said Maggie.
Kouros smiled. ‘Poor kid.’
Tassos smacked Kouros lightly on the back of his head. ‘So what happened yesterday that has you wondering?’
Andreas gave a quick version of the Protos’ visit. ‘All I know for sure is that this case is closed. Too many intrigues for my little cop mind to handle. Let the church sort out its own affairs.’
‘Do you think the Protos was telling the truth?’ asked Tassos.
‘Who knows? Not even sure if I care.’
‘Why would he lie?’ asked Maggie.
Andreas shrugged. ‘If the Russians were embarrassed and the Ecumenical Patriarch relocated to Mount Athos, that would knock the position of protos off the top of the Holy Mountain. Can you imagine two popes sharing the same Vatican?’
Maggie gestured no. ‘But this protos wouldn’t care.’
‘How can you say that?’ said Andreas.
‘Well, for one thing, the Protos never has to worry about an Ecumenical Patriarch moving to Mount Athos during his lifetime.’
Andreas stared at Maggie. ‘You never fail to amaze me, but how can you possibly know that this Ecumenical Patriarch will outlive the Protos?’
‘I don’t, wiseass, but remember, I’m the one who checked out Vassilis’ background. In addition to our current Ecumenical Patriarch, Vassilis was one of only two surviving graduates of the Halki School. That makes his schoolmate, the Protos, the only living person qualified under Turkish law to serve as the next Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople. To him it wouldn’t matter whether the Russians were embarrassed or not, for he’d be the next Ecumenical Patriarch, if he wanted the position.’
Andreas kept staring at her, then shook his head and let out a long sigh. ‘I give up. I’m not going to delude myself into thinking I’ll ever figure this out. All I know is the bad guys have all gone bye-bye.’
‘Or so we hope,’ said Tassos.
Lila smiled at Andreas. ‘That reminds me of our conversation with the Protos.’
‘Let’s not get into that again, please. I’m anxious enough at being a new father without worrying about being a pawn in church wars.’
‘No, I’m not talking about that part of the conversation. I’m talking about where he impressed me with his candor.’
‘I must have missed it.’
‘Well, it wasn’t something he said directly and, besides, you had other things on your mind… like my car.’ Lila laughed. ‘It was when he was grasping for a word to describe something very important to him, one that explained why he needed your help. The word he chose seemed odd to me and when I hinted at what else he might have meant he changed the subject. I didn’t pursue it out of respect.’
Lila glanced down at the baby, smiled, and looked up at Andreas. ‘The Protos said, “I live amid a world that many think is unsoiled. Whether or not I agree is not important, only that I realize no one from that world could have done what you did.”’
‘Yeah, I know, he was saying he needed a sinner to deal with sinners.’
‘No, he wasn’t calling you a sinner. He was describing his world, one “that many think is unsoiled.” Whether intended or not, “unsoiled” is an anagram for another word.’ She paused to kiss the baby’s forehead.
She did not look up when she said, ‘“I live amid a world that many think is…” delusion. “Whether or not I agree is not important, only that I realize no one from that world could have done what you did.”’
The thought just hung there, as if no one wanted to touch it. Any vigil for the truth seemed further from an answer than when it began. Assuming there was any truth to be found.
Andreas cleared his throat. ‘Could you guys give us a few minutes?’
They left, leaving Lila and Andreas alone with their baby.
Andreas sat on the edge of the bed, the baby between them. He held Lila’s hand. ‘I guess you were right about what you once said about us.’
‘And what was that?’
He drew a circle in the air around the three of them. ‘This is the only thing that “is what it is.” Us. “The rest is illusion.” I’m just beginning to realize that. It’s why a parent will run into a burning house to save the children.’ He touched his son’s fingers. ‘Or kill himself to spare them a life of shame.’
Lila squeezed his hand. A tear ran down her cheek.
‘There was something else in our conversation with the Protos that bothered me. I didn’t like the way you both kept referring to me as the “unborn child’s father.”’
She scrunched up her face and sniffled. ‘Sorry, I just couldn’t bring myself to lie about something like that to a holy man.’
Andreas nodded. ‘I understand, I had the same problem. I think we have to come up with another way to describe me, one that’s honest.’
She shrugged. ‘Okay, what would you like to be called?’
Andreas paused. ‘Your husband.’
Lila smiled. ‘Done.’