page63 (2/2)

‘Seriously?’

‘Seriously,’ he confirmed ‘I can provide for you, Maddie’

She folded her arms ‘Spare me the macho-man bit, Theo This is the twenty-first century I don’t expect you to provide for e An equal partnership So we’ll do this together or on’t do it at all’

‘You knoe’re definitely going to have to have another baby,’ Theo said ‘A son To even the balance in our house’

Madison laughed ‘Yes, dear’

Luck was on their side—not only did they find the perfect house in the first week of looking but there was no chain because the previous owners had sold it to a developer in a part-exchange deal A anised decorators—‘Agapi ood for the baby, and anyway painting walls will give you backache,’ he informed Madison when she protested

‘This is going to be the best Christmas ever,’ Madison said in satisfaction when theyto stay, your farandparents h Theo had land, she’d noticed that they were still reserved with hirandmother had see a little girl

Christ and noisy as Madison had planned Their families liked each other; there were no tensions about whose traditions were being used because, as Madison herself put it, it was a new house and a new joint faether The entire ti wedding and a christening

When Madison slipped quietly into the kitchen to put the kettle on, Eleni followed her ‘I just wanted to say thank you, Madison,’ she said quietly ‘Because of you, my boy doesn’t have shadows in his eyes any more’ She smiled wryly ‘I say “my boy”—I know he’s only borrowed, but I love hirandchild to arrive’

‘Eleni, you are my mother,’ Theo said softly

‘Theo? Where did you come from?’

‘Just s’ He took her hands ‘Why do you think I’m only borrowed, kardoula mou?’

Eleni shrugged ‘You stopped calling me Mamá after we told you about your mother’

‘I was fifteen, at a difficult age, and I had a lot to getthe word,’ Theo admitted ‘And I’m sorry It’s not because I don’t love you, because I do You’ve always been there for ht of you as apo, Mamá’