I glanced up to find Neo Xenakis standing before me.

‘I never quite got the chance to welcome you into the family last year.’ His tone was measured, his eyes just as probing as his brother’s.

‘I guess the circumstances weren’t exactly...conducive,’ I replied.

‘Ochi, they weren’t. But your disappearing act didn’t help matters, I expect?’

I stiffened. ‘I had my reasons,’ I replied.

Without answering, he dropped his gaze to the contents of the crystal tumbler he clutched. ‘Whatever they were, I hope it was worth keeping a father from his child?’

Again his tone was more appraising than censorious, as if he was attempting to understand my motives. Again my guilt resurfaced. And this time brushing it away wasn’t easy.

Before I could formulate a response, a deeper and more visceral voice asked, ‘Is everything all right?’

For me not to have sensed his arrival spoke volumes of the kind of magnetism the Xenakis men possessed. And now Axios had arrived next to me the force of their presence had doubled. Their sole focus was on me, but one set of grey eyes was vastly more potent than the other, sending my composure into free fall.

I took a long, steadying breath to reply, ‘We’re fine.’

Axios’s gaze slid from mine to his brother, a clear question in his eyes.

Neo’s expression clouded for a moment, then he shrugged. ‘Like your wife said, we’re fine. No need to go Neanderthal on me.’

Before either of us could enquire what he meant, he excused himself and struck out for the large gazebo on the south side of the garden, currently decked out with fairy lights and free of guests.

‘Is he okay?’ I felt compelled to ask.

Axios’s gaze stayed on him long enough to see his brother lift a phone to his ear before he turned to me. ‘His issues aren’t mine to disclose, but Neo is touchy on the subject of babies. Like the rest of the family, news about his nephew’s existence surprised him. But, since Andreos is single-handedly winning everyone over, I suspect the circumstances of his arrival will be forgiven soon.’

Had he deliberately excluded himself from that statement? Unwilling for him to see the bite of anguish that distinction brought, I turned my gaze to where the majority of the Xenakis clan had now gathered, choosing to see the bright side.

Andreos was indeed holding centre stage, tucked into his favourite blanket and nestled lovingly within his grandmother’s arms. The absolute devotion on the older woman’s face eased my heartache, but in the next moment the sudden thought that my own mother hadn’t met my son hit me with tornado-strength force.

‘What is it?’ Axios asked, the eyes that hadn’t left my face since his brother’s disappearance narrowing.

The fleeting thought to shrug off his question came and went, and I couldn’t help the small shaft of pain that came with it. ‘My parents haven’t met him yet.’

His face tightened, the mention of Yiannis Petras drawing a reaction I would have preferred to leave out of the already fraught atmosphere. I held my breath, ready to fight my corner.