The Divided Child Read Online Free PDF

hadn't yet blunted the pain, and the tight dress I wore only added to my
discomfort.   Demetra Redfield had
loaned the dress to me, because Maria had taken my clothes away to be washed,
but I had no illusions she was being kind.   I suspected she would have given me the clothes off her back
to get me out of her house.
                "You
are certain you are well enough to be alone?" Spiro asked, as I sank into
an armchair by the bed and closed my eyes.
                "I'll
be fine after I get some sleep."
                "Very
well, then,” he said.   “I will
leave you to rest."
                I
forced my eyes open and smiled -- despite the tight, painful tug it cost my
cheek.   "Thanks for the
escort, Spiro."
                "Christine
--"
                "Yes?"
                "Do
not judge my sister too harshly.   Since her husband died, she has not been herself, and this battle over
the boy has made things worse."
                "Just
out of curiosity, why is she so worried about Geoffrey challenging her for
custody?   She's Michael's mother,
after all.   How can a mere uncle
compete with that?"
                He
gazed at me in surprise.   "Demetra is not Michael's mother, Christine.   She is his -- how do you call it? -- mitryiá .   Stepmother.   Michael's real mother was William Redfield's first
wife.   They divorced when the boy
was two."
                "But
if that’s the case,” I said, “why isn't Michael with his real mother now that
his father is dead?"
                Spiro
made a gesture with his hands.   "She is dead also.   She
was killed several years ago in an airplane crash."
                "Oh,
no!   Poor Michael."
                Spiro
shook his head.   "To the
contrary, the boy is very, very rich.   William Redfield was an extremely wealthy man."
                "I
meant it's sad that both Michael's parents are dead."
                He
shrugged.   "There are worse
things."
                I
bit my lip.   "Spiro, I'm
tired.   I'd like to be alone
now."
                "Of
course."   He flashed me a
smile, his large white teeth bared in a blinding grin.   "I am going."   He raised my hand and kissed it, his
lips lingering on my fingers.   " Kalispera , Christine.”   He crossed to the door and opened it, but with one hand on
the knob, he turned.   "About
Geoffrey --"
                "Yes?"
I replied warily.  
                "I
think Demetra may be correct in one thing.   He may try to use you and the accident today to assist his
cause."
                "Why
does he want custody?" I asked.
                "The
money, of course.   When William
Redfield died, he left most of his estate to his son to be held in trust until
the boy’s eighteenth birthday."
                "But
if the money's held in trust, what good does it do Geoffrey?"
                "To
be the guardian of such a wealthy boy can provide one with a very comfortable
living."
                "But
not that comfortable, surely!"
                Spiro’s
mouth quirked.   "Comfortable
enough.   My brother-in-law's estate
is valued at over thirty million pounds."  
                My
breath caught at the size of the fortune.   Poor Michael.
                Spiro
said, "You probably will not feel like going to a restaurant this
evening?"
                Distractedly
I said, "No, I don't think so."
                "Then
I will bring dinner here."
                "That's
very thoughtful of you, but --" I paused, my tired brain fumbling for an
excuse.
                Spiro
shook his head, dismissing my hesitation with a chiding grin.   “I cannot let you starve," he said
as he disappeared out the door.   With a sigh, I pulled off Demetra’s tight dress and