chapter 2

                                    

                                          






The soft glow of twilight painted the Kalokairi villa in hues of gold and pink as Sophie led Addie up the winding stairs to a small balcony overlooking the sea. The sound of distant laughter and the clink of glasses drifted up from the courtyard, but here it was quiet, private. Sophie leaned against the railing, a mix of nerves and excitement flickering in her eyes.
Addie crossed her arms, giving her sister a curious look. "Alright, Soph, spill. What's this big secret you've been holding onto?"
Sophie took a deep breath. "Okay, but promise you won't freak out?"
Addie's brow quirked. "Now I'm definitely going to freak out. Just tell me."
Sophie hesitated, her hands gripping the railing tightly. "I... I invited three men to the wedding."
Addie's lips twitched into a smirk. "I didn't realize it was that kind of party. Are you trying to outdo your own fiancé?"
"Addie, I'm serious," Sophie said, though she couldn't help but smile at her sister's teasing. "These three men... they might be our dad."
The smirk vanished from Addie's face. "Wait, what?"
"I found Mom's old diary," Sophie explained, her voice gaining momentum. "From the year she got pregnant with us. There were three men she... well, you know. And I couldn't stop wondering which one of them was our father. So, I invited all three. They're here, Addie."
Addie stared at her sister, processing the whirlwind of information. Finally, she let out a low whistle. "Sophie, that's... a lot. Like, a lot a lot. You're telling me three potential dads are just wandering around this island right now? This isn't something I would expect from you. Me. Yes. Of course. But you. No."
Sophie nodded, biting her lip. "I didn't know what else to do. I thought maybe if I met them, I'd just... know. But now that they're here, I'm terrified. What if none of them are? Or worse, what if they all think they are?"
Addie shook her head, a grin breaking through her astonishment. "Leave it to you to turn your wedding into a mystery novel. Alright, Soph, don't panic. We'll figure this out. But first, I've got to meet these guys."
"You will," Sophie promised, relief washing over her face. "But there's someone else you need to see first."





The moment Addie stepped into the villa's main hall, Donna was there, arms wide open.
"My little traveler," Donna said, pulling Addie into a tight hug. Her familiar scent of lavender and sun-warmed linen instantly made Addie feel at home. "I swear, you've grown another inch since the last time I saw you. Stop making the rest of us look bad!"
Addie laughed, hugging her mother back. "Missed you too, Mom. Though, to be fair, it's hard to look bad when you're running around paradise like some Greek goddess."
Donna stepped back, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm just so glad you're here. Both of you."
Addie's gaze softened. "Me too. And don't worry, I'm not planning on running off anytime soon."
"Good," Donna said firmly, though her smile was playful. "Now, let's get you settled. Dinner's almost ready, and I want you to meet everyone."
Addie nodded, though her thoughts were already drifting. Sophie's revelation still buzzed in her mind, and as much as she wanted to focus on the reunion, she couldn't shake her curiosity about the three men who might hold the answers to their biggest question.





After reuniting with Donna and Sophie, Addie took a moment to observe the evening's festivities from the villa's terrace. The sky was a rich indigo, scattered with stars that seemed close enough to touch. Below her, the courtyard bustled with life—laughter and music mingling with the gentle rustle of olive trees.
Addie wasn't used to staying still, but something about Kalokairi felt different. It wasn't just the scenery or the warmth of family and old friends; it was the sense of belonging that had been missing during her years of wandering.
Emilio's voice carried up from the crowd below, pulling her from her thoughts. "Addie! Come on, we're about to do a toast!"
She chuckled, shaking her head. Emilio had a knack for drawing people in, and it was clear he'd already charmed everyone here. Taking a final deep breath of the salty air, Addie made her way back downstairs, ready to dive into the chaos of the night and the mysteries that this week would bring.





Addie slipped away, her feet carrying her down to the beach. The cool sand sifted between her toes, and the sound of the waves provided a soothing backdrop to her restless thoughts.
"Couldn't resist the call of the sea, huh?"
Addie turned to see Sky approaching, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. He had swapped his formal shirt for a loose linen one, the kind that seemed perfectly at home in the warm, salty air.
"Guilty," Addie admitted, smiling. "Figured I'd take a breather before the madness starts. Care to sit with me."
Sky nodded, taking a seat beside her as they walked along the shoreline. "Sophie told me you've been all over the world. I was travelling before I met Sophie as well. Got any favorites?"
Addie's eyes lit up. "Oh, where do I even start? Morocco was incredible—the markets, the food, the colors. But then there was Patagonia. Nothing beats those mountains. And Spain, of course. Emilio would kill me if I didn't mention Spain."
Sky chuckled. "Sounds like you've had quite the adventure. Do you ever miss staying in one place?"
Addie considered the question, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Sometimes. But I guess I've always been more about the journey than the destination. There's just so much out there, you know? So many places to see, people to meet. I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to settle down."
"I get that," Sky said, his tone thoughtful. "I used to feel the same way. Then I met Sophie, and suddenly the idea of staying in one place didn't seem so bad."
Addie glanced at him, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "Wow, you're really leaning into the whole 'hopeless romantic' thing, aren't you?"
Sky laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged. But hey, if you're going to settle, it might as well be with someone who makes it worth it, right?"
Addie's smile softened. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the conversation flowing naturally from stories of Addie's travels to Sky's adventures in Kalokairi and the rest of the world. By the time the moon was high in the sky, they both felt an unexpected ease, as if they'd known each other far longer than a single evening.
Finally, Sky stopped, turning to face her. "Thanks for letting me crash your quiet moment. I needed this."
"Anytime," Addie said, her smile warm. "But don't get used to it. Tomorrow, I'm officially back on chaotic little sister duty."
"Looking forward to it," Sky said, his grin matching hers.
As they made their way back up the beach toward the villa, Addie couldn't help but feel a sense of calm she hadn't experienced in a long time. For the first time in years, she wasn't thinking about where she'd go next. For now, she was exactly where she needed to be.