Part Four: Godmother's Birthday.

Andrew held the bunch of flowers he just bought a little while ago from the flower shop in his left hand, and rang the doorbell of his Godmother's apartment.
A short pause, the sound of the door being unlocked, and then his godmother, wearing her nightdress, looked at the unexpected visitor with a gaze full of curiosity and astonishment.
Andrew gave her the flowers.
"This is for you, my most charming lady." he smiled
His godmother smiled, and thanking him with sentences so many and long that she lost him a little after the first two "thank you"s, took the flowers and showed him the balcony table where he went and sat.
"So, what's up, Alex?" Andrew said, clearly happy about their meeting.
His godmother's name was Alexandra, and she was just turning 32. She had middle-length curly brown hair, and a friendly little face. Andrew has known her since she was 28, so they were really familiar with each other. They were more friends than godmother-godson. So, Andrew always talked to her absolutely casually, as he would to any other friend of his.
Alexandra was going here and there, sweeping and moping.
"I'm very sorry for the mess, I'm cleaning up because I'm waiting for some people to come by this evening.." She said.
Andrew laughed.
"Please, Alex, as if we are strangers, and i will judge you solely out of the act of cleaning your house, which in any way shows that you are a good housewife."
They both laughed.
"These flowers are really pretty! How many lilliums are in there?"
"I'd say ten. Didn't count them. I also told the guy to put two roses in there. One for you, and one for George*."
"Lovely! Thank you ever so much!"
Andrew made a small sign with his hand, indicating that it was no big deal.
"Coffee?" Alex asked.
"Yes please! One of your delicious Fredos will do just fine."


Andrew checked his watch.
18:45.
Just on time, he thought.
He continued walking towards one of Rhodos's ** greatest structures, the Aquarium. He knew that his most precious angel was there, unaware of his presence on the island which she visited for just two days.
Steph...
His smile grew wider and he was walking faster now. He checked his mobile phone to make sure he had credit.
After listening to the boring voice of the answering machine, he put his mobile back in his pocket, and shrugged.
At least it's enough for a call. It won't be a long one anyway.
It was a sunny, cloudless day, though he could have sworn that the month was one of the winter ones. He didn't stop to think that it was September.
He bought a ticket, told the guy to keep the change and went inside the aquarium.
That place held many memories for him, for the limited and rare times he had visited Rhodos, he always went there to see the many species of fish the aquarium held, and especially that shark, which got bigger and bigger every time he visited.
Irrelevant.
He continued walking, and took a right in the little junction there was at some point. He'd end up in the same room anyway.
He saw her.
My love, my angel, my breath and soul, my muse, my Steph...
His heart was beating faster than that time he got hit by a car (but obviously survived).
He heard her voice, a voice that could not be mistaken for any other, for no other voice held so much melody and music in his ears as hers.
He took his mobile in his hand and pressed some buttons in less than a second.
It was ringing.
The girl in front of him picked up her phone.
A soft "Yes?" was heard from both his phone and from in front of him.
"Look behind you."
The girl did what she was told and her eyes, as well as her mouth opened in surprise.
"Andrew!"
He quickly moved towards her, as she did so towards him, and they embraced each other in a passionate and-

"-ilk in your coffee?" Alex said.
Andrew tried to focus, but the best he could do was look at his godmother and let out a primal sound that sounded like "wha'?"
"I asked: do would you like some milk in your coffee?" Alex said, a little impatiently.
"Huh? Oh, yes. Yes. Milk. Coffee. That." Was Andrew's response.
"Is something wrong? I've been talking to you for at least five minutes and Ididn't get any answer.. You were lost in your very own space-time continuum again, Andy."
Andrew looked around. No Steph. No Aquarium. Nowhere close to Rhodos. It was barely beyond 17:00, and it was September the 8th.
He took the coffee Alex made him and started drinking, lost in the thought that all he experienced was, too, just a thought.
Alex asked him something.
Andrew didn't get a single word. In fact, he could have sworn that someone has asked him about something, but that was that. No sign of comprehension beyond that.
"Yes. It's really good. Thank you" He finally managed to say.



*George: Alex's husband.
**Rhodos: A Greek island. Not to be confused with Rhode Island.