Athena was more than surprised—she was gobsmacked, her mouth falling open a fraction as her eyes swept the room. There they all were—in her grandmother's ward.
There was Ewan, standing beside Sandro, who held up a cake with a bright grin. There was her family, her children in their school uniforms—apparently having calculated that she would come straight to the hospital first thing that morning. There was Areso, her mother, her two friends, and then… her grandfather.
It took her several stunned seconds to realize who wasn't there. Antonio. His absence, among the crowd that included her secretary, Margaret, Kendra, Aiden, and Susan, was obvious.
They didn't inform him? She felt a flicker of dry amusement. Why am I not surprised about that?
