"Of course, you can. Let me show you how." Anna soaked the gauze with olive oil in the places where it had dried to make it easier to separate from the skin. Slowly, they unrolled the six-centimeter-wide gauze, removing it with great care. Alexander walked around Nikolas's bed, rewinding the used gauze neatly, obviously enjoying responsibility.
Anna continued soaking the remaining bandages and tending to the burnt skin. Alexander would stop and wait for her, and when she was done soaking, he would continue unrolling again. It was a tedious process.
"We must be careful," said the boy calmly to his mother.
Anna looked at him with admiration, and then she leaned over and kissed him on his head. The boy smiled. The last of the rays of the sun disappeared from the window high above and the large room's high ceilings became darker. Plato had gone back to the helicopter with Father Gregorios and left quietly. Now, Novice Despina arrived, holding a long burning candle.
"Can I help?" she asked, seeing Anna with the boy. "Oh I see, you have a helper!"
"This is Alexander," Anna said. She was not yet ready to share her joyous secret, wanting to keep it between her and God until she had sorted out all her feelings.
"Alexander, I don't think we should finish tonight. I would rather let the rest soak overnight and remove them tomorrow. That's it. We'll have to wait until tomorrow morning."
The boy agreed solemnly and Nikolas nodded assent. "You can bring us some fruit, Despina. Peaches and melon."
"I like melon," said the boy.
"You can have my share," smiled Anna.
"Can I?" asked the boy. "Thank you ...
but you should have yours and I'll have mine, okay?"
"Agreed," replied Anna.
"No, no," said the boy, raising his voice. "I'll actually give mine to ... my daddy." He pointed at Nikolas. "I'll give mine to him."
"Thank you son," said Nikolas, and squeezed the boy's hand, so happy he could barely contain himself, as he said the strange word, "son."
It was all too good to be true and it took all his willpower to keep from tearing the bandages from his face.
"You are strong," remarked the boy. "When you get well, can we arm wrestle?" "Absolutely," replied Nikolas.
"Then we will all go out on my uncle, I mean my grandpa, Stavros' boat. It's real big. I have my own cabin."
"Yes, we'll all go," agreed Nikolas.
"Speaking of boats, do you know that your father is a captain?" asked Anna.
"Really? Will you teach me how to drive a big ship like my Grandpa Stavros' ship?"