CHAPTER ONE

      August 9, New York City

      THE BEARDED OLDER DOCTOR looked at Zoe. “Young woman. You’ve been cancer-free for eight months. Today I can say without reservation that it’s definitely in remission. We’ve already talked about the life span for recovering patients like you. But no one can predict the end of life for any of us.”

      “I know,” she said as he continued to explain the survival expectancy statistics for patients like her. But she’d read about it all before and didn’t really listen. The adage to take it one day at a time and rejoice for another day of life was the motto around the hospital.

      Zoe’s physical exam had gone without incident. Her labs looked great. But she would never outgrow her nervousness. Fear lurked in her that the next time she had to have a checkup, the cancer would have come back. She couldn’t throw it off.

      The therapist at the center had given her a book to read about dealing with the disease once it had gone into remission. Depression bothered many patients who feared a recurrence and that was a problem they needed to deal with. Since Zoe was a prime example, she could have written that section of the book herself.

      But for today she was filled with relief over the lab results. In fact she was so overjoyed with the news she had difficulty believing it. A year ago she’d been told she had a terminal case, but now... She looked at the doctor. “So what you’re saying is—it’s really gone.”

      His brows furrowed. “Believe it, girl.”

      She believed it for today, but it would come back.

      “I’m pleased that the terrible fatigue you felt for so long is now gone. You seem much stronger physically and emotionally. Your therapist and I believe you’re ready to leave the center today if you wish.”

      That was the news she’d been waiting for. She had plans and there was no time to lose.

      “Here’s hoping that from now on you can live a normal life.”

      Normal... It would never be normal when she knew the cancer would return. But she smiled at him. “How can I thank you for everything you’ve done for me?”

      “You already have by working so hard to get well. You have a beautiful spirit and are an inspiration to the other patients here in the hospital. All the friends you’ve made here will miss you.”

      Tears stung her eyes. “I’ll miss them more.” With this checkup behind her, she could put her plan into action.

      “I doubt that.”

      Zoe folded her arms to her waist. “My bill has to be astronomical. If it takes me the rest of my life, I’m going to pay back every cent of it.”

      “It’s been taken care of by the generosity of the Giannopoulos Foundation Charity.”

      “I’m aware of that.” So aware, in fact, she needed to thank the members of the Giannopoulos family personally and one day she would. “But everyone who works here is an angel, especially you. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve such care.”

      When she’d been admitted to the hospital, she’d read the material given to every patient. The first time she’d gone to the chapel inside the hospital she’d read the plaque. It had been named for the Church of Agii Apostoli in Greece.

       In honor of Patroklos Giannopoulos and his wife Irana Manos who survived the malaria outbreak on Paxos in the early l960s.

       In honor of her brother Kristos Manos who survived the malaria outbreak and emigrated to New York to build a new life.

       In honor of Patroklos Giannopoulos