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“I suppose.” Lena looked down at her dress. “Do I look okay? It’s not about what you or I think, it’s about holding my head up high and knowing I didn’t embarrass myself.”
“You look beautiful,” he whispered. “Classy, elegant and sexy. I don’t give a shit what my parents think.”
She wore a light blue linen suit with a white silk shirt beneath. The skirt was straight, falling just below her knees and the jacket was collarless, fitting her snugly. She wore nude high-heeled pumps and her hair was swept back from her face with a clip. She’d agonized for days over what to wear to see his family but how that she was here she wasn’t sure if she wanted to puke or flip them the bird. It had been a harrowing few days following Loren’s death and Mick had been overwhelmed, talking to the police repeatedly until it was officially ruled an accident and he was given permission to come to the U.S. Pat had also left, flying the body home to Ohio, and Hank had been on a flight the day before.
“Let’s do this.” Mick closed his hand around Lena’s and she glanced down at it. He’d bought her a diamond engagement ring the day before they left Greece and it sparkled in the morning sun as they walked to the front door.
Mick rang the bell and Lena watched him carefully. He wore charcoal colored suit with a crisp white shirt beneath, three buttons undone at his neck. He seemed much more relaxed than he’d been the last few days and she squeezed his hand. He winked when he looked down at her, but then the door was opening and they were face-to-face with his mother.
“Michael.” She looked both surprised and annoyed.
“Hello, Mother.” He met her gaze. “I need to speak to both you and Dad.”
“You should have called.”
“I’m only here for a day or two, so it has to be now.” He paused. “Are you going to invite us in or do you want to meet your grandson for the first time on the stoop?”
Charmaine Laughlin pursed her lips but stepped to the side, motioning them in, her eyes never leaving Mihalis. “Your father is on the lanai having breakfast,” was all she said.
“What the heck is a lanai?” Lena whispered in Mick’s ear.
“It’s stuck-up for patio,” he whispered back.
“Patio,” Mihalis repeated triumphantly.
Michael Laughlin, Sr. looked up as they walked onto the sprawling lanai, his eyes zeroing in on Lena. “Why have you brought her here when you know she’s not welcome?”
“This is my home and she’s my wife. We eloped in Las Vegas yesterday.”
“You’re an idiot,” his father retorted.
“At least I’m an honest idiot,” Mick sank into a chair and put Mihalis on his lap. “This is your grandson, by the way.”
“You have proof of that?”
Mick laughed and pulled an envelope out of his jacket containing the results of the DNA test they’d received just three days ago. “Here you go. Not that it matters to me if you believe it or not.”
“What do you want, Michael?”
“I want you to tell me what you’ve done so when you’re in jail for insurance fraud I can try to salvage our company.”
The older man’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If anyone is responsible for that disaster in Santorini it’s you and—”
“Oh, cut the shit,” Mick rolled his eyes. “I’m your son. Just because I’m not a complete prick doesn’t mean I wasn’t raised by one and that I didn’t pick up every trick in the book for when I need a skill like that. We both know you ran the company into the ground and now you’re running some kind of insurance scam to get out of it. Santorini had nothing to do with anything but providing a distraction. Loren told Pat everything and I have it on tape, so don’t jerk me off.”
“Michael Stephan Laughlin, you will not speak to your father that way!” His mother glared at him.
Mick ignored her. “Are you going to come clean, Dad, or not?”
His father took a sip of coffee. “I don’t believe we have anything further to discuss. Your final paycheck will be deposited into your account on the 15th. I don’t know if Hank will write you a recommendation but I certainly won’t. Have a good day, Michael.”
Mick slowly got to his feet. “Have it your way. Goodbye, Mother. By the way, when Dad’s in jail, are you going to divorce him?”
A nerve in her cheek twitched but she didn’t respond.
Mick wanted to say more but merely led Lena and Mihalis out of the house and back to the rental. He buckled Mihalis into the back and then got into the driver’s seat, pulling out of the driveway and heading back towards the city.
“That went about as expected,” Mick mused.
