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They kindly returned the gesture, but kept right on walking.
With shaking hands, I walked up to the door. Thano was talking to the guy I just waved to.
“Man it’s been a long time, Marios. How have you been?”
The man laughed. “Busy. Eva is pregnant with twins.”
I couldn’t but notice how Thano’s face lit up. “No Kidding! Man that’s great! Congratulations.”
When he looked over Marios’ shoulder, he flashed me that beautiful smile of his that made my stomach feel like I had a group of dancing butterflies in it.
Slapping Marios on the shoulder, he quickly made his way over to me. With shaking hands, I held up the galaktoboureko.
“You delivered it! It was made by your hands and my mother will love that! Come on she’s in the kitchen.”
Please let it be good. Please, dear Lord, let it be good!
We snaked our way through all the people and finally ended up in the kitchen. It was packed full of women. My eyes widened in shock. Katerina was standing at the stove stirring something in a pot as was Yiayia.
Why were they both stirring it?
I just needed to drop this off and find Phoebe. She was probably hiding out in some corner.
“No! No! You roll the dough out like this! It’s all in the wrists.”
Turning to my right, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Phoebe was wearing one of Katerina’s cooking aprons and arguing with Aunt Maria . . . no that was Aunt Sophia . . . I think. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I focused back on Phoebe. She didn’t need me! And she certainly wasn’t curled up in a corner.
“The way I cook it is better. Trust me!” Phoebe called out.
It was then I noticed every single woman in that room was shouting over each other.
“Are they afraid they won’t hear each other?” I asked Thano.
He started laughing and rolled his eyes. “Greek women.”
With a forced smile, I quickly set my dish down and tried to retreat.
“Kilyn! You made us a dish!” Katerina yelled out.
You could have heard a pin drop.
“Oh, shit,” I mumbled as Thano reached for my hand.
I watched Katerina open the pretty blue floral warmer and reach in. She slipped the lid off and raised her eyebrows.
“Our Thano’s Kilyn made galaktoboureko,” Katerina called out.
One of the Maria’s leaned closer to me and made a sound as she sucked in her breath. “That’s Katerina’s dish.”
My head snapped over as I stared at her. “Thano told me to make that dish,” I whispered.
Turning back to Katerina, I watched her cut into it as everyone watched.
I could tackle her. I’d easily bring her to the ground. Then I could grab the dish and run. I was on track in high school. I’m a fast runner . . . when I need to be.
When the fork went into her mouth, I held my breath. She closed her eyes and stopped chewing.
With a firm grip, I pulled Thano’s arm. “Why did you have me make that dish?” I whispered.
He chuckled and kissed me on the tip of my nose.
“Good. Yes. Very, very good.”
I stared at Thano . . . afraid to look at Katerina.
The next thing I knew, I was in her arms as she yelled out. “We’ll make her a Greek yet!”
Everyone cheered and I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
When she pulled back, she gave me the brightest smile.
“It’s not as good as mine . . . but my Thano will not starve after all!”
“Opa!” Everyone cheered.
I looked around the room with a huge smile on my face, until her words sunk in.
Wait. What?
KILYN STOOD OFF in a corner for most of the afternoon. I’d really hope that her and Phoebe would have hit it off a bit better, but Phoebe seemed to have melted right in with the family.
Looking across the room, our eyes met and she smiled that bright life-loving smile of hers. My heart raced knowing she was mine.
“Athanasios? It’s been forever!”
Turning to my right, I saw Nikoletta. The girl I dated in high school before Savannah. Actually, she was the girl my mother secretly wished to bind me in a marriage contract to, I swear.
“Nik! Wow, it’s been what, six or seven years?”
With a wide grin, she replied, “About that. How have you been?”
She wrapped me up in her arms for a hug. When we pulled back and she kissed me on the lips, I was stunned for a moment.
Quickly stepping back, I snuck a peek to see if Kilyn had seen the kiss.
Oh, yeah. She saw it.
She stood there with her mouth dropped open, and if she were any more pissed she would probably bust the beer bottle in her hand.
My attention was drawn back to Nikoletta when she reached for both of my hands. “Oh my goodness, it’s so good to see you. When your mother called and invited me . . . well . . . needless to say, I was surprised but happy.”
