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Sienna laughed. “You’re such a schmoozer.”
“It’s not schmoozing if I mean every word.”
Sienna bumped his hip, and he swayed slightly against Angela.
They made a couple of turns, separated to go down a set of steps, and finally arrived at a terrace taverna with a beautiful view of the caldera and the sea. Carter had obviously called ahead as the wait staff had already pushed three tables together for their group of nine, making enough room for Angela too.
She didn’t remember a single name between the three men and three women, having barely talked to any of them yesterday on the catamaran.
The waitress stood by the table, ready for their drink orders. Despite the drinking they’d done on the boat and at dinner, the girls asked for mimosas and the guys ordered Bloody Marys.
“I’ll have a mimosa, too,” Sienna said when it was her turn, Carter ordering the same.
Hadn’t Sienna said she wouldn’t drink before the walk? But Angela was glad she was lightening up. For herself, however, she thought about having to go to the bathroom on the climb if she had alcohol, but when she asked for water, Sienna said, “Come on, Mother, live a little.”
“Yeah, Mom, live a little,” Carter added.
She couldn’t say why it felt good, except that it was almost like having both her daughter and son with her.
“All right, a mimosa too.”
Carter clapped, and Sienna joined him.
* * *
She wasglad her mother was letting loose, although Sienna had to admit she didn’t know whether or not that was new for her mom.
The breakfast was yummy. Topped with honey and walnuts, the tiganites, Greek pancakes, were thinner and lighter than American pancakes, their edges scalloped. Her mother ordered Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and sprinkled with fresh berries.
“You could have that at home, Mother,” Sienna leaned close to say.
Her mom shook her head. “Real Greek yogurt is to die for. So much better than the stuff at home.” Then she sighed and smiled. “I confess I stopped for a latte and a bougatsa earlier. It’s a delicious pastry with custard on the inside and powdered sugar on the outside.”
Listening in, Carter gasped. “You had bougatsa without us?” He put a hand to his chest. “I’m shocked and dismayed.”
“You have to get up with the sun to have bougatsa with my mom. She’s out walking by six.”
Carter tucked his chin and flat-lined his lips, which might have been his version of a pout. “I’ll have you know I was awake by at least seven.”
“That’s far too late for Mother,” Sienna said, laughing. It felt good to laugh. Carter actually made her want to laugh more.
“The early bird catches the worm,” her mom quipped.
“How many worms did you catch today?” Carter wanted to know.
Her mother’s face flushed as if she had a guilty secret, but she said primly, nose in the air, “A lady doesn’t discuss her worms.”
That was interesting. Maybe she’d met a handsome gentleman on her walk. Wouldn’t that be crazy? And weird.
They didn’t linger over coffee. It was going to be hot enough on those stairs as it was.
When her mother pulled out her wallet to pay for their meals, Carter waved her away. “My treat.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to do that.”
He patted her hand. “I want to.” And he paid for everyone.
Sienna couldn’t figure him out. He brought his friends along on a fabulous trip, but he didn’t drink with them, didn’t party with them, he didn’t even seem to talk to them much. He’d paid far more attention to Sienna’s mother.
