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She turned to Vander and me, her eyes shining. “You made beautiful family, poulakia mou.”
It sounded funny but it was also true.
Vander tugged me into his arms. “Ruby made us a beautiful family.”
We found Amber sitting by herself in the living room, staring out the window into the backyard. She startled when we walked in, then assessed us in much the same way Yiayia did. She smiled at me.
“All good, Rubes?”
I bent and kissed her cheek. “All good, Ames.”
Vander bent to receive her kiss on his cheek, snagged the converter off the coffee table, and sat back on the couch.
“When’s Gus getting here?” he asked.
Amber’s brows pinched. “He should have been here already.”
Vander’s attention swung to her immediately. “He’ll be here. There’s nowhere else he’d rather be.”
“How do you know that?” She challenged.
Vander’s lips tipped up on one side. “I have eyes. He loves his wife. He’ll be here.”
“Anyways!” Amber glared at him. “How was your weekend?”
Vander turned back to the television, and I twisted towards Amber.
“So. Jace called Vander ‘dad’ for the first time…”
Half an hour later, Yiayia called us to bring the platters to the table.
Gus still hadn’t shown up, and he hadn’t called.
Amber paced across the length of the living room, chewing on the side of her thumb.
“Have you messaged him?” Vander asked.
“I’m not his keeper!” Amber snapped. Immediately she closed her eyes. “I apologize, Vander.”
The front door opened, and we heard Gus greet Yiayia. I looked at Amber, expecting to see relief or even anger, she appeared to be perfectly composed.
Yiayia set us up at the table in a different formation than last time. She put Vander at one end of the table, and Gus at the other. Amber and Alex were on either side of Gus, Jace and I sat on either side of Vander. George sat between Alex and Jace, and Yiayia took the seat between Amber and me, directly across from George.
She wagged her arthritic finger at the boys. “I be watching you three, make sure you eat,” she warned them, and they laughed.
We were nearing time for dessert when Vander dropped his bomb.
“Where’s your church, Yiayia?”
“Why? You want to go?”
“I need to talk to the priest about a wedding date. I’m thinking to do it before Christmas when George will be here.”
My fork slipped out of my hand.
“What?” I asked stupidly.
Vander’s eyes shone with mischief. “I told you. We’re getting married. I thought we should do it sooner rather than later. What do you think?”
