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Jace and Alex laughingly got up and scooted out of the room.
“You want a coffee, Yiayia?” I asked.
“Yes, koritzaki mou,” she answered. “Help me get up. I never knew I need my hands to stand up!”
I helped her up and got her settled in the kitchen where she caught me up on all the Greek news: who died, who was sick, who got married, who got a divorce, and who had a baby.
“I have really good news, Yiayia.” I smiled as I sat down with coffee and cookies.
“Tell me, koukla mou. I need some good news today.”
“Vander and I have decided to sell his house and renovate ours to live in!” I exclaimed.
Yiayia sat quietly, her head cocked gently to the side.
“Did you hear me, Yiayia? We’re going to live in your house! We’re not going to sell it!” I explained again.
“I hear you, koukla. I just don’t know if is good idea.”
My mouth dropped open. “Why?” I asked, astonished.
“I think is time you moved on, made your own place, a new place with Vander and your boys,” she stated. “In fact, that is what I wish for you. I think is better for everybody to start fresh.”
I was flabbergasted. I thought she’d be happy, delighted even, that her house would be staying in the family.
Disappointment hit me in the gut, followed quickly by a sharp stab of anger.
“I thought you’d be happy,” I accused.
“I’m happy if you’re happy, koukla. Is just a house. Is you and Vander and the boys who are important.
I tamped down my feelings. Yiayia didn’t know what she was saying. It wasn’t just a house, it held all my memories, it was my safe place.
I couldn’t let it go.
Saturday, we FaceTimed George. His mother and stepfather were out with his younger sisters at an event at their school, so he took advantage of the privacy to indulge in a long call. We set him up on the dining room table with all of us. After a while, George asked Vander for help with a school project, so Vander picked up the iPad and took it into the kitchen.
Jace went upstairs to do his homework before we went to visit Yiayia.
I stood up to make myself a cup of tea when I heard George say my name. I stopped just outside the kitchen doorway. A voice in the back of my head warned me I was being rude, but curiosity overruled it.
“I really like her dad. I think she makes you happy.”
“She does. George, I was never unhappy when you were with me, but Ruby is the love of my life, and it was a different kind of lonely without her.”
“I’m glad you have her. It’s a little, uh, weird, I guess, for me…” George stated.
“How do you mean?”
I could hear the anxiety in Vander’s tone.
“Well, here, there’s a mom and a dad and their kids, and then me. Now, over there, there’s a mom and a dad and their kid, and then me. I kind of don’t fit entirely anywhere now.”
I pressed my palm over my heart and Vander’s cross. Poulaki mou.
“You belong with me, agori mou. Always with me.”
“I know, I know, I guess it’s just hard to explain.”
