“Kilyn, there was nothing to be patient about. You needed to do this on your own time.”
With a nod, I pulled in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I think I know what I want to do with the house.”
“You do? That’s good.”
Standing, I looked around my parents’ room and in that moment I swear I felt their presence.
“I want to do like what you suggested a few months back. Turn it into a place where young women who have been sexually assaulted or physically abused can come and stay. They can get counseling and live here until they get on their feet.”
Thano stood and walked up behind me, kissing me on my neck. “I think that is a wonderful idea, Kilyn, and one your parents would be very proud of you for.”
Spinning around, I faced him. “Will you help me make it happen, Thano?”
“Oh, ladybug. Eísai i zoi mou. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, my eyes fell to his soft lips. “Fíla me, Athanasios.”
With a huge smile, he replied, “And kiss you I will.”
“No! No! No! You do not make the spanakopita with frozen spinach! Are you insane?” Katerina called out as Dimitris moaned.
Shaking his head, Dimitris walked by and said, “Here we go again. I’m going to watch the football game over at Athanasios and Kilyn’s house.”
I giggled as my father-in-law stomped out of the kitchen. Phoebe stood next me mixing something up for a dessert she was making.
Bumping my arm, she asked, “Kilyn, how is everything going with your parents’ house?”
Nodding, I replied, “Good. Thad has been so amazing with helping to clear stuff out of the house. I don’t think Thano and I will ever be able to repay him.”
She huffed. “Don’t even mention his name.”
“Why?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes. “We broke up.”
All conversation stopped as seven other women turned and looked at her as they all gasped. I stopped stirring the salad I was making and looked around the kitchen. It still baffled me how they could all be talking to each other, yet know what other people were saying in a totally different conversation. Katerina told me it was a Greek thing.
“What is this?” Aunt Maria said as she pushed Cousin Maria out of the way. Walking up to Phoebe, she pointed to her.
“Did he do something stupid? I’ll kick him in the—”
Katerina moved across the room, holding up her hands. “Okay! Okay! Step back, this is my son we are talking about.”
I tried to ignore the sharp pain that radiated down my back, but I gasped. Everyone turned and looked at me.
“I um . . . I forgot to add the olives to the salad.”
Yiayia made a tsking sound. “Again? When are you going to have that baby? I could die before I get to see my great-grandchild. Don’t forget the oregano, like you did last time.”
With a forced smile, I secretly grabbed the oregano. Gesh. Would I ever live it down that I forgot to add oregano and Greek olives to the Greek salad?
Katerina turned back to Phoebe. “What happened? I’ll kill him if he did anything to hurt you.”
“Oh, no, it wasn’t anything like that. I asked him about marriage and he said he wasn’t ready for it. I told him I was. I want to have a baby.”
All the women nodded their heads while some even commented about how old Phoebe was getting. Even though she was almost twenty-four.
I was currently the only person still making my dish, while everyone else tried to figure out why Thad was afraid of commitment.
Dumping the olives that I bought at the market into the salad, I said a prayer I had the right ones this time. I bought the ones that were clearly marked Greek and even asked a woman who to me looked Greek, but was actually Italian. We both agreed they were Greek olives.
Finally, they all went back to their cooking and Phoebe stood next to me again. Peeking over to her, I asked in a hushed voice, “So, if you and Thad are not together, does it bother you being here at his house?”
She gave me a weak smile. “A little, but I’ll sneak out before dinner. I really love being here with everyone, though. I’m going to miss this.”
My heart broke for her and all I really wanted to do was hit Thad in the balls for being so stupid.
Looking down at my beautiful creation, I grabbed a handful of feta cheese and began sprinkling it over my salad. With a satisfied smile on my face, I picked up my wooden spoon and started to mix my cheese in when the pain hit me again.
“Oh, God,” I whispered as I dropped the spoon and grabbed onto the counter.
“Kilyn?” Phoebe asked as she bent down and looked at me.