Page 31 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

Silence stretched between them, taut and suffocating, threatening to swallow Angelo whole. He could feel his heart racing, each beat echoing in the stillness, amplifying the tension. He wanted to say something more, to explain the situation, but the words felt stuck in his throat, trapped by the gravity of his father’s scrutiny.

“And you have confirmed this pregnancy?” his father asked, his voice steady but edged with concern.

“Yes, Father. We’ll be going to the doctor in a few days.” Angelo suddenly had to bite down hard on his tongue, fighting the urge to lash out at his father’s question.

Katerina had already asked him the same question, but hearing it from his father hit differently. While Katerina’s inquiry had been filled with concern and a hint of support, his father’s tone was sharper, more demanding. The weight of expectation loomed larger with every syllable, pressing down on him like a heavy shroud.

Keep it together.

“And you’re going to take responsibility for this child?” The question hung in the air like a weight. Angelo’s anger flared. It was bad enough that his father doubted Allison’s character, but now he was questioning his own?

“Yes,” Angelo replied through gritted teeth, each word laced with barely contained frustration.

That was all he could manage without losing his temper. He knew that anything more could lead to a confrontation he didn’t want. It wouldn’t be good for anyone involved.

His father paused, and Angelo could sense the gears turning in his mind. The seconds stretched out between them, each tick of the clock amplifying the tension in his apartment.

Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven.

Angelo counted in his head, trying to maintain his composure as the silence became suffocating.

Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen.

Finally, his father spoke. “Then congratulations, son. I’m happy for you.”

The words hung in the air like a lifeline, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Angelo exhaled, allowing himself to breathe again.

A much calmer, more relaxed moment later, their call was over. His father didn’t seem angry. He only had one very reasonable request, but Angelo didn’t want to think of that yet.

It was now time for his greatest nightmare to come alive.

Mamá will kill me. Goodbye, my child; it was nice knowing you existed.

Angelo tried to shake the ridiculous thoughts from his mind—literally shake them out. He stood there, tense, as if he could physically dislodge the fear that clung to him like a second skin. But the little demons of doubt were persistent, refusing to let go.

Lia Papadopoulou was a Greek woman, a fierce and protective Greekmother. Although she portrayed the typical “my child can do no wrong” mentality to the outside world, that facade crumbled the moment they were alone. In private, her love was fierce, but so was her discipline.

The usual way she handled their indiscretions was by being brutally honest, often wielding tough love like a weapon. She didn’t shy away from calling them out when they messed up; she believed that was how they would learn. And right now, with a child on the way and no idea how to handle it, he could only imagine her fury.

Angelo sent a quick prayer up above and pressed the call button. His mother picked up on the first ring.

“Ángele?” Her voice was instantly warm, yet laced with an unmistakable edge of curiosity. That was all the greeting she needed. “You remembered yourmamá? An oven must be collapsing.”

Here we go. Greek sarcasm in all its glory.

“Kaliméra, Mamá,” he replied, wishing her a good morning with a forced lightness into his tone despite the weight on his chest.

His mom had lived in America long enough before she divorced his father that speaking English wasn’t an issue, but she always preferred Greek, as if it anchored her to her roots.

“I have something to tell you, and I need you to stay calm. Okay?”

Angelo knew full well that she would absolutely not stay calm, but it didn’t hurt to ask. The request hung in the air, a futile plea that he hoped would somehow soften the blow he was about to deliver.

“Calm? You must be joking! Just tell me already!” she replied, her voice a mixture of concern and impatience, as if she sensed the gravity of the news before he even spoke it.

He hesitated, gathering his thoughts, knowing that the moment he revealed the truth, there would be no turning back.

“Um… I’m going to be a father.” Angelo winced as the words left his mouth, the reality of what he just said crashing down on him.

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