Page 127 of About Love and Revenge

I notice her watching me, but I pretend not to, focusing on the traffic in front of me.

A heavy silence settles between us.

Elina

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

One Month Later

Wedding Celebration

WHITEFISH - MONTANA

“Your brother has just arrived.”

“He came!”

“Of course I came. Did you think I was going to miss you modeling the dress I chose?”

I feel my eyes fill with tears as I gaze at the only member of my family who is present. No one is talking to me, not that that’s unusual, but not even on my wedding day could they let go of their grudges.

I always call my mom, but she keeps ignoring me.

I look at the beautiful man who is also my younger brother, and I do what just a year ago would have been impossible: I go to him and hug him. “Thank you for coming.”

He holds me close and then gives me a kiss on the forehead. “No crying, madam. You are wonderful.”

"Am I a traitor, Theo?"

“No, you are a woman in love with her man.”

"Even if that man hates our father?"

“I didn't want to talk about this on your wedding day, but I can see you still blame yourself,” he says as he runs his fingers down my face. "What will it take for you to understand that he doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself? Look at our mother's situation.”

"Have you been talking to her?"

“No. I think she needs some time, Elina. Now, I want you to focus on your happiness. Don't think too much.”

“I have no doubts regarding how I feel about Odin, nor that our father deserves to go to jail for what he did, but I fear that Odin's grudge for Leandros will eventually spill over to include me.”

“Elina, it won't happen. Odin is in love with you—anyone can see that.” He starts to arrange the garland on my head. “As for Leandros, five minutes of genetic contribution doesn't make someone a father.”

Theo and I have been talking a lot about the past. Last month, he's come to New York twice to meet me.

I don't think either of us had the real picture of what the other had lived through at our father's hands, and now that I also know what Theo suffered, I realize how amazing it is that we both managed to stay sane growing up in that family.

Therapy has helped me open up and take risks, as well as have the courage to express what I want out loud. Sometimes I still go back to my old habit of faking emotions, but it never works with Odin. He has always had the power to look behind the curtain.

Of course, I'm far from the most confident person in the world, but I'm already not ashamed of what I was and still am.

Theo still has no idea that I have dyslexia or that I could barely read, but he was happy when I told him I’ve gone back to school.

Odin hired three teachers from different areas. Sometimes I love the classes; sometimes it's downright frustrating. My fear of failure and of the possibility that someone will make fun of me is still huge. The first few days, I felt like crying, but now I'm more optimistic.

“Thank you for standing by my side today, Theo. You have no idea how important this is to me.”

Although in Orthodox wedding ceremonies it’s not customary for the bride to enter arm-in-arm with her father but with the celebrant, it’sgood to know that at least one person who shares my blood will be present.

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