Page 29 of Arrogant Arrival

“Well, we’re about to be in for another treat. Father Giorgos, or George in English, is a little different. He’s kind of crazy, but he’s a likable guy. Just be prepared.”

“For what?”

Jimmy sighs. “Anything and everything. He is going to bless our union.”

We step into the condo and go to the kitchen. I make myself busy helping set the table and pouring glasses of wine and water. A knock at the door has Martha running to the door. I hear her voice loud and clear as she welcomes the priest into the house. Everyone bows and kisses his hand, so I do, too, when he comes over to me.

I have no idea what he’s saying to me, but his eyes are kind and his smile is sincere so I just smile and nod. Jimmy comes over, beaming, and then tells me to have a seat. We all sit as Martha places the food on the table. Father George blesses the meal and then we begin placing food on our plate. For the most part, all the conversation is in Greek. Which is fine with me, I can focus on eating and less on conversation that I know nothing about.

“You are a very lovely woman, Jo-lene.”

I look up, shocked that the priest just spoke in English to me. He gives a little high-pitched laugh and then coughs. “’Scuse me. You see, I studied in America many, many years ago. My English not so good now, but…” He holds up a single finger and taps his temple. “I still remember some.”

“Where in America did you study?”

“Boston.”

“Wow. Did you like it in the States?”

“Oh yes, yes. I had always hoped to return but ah, what are you going to do? Time waits for no one. You remember this. God wants us to live life and give life. I think you and Dimitrios will make wonderful babies.”

Excuse me, what? Babies were definitely not part of this scenario.

Jimmy releases a nervous laugh. “Papas, forgive me, but how does you going back to America relate to us becoming parents. We’re not even married.” Jim leans closer to me and takes my hand that’s resting on the table. He kisses my knuckles and whispers. “Yet.”

Lying in front of a priest seems to be a whole new level of wrong. I ease my hand from his grasp and refuse to meet his eyes. I look at the priest and try to smile.

“More importantly, we’re not–” I stop short. “Not ready to get married… right away.”

Father George does his little high-pitch chuckle again. He points a finger at Jimmy. “You’ll marry her soon. You smart boy, Dimitri.” He reaches over and pats Jim’s cheek. “You’ll marry this woman. And then you’ll plant your seed many times over. I know this.”

Dex starts coughing and Bianca downs her wine in an attempt to not burst out laughing. Those traitors. Yia-Yia is making a cross, and I can only assume praying…hopefully for me and not praying that I drop her grandson like a hot rock. Martha is staring wide-eyed, looking back and forth between me and Jim. I pray that this conversation is over…but alas, my prayers go unanswered, probably because I didn’t do the cross-thingy on my chest, because the conversation is far from over.

Father George stares intently at me across the table. “Dimitri is a good man. He is a good farmer. Let him tend to your garden and bury his seed deep for many years to come.” He cuts up a piece of meat on his plate and then points his fork laden with a big chunk of meat at me. “Have you been baptized?”

“Um, yeah. When I was younger in the First Baptist Church.”

“That’s okay, my child. We baptize you here, so you marry Dimitrios in Greek church. Now, let us pray.”

Dear God, I pray for strength to get through the rest of this week.

Jolene

“We only have a few days left.” Jimmy stands in my doorway. I’m reading on my bed with the balcony door open, a light breeze blowing the curtain. “Time really flies when you’re having fun, huh?”

“Oh yeah.” I turn the page. “I’ve gone from a fake relationship, to a fake engagement, and now apparently a baptism is in my foreseeable future, along with a Greek wedding and you tending to mygarden.”

Jim laughs. “Come on. We don’t have time for all that.”

I tilt my head. “Are you sure about that? You seem to work pretty quick.”

“I mean – there’s always time forplowing,but not sure I can even get a Greek baptism and wedding in. Those are pretty big events.”

“What have I gotten myself into?” I mumble.

“I promised you before that I’d take you to a romantic destination. So, how about tomorrow morning we hop on a ferry boat or take a puddle jumper over to one of the islands?”

I set my book down and turn on my side. “You don’t have to do that, Jim. I’m having a nice time.”

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