Page 30 of Arrogant Arrival

“You don’t have to lie. I’ll go book us some tickets for tomorrow. We can stay away for a few days, I mean, you’ve endured so much already. Or are you afraid to be alone with me? Scared you won’t be able to resist my charms?” He wiggles his eyebrows and walks out before I can come up with a quick retort. Resist his charms, ugh. At least those are days I won’t have to worry about running into little sirens and a priest who might try to baptize me.

I hear a noise outside my balcony and head over to see what it is. Martha is hanging the laundry so I walk outside to join her and pick up a towel. “Can I help?”

“Sure.” She keeps working. We’re silent for a long while. I know Yia-Yia isn’t fond of me, but I get the impression that Martha isn’t crazy about me either. She’s just less vocal about her disdain. Wearing my sassy pants this morning, I decide what can it hurt, I’m never going to see this woman again probably, so I have to ask.

“Martha? Have I offended you?”

“Yes.” She keeps working. I wasn’t expecting blunt from Martha.

“Are you going to tell me how?” I pick up another towel and pin it to the line.

“No.” She shakes another towel and pins it.

“I can’t make things better if–”

She throws a towel down and turns her dark eyes on me. “You want to know why? Fine. I tell you.” She shakes her finger at me. “You no love my son. You’re with him and because of that, he can’t find real love. If you love him, fine. But I’m not okay watching him look at you the way he does, but you no look back. I love my son. He’s my only boy. I want to see him happy and in love. Look me in the eye right now and tell me under God’s eye that you love him?”

“What makes you think I don’t love him?”

“The way you acted over what the priest said. The way you don’t return his touches. I see everything. I only want what’s best for him.” She stomps away from me at that final word.

Bianca walks out onto the balcony from their connecting condo with Georgina in her arms. They look out over the ocean and I feel like I’m intruding on a sweet moment between them. As I turn to go back inside, I hear, “Jo! Hey, we were just about to go down to the beach. Would you like to join us?”

“I don’t want to interrupt your family time…”

“Nonsense. Besides, you’re engaged to Jimmy, so you’re practically family. He’s never even had serious girlfriends, so you must be pretty special.”

Special cover up.“Well, alright then. I’ll meet you all downstairs.”

I throw on my swimsuit, a cover up, and grab a towel. Ma and Yia-Yia immediately stop speaking when I pass them in the kitchen.You were speaking in Greek, it’s not like I understood anyway so it was pointless to stop talking,I want to say, but I offer a single wave as I hear them mumble kolo again. Jesus, I’ll never live that down. A swim will do me good, both mentally and physically, though…and hopefully help me relax. When I walk out the door, Dex, Bianca, and Georgina are waiting for me. Dex has his shirt unbuttoned and his amazing abs on display. No wonder Georgina is absolutely the most gorgeous baby ever. Just look at her parents.

We walk down to the beach, and I throw a towel on a chair. I’m taken by surprise when little Georgina reaches for me.

“Do you want to hold her?” Bianca asks.

“Sure. If that’s alright?”

“More than alright. I’ll be able to actually apply my sunscreen.” Bianca hands me Georgina, but Dex grabs the sunscreen instead.

“I’ll be happy to oblige. You’ve had your hands full. You relax while I get me a hand full.” She laughs and blushes. He’s definitely a charmer, just like Jimmy is.

Jimmy? When did I start using his nickname?Must be something in the air.

Dex immediately begins rubbing sunscreen on her, and it’s slightly awkward for me. Especially when Bianca releases a little moan.Okay. Time for me and little Georgina to find something to distract ourselves with…preferably down near the water.I walk a little ways and sit down on the warm sand with Georgina on my lap. I begin making a pile as the waves come in, just enough to wet the sand nice and good, and her chubby little hands smash it. She giggles and claps, so I do it again.

“She loves it, Jo. I think she’s really taken a liking to you.” I don’t look back, but I can hear the smile in Bianca’s voice.

“I’ve taken a liking to her, too! She’s absolutely adorable.” I give Georgina a little hug before I go back to making another pile for her to smash. This is the relaxation that I needed. The simplicity of making a baby giggle is medicine for my soul that I didn’t know I needed.

“Want to join me for a swim?” I hear Dex ask Bianca. She hesitates, so I turn around to look at her.

“You two go have some time for yourselves. We’re fine.” I look down at the happy little baby on my lap, “Aren’t we? Yeah? We’re having fun, aren’t we?”

Bianca laughs as she stands up. She and Dex take off into the water, giggling and splashing each other like teenagers. A few minutes later, a shadow looms over me and Georgina. I look up to find Jim watching us.

“Bianca left you alone with Georgina?”

“Yes…why?”

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