Page 81 of Chosen Road

I headed to the house, all my extra files in hand, but when I got there and saw Alex curled up on the couch beside Yiayia, I wanted nothing more than to join them.

I kicked off my shoes at the door and dropped a kiss on both of their cheeks before heading to my desk. I arranged the files on the right corner of desktop, and took my laptop out of my bag, placing it front and center. I flipped open the top and clicked the mouse pad to open my home screen.

Reaching under my skirt, I tugged my tights off and rolled them into a ball. That felt better.

Alex barked out a laugh and Yiayia cackled before scolding him. “This no good, agori mou!”

“Then why are you laughing, Yiayia?” He challenged her, his face split wide in a grin.

She held up her hand and waved it as if to spank him. “Ach, agori mou! I didn’t say it wasn’t funny, I said it wasn’t good!”

I turned away and opened the first file. It was not my case, but my director asked me to look it over, see if I couldn’t figure out what was missing. I scanned it quickly, then briefly flipped through the next five. None of them were my cases.

I wondered why he depended on me to pick up the slack and doubted it was even necessary. It was not often that I found anything in my co-worker’s files that required my intervention. Those times I did find issues, the issues tended to be huge, which made it difficult to say no to the extra work.

I had more experience than many of my young colleagues. I wondered if there wasn’t a better way to tackle the issue.

I looked at my son and my grandmother.

He looked so young, and she looked so frail.

Life was a series of choices and I promised myself I’d make different ones this time around. I stood and stacked the files neatly on the left-hand corner of my desk, then crossed to the couch and curled up beside Alex and Yiayia.

Alex started the video again and I snorted with laughter. Clip after clip of people sliding down icy driveways. Who knew there was such joy to be found in people falling?

Gus

Watching Ruby and Vander come together the way they had over the past few weeks gave me hope for Amber and myself. Especially seeing how Amber responded to the small changes I made when I found my balls and started behaving like her husband again.

It was working, too.

The next phase involved getting her to move back into the house, or go to therapy with me, or talk things through. I’d take anything behind doors one to three, but I would not ease up on my efforts.

I pulled into the driveway, surprised to see Amber’s car.

Opening the front door, I was greeted with the sound of their laughter. My good mood got even better.

Yiayia lay on the couch, which concerned me a bit, she rarely sat down never mind lay down. Still, it had only been a couple of weeks since the accident.

“Agori mou! I’m okay,” she called, turning to sit up. “She made me to lie down!”

“Yiayia, you were light-headed. You have to rest sometimes!” Amber answered from the kitchen.

“I lightheaded because I laughing too hard,” she protested. “Gus mou! Ela! Come see the movies. Alex! Agori mou, show to your daddy the videos.”

The house was full of life. Yiayia moved in and brought the laughter and chaos of my family back to me.

I bent over deeply and took her chin in my hand as I smiled into her eyes. “Thank you, Yiayia mou.”

“Is me thanking you, agori mou,” she claimed, her eyes bright and shiny. She waved me away with her good hand as Alex bounded over and jumped onto the couch.

“Easy, buddy. Careful of Yiayia,” I admonished lightly, my hand on his head.

“It’s okay, Dad. Yiayia is strong,” Alex replied.

“Bravo, agori mou. Now, show to your daddy.”

I smiled at Amber over Alex’s fair head. She looked relaxed. Much more relaxed than I’d seen her in a long time.

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