Page 53 of Chosen Road

Oh, she really stepped in it this time. I wracked my brain to come up with something to deflect, but words were not my strong suit.

She shrugged. “He got tattoos.”

“How many?” Yiayia demanded.

“Does it matter?” I asked, thinking to lead her into a philosophical discussion.

“Oxi, no. It don’t matter. Is against God to get tattoos.” She muttered something under her breath then spoke again. “What he get?”

“My name over his heart, his sons’ birthdates on the inside of his bicep,” Ruby spilled.

“Humph, maybe he need to add a cross at least.”

“And the evil eye?” I suggested, adding fuel to the fire. Yiayia was easy to tease. In our youth, we had turned it into an art form.

Yiayia stopped in her tracks, glared at me, and made the sign of the cross over her chest. “Stop yourself! Evil eye! Cross is all he need.”

Ruby laughed and I elbowed her in warning. Yiayia did not find it quite so humorous yet. She looked at us sideways and Ruby chortled, unable to hold in her amusement.

Yiayia raised her hand in a motion to spank. “I make you like the onions, Ruby!” Then, she shuffled over and laid a tender hand on each of our faces. “You are good girls. Yiayia is very proud.”

Tears came to my eyes once again. How proud would she be if she knew what I was contemplating?

Gus

I parked across the street and waited while Alex gathered his paraphernalia off the floor of the car. Finally, I grabbed his last item, and we crossed the street.

I was more nervous walking up the driveway now than I ever was when we were first dating. Back then I had only an inkling of what she might mean to me, now I knew. I knew what it meant to hold her, and I knew what it meant to lose her.

Ruby and Vander sat on the step, in the same spot I’d seen Ruby and Amber so many times over the years.

“You been working out, Gussie?” Ruby called.

I pretended to wince. “Rubes, please. I’m not a grandmother.”

She laughed at our old joke exactly as I’d hoped.

Alex barreled through, raising his hand for a high five on his way into the house. Ruby stood and kissed my cheek. “How are you, Gus?”

I’ve been better, Rubes. “I’m good, Ruby. How are you doing? Lots of changes for you.” Like Alex, she didn’t do well with change. “Good ones?”

“I’m right here,” Vander interrupted drily.

I grinned and stuck out my hand. “Hey, man. Good to see you again. Alex had a blast yesterday.”

We chatted and Vander invited me to his gym when I expressed dissatisfaction with the meat market I was currently attending.

“I know the guy who runs it, Dean. He’s a great guy. He used to be a boxer years ago and his heart is still very much in it.”

“Let me know when and I’ll be there.” I turned to smile at my petite sister-in-law. “I’m going to go see Yiayia, take the heat for not being here for a while.”

“You going to be coming regularly now?” she asked softly, hope and challenge glinting in her dark eyes.

I looked away for a moment. Was this what needed to happen? Did I need to forcefully reinsert myself into Amber’s life, like I did the first time? “You know what, Ruby? I think I am.” I nodded at her in confirmation and ducked into the house.

Yiayia greeted me like she hadn’t seen me in weeks which was decidedly untrue. I grinned down at her, and she winked, then summarily dismissed me while she fussed with the table settings.

In the family room, Amber sat in Pappou’s old chair by the fireplace, Yiayia’s afghan spread across her knees, her kindle in hand. A kindle in which I suddenly had a great deal of interest.

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