Page 80 of A Grecian Getaway

“It is beautiful, just like you. This is... it is wonderful.” He set the painting down. “Okay, now, I must go shower. We need to get ready to go to Sophia’s.” He left Noelle in the living room. He needed some space to think. I care about this woman so much. I love her. I know I do, and I should tell her. But I cannot even though I want to. If I tell her, if we love each other, if we try to be together forever, it will only end in heartbreak. Better to keep it simple and short before it becomes harder to let her go, rather than risk the loss that is sure to come.He ran his handsthrough his hair, closed his eyes, and let the water spill down upon him.She deserves more. She deserves everything. But I cannot give it to her.

***

After taking a boat to the nearby island where Sophia lived, they arrived at Sophia’s house. They planned to have an early Christmas dinner with her, her husband Stavros, and their children.

The taxi dropped them off, and Noelle and Demetri walked up the beautiful marble steps that were so common in Greece. Before Demetri could knock, Sophia opened the door.

“Kalá Christoúgenna, Merry Christmas!” She showered them with hugs and kisses before she started yelling at Demetri for not visiting. Demetri shrugged his shoulders as Noelle looked on in amusement.I am glad Noelle doesn’t understand what my lunatic sister is saying.Sophia slapped Demetri’s arm, and he rubbed it, pretending to be hurt.

“You know, you could come visit me just as easily.” Demetri tilted his head to Sophia. “She is mad because I have not visited in a while. I guess she forgot I was in an accident and almost died!”

Sophia slapped his arm again. “Do not joke about that, you buffo. Come, Noelle, let us go inside before he drives me crazy.” She grabbed Noelle’s hand and pulled her through the door.

Noelle fell back with Demetri when Sophia ran screaming ahead to grab her cat from her beautiful table.

“You know, I think your sister and my friend Claire would get along really well. They would probably both be full of bruises from all the slapping, but…” Noelle and Demetri both laughed.

Everyone exchanged plenty of hugs and kisses. Demetri’s nephew, Marios, was three, and his niece, Elena, was five. They spoke little English yet for Noelle to understand, but they bounced off the walls giggling, their enthusiasm apparent. The family made their way to the living room where they visited and the children opened their gifts.

When Marios and Elena finished, Sophia handed Demetri a wrapped package. “Here. You don’t deserve it since you are a bad boy, but here you go.”

“Why are you giving me a gift? We do not exchange.”

“Open it, Demi.” Sophia said to her brother with a huge smile.

Demetri unwrapped the box and pulled out a photo album. Photos of Demetri when he was a little boy filled page after page.

“Oh my gosh, Demetri, is this you? You were adorable!” Noelle squealed when she saw the images. Demetri fell silent.

“Yes, he was. I do not know what happened,” Sophia teased. “I was going through boxes of mom and dad’s things, and I found so many wonderful pictures of you. Mine were in albums, since I was the firstborn,” she laughed. “But yours, they must not have had time to arrange them.” She smiled, “Just like with my children. I have not put Marios’ pictures in albums yet either. But I will.” She ruffled Marios’ hair. “I thought you would like to have yours, so I organized them for you. So many wonderful memories. They saved all the photos of us, Demi, and I have had them in storage.”

Demetri couldn’t speak. So many images full of happy memories and happy times. Photo after photo showed smiles and so much joy. He looked like his father. He recognized it now. And his mother was so beautiful.Sophia could be her twin. The way my mother smiled with her eyes, just like Noelle. She would have loved Noelle, I am sure of it.It had been years since he saw any pictures of his parents. Demetri couldn’t remember the last time he looked at a photo of them, other than the couple Sophia had on her wall. But he never really paid attention to those. “Thank you, Sophia. Thank you. This is very nice. Uh, if you will excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”

Demetri’s eyes welled up with tears as he walked away from the group.What am I doing? I cannot do this. What is wrong with me? They can’t see me like this.In the bathroom, he splashed some water on his face.Calm down. The pictures are just paper. This is nothing to be upset about.After a couple minutes passed, he dried his face, squared his shoulders, and opened the door.

Sophia stood waiting for him. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “So much love in those photos, yes? I know it is hard, Demi. I feel our loss every day.But our parents loved us very much and wanted happiness for us. They never would have wanted us to close ourselves off to love just because they died too soon.”

“Sophia, please. I do not want to talk about it right now.”

“When then? You have tried to avoid love for long enough. You could have died, Demetri! But you are here, and you are pushing love away. Look at how much love we shared with them. It did not die just because they did. It continues in us.” She motioned between them. “In the children. You have so much love to give. We are all going to die, Demi. Some sooner, some later. But you cannot stop living before that time comes. You must enjoy every minute of your time creating your own memories with Noelle. She loves you so much. Every day of our lives is a gift. Some of us are lucky enough to share them with someone we love. Do not throw that gift away because of fear. Do not let fear rob you of happiness.” Sophia tilted his head so he was facing her. “Demetri, look at me. Love is stronger than fear. Fear dies with those who take it to their grave. Are you going to let fear win and forget our parents? No, because love, love lasts forever, generation through generation. Live your life full of love, Demi.” Sophia hugged him.

Tears streamed down his face.She’s right, I have been so afraid to love and lose. I allowed fear to hide all the wonderful times and memories I shared with my parents, forgetting the happy times. I would never wish those memories away because I do not want to forget. And I want to create more with Noelle. I love her so much; it hurts. I cannot let fear win.“Thank you, Sophia. Thank you. You have helped me more than you know.” He embraced Sophia and his shoulders relaxed, as if a weight lifted, freeing him from his fears.

Chapter 53

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL ~Noelle~

“You love my brother very much. I can see it in your eyes,” Sophia said matter-of-factly as she stood at the kitchen counter slicing bread.

Can this woman read minds?“I do.” Noelle nodded.

“And he loves you very much too; he will tell you eventually. I hope you can be patient with him a little longer. I give him a hard time, but I love him very much. He is a good man. The deaths of our parents were very hard on him, Noelle.” Sophia crossed herself. “He was just a young boy.”

“He mentioned it, but he never talks about it, about them.”

“Yes, he has not dealt with the loss very well. But I hope that will change. You know, he has never brought a woman home to meet us. I know we are a crazy bunch, but that is not why he did not introduce us. It is because with you, it is different. He has found love with you. He has just been too afraid to admit it.”

“Thank you. I know he cares about me. I… I hope you are right.”

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