Page 81 of A Grecian Getaway

“I am right. You will see.” Sophia hugged Noelle and then handed her a spoon. “Here, will you stir this for me?”

Noelle took the spoon and smiled.I wish I was as confident as Sophia about everything. I think he loves me, in his own way. But I wish I knew if he loved me enough to admit it and want to be together… forever. Oh, Demetri…I love you so much. Butif this is all we will ever be, I can’t do it. I want a husband and a family. I want those things with you, but I can’t tell if you want them with me.She stirred the pot as she pondered her predicament.I’m going to have to talk to him about this at some point. It’s inevitable. I can’t keep wondering if we may or may not have any possibility of a future together. It’s just too hard, and I don’t want to waste my time if he doesn’t want the same things as me.

“You know, he told us about you before he even went to America. He spoke of a beautiful American woman visiting Greece. He said little when I pressed him for information. But he never spoke about women with me until you came along. I was surprised. He was very sad when you left.” She paused and shook her head. “But enough of that. You are here now. That is a good thing. Do you think you would ever come to live in Greece?” She was a bold woman, a lot like Demetri in this way.

“I’ve thought about it. But we haven’t discussed our future.Yet.I’m happy we’re together right now. I want to be with him. It’s hard being in two separate countries. I’d be happy anywhere, as long as I was with him.”That’s the truth. I just hope he feels the same way.

“Poli kala,” she replied, ‘very good,’ in Greek. “Just be patient, koukla. Demetri is stubborn, but he will come around. I am sure of it. He told me about your meeting with that slush. I am glad you took her into the sea with you. Serves her right. Crazy woman. I hope she ends up in the jail.”

“Sophia, stop harassing Noelle.” Demetri walked into the kitchen and pulled Noelle into an embrace, nuzzling her neck.

“Oh Demi, we are just having the girl talk. Do not be silly. We are almost ready for dinner. Go tell everyone to wash and go to the table,” she replied. He rolled his eyes and went to call everyone to the table.

The family sat down for dinner. Sophia had made a beautiful meal. There were many traditional Greek dishes, from pastichio (Greek style lasagna) and spanakopita (spinach and filo pies) to lamb and baklava for dessert. Everything looked amazing. They bowed their heads for a prayer and made the sign of the cross when they finished. Since they were Greek Orthodox like her family, doing the signof the cross at the end of a prayer was a tradition Noelle knew well. “Kalá Christoúgenna and Merry Christmas,” everyone said at the end of the prayers.

Dinner was delicious, and when it was done, Demetri and Noelle helped Sophia clear the dishes. Then they all sat in the living room and drank traditional Greek coffee. Noelle’s family had had this too, but she’d never taken a liking to it. It was very strong in flavor. She opted for water instead.

Noelle sat on the floor and played with the children while juggling a million questions Sophia threw at her and Demetri.

“Agapi mou, stop pestering them with questions. Let them be,” Stavros told Sophia. He kissed her head. Noelle loved how Stavros called his wife ‘my love’.

“Stavros, I know my sister very well by now. She will not stop. She cannot. It is her job to be a pest to me. She has since we were little children.” Demetri teased his sister as he held Noelle’s hand.

“Hahaha, you joke. That is fine.” Sophia waved her hand in the air. “I will leave you alone. But you know, you are getting old, Demetri. Is that a gray hair on your head?”

Stavros glared at his wife, and she held her hand up and said, “Endaxi. Ok, Ok, I will stop.”

“You know, if I am getting old, that means you are already old. Would that be right, my dear older sister?” he asked. “And I wonder if your hair color is even natural.” Demetri winked at Noelle.

“You had better be quiet, or I am going to tell Noelle about all the bad things you did when you were a little boy.” Sophia shook her finger at Demetri.

“You started it.”

“If you both do not stop, I am going to put you both in the time-out. Like in America, right, Noelle?” Stavros looked at Noelle for confirmation.

“Yes, time-out for sure.” Noelle giggled. “Though I would really like to hear about the bad things Demetri did when he was little.”

Demetri pulled Noelle into his arms and kissed her. “You be quiet!”

It’s been such a wonderful day. This is how it should be. Please, Demetri, love me like I love you, so this doesn’t have to end. I don’t want it to end, but if you can’t love me, I don’t know how we can staytogether.

They spent the rest of the evening visiting and laughing. Even after Sophia’s threat, Noelle heard a lot of stories about little Demi and how he was an ornery boy. She loved the nickname his sister called him. All the stories did not surprise her. She loved seeing him with his family, too. This was another side of him, another side to love.What would it be like if we got married and had children?Would we have an ornery little boy like Demetri or a spitfire like Sophia? Would they have Demetri’s eyes? Why am I wondering about these things? He hasn’t even told me he loves me.

The time came for them to say their goodbyes. As they hugged and gave kisses, Sophia whispered to Noelle, “Thank you, Noelle, for being such a wonderful example of love to Demi.” She winked at Noelle, and Noelle and Demetri stepped out of the home.

Noelle wanted to be with Demetri. But she was leaving after the New Year, and they had not discussed their future. The only commitments they had were talking on the phone when she went back to the States and trying to fly to see each other when time allowed.I really don’t know if marriage is even something he wants.We have to talk about this. I don’t want to scare him. I know he has fears about love. He acted so strangely after I gave him the painting. Then, when he got the photo album from Sophia, I could tell it affected him. I saw the tears in his eyes. He is so good with his family; he has so much love to give. But will he share it with me? I want a future with him, and if he doesn’t feel the same, then I need to know. It’s a natural discussion in a relationship, right?But not today. Today, I’m going to enjoy the moments. It’s been a wonderful Christmas, and I want to be happy for a little while longer.

Chapter 54

NAUGHTY NEEFEE ~Demetri~

The boat ride back to the island was quick. When Noelle and Demetri arrived back at his houseboat, Noelle made a FaceTime call to her family. Demetri’s mind was reeling. His sister had given him clarity in a part of his life he never thought he would change.For so long, I feared what love would take from me. I forgot how much I gain from love, and I do not want to be afraid anymore. I had forgotten all the good times I shared with my parents, and I only remembered the sadness I felt after they were gone instead of concentrating on the happiness we shared while they were alive. I want to share my life with Noelle and create our own memories filled with love. But I want to do this right. I want to surprise her and make it special.

“Everyone come here, it’s Noelle! Merry Christmas, sweetheart!” Noelle’s mom yelled into the phone.

“Merry Christmas, everyone!” Noelle and Demetri said to the gaggle of people crowding onto the screen.

“Merry Christmas, Noelle and Demetri! We hope you are having a wonderful day,” Noelle’s mom replied.

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