Hope’s hand dropped back to her lap, and she looked down.
“We can get married tonight.” Niko picked up his phone. “I’ll call for the jet and—”
Dad cut him off. “Absolutely not. People will say Hope had to get married.”
Hope blushed bright red, and rubbed her temple with trembling fingers.
“You lecture Alexi, but would have no problem shaming our other daughter with a rushed, half-baked wedding?” Dad said.
They should have let Mom and Dad get over the jet lag before they all met again. Tired people were grouchy people. Enough eavesdropping. She knew she had to alter their focus. She entered the room wearing a halter top with the water bra, a mini skirt, and high heels.
Alexi choked on his water.
Niko started in on her in Greek, something about doing her part, and look what had happened since she had left the excellent influence of his household.
“Upstairs and change, Mia,” Dad said.
Mia turned and went back into the hall. That was better—common ground. At least they were yelling at her and not each other. She grabbed the cotton sweater she’d brought down with her and kicked off the stilettos. That was a relief. She slid on flats, pulled on the snowflake-design sweater and clipped her hair up with a blue bow. Yep, cute and respectable. A minute later, she went back in the room, hoping she’d diffused the earlier tension and maybe given Dad and Niko something to agree on. Everyone was talking at once.
“Mia is…” Hope said.
“I’ve never seen…” Mom said.
“This was your fault…” Dad said.
“Mia did not dress that way when Hope was taking care of her,” Niko said.
Oh, no, was he accusing Dad of being lax? They should be joining forces, not arguing. They were going to be family. Hope and Niko were a great couple, and Dad needed to see that. “When Hope and Niko are married—”
“We haven’t decided about that,” Mom said.
Niko rose.
Hope clutched his arm, and he sat back down, holding her hand.
“It’s okay, Niko,” Mia said in Greek. “They mean well.”
“It’s not okay. They are trying to keep her,” he said in Greek, upset. “She’s not a child; she belongs with me.”
“English, please,” Dad said.
“They speak in Greek all the time,” Hope said to Mom and Dad, then turned to her. “Alexi’s going to let me paint him for Niko.”
She’d love to see a painting of him. One by Hope would be amazing and nothing could have made her happier at that moment. Mia squeezed between Alexi and Niko on the couch. She took Alexi’s hand. He was wonderful, so thoughtful. Dad stared, so Mia let go.
“We shouldn’t have gone on that trip,” Dad said.
“Please, before we left, we gave them a simple list of rules to follow,” Mom said. “The girls just chose not to follow them. Girls. You remember the list you agreed to?”
Chapter 31
Hope blushed. Mia raised her chin. Alexi looked at Mia and held up ten fingers. She nodded approvingly. He had learned that American lesson. Rules came in packs of ten.
“What were the rules?” Mom asked.
“No drinking,” Hope said.
“We only have wine with dinner,” Alexi said.