Boy, did they know how to put on a show. Joseph Uncle had his arm wrapped around Rachel Auntie and she was resting one hand on his knee. If I hadn’t witnessed their blowout myself, I’d think they were the coziest couple on board.
“Where’s Naani?” I asked.
“You know how she likes to sleep early. She had dinner served in her cabin. I wish this Sofia person would hurry up. I don’t want to fill up on appetizers.” Dolly picked up another one from the platter. It looked like avocado mousse, topped with spirals of vibrant beets and carrots. “Delicious,” she said.
Weird, because Dolly hated avocado.
“You know she’s a photographer?”
“Who?” I asked.
“Sofia.” Dolly reached for another appetizer. “I still have to meet her. Apparently, she’s the reason we got off to a late start. She had to get some adapters for her equipment.”
“Huh.” It was more of a response to the way Teri was giggling at whatever Nikos had said.
I shot her a poison-dipped glare—standard protocol when you catch a girl flirting with your man who isn’t quite your man yet.
She lifted a hand to brush the hair away from her face and that’s when I saw the gold band around her finger. Teri was married.
My poison-dipped glare retracted into a bubble of relief as Nikos caught my eye and shot me a smile.
That’s right, baby. Your happiness is sitting right here.
I smiled back and crossed my legs, angling them just so. My varnished toes peeked out from under my maxi dress. I was going for the sexy-but-subtle vibe.
It seemed to work because Nikos excused himself and started coming over.
Oh hey, now. I took a lightning-quick survey as he approached.
No water, crostini, or other hazardous items in my mouth? Check.
Boobs up, tummy in, shoulders back? Check.
Windshield-wiper tongue over teeth. No lipstick or food particles lodged in-between? Check.
I wanted to half-rise, but I kept my cool.
“So sorry to keep everyone waiting.” A lady’s voice interrupted the epic moment when Nikos and I were about to reconnect.
“Fia.” Isabelle got up and embraced the tall, dusky woman. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet my godmother, Sofia. She traveled all the way from India for the wedding.”
As Isabelle introduced her to Thomas’s parents, Dolly gripped my arm.
“Fia,” she said, in a half-horrified, half-glorified whisper. “It’s Fia.”
“You know her?”
“From when we were kids in India.”
“That’s great, Ma,” I replied. But apparently it wasn’t, because Dolly’s death grip was cutting off my blood supply and she was acting like a skipper who had just spotted a great white shark circling her boat.
Hannah appeared before the group. “Since we’re all here, dinner is served.” She sounded a miniature gong for effect.
Dolly let go of my arm.
“Time to eat, Ma.”
No response.
