“Aristides!” Her voice rose. “Deanna... Tia’s mother. You and Deanna...”
I explained about our summer together, then finding out our children were engaged, our subsequent breakup, and the unexpected pregnancy.
Another long pause, during which I could practically hear her mind working through the implications. “And Santo and Tia have no idea, do they?”
“Not yet. Dede wants to wait before telling them.”
“Finding out your parents are expecting babies while you’re married... I imagine Tia’s going to have strong feelings about this.”
“Which is why we’re waiting until after the honeymoon to tell them.”
“Oh, my son.” I heard movement, and imagined her sinking into her favorite chair. “Two more grandbabies. And twins again.” Her voice grew quieter. “How are you feeling about that, Ari? After Lydia and Kalliope... It must be frightening for you, after everything you lost.”
“The physician assured me she is healthy,” I replied carefully. “The pregnancy progresses without complications.”
“Good. But that wasn’t what I was asking.”
“Mother, I didn’t call to discuss the past. I called because Dede and I had an argument earlier. I... miscalculated her reaction to something I did.”
“Aristides Nikolaou Christakis.” My mother’s voice carried the weight of forty-four years of knowing me. “What did you do?”
I stared at the books again and suddenly wondered if my reasoning was as sound as I’d believed. “She had books aboutsingle parenting, and I threw them out, replacing them with more appropriate books.”
“Ari.” The disappointment in her voice was immediate. “You threw away her belongings without asking. What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking those books didn’t reflect our reality. We’re going to be married and raise these children together. She doesn’t need books about doing it alone.”
“Ari, they’re just books.”
“They represent her mindset.”
“Or they represent what she thought her situation was when she bought them. Did you consider that?”
I suddenly felt less certain about my reasoning. “She acted as if I’d committed some unforgivable crime. I expected her to be annoyed, not furious.”
“Oh, my firstborn.” I could hear the smile warming her voice. “Women don’t respond well to having their independence threatened, especially strong women like Deanna. “
“I bought better books—”
“If you want Deanna as your wife, perhaps try wooing her instead of controlling her reading material.”
“Thank you for listening, Mother.” I moved away from the window. “I should go to Dede.”
“Yes, you should. And Ari?” Her voice softened. “I expect you both back in Greece before the start of summer. My new grandchildren need their yiayiá.”
“We’ll discuss that detail another time.”
I ended the call and called for a lift. The conversation had clarified something important. I’d threatened her independence, which was fundamental to who she was.
There was no scenario in which I would accept being written out of my children’s story. The difference was that now Iunderstood I needed to bring Dede willingly to that same conclusion, rather than forcing it upon her.
Thirty minutes later, I was seated in the backseat of the SUV parked outside Kandi’s townhouse. From where I sat, I could see the small front porch illuminated by exterior lighting.
I checked my watch. She’d been inside for nearly two hours now.
“Markos, has the team settled into their accommodations?” I asked, thinking of the single-story house I’d purchased across from Dede’s house last week. The real estate agent had been perplexed by my insistence on that specific location and my disinterest in viewing the interior, but money had resolved her concerns.
“Yes, sir. The security systems are being installed tomorrow, but otherwise everything is comfortable.”
