“I passed my driving test, by the way,” Tia said, grinning as the photographer waved us all back under the lights.
“Congratulations, sweetheart,” I said, pulling her in for a quick hug before we got into position.
As the camera started up again, Aris said, real casual, “When you get back to Greece, you stop by the Olympus showroom and pick out any car you want, yes?”
Tia’s whole face lit up. “For real? I’m going there first thing! Can’t wait!”
Family portrait of a pregnant Deanna, Aris, Santo and Tia
After the photoshoot wrapped, Santo insisted we have one last dinner before they headed back to Greece for Kayla’s baby shower, so we all filed out to the waiting limo.
I was still wearing one of the maternity dresses from the shoot. Aris had requested I keep on, wanting the pleasure of removing it himself later.
“You know Kayla’s baby shower is women-only, right?” Tia teased as we walked.
Santo frowned. “Why? It’s Theie Kostas’s child. He should be there.”
“Simone’s going to be there, and if we invite Kostas, we’d have to invite Matthaios, and—” She clapped a hand over her mouth.
My son-in-law stopped walking. “Wait. Simone? As in the Simone that Matthaios has been losing his mind trying to find?”
Tia grabbed his arm as they reached the limo. “You can’t tell him. Please, Chrys. Kayla will kill me.”
“Tia…”
“Promise me.” Her voice was firm now. “Both of you,” she added, glancing at Aris. “This stays between us.”
Tia's husband helped her into the car, shaking his head with a reluctant smile. “You’re asking me to keep secrets from our family now?”
“Kayla is family, too,” she countered, settling into her seat. “And all of you kept a major secret from her.”
Santo sighed, sliding in beside her. “Fine. But when Kostas and Matthaios eventually find out and comes for all of us, I’m telling them I was forced.”
They settled into their seats, and I caught Aris’s amused expression.
Tia’s lighter mood was lifting my spirits. As Santo continued negotiating terms for his silence, Aris and I exchanged looks across the seat. It felt like we’d finally turned a corner, and lord knows I needed that right about now.
I was about to ask where Santo was taking us when the limo pulled up in front of my favorite Creole fusion spot, the one with those spicy curries and coconut rice that makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
When we entered the restaurant, I stopped in my tracks. The place had been transformed into... a baby shower?
“Surprise!” everyone shouted.
The whole restaurant had been reserved, and it seemed like half my world was here. Kandi was there, grinning, while Mama Nettie sat near the dessert table, fanning herself with a napkin. Irecognized women from church and former coworkers from the nursing home.
Everything was done up in soft lemon and green, with teddy bears and unicorns tucked into corners under matching balloon sculptures. Fresh flower arrangements sat on every table with ribbons saying “It’s a Boy!” and “It’s a Girl!”
In the center of it all was a three tier cake with two pairs of tiny baby shoes on top. Aris’s hand settled on the small of my back.
I turned to him. “You put all this together?”
“The idea was mine, but not the execution. Your daughter was the mastermind.”
I looked over at Tia in surprise.
“Do you like it?” she asked
“Very much,” I managed to get out. After everything we’d been through, I hadn’t expected this. Hadn’t dared to hope for it. “I thought you didn’t want to... Thank you!”
