Chapter Nineteen

 

 

 

 

 

Kelly

 

 

 

 

 

Nick’s parents weren’t there yet when we pulled up in front of my childhood home and I breathed a sigh of relief. Nick caught the action and he just chuckled slightly before getting out of the car. We walked past Simon’s truck so we could go into the house and found everyone in the kitchen. My father hugged me tight before shaking Nick’s hand and my mom didn’t hesitate to wrap us both in her arms.

“You left almost a half an hour before we did. How did we beat you guys here?” Megan asked from where she was washing her hands at the sink. I felt my cheeks warm slightly and Nick just chuckled quietly beside me.

“We made a quick stop,” I replied simply. “What can I do to help?”

I worked with my mom and sister in the kitchen while Simon, Nick, and my dad went out to the backyard to look at my father’s newest project- a greenhouse for my mother. He was still in the early stages but I knew he was looking forward to having the guys to help him.

“I think that about does it,” my mother said after the last dish was transferred into a bowl. The doorbell chimed not ten seconds later and she smiled. “Just in time, too.”

Megan disappeared out the backdoor to call everyone in as my mother and I went to the front. I let out a heavy sigh and my mom squeezed my hand encouragingly before opening the door.

Argus and Elma were standing on the front porch, her with a small smile and him with a surly look. I smiled at them both and gestured for them to come inside.

“It’s great to see you both again,” I said after my mom had shut the door. “This is my mother, Renee. Mom, these are Nick’s parents- Argus and Elma Christos.”

“It’s very great to meet you.” My mom shook both of their hands enthusiastically. “Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable.”

Elma handed my mother a bottle she was holding. “Thank you, Renee. This is Ouzo, a very popular drink in Greece.”

“Oh, how sweet of you.” My mother accepted the bottle with a smile and she gestured to Megan when she appeared in the room. “This is my other daughter, Megan.”

Nick’s parents sat on the loveseat and I took a spot on the couch across from them. The boys appeared and Nick introduced Simon and my dad before propping himself on the arm of the couch next to me.

“Did you find the place okay?” he asked as he looked at his parents and Argus nodded.

“This is a very lovely home.”

My father smiled and pat my knee. “Thank you. It’s been a good house for us. We’ve been here since the girls were about two and three years old.”

“Can I get you something to drink?” I asked as I looked at my in-laws. Elma glanced to Argus before meeting my eyes.

“Water would be perfect. Thank you, Kelly.”

I smiled and Nick squeezed my shoulder lightly as I stood up. I went into the kitchen and pulled down some glasses before getting into the fridge to grab the pitcher of water. Megan appeared and offered me a small smile.

“Are you breathing?”

I nodded and put the water down as I stared at my big sister. “At least you know that you’ll be beloved by your in-laws. Carol and Phil adore you. I feel like Argus is plotting my demise whenever he looks at me.”

“You’re overreacting,” she replied with a soft chuckle as she put the pitcher back in the fridge. “Come on.”

“Six children,” my mother was saying with a huge grin on her face. “I bet your home is just full of happiness.”

Elma let out a blissful sigh as she looked to Nick. “We are blessed.”

Everyone chatted for about twenty minutes before we all moved into the dining room. My mom had made baked pork chops and about a thousand sides. I loaded my plate up with sides and listened to Elma tell a story about Nick’s reaction when he found out he was going to have a second little sister.

“He just cried and cried. Claimed it wasn't fair that he didn't get a brother.” She flashed a smile towards her son. “Nickolas was always a sensitive boy.

Nick scoffed next to me and shook his head but I spoke before he could.

“I agree. I'm pretty sure he cried when we were watching a movie the other day.”

He nudged me with his shoulder as everyone laughed. “I told you… I have allergies.”

“Sure you do. I grinned at him and he leaned in to press a kiss to my nose.

When we looked away from each other, I caught Argus’ eyes from across the table. He was watching us with a very stoic expression on his face. I quickly averted my gaze and focused on my mashed potatoes.

“So, you are the boss of our Nickolas?” Elma asked as she looked to Simon. He immediately nodded and wiped his face with a napkin.

“Somewhat. I lead the company when our captain isn’t available.” He looked to Nick. “Your son is a really great firefighter, ma’am. He always has my back and has saved me a time or two in the past eight years.”

Elma beamed at her son but Argus continued to look unimpressed. Nick didn’t seem bothered by his father’s lack of pride, though, and that fact bothered me. It meant that my husband was resigned to the fact that his dad didn’t care.

Both Nick and Simon talked a bit more about their jobs and I helped clear the table when dinner was done. My mom cut up the cheesecake she’d made and Megan helped her dish up the slices. Argus thanked my sister before settling his gaze on my father.

“What was your reaction to this… marriage?”

My body tensed at the disdain he put into the last word and I glanced over at my parents. They exchanged a look and my father cleared his throat before he spoke.

“Honestly, we were surprised and we reacted poorly,” he admitted, his eyes full of apology catching mine. “Renee and I were hurt that they made the decision to do it without their families and I still am, actually. However, the more we get to know Nick, the less hurt I become.”

My mother nodded and smiled over at us “We adore your son to pieces and he obviously loves our daughter. We wish we could have celebrated the act of them getting married, of course, but they’re a fine, strong couple.”

Hearing those words from my parents filled me with happiness. I was hoping we were done there, but Argus wasn’t ready to stop.

“It did not bother you that Nickolas was already engaged to someone else?”

My mom dropped her fork, my sister gasped, and Simon growled. Nick’s body went stiff next to mine and I groaned while dropping my face into the palm of my hand.

“What?” my father asked quietly, a look of shock and anger overtaking his features.

“Argus Christos,” Elma admonished under her breath as she shook her head. Argus looked at his wife with a very listless expression.

“What? I assumed that Nickolas had told them.”

Nick straightened up and shook his head. “You know damn well I wouldn’t have told them that. We talked about this when we were at your home in June.” He turned to look at my parents. “James. Renee. It’s not how it sounds, please believe me.”

“It’s not,” I agreed as I reached out for Nick’s hand.

“Please,” my mother said with a look of distress on her face. “Enlighten us.”

Nick and his father had a stare down, as if my mother hadn’t spoken, and Nick finally responded after a moment.

“At sixteen, my father told me he had arranged for me to marry someone back in Greece. I’ve only met her a few times and they’d planned on us marrying when she was done with college at the end of the year. My father is upset because I chose to marry for love rather than duty.”

The entire time he spoke, Nick’s eyes didn’t leave his father’s and the anger all over his face was palpable. His tone dripped with resentment and I had never realized just how upset with Argus Nick really was.

“You are still insisting that you did not marry this girl just to get out of your responsibilities then?” Argus asked cruelly and Nick made a noise similar to a growl.

“Stop it.”

His father didn’t stop, though. “I noticed she has not taken your name, that you are still renting a room separate from her place, and that she doesn’t wear her wedding ring at work. This does not sound like a marriage that is planning on forever, does it?”

I sucked in a sharp breath and Nick’s loud, instant response startled me.

“Are you kidding me right now? Are you having us followed?”

“Argus. Nickolas,” Elma pleaded quietly. “Please. Not here.”

Nick’s grip tightened on my hand and I leaned in to press my forehead to his shoulder, trying to give him comfort. It took him a second but he turned and I felt his lips in my hair as his cheek rest on my head. After a moment, we both straightened up and everyone was watching us.

Argus’ expression was still stoic as he stared at Nick. He picked up his napkin, wiped his face, and looked to my parents.

“Thank you for dinner, but Elma and I should be going now.”

Elma glanced down at her plate and closed her eyes briefly before plastering a smile to her face. She nodded at my family and turned her gaze on Nick and me.

“It is a long drive home. Thank you so much for dinner. It truly was lovely to meet you all.”

Everyone stood from the table and my father exchanged a tense handshake with Argus but my mom didn’t acknowledge him. Elma, on the other hand, my mother hugged and the two spoke in quiet tones for a moment. She shook my father’s hand, hugged Simon as she thanked him, hugged Megan, and came over to where Nick and I were standing.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she looked up at her son. “He promised me he wouldn’t…” She sighed and pat his cheek tenderly. “You two look happy and I am very happy for you.”

Nick engulfed his mother in a long hug and she kissed his face several times before pulling away. Her arms came around me tightly and I hugged her back until she pulled away. She brushed some hair off of my face and nodded slightly.

“I love you, both. We will see you soon, okay?”

I nodded and leaned into Nick. “Thanks, Elma.”

We walked her to the porch and she got into the car where Argus was already waiting. Neither of us moved as we watched them drive away and, when they were out of sight, Nick let out a long sigh.

“I’m sorry, Kel.”

I shook my head as I pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Don’t apologize, okay? Your mom is actually really amazing. Your dad…”

“Is an asshole,” he finished and I shrugged slightly.

“Well, Nickolas, you take after your mother and I’m proud of you.”

He gave me a small smile before sighing. “You don’t wear your ring at work?”

It was said so nonchalantly that I almost missed the hurt in his voice. I hated myself for causing him an ounce of pain.

“No and I don’t know why, honestly.” I reached my hand up to touch the scruff on his jaw. “I didn’t the first week or so because I was still… numb? Shocked? Unsure? I don’t know what I was but I wasn’t ready to talk to my chatty co-workers about it. It just became habit. I’m sorry.”

“I understand, sweetheart. You don’t need to justify yourself.”

The fact that he was taking it so easily just made me feel worse. From what I knew, Nick never took off his ring at work and I knew that I’d be upset if the tables were turned. Even if our marriage wasn’t a real or traditional marriage, I liked the idea of the world knowing Nick Christos was taken. I was never going to take off my ring again.

He wrapped his arms around me for a long, tight hug before leading me back into the house. I noticed he straightened his shoulders as we neared the dining room and I squeezed his hand encouragingly. Everyone was back in their own seat around the table and all eyes flew to us when we re-entered. We both resumed our seats and Nick cleared his throat as he looked at my parents.

“I apologize for my father. The relationship between the two of us is rocky, to say the least. I really am sorry that dinner was ruined.”

My father shook his head while scooping up some cheesecake with his fork. “Dinner wasn’t ruined and you don’t need to apologize for your father.”

“Your father should be apologizing,” my mother agreed with a small smile. “Your mother was very lovely, Nick. I’m glad we met them.”

Everyone fell into conversation that didn’t revolve around Nick, his family, or the marriage that he’d almost been forced into. I loved my family a lot and being around Nick’s father just made me even more grateful for them all. Nick was listening to my mother talk about the rabbits ruining her garden when I reached over to grab his fork and he instantly stopped my hand.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up at him and shrugged. “Mine’s all gone.”

“Hands off my dessert, woman.” Nick picked up his plate and held it on his other side so I couldn’t reach it.

“What happened to ‘what’s mine is yours, what’s yours is mine?’” I asked with narrowed eyes and Nick grinned with a shake of his head.

“I’m pretty sure that doesn’t include desserts.”

I glared at him scandalously and he chuckled before holding his fork to my lips. I immediately took the bite of cheesecake he was offering and he pressed his lips to mine before taking his own bite. We joined back into the conversation and when we were done with dessert, Nick volunteered to do the dishes. When I stood to help, Simon shook his head and said that he would, leaving just the four members of the Gold family at the table.

“An arranged marriage?” Megan asked quietly and I nodded my head.

“Nick’s really embarrassed to even talk about it.”

My mother stared at me for a moment. “Did you know about it when you two were married? Is his father right- did you two get married to circumvent that for him?”

I stared at my mother, unsure of how to answer that, so I went with the truth.

“No, I didn’t know. Nick and I were severely intoxicated when we got married, you guys.” I sucked in a long breath and looked at Megan. “We didn’t even know we were married until the next morning. Nick… he was going to do what his father told him to do. He was going to marry that girl. He’s never done relationships because of that or we probably would have been together since we met last year. When we figured out we were married, we planned on getting an annulment but as we talked about it, we realized that we had feelings for each other. So, we decided to upset his father, disappoint you guys, and stay married.”

Okay. It wasn’t the complete truth but it was close enough.

“Oh, my god,” Megan said quietly as she shook her head. “It finally makes sense.”

My mother nodded with a sigh. “It does. Why didn’t you just tell us the truth in the beginning, honey?”

“I did tell you guys the truth.” I shook my head quickly. “Yeah, I omitted the alcohol’s involvement and the arranged marriage but you all still would have reacted the same way and you know it.”

“I don’t understand,” my father chimed in quietly from his seat. “Why not get it annulled and do it the right way then?”

I met my father’s eyes and shook my head. “Because Argus found out and accused Nick of doing it solely to skirt his responsibilities. He threatened to cut off all contact with Nick, which I don’t think Nick would care but that would account for the rest of his family, too. I don’t know if you noticed but Argus makes the rules and Nick doesn’t want to lose his relationship with his mother or siblings. We stayed married because we didn’t want to give Argus any more ammunition to use.”

My family stared at me for a moment and felt anxiety coursing through my veins as I waited for their judgment. Megan was the first to pass hers.

“I was skeptical at first, honestly, but you two are really good together.” She smiled and glanced in the direction of the kitchen. “He makes you happy in a way that I’ve never seen you.”

That’s because I was constantly forgetting that it wasn’t real. I had to remind myself at least once a day that Nick loved me but he wasn’t in love with me. I had to keep my own feelings in check because falling in love with Nick would be easier than falling asleep.

“He’s the best,” I replied softly as I returned her smile.

“I really am,” Simon said behind me as he and Nick returned to the kitchen. “You shouldn’t say that about me when Christos can hear, though, Kel.”

I chuckled and reached out to pinch him as he passed my chair to get to Megan. Nick resumed his seat next to me and his arm immediately came across my shoulder. I glanced over at him and couldn’t help the grin that stretched across my face. He returned it easily before brushing his lips along my own.

Someone’s phone vibrated loudly on the table top and we turned to see Simon grab it quickly.

“It’s the captain,” he said, glancing up at Nick as he stood again. “Hey, Cap.”

We all watched as Simon retreated into the living room and Nick let out a long sigh.

“Captain never calls for good reasons.”

I rolled my eyes and elbowed him gently. “So optimistic.”

“Yeah, I’m with him now. I’ll let him know. See you then.” Simon walked back into the dining room and focused on Nick. “Calling out the wilds.”

Nick and Megan both groaned simultaneously and I looked at them in confusion. “The wilds?”

“The wilds are basically structural crews called in to fight wildfires,” my husband explained as he tightened his hold on me. “City fighters with special training.”

“Ah.” Understanding washed over me. “You’ve got to go.”

Nick nodded and looked up to Simon. “When?”

“Wheels up in four hours. We’re heading to southern Oregon. Cap says to plan on at least a week.”

“Well,” my father said as he moved to his feet. “You four better get a move on so these boys can make their flight.”

Everyone else stood and the hugs began to flow freely. Nick hung back with my parents for a moment and spoke in low tones with them. Whatever he said had my mom hugging him tight and my father grinning as he shook his hand. Nick and I told the other couple we’d see them at home and got into the Camaro.