That's Amore! - Janelle Denison [54]
"But that's not enough for them. They have a list," her mother said.
"A list?" both she and Nick said at the same time.
Mimi moved a napkin that was hiding what indeed appeared to be a list. And a long one at that.
Efi raised both brows.
Nick reached for the list, grabbing it before his mother could stop him. "Buy Nick his own accounting firm." He stared at his parents. "I don't want an accounting firm. I'm happy where I am."
"Now you are happy. But in five years when you have three kids to feed? Will you be happy then?" his mother challenged.
Efi reached across and took the list from him.
A family vacation for ten Constantinos relatives—to celebrate Nick's and her union—to Greece during the high season of summer this year, four-star accommodations…
A new dining-room table for the Constantinos household to accommodate the new family members, to be bought at one of the most exclusive antique shops in Detroit…
An amount of cash to Nick's parents as a show of respect…
Efi's head swam with the words in front of her eyes.
Her father was right: this was blackmail.
"It is only fair," Stamatis said, straightening his tie. "Our son is going to support your daughter for the rest of her life. It is only fair he be compensated for this role."
"And how does a trip to Greece and a new dining-room table—not to mention cash for you—compensate Nick?" Efi couldn't stop herself from asking.
"We raised him," Mimi said.
"Christos kai panayia." She muttered the Greek curse, getting up from the table so fast she knocked over her coffee cup. "My father's right. You are trying to blackmail us."
Nick began getting up. "Efi, this is something our parents should be discussing. We should stay out of it."
She stared at him. "Are you in on this … attempt to extort money from my family?"
"Such disrespect for the man who's going to provide for you and your children?" his mother asked.
Efi stared at her. "I don't need anyone to provide for me, thank you very much. I plan to work for what's mine."
Mimi Constantinos gasped as if the notion was inconceivable.
"Isn't it enough that we're paying for the wedding, including that overpriced party you threw the other night?" her father asked.
Her parents had paid for the Constantinos party? The one with the band and the dancing Aphrodite? She'd known her parents were paying for the wedding, and had even felt a bit guilty about some of expensive things her mother insisted on getting, but she hadn't a clue that they were also springing for the Constantinos' expenses. For all she knew, her father had also paid for their family to come over from Greece.
She suddenly felt ill.
"I'm going to leave the room before I say something I regret," she whispered, then turned on her heel.
It didn't help her mood one whit when she found Aphrodite standing smiling at her from the top of the steps.
"Stay away from my man," she told her cousin before she stormed into her bedroom and slammed the door.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Day six continued…
A STRIDENT KNOCK at her bedroom door. "Efi, open the door. Now!"
Over the past hour, the plea had been made first by her mother, then by her cousin Aphrodite, and now by her sister Diana who, it was safe to say, probably only wanted access to the room because it was now hers, as well. The house was filled to capacity with relatives and unless her sister wanted to take up residence in the bathtub, Efi's room was it.
"Come on, Efi. You're acting like a twelve-year-old."
She stopped her pacing and strode toward the door and opened it. Diana appeared shocked, as did her mother, her aunt Frosini and every other female relative standing outside the door.
Efi grabbed her sister's arm and hauled her inside, slamming the door closed after her.
"Hey! That hurt."
"You think you know pain? Try feeling what I am right now."
Her sister gave her a record-breaking eye roll. "Come on, Efi. While I won't pretend to know what happened tonight, from what Mom says, you're blowing everything way out of proportion."
Efi stared at her younger sister. "You want to stay in the room