In Blue Water

Chapter 16

Phoebe pov

“Bye, guys. I hope to see you in Chicago soon,” I say, and I hug Elpida and Mario

“If the doctor allows me, we will be there for Christmas,” Elpida says, and next, Filippos says his goodbyes. It takes little time to say but to his brother, we catch the flight. Around noon we will be in Athens.

“Are you ok?” I ask Filippos

“Yes. I will miss home,” he says, and he sighs, looking outside the airplane window. Then he looks at me

“Don't get me wrong. I love being with you in Chicago. Just I miss Greece sometimes,” he says apologetically. I smile at him and squeeze his hand

“I understand, love. I do not misunderstand what you said” he turned to my hand, and we look my finger that had the ring on it. A gorgeous gold Vintage Diamond ring, he has kept from his mother

“This and Elpida's engagement ring are the only jewelry that my dad let us keep. It was the wish of our mother's”

“They are beautiful—the old cut of those decades. Your mom had good taste. And from the photos that you have to show me, I can see she was a very stylish woman,” I say, and she smiles

“She was. We adored her; she was the glue that kept the family together. When she left, we were so lost. She was the woman of his life” I caress his hand

“But he managed to raise us good, don't you think?”

“He did a great job. Both did; they must be very proud of you two.”

“I want to believe that,” he says as he smiles

“So you like it?” he asks, and I look at it

“I can't stop looking at it. It's so beautiful, and I used to wear my mom's rings and jewelry when I was a kid. I love the designs and the colors. You did great that you gave me your mom's and didn't buy a new one.”

“As I told you, I didn't have a plan for the proposal. It was last minute; I told Elpida I wanted to propose, and she organized everything. “

“Classic Elpida”

“I know she was more exciting than us,” he says, and we laugh

“I love you, foxy.”

“I love you too, sexy.” the flight landed in Athens and, with a taxi, went to his aunt's house

The door opens and I see a brunette woman around her fifties

“Filipe agori mou” (Filippe my boy) the woman says and she hugs Filippos. Then she looks at me with a holier smile on her face

“You must be Phoebe. It’s so great to finally meet you. I’m Marina” she says and she hugs me too. I hug her back

“Nice to meet you too. I have heard so must”

“Me too honey. Come on in.” She says and she steps aside to walk into the apartment.

“I will show you the bedroom then you will sleep. You can freshen up and then we are going to eat” she says still smiling. She seems happy to have me and Filippos here.

“Mprizoles me potatoes sto fourno?” Fill asks (steak with potatoes in the oven)

“To agapimeno sou,” says Marina (your favorite) and she walks us to the bedroom

“Thank you,” I say

“My pleasure. The bathroom is over there. Take your time” she says sweetly and she leaves us alone

“She is cute,” I say, and Fill laughs

“I know. She is no different from my mom. Outside and inside” he says and he opens the suitcase

“I will have a quick shower. You will join me”

“No with your aunt in the next room. After you” I say and he chuckled. He kisses my forehead and he leaves the room. I choose what to wear after the shower, black cotton Bermuda shorts with a light pink top. I walk to the kitchen and I see Marina cutting salad

“Hey. You need help?”

“Oxi koritsi mou (no my girl)” she says looking at me.

“I'm sorry. Filippos told me that you understand Greek.”

“I do and I speak them. I think very well” I answer in Greek

“You can talk to me whatever you feel comfortable,” I say and she smiles

“You know, my sister would like you,” she says and I smile

“She had like me a feeling when we met new people. A sense that tells us if a person is good or bad. And when I look at you I see a clean pure person.”

“Thank you”

“My Filippos was so many years alone. And now I see that it is worth waiting” I smile and I think I start blushing

“Filippos is so good for me too”

“His parents did a great job raising them”

“They did”

“Babe.” I heard from the other room

“The bathroom is free”

“Thanks,” I say back

“See you in a while,” I say to Marina

“I will be right here. I'm dying to know more about you” she says and with that, I go for a shower

When I was clean and dressed I went to the kitchen. There I hear Fill and Marina talking in Greek

“I told son, you made an excellent choice. She is amazing. I was so worried about you, you were so close to your shell”

“I know. I remember. But she managed to be everywhere and the more she drove me crazy, the more it scared me. I was used to it otherwise. You know that I hardened myself a lot, I "tied" it, I closed it, it never hurts, and then she came and shed light on my darkest places”

“She…” he tried to continue

“Aunt?”

“Yes son”

“How is it possible that in less than a month she has managed to become much more than all the others have been trying to have in stable relationships for years? How is it possible for me to die for one touch and when I feel it I want to get lost? Always with her only with her. Tell me.” He asks and I smile, I have the same question of course

“It’s love son. It’s rare but it happens sometimes with the first look, first touch. It happens and you just go with it” she says and I decide to enter the kitchen

“Hey. I’m ready” I say and I see Marina with wet eyes

“Everything ok?”

“Yes,” she says and stands up

“I remember my husband and I was moved. I’m ok now”

“I’m sorry. Fill told me you lost him in a car accident”

“Yeah. And the irony is that he was a truck driver but that day was driving a car and a truck fell on him” she says trying to make a joke but she is still heartbroken

“We lived more than thirty-four years together. I’m grateful for these years. You two find each other. Be grateful for what you have now, live and enjoy the moment” she says and goes over to take out the food. Fill walks to me

“You will help me set the table?” He asks and I smile

“Of course,” I say smiling

“I’m sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable. If you want you can not answer me”

“Ask me, Phoebe. Don’t be shy”

“How did you meet with your husband?”

“Ahhh” she sighs smiling

“At school. He was the brother of one of my classmates. We had a project to do and the teacher put me with his sister. I met him at their house, he was just coming back from a trip. We looked at each other and we knew from that moment that we meant to be together.” She stops when she brings the plates to the table. She looks at me

“He was five years older. So he waited for two years to finish school and on my 18th birthday he came to my house and he asked to marry me my father”

“That's so sweet,” I say

“Yes. He was so romantic” she says smiling

“That's why I'm telling you. Live in the moment and enjoy the time you have together. Love is the most wonderful feeling in the world. Whether it is erotic love brotherly love or between friends. It's wonderful and you should be grateful for it” I take Fill hand in mine and I smile

“Ok. Let's eat, I cried enough for today” Marina says and we start eating.