===
SAMANTHA
Christos and I spent the afternoon under a sun umbrella. All I wanted to do was be outside and relax with him in the perfect San Diego weather.
He made me dinner, which was fresh gyros, because neither of us wanted to bother with anything extravagant.
“Hey, where’s Spiridon?” I asked. “He should join us.”
“I don’t know,” Christos said. “He’s been gone all day.”
I sort of wanted to talk to Spiridon about the show last night, but it would have to wait. Christos and I ate outside at one of the deck tables, watching the ocean waves roll in. The food was super yummy.
A cooling breeze picked up around seven o’clock.
“Hey, you want to go for a hike?” Christos asked.
“Do we have to? I’m so tired.”
“Come on,” he smiled, “we can watch the sunset from up at the bench on the hill.”
“That’s a long hike,” I groused. “Can’t we watch the sun go down from here on the deck?” A dusty hike was the last thing I wanted to do right now.
“The exercise’ll do you good.”
“I ran yesterday morning. I don’t need any exercise.”
“I can carry you,” he said.
“Don’t do that, Christos. I would feel like an invalid. Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I promise we’ll go tomorrow. First thing, if you want.”
“No, it really has to be tonight.”
“Why are you acting weird?” I asked.
“It’s nice out. I just want to go on a hike. Is that so weird?”
I sighed. “Why don’t you go without me. I’ll be right here when you get back.”
“We’re going,” he said as he stood up from his chair at the table, bent over, and picked me up out of my chair.
“Christos! I’m too tired,” I pleaded, but I was sort of laughing.
He carried me upstairs. It had been awhile since he’d carried me places. I never got tired of it. He set me down on the bed.
“Why don’t we have sex instead?” I suggested as I flopped back on the bed.
“Naw, a hike is better.”
I sat up suddenly. “What alien kidnapped my Christos and replaced him with the celibate version?”
He chuckled as he pulled on socks and running shoes. “Let’s go for a hike.”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“No,” he said as he pulled out my shoes and socks.
“Fine,” I groaned. “But you’re going to have to carry me. I don’t care if I do look like an invalid.”
“I can handle that,” he grinned his dimpled grin.
“I believe you can.”
Ten minutes later, we were walking toward the trailhead near the house, holding hands.
“The hill?” I groaned. “You’re going to make me hike all the way up to the bench, aren’t you?”
“It’s good for your shapely legs,” he smiled.
“Don’t try to compliment your way out of carrying me,” I joked as we trudged up the hillside.
Half way up, Spiridon came hiking down, followed by Nikolos.
“What are you guys doing here?” I blurted.
“Oh, nothing,” Spiridon said as he jogged past. He was in a great shape for an old guy.
Nikolos was right behind him, “See you two later.”
I stopped and watched them disappear down the hill. “What were they doing up here?”
“Who knows,” Christos said. “Come on, before the sun goes down.”
I shrugged and we hiked up the rest of the way to the family bench. To the place where Christos and I had shared so many important firsts, including crazy caveman and cavewoman sex under the moon not too long ago. I’d been a wild woman that night. I blushed just thinking about it.
As always, I was huffing after making it up the steep hill. I took the final steps around the bushes that circled the Manos family bench, and turned the corner.
The view that awaited me was, as always, stunning.
But the content of it was drastically different.
And not because of the summer sun.
But because of the rose petals that made a carpet of red leading up to a small white wooden altar that overlooked the view of the Pacific Ocean.
On top of the altar were bouquets of roses sitting on both sides of a small golden center piece. The center piece was like a little filigreed riser. On top of the golden riser was a big seashell, opened to reveal a red velvet box holding a glittering ring.
My body filled with chills. My throat tightened, my eyes burned, my knees shook. I couldn’t take another step. I held my fingers to my lips, which quivered like crazy.
“Do you need me to carry you?” Christos asked, holding his hand out to me.
I nodded.
He picked me up and carried me the few steps to the family bench and set me down on it. Then he stepped up to the altar and lifted the ring box out of the sea shell.
He turned to me and kneeled at my feet.
The ring glimmered in the dazzling sunlight, a thousand sparkling stars dancing off of it. It was the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.
“Samantha,” he said, “agápi mou, you are truly the most amazing woman I’ve ever known. The ways in which you make me happy are beyond measure. You make my life better, you make me better, and without you, I would only be half the man I’ve become. The first time I took you up here, I told you this place was sacred. Only family comes up here. Now it’s time to make it official.”
His eyes were brimming with tears. Mine were running silently down my face in rivers.
He cleared his throat, choked up with emotion, “Samantha Anna Smith, will you marry me, agápi mou?” he whispered.
“Yes,” I whispered, my voice gurgly with emotion.
I had secretly wished that Christos and I would be together forever, but I’d been too frightened to ever say it out loud.
Now my dream had come true. I could say it as loud as I wanted, except I could barely speak.
Christos slid the ring onto my finger. I couldn’t tell whose hands were shaking more, his or mine.
It didn’t matter.
Christos and I were now and always forever.
Forever.
LOVE.
Epilogue
SAMANTHA
“Are you nervous?” Kamiko asked.
“I’m okay,” I said, fanning my face. It was a bit warm inside the hotel room at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, despite the perfect seventy-five degree weather outside. I think it was partially my nerves. Or maybe the fact the room cost $600 a night. I guess you paid extra for the doormen wearing kilts. Yes, kilts, because they had a golf course. But it wasn’t cheesy at all. The grounds were so incredibly lush, and the hotel had such a rustic, romantic charm, I had instantly loved the place when Christos and I had visited here in June.
“How can you be nervous?” Romeo asked. “It’s your wedding day. After today, you’ll be able to fuck Christos without having to wear a scarlet A on your chest.”
“Romeo!” Kamiko groused.
“What? It’s technically adultery if you’re not married.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “What century are you living in?”
“The seventeenth?” he smiled.
“That’s what I thought,” I giggled.
“I’ll turn up the A/C,” Madison said. I was so glad she and Jake were able to fly back from surfing in Hawaii to join us for the wedding. I’d never seen Madison so tan. She was practically dark brown.
“Can you just open the sliding glass door?” I asked. “I think it’ll be quicker to get a breeze in here.”
She did, and cool air drifted inside. I felt immediate relief. I loved the smell of the fresh ocean air. At least my wedding gown was off the shoulder, so I had ventilation. I just hoped I didn’t sweat my makeup off. “Who thought of this whole thing where the groom can’t see the bride before the ceremony? I swear, I’m going to melt by the t
ime I see Christos.”
Madison and Kamiko wore matching pale lavender bridesmaid dresses. It was a high-low pleated maxi design with a thin belt around the waist, perfect for the warm weather. I wanted my girlfriends to look as sexy as me. I didn’t go in for all that business about being the star of my wedding. They were important too.
“Are we ready?” I asked.
Madison and Kamiko nodded.
“Now I’m nervous,” Romeo said. He wore a matching pale lavender tuxedo.
“I can’t believe you insisted Sam make you a bridesmaid, Romeo,” Kamiko grinned.
“He’s totally one of the girls,” I joked.
We made our way out of the hotel room, and down to the Arroyo Terrace behind the hotel. It overlooked the croquet lawn behind the eighteenth hole of the golf course. Blue skies and lush green lawns surrounded us. The ocean kissed the sky in a peaceful white line on the western horizon.
“How’s my makeup?” I asked desperately.
Madison, Romeo, and Kamiko looked at me and smiled.
“You look perfect,” Madison said.
“Can I do you before you say I do to Christos?” Romeo asked. “Then you won’t be cheating on him.”
“Enough!” I said. “Let’s go.”
Rows of white chairs were set up on the lawn and filled with people. Most of them were friends of the Manos family. My friends were right beside me.
A carpet of white rose petals were arranged leading up to the lavender wedding arch. The petals were in a curling design that incorporated the green of the grass. The grass showed through in curving cutouts.
The music playing quietly outside transitioned into Here Comes The Bride. Some people thought it was cheesy, but to me it was a mandatory classic.
My dad stepped up to me, wearing a navy suit. He looked more handsome than I usually gave him credit for.
“Samantha,” he smiled, offering his elbow.
“Hey, Dad.”
Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined he would want to be here. I’d expected him to protest and argue and tell me I was an idiot for getting married so young and before I finished my degree. But he hadn’t. He just wanted to be with his daughter on her wedding day. It was a pleasant surprise, to say the least.
I blinked back tears. There was no way my makeup was going to make it through the ceremony unscathed.
We marched toward the altar, where Christos awaited. I kept my eyes on the prize because I was so nervous. Out the corner of my eyes, I noticed all the smiling faces staring at me from the crowd.
As my dad and I neared the final row, I glanced to the right. Sitting on the aisle in the front row was my mom.
It had been a huge shock when my dad had told me that Mom had moved back in with him. They were working things out. She was very apologetic to him, according to my dad, and very apologetic to me as well.
Oddly, over the summer I had discovered that I was forging individual relationships with each of my parents. They had both started treating me like an adult, but in their own way. I kinda liked it. It was like we had become equals. I realized my parents were now trusting me to take care of myself.
That really blew me away.
I couldn’t believe it.
But it was true.
My mom smiled at me from where she sat. She was crying. Maybe she wasn’t so bad, after all. I smiled at her briefly before locking my eyes on Christos.
Jake stood beside him in a real tuxedo for once. Beside Jake were Nikolos and Spiridon, also in black tuxes. They all grinned at me.
But I couldn’t tear my eyes off Christos. He was so unbelievably handsome. Even with his muscles and tattoos covered up by his tux, he was gorgeous. The hottest guy on the planet. His sapphire eyes shone into mine like love beacons. His dimpled grin came out and blazed brighter than the sun.
My god, he was the perfect specimen of manliness.
My dad kissed my cheek before I stepped up to the altar. Christos took my hand and we faced the Justice of the Peace.
After we exchanged vows, which I barely remembered doing, we did the candle lighting ceremony. Christos and I used our two candles to light the one in the center, before blowing our individual candles out.
Two became one.
Forever.
I flashed on a memory of the one remaining candle that had been burning the morning after my and Christos’ pre-Valentine’s celebration in his bedroom. The rose petals, the candles, and the See’s chocolates. Too bad it had been the day before his criminal trial. I had believed that morning I might lose him to prison for years. Maybe forever. I had believed that one remaining candle had been an ill omen meaning I would soon be on my own. How wrong I had been. Now I realized that one candle had symbolized our oneness even then. Silly girl. Why had I been so worried?
When the Justice of the Peace pronounced us husband and wife, Christos leaned over to kiss me.
Yes, despite all the kissing and sex we’d had, it was the most magical kiss of my entire life.
The whole crowd applauded and cheered. But Madison cheered louder than anybody. Well, Romeo was pretty damn loud, but Madison gave him a run for his money.
While everyone cheered, Christos muttered in my ear, “Now will you take your half of the money for the LOVE portrait? And my portrait of you as the fiery angel? It’s only about a million bucks after Brandon’s cut.”
My eyes popped wide open. How could I argue with that? Well, I could. A little. “Do I have to?” I smiled.
“You’re my wife. It’s fifty-fifty from here on out. What’s mine is yours. And you’re rich.”
“In that case…” I grinned as we kissed gently again, “how can I say no?”
The reception was held inside the beautiful dining room inside The Lodge. Kamiko had brought a date. Dillon McKenna, the Adventure Time storyboard artist. They were entirely cartoon cute together.
Romeo, to all of our surprises, had brought Justin Tomlinson, Mr. Boy Band editor of The Wombat. I couldn’t tell how serious they were. I was sure I’d find out.
We had hired an awesome wedding DJ named Graham Gold who got everyone up and dancing after dinner. He was totally worth the extra cash we spent on him. He wasn’t just a DJ, he was an entertainer. The perfect choice.
During the bouquet throwing ceremony, I think Justin Tomlinson was as shocked as everybody else that Romeo caught my bouquet.
Throughout the reception, everything continued to blur by. I did my best to talk to everyone. I hoped I didn’t forget to say hello to anyone important. I said hello to Brandon, who was there, and Russell Merriweather. But I’d never met many of the people in attendance. I hoped they didn’t mind I forgot their names seconds after being introduced.
At one point, Christos and I were standing by the wedding cake, talking to Nikolos.
“I wanted to explain my wedding present, before you two go on your honeymoon,” Nikolos said.
“You don’t have to do that, Bampás,” Christos said. “Whatever it is, it’ll be fine.”
“I agree,” I said. “You being here is more than enough.”
Nikolos nodded. “You are so young and innocent, Samoula,” he smiled. “But sometimes, marriage can be difficult. That’s why I wanted to explain my gift.”
“Did you buy us marriage counseling sessions or something?” Christos joked.
“No, I bought your LOVE portrait. The one of you and Samoula.”
“What?” Christos and I both gasped.
“I made a special arrangement with Brandon. It wasn’t a commission sale for him. We just did that so you wouldn’t ask any questions. All of the money is going to the two of you. All $500,000.”
Gulp. That was one big wedding present.
Nikolos continued, “And I want you both to have the painting. I want it to serve as a reminder of the special love you both feel today. I want you never to forget it.” Nikolos was clearly overcome with emotion. This was an important gesture for him.
“You can’t do that, Bampás.�
�� Christos protested.
I agreed with Christos. This seemed like too much of a wedding gift to give anybody.
“Yes, I can,” Nikolos said. “You’re my son. And now, you, Samoula, are my daughter.” He looked at me. “I see the hesitation in your eyes, Samoula. Let me explain. I don’t want you or my son to ever have to worry about money in your marriage. Money worries drove a wedge into my family that I’ve regretted for a long, long time.” He gave Christos a heavy, sad look.
Christos nodded solemnly.
Nikolos turned back to me, “I made the decision to chase money when I was a young man so my wife and son would always have enough to be safe. But money worries became my obsession. And my beloved wife Vesile left me because of it. Now that I have money, I don’t want the same thing to happen to my son. I don’t want you to ever have a reason to leave him, Samoula.”
The heartbreak Nikolos held behind his eyes was immeasurable. I was ready to cry for him. He blinked his wet eyes and turned to smile at his son.
“But we have plenty of money, Bampás,” Christos pleaded. “I made a ton at the show.”
“Now you have more,” Nikolos smiled at him. “If you’re smart with it, you will always have enough.”
“I know all about pinching pennies,” I said. “I grew up around saving money. I know just what to do,” I grinned.
Nikolos smiled, “Excellent. I know you’ll take care of my son, paidí mou.”
Nikolos raised the water glass he held in his hand, “To the happy couple. The heart that loves is always young.”
Christos and I didn’t have any glasses at the moment, so we smiled at Nikolos.
“Thanks, Bampás,” Christos said.
Nikolos sipped his water before wrapping an arm around his son and slapping him on the back affectionately. “I’m sorry your mother couldn’t be here tonight,” he said, holding back sudden tears.
Christos winced and sighed heavily, as he hugged his father and said in a thick voice, “Yeah.”
Christos hadn’t spoken to his mother for a year or more, as far as I knew. I don’t think he’d seen her in far longer. Sadly, I don’t think he’d ever forgiven his mother for leaving when he was ten years old. She had broken the hearts of both father and son that day.
Painless (The Story of Samantha Smith #3) Page 54
