by Cat Mann
Chapter 13
Merry Happy Love
I went over to Rory’s Christmas Eve morning when he failed to meet me outside for our run. He was asleep and still in the clothes he had had on the night before.
“Rory, get up!” I shook him and nudged him with my foot, but my prodding was of no use.
“If you’re trying to get him to run with you, Ava, forget about it. He just got home an hour ago.”
“You’re joking.”
Gianna shook her head in a playful way. “I wish I were. I was worried sick about him. Always out chasing girls,” she tsked and shut his bedroom door.
I followed her down the hall to the kitchen. She had been baking bread and the whole house smelled like a bakery; it was wonderful. Julia sat perched on a stool, reading People Magazine. I glanced at the cover; some new scandalous celebrity break-up. I rolled my eyes at her.
“Don’t give me that crap, Ava. See what I am reduced to? Baking bread for hours on end? This,” she said, shaking the magazine at me, “is my only escape.”
“You could do homework,” I suggested.
“It’s Christmas break!” Julia bounced down off the stool. It was her turn to roll her eyes at me. She picked up a stack of magazines and carried them off towards her room down the hall next to Rory’s.
“Don’t worry about her,” Gianna said, waving her hand in the air at Julia’s empty seat. “She’s been moody for weeks. I think Thais is rubbing off on her.”
Gianna could be really naïve. She had no clue about Rory and Julia. Julia had started to really like Rory and Rory had backed way off from her, deciding to try a hard-to-get approach. It didn’t seem to be working in his favor, though … Julia had obviously overheard the little comment Gianna had just made about Rory chasing girls and it hadn’t sat well with her.
I washed my hands and began to help Gianna knead bread dough.
Gianna loves to talk. I can see where Rory and Nick get their personalities. She is loud and has a full, happy laugh. I didn’t understand how someone like her had ended up with someone like Thais. I guess sometimes opposites attract. Almost as though reading my mind, Gianna opened her mouth to tell me her story.
“I met Thais in a job interview,” she smiled. “I had gone to the law firm he shared with Andy in hopes of becoming his legal assistant. I didn't know what he looked like and I was nervous. It was my first interview ever. My mom and dad never let me work while I was in school –not even a part-time job. When the time came for me to enter the real world, I had no idea what I was doing.
“Thais could tell I was nervous. He took me back to his office and got me a glass of water. He must have asked a dozen times if I would be okay. He started the interview, got a few questions in and then stopped. I thought I had really messed it up.
But he said ‘Ms. Marco, I am afraid that I will not be able to hire you.’
“I was so upset I thought I would cry right in his office, but then he said, ‘You could be the most beautiful woman I have ever met. I can’t seem to think straight with you in here. Any attempt to work together is not going to fly. At the risk of being too forward I would like to ask you out on a date instead.’
“I was stunned, Ava! Thais was so smart and handsome and well spoken. And I knew who he was. My father is Greek, a descendant of Achilles. My mother is from a Naiad Nymph. My father had actually lined the interview up for me. I never dreamed a man like Thais would be interested in someone like me.
“I agreed immediately to go out for dinner, and he said, ‘Great, let me help you out with that job now.’ He took me by the hand and walked me down the hall to Andy's office door. Andy was on the phone, but Thais took the receiver from his hand and hung it up. Heavens, did Andy look less than thrilled! Then Thais said, ‘Andy, this is Gianna. She’s here about a job. I have gone through her references. She would be a perfect fit as your assistant.’
Andy shook my hand, showed me my desk, and told me to get that person back on the phone for him right away.
“I married Thais three months later and I have worked for Andy ever since. Don’t let Thais fool you. He is a very kind man. He would do anything for his family, Ava. And he would do anything for you.”
