His expression softened as he gave her an approving look. “A tan suits you.”
“Thanks. Toni kept saying how pale I was. Now she’ll be happy when she sees me.”
“I am on my way out for a few hours. I have a business meeting, but I will be back in time for dinner at six. My parents should be arriving at the same time.” His gaze went to her tote bag. “Leave your bag with me. I will bring it up to your room while you go into the kitchen. We have bottled water and juice in the fridge. Or soda, if you prefer.”
She nestled her bag more securely around her shoulder. “No, thank you. I’ll take it up, but I will take your suggestion and drink something.”
“How will you spend the rest of the afternoon?”
She didn’t want to tell him she was going to make dinner in case Maria hadn’t mentioned it to him. Instead, she said, “Nothing too special. I might go into the town and visit the shops.”
He nodded. “I will see you later, then.”
Sam watched his retreating back as he made his way out the door. If she hurried, she had just enough time to shower, prepare and cook dinner, and set the table.
* * * *
Everything went without a hitch. Sam was in the kitchen with Maria and Leo and his parents, whom Sam had not met yet, were in the dining room.
“Thank you so much,” Maria said, smiling. The older woman gave her a head to toe look. “And you look so pretty. In Greek we say koukla. That is a pretty dress and the white shows off the colour you got today.” She reached out for one of Sam’s long tresses and tucked a long curl behind her ear. “Such beautiful hair. You should leave it down more. No more buns, please. You are a young woman.”
Sam smiled. It had taken her over thirty minutes to tame her wavy mane and she wore one of her favourite sundresses, a white, sleeveless dress with pretty little roses embroidered along the knee-length hem. Gold, strappy sandals complemented her outfit.
“Efharisto, Maria,” Sam said.
“You are very welcome. Go now. Present yourself to his parents.”
Worry settled on Sam’s face. She wanted to make a nice impression on Leo’s parents—for John’s sake.
“Do not worry. They will like you very much,” Maria said as if she’d read Sam’s mind.
“I hope so,” Sam murmured.
Consumed with nerves, Sam made her way into the dining room. Leo rose from his seat at the head of the table the moment she entered. He gave her a long look, his gaze resting a few moments longer on her hair. Their gazes met and he smiled at her. Sam returned his smile, feeling an immediate sense of ease. She could tell he approved of her appearance.
“Sam, I would like you to meet my parents,” he said deeply, making his way toward her.
Sam looked at the couple seated at the table and stiffened for a brief moment. My God! They looked too young to be his parents.
Leo’s father rose from his seat and stretched out his hand. He had Leo’s dark, handsome looks and an admiring twinkle in his eyes as he smiled at Sam.
“I’m Harry. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Samantha,” he said. His voice was as rich and deep as his son’s and Sam felt an instant connection with the older man.
She shook his hand and smiled. “The pleasure is mine. Thank you for allowing me to visit your beautiful home.”
Leo’s hand went to the small of her back and he directed her gently to his mother. His touch comforted her.
His mother did not rise from her seat. She sat regally, her back erect as she eyed Sam imperially. She had a grand air about her, very poised and dignified, and Sam smiled nervously. All of a sudden, his mother raised her face and Sam could have sworn the older woman sniffed the air. Sam panicked as paranoia settled in. She had showered well when she had returned from the beach, hadn’t she?
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Stefanos.”
“Call me Christina,” she said haughtily. “Please sit down.”
Leo walked Sam to her side of the table and seated her to his right, directly across from his mother. He held out her chair and Sam took it gratefully.
“How do you find our weather, Miss Hope?” Christina began as she reached for her glass of red wine.
“Sam, please.” She took the wine Leo offered her. “It’s lovely. I never realized how beautiful your country is, Mrs. Stef—Christina.”
“You’ve never been to Greece before?” Harry asked politely.
“No. I’ve never been abroad.”
Christina gave her a hard look. “And the plane ride?”
Sam smiled. “It was long, but I read a couple of magazines, finished a crossword puzzle, and took a nap. Toni told me the key to surviving a long trip on a plane is to keep yourself busy.”
Christina’s face tensed. “She is correct. And how is my daughter, Sam? I trust married life is treating her well.”
“Toni and John are very happy.”
“I understand they are living in a small abode and my daughter—” She paused, her tone dropping distastefully, “walks to work.”
“Yes. Somerset is a very small town.”
Christina turned to her son. “Leonidis.”
“Yes, mother.”
“Have you spoken to Toni about what we talked about? That I want to buy her a car?”
“Yes, I have.”
A tinge of exasperation darkened his mother’s face. “What did she say?”
“She refused.”
Harry chuckled. “No doubt to annoy you, my dear wife.”
“Yes, no doubt,” Christina murmured and turned another hard look on Sam. “Tell me, Sam—since you seem to be the only person my daughter gets along with these days—how did you two meet?”
Sam could feel the tension mount between them and she realized the warm connection she had with Leo’s father was definitely lacking with his mother. “It was last winter and the sidewalks were icy. Toni had just arrived into town and she slipped outside on the pavement of my shop, The Crystal Ball. I took her to my brother’s— John’s—clinic, and he treated her sprain. We’ve been good friends ever since. She works in my shop with me now.”
“So, you are a business owner as well as a matchmaker. My daughter must have filled your head with many stories of her family. Did she paint us all as monsters, Miss Hope?”
So much for being on a first name basis, Sam thought regretfully, bracing herself for more of the third degree that was sure to follow. “Mrs. Stefanos, I didn’t play matchmaker. My brother treated her sprain and they hit it off immediately.”
“Let it go, Christina,” Harry said. “Toni is married now. Let us live with her decision and wish her well.”
“Well said, father,” Leo interjected dryly. He looked up and saw Maria arrive with the entrees. “Mother, Toni and her new husband will be here next month, so you can ask them any questions you may have. We will all just have to welcome him into the family.”
Christina gave Sam a shrewd look. “You’re quite thin, Miss Hope. Are you dieting?” She reached for her wine again, and didn’t wait for Sam to respond. “American hu—women are so obsessed with their weight. All of them are skin and bones.”
Sam was trying hard to be nice, but her shackles were starting to rise. “I’m hardly dieting, Mrs. Stefanos, but I do admit I haven’t been eating all that regularly the past few weeks.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“I have two jobs. Well, one isn’t really a job. It’s volunteer work. I work at an orphanage back home three nights a week, and I run my shop seven days a week.”
Christina’s imperious air cracked a bit. “Did you say you volunteer at an orphanage?” She tossed her son a silent, questioning look.
A smile sprang on Sam’s mouth. “Yes. I love the children. They’re like my extended family. I don’t even think I would accept a salary if it was offered to me.”
Leo’s mother remained silent for a few moments and Sam could tell the older woman was collecting her thoughts. “I must say that is very commendable of you. Few
people in this day and age understand the value of family.” Christina took another sip of her wine. “I know my Toni will not be here for me since she will be remaining in America.” Christina gave Leo a pointed look. “The responsibility now rests with my son. He must marry, however within our kind.”
Sam glanced at Leo. He was silent as he reached for his wine, but as he brought the glass to his mouth, his gaze met hers. Sam offered him a small smile. His brooding expression transformed as his eyes softened. Slowly, he returned her smile and Sam felt a thread of warmth between them. She looked away, overcome with shyness.
Leo struck her as the kind of man who would take care of his elderly parents. Regardless of the wrong foot their relationship had started on, the more she got to know him, the more she realized he was a proud man whose family came first. She couldn’t fault him for that. Wasn’t she as dedicated to her own family?
“It is important Leo marry well,” Christina continued. “He must marry a woman I can look to as a daughter. Not like that horrible witch, Catherine.”
Sam found it interesting how first Maria had referred to Catherine as a witch. It appeared Leo’s ex had a bad reputation with the Stefanos clan.
“He must marry a woman from our roots,” Christina added, fixing a hard look on her son. “I’ve invited Katina and her family for dinner tomorrow night. Make arrangements with Maria to put out the good china and to prepare a special dinner.”
“Mother,” Leo began in a dry tone, “I won’t add to Maria’s duties. She has enough to do on a daily basis without me having to add to it with your dinner parties.”
Maria chose that moment to enter, pushing a cart laden with the dinner plates. Sam held her breath. The last thing she needed was Leo’s mother to criticize her cooking skills.
“Something smells delicious, Maria,” Harry said.
The older woman smiled at everyone. “Yes, it does, but I did not cook it. Sam was very kind to help me. I was at the hospital with Nitsa all afternoon and Sam offered to cook the dinner.”
A silence fell through the room as everyone looked at Sam in surprise.
Leo was the first person to break the silence. “Sam, that was not necessary.”
Her gaze wavered under his thoughtful, dark look. “It was no trouble, besides I love to cook.” She glanced around the table, embarrassed. “Really, it was no trouble at all. I hope you all like it. It’s roast beef, scalloped potatoes, and string beans.”
Maria placed the plates in front of everyone and Christina looked at her dinner approvingly. “I must say, Miss Hope, you are a surprising woman.”
“Yes, it seems she is, mother,” Leo added, his voice deeper than usual.
Sam shot him a quick glance and for the first time, she detected a hint of pride on his face. The warm connection between them grew. She could tell he was happy and her spirits lifted as she realized he was pleased she was making a nice impression on his parents.
Christina looked curiously from her son back to Sam’s flushed face. “Miss Hope, you chose to cook us dinner rather than spend the day shopping or staying on the beach?”
“Cooking relaxes me. I didn’t mind.”
Maria placed the last dinner plate in front of Harry. “If it was not for Sam last night, I do not know how my daughter would have remained calm.”
“What happened last night?” Christina asked sharply.
Maria proceeded to recount the event, leaving nothing out. Sam watched Christina’s eyes widen in shock with each passing detail.
“You mean to tell me, Miss Hope, you would have delivered a baby if you had to?”
Sam smiled. “I’m glad I didn’t have to. I was petrified, but I have had years of first aid classes and training in the nursing field.”
“Are you a nurse, as well as everything else you do in your life?” Harry enquired politely. Sam noticed the quick look he gave his son. It was imperceptible, but Sam caught it. It was approval.
“No.”
Christina cleared her throat delicately. “Tell us, Miss Hope. What do your parents do?”
“They still live on the ranch I grew up on. My mother is a grade school teacher and my father is a minister.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Christina pressed on.
Sam laughed softly. “I’m afraid that would take too long to talk about.” She paused. “I have eighteen brothers and sisters, Mrs. Stefanos.”
A stunned silence ensued. Harry looked from his son to his wife and back to his son again as he began to laugh heartily.
“My dear Sam,” he said, “I do believe I am witnessing a miracle. You are the first person to have ever left my wife and son speechless.” He wiped his eyes as he tried to contain his mirth. “Themou, this is the most fun I have had at a dinner party in a very, very long time.”
Surprised, Sam looked at Leo and her stomach plummeted as she took in his expression. The warm connection between them disappeared and now he regarded her as though she’d sprouted another head.
“There is a perfectly good explanation,” she said calmly.
“I am all ears,” Leo said dryly, “and I am inclined to agree with my father. This has been a thoroughly interesting evening.”
Chapter 5
“My mother and father are foster parents. I’m their only biological child, but I think of all my foster brothers and sisters as family and we all still keep in touch.” She smiled, thinking about all her nieces and nephews and how much she loved spending time with them. Sam may not have had many friends and boyfriends growing up, but she realized a long time ago that her family more than filled the void. “Christmas at the ranch is a big affair. With extended families, husbands, wives, and children—there’s always over eighty people there.”
“Goodness,” Christina said, giving Sam an odd look.
“Do you keep in touch with everyone all year round?” Leo asked quietly.
“Of course. Toni’s already met a few of my siblings this year.”
“I must say,” Leo commented thoughtfully, “you have quite a family, Sam.”
His admission warmed her. Was he starting to come around and see that John and she weren’t the unscrupulous sort he’d thought they were? Sam hoped so because of all her foster siblings, she was the closest to John.
Family was important, family came first, and it warmed her that she and Leo shared the same value.
Everyone began to eat and Harry smiled at Sam. “This is delicious, my dear. Christina, we must have our cook call Sam for the recipe. I’ve never tasted such a tender roast beef.”
His wife gave Sam a strange look as she chewed her food. “Yes, it is very good,” she said quietly.
The meal continued as Leo and his father conversed about day-to-day things, with Christina remaining curiously silent. However, every once in a while she gave Sam a strange look.
Harry lifted his napkin to his mouth. “Son, any word on the Acropole? Is our Spanish investor ready to close the deal?”
“Contracts have been drawn and all that is left to do is sign on the dotted line. He is coming here next week for our final meeting.”
Christina directed her attention to Sam. “The Acropole is one of our hotels here in Greece. We have many all over the world. Leo wants to sell it and re-invest the money to upgrade our hotel in England.” She gave her son a pride-filled glance. “My son is a wise businessman, Sam. Our family business started with my grandfather’s first hotel. Then, when Harry took over the business, we grew to four. Ever since Leo has taken over, we have fourteen hotels scattered all over the world.”
Leo smiled politely. “Mother, I do not want to bore Sam with our family history.”
“Very well,” Christina said, narrowing her gaze on Sam. “Are you married?” She asked suddenly, taking Sam by surprise.
“No, I'm not.”
“Do you have a boyfriend in America?”
Sam laughed ruefully. “No. I haven't had any time for boyfriends the past three years.”
Chr
istina’s brows rose. “Three years as a single woman?”
The only downfall of her gift, Sam wanted to say, but refrained. Somehow, she didn’t think his parents would understand how much she relied on her cards when it came to making decisions in her life. The cards had revealed one man she dated was cheating on her and another man enjoyed drinking to the point of becoming an alcoholic in his later years. She began to feel a little awkward under Christina’s shrewd gaze.
“There was college,” she explained. “I majored in Business Administration and minored in Art—and, of course all the babysitting I had with my younger siblings. Then, I received a small inheritance from my grandmother and I moved away and opened my shop.”
“You said you own a shop called The Crystal Ball. What do you sell?”
“It’s more of a novelty store. I sell antique books, candles, crystals—things like that. I also give readings to my clients in the parlour at the back of my shop.” She reached for her napkin. “I’m glad I met Toni when I did because I found I needed someone to run the shop when I was in the back. My customers love her. She’s great with them.”
Sam’s cards had guided her to hire Toni and subsequently embrace her as a best friend since they revealed her as a warm, kind, generous person.
“You said you give readings. What do you mean? Do you peer into a crystal ball?” His mother’s face hardened.
Sam wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or hide. Christina’s questions were starting to make her feel uncomfortable. Sam was always uneasy when she had to tell someone she read people’s futures for a living. She took a sip of her wine to buy some time. “No. I read the Tarot cards.”
Christina stiffened. “Isn’t that some form of the occult? Are you a witch?”
The question took her by surprise because Christina voiced it as though she expected a serious answer.
“Mother, please,” Leo began dryly. “I hardly think Sam is a witch. In fact, I did a little reading on the Tarot and it was originally a card game somewhere in Italy in the first half of the fifteenth century. It wasn’t until centuries later when devotees of the spiritual world encountered the Tarot cards and found they had some mystical and magical meaning behind their symbols. You, of all people, should have an open mind.”
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