Theon
" Theon? " Harper stared at us dumbfounded, alternating her gaze between us as I mentally analyzed my situation with Samantha.
I released her, walking over to my girlfriend, giving her a little kiss on the lips.
" Harper, I didn't know you were going to be here," I commented, watching her with a wry smile.
" I didn't know you were coming here," she replied.
An uncomfortable atmosphere fell between the three of us, Samantha seemed about to make up some excuse and leave, but well, we weren't doing anything wrong, it was just a small miscommunication.
" Theon, Sam? " my sister Lara appeared at the door "why are you standing there? Come in!”
Lara took Sam by the hand and pulled her inside, leaving Harper and me behind. My girlfriend watched the mother of my son before turning back to face me.
" What just happened?”
" I brought Sam to meet my family," I clarified, entering the house and closing the door behind me, "I thought…”
" That I wouldn't be here? " she raised both eyebrows, crossing her arms.
" Is this really a problem? Because I didn't imagine it would be. You knew I was with her.”
" And I thought that you would come back from your appointment, drop her off at home and that would be it," she returned in a whisper, "and not bring her to your mother's!”
" That was the original plan, but we were early, and she doesn't know…”
" For someone who doesn't know your family, she's getting along pretty well, don't you think? " she cut me off, looking at the couch where Sam was sitting with Daphne on her lap, talking to my sister and grandmother.
I sighed thinking about how to get out of this situation. How could I have known that Harper would be so offended by this? I held her hand, forcing her to uncross her arms.
" Harper, look at me," she obeyed reluctantly, "I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd mind. Samantha doesn't know my mother, and talking to her today, I realized that she might be uncomfortable, thinking that I want to hide our situation from people.”
She looked into my eyes for a few seconds before sighing and looking away. My girlfriend seemed caught in an internal conflict between believing my words, or listening to her controversial feelings.
" Theon, I don't want you to think that I'm a jealous freak.”
" I know our situation is complicated, Harper. But you're my girlfriend, Samantha knows that," I reassured her, "I don't feel anything romantic for her, the situation just forces us to get to know each other better.”
Although I was feeling closer to Sam, I was sincere in my statement. My feelings about Harper hadn't changed, the only difference was that I was discovering some things about the mother of my son. It was only natural that this would happen at some point.
" All right, I guess," she sighed resignedly.
" Come here," I hugged her, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.”
Harper forced a smile and looked once more at where Sam was sitting. I followed her example, noticing that she was also looking in our direction and turned her face away immediately, looking puzzled.
" Hi Samantha," Harper began, moving closer to the couch as she disengaged herself from my embrace while my grandmother got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen, "how was the appointment?”
" Ignoring the fact that a bunch of crazy people are about to have kids, the appointment was great.”
I took advantage of the fact that everyone seemed entertained and went upstairs to look for my mother. I heard her voice and Callie's coming from the last room in the hallway, which had its door ajar.
" μανούλα (manoúla means Mother in Greek) ? " I called out.
" I'm here, Theon. You may come in," she warned.
I followed her in, and found my sister coming out of the room. She offered me a wry smile before walking away. I walked into the room, watching my mother putting some clothes away in the closet.
" I didn't expect to see you today," she glanced over her shoulder at me, then smiled.
My mother, at sixty, still looked very beautiful, with her hair freshly dyed dark brown, and her shoulder-length haircut made her look even younger.
" Sam is here, I brought her to meet you," I warned, getting my mother's full attention.
" Theon, you should have warned me before," she scolded, "are you staying for dinner? Where is she? Have You left her alone?”
" She's with γιαγιά and Lara," I warned, "Harper is with her too.”
She watched me for a moment with a cautious expression before speaking up again.
" And how is Harper handling all of this?"
" Well, she... she was upset to find Sam here," I confessed, "I didn't think it would be a problem.”
" It's natural for her to be jealous, especially if you two are getting along well," my mother assured me, "are you?”
" Yes, Sam is a good woman, mama. I didn't know how much," I sighed, sitting down on her bed.
" What do you mean? " she settled down beside me.
" I didn't know her. I'm just getting to know her now, and... I don't know.”
" She's more than you expected," my mother added.
" You have no idea, before I was worried about the whole situation, but now…”
" Are you happy to have a child with her? " I received a questioning look.
" If it was a choice, I wouldn't have a child now. But I think we can make it work," I shrugged.
" The situation is complicated, Theon," she stood up, "just make sure you don't complicate things any further.”
I followed her example, standing up. She quickly made her way out of the room, causing me to follow her.
" Come on, I want to meet the girl," she smiled.
We came downstairs in time to see my grandmother struggling to set the table for afternoon tea with the help of Lara and Harper, while Sam was in a far corner talking to Callie.
That interaction bothered me, I would have followed where the two were, but a warning look from Lara kept me at a distance.
" I'll go help your grandmother, let me know when they're done," my mother ordered before heading into the kitchen.
Callie looked in my direction, sighing as she finished whatever conversation the two of them were having, and then walked away. I walked over to Sam, a little concerned about the content of their conversation.
" Hey Apollo, you're gone," she forced a smile.
" I went after my mom," I explained, "what was that all about?
" Your sister called me, she wanted to apologize," Sam retorted.
" Really? And how did she do? " I crossed my arms, looking toward Callie who had joined the others.
" Well, I guess," Sam looked uncomfortable, "we can start over.”
I absorbed that information, looking back at my sister. I hope that this time she really will keep her word, and not disturb Sam anymore.
" Come on, my mom wants to meet you," I nodded to the kitchen.
We both went there, finding my mother taking a loaf of bread out of the oven while my grandmother picked something from the cupboard.
" Mama, this is Sam," I called her attention.
" Sam, it's a pleasure to meet you." My mother came over to us, and hugged her.
She seemed surprised by this welcome, but I could expect no less from my mother.
" The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Adamos," Sam answered, looking bored.
" Call me Iris," she emphasized, "I prepared daktyla for afternoon tea.”
" I've never eaten it," Sam smiled.
" I hope you like it," she winked, "if you try it with some good olive oil, tomatoes and feta cheese, you'll love it.”
" Take this, girl," my grandmother handed me a tray with some glasses, "let's feed this child.”
I was lost in thought as I watched this scene. For the first time since Sam called me days ago to tell me about the pregnancy, I could see that this situation could work out.
" You are too thin, you need to eat more," my grandmother criticized her.
" I'm eating enough, old woman," Sam murmured in reply, walking carefully to the table.
Old woman? Did she just call my grandmother old? Are they that close?
" I told you not to complain," my grandmother retorted, not caring much for the nickname.
" Your grandmother seems to like her," Harper commented, stepping closer.
" Yes, it seems that way," I frowned, as Sam placed the tray on the table and then settled down.
The teasing between Delphine and Sam went on for the rest of the afternoon, confusing my mother a little for all the interaction.
" Have you two known each other before? " she asked finally.
" I met her by accident," my grandmother explained.
" Yes, accidentally when you rang my doorbell and broke into my house last week," Sam rolled her eyes.
" Delphine! " my mother exclaimed in horror " Sam, I am so sorry.”
" She seems to be handling it well, Mrs. Adamos " Harper smiled " Don't you, Sam?”
" I didn't mind," she reassured my mother, "she helped me in the beginning, actually.”
" I needed to meet the girl," my grandmother shrugged, "if it were up to him.”
" You would meet her when the time was right," I cut her off.
Sam gave me a quick grateful look, looking eager to change the subject. Finally it was Harper who came to her rescue, questioning her about her education, and it took over the whole time we were together.
" They said it was a real miracle I didn't break my ankle," Sam reported, "in fact, the people watching swore they heard the bone break.”
" It must have been horrible," Callie grimaced.
" I passed out from the pain," Sam sighed, "in the end, that's when I decided to leave the dance company I was in, and met Elle, and she got me a job as a ShowGirl.”
" If Liny were here, she'd want to know all about what it's like to be a ShowGirl " Lara scoffed " she wouldn't leave you alone.”
" Luckily she's not here " I stood up, noticing the tired expression on Sam's face " Sam looks exhausted, I'll take her home.”
" Thank you, Theon," she smiled, also getting up, "it was a pleasure to meet you.”
After a brief consideration, I turned to Harper, who remained seated at the table, with a thoughtful expression.
" Harper, will you come with me? " I invited her.