Chapter 09 - Big news

Theon

I left the house determined to get that matter over with. My mother's house was not too far away, so I arrived within ten minutes.

The first thing I heard as I passed through the front door was the sound of the loud crying of Daphne, Lara's daughter. Right away Evangeline, my younger sister, came towards me with an exasperated expression on her face.

" For the sake of your sanity, you better get out of here now," she raised her voice, "this girl hasn't stopped yelling for at least an hour!”

I didn't have time to answer her, she simply ran towards the stairs, disappearing upstairs, while my niece's screams, if possible, became even louder.

" She's hungry! " my mother's voice sounded muffled from the living room.

" I told you, it's not time," my sister whined, "she just had a feed!”

I walked over to where they were standing, watching my sister standing near the large glass door that led to the back yard, cradling her daughter in an attempt to somehow comfort her. My mother seemed irritated by the situation, so much so that she didn't even notice me standing there watching them.

"For God's sake, you don't have to set the time for everything! "she changed her voice" you woke her up so she could feed, she fed a little because she was sleepy, and you decided she was satisfied!

" I can take care of my daughter, she must be sick! " my sister retorted angrily.

" Or hungry! " my mother really screamed this time.

That seemed to be the last straw for my sister, who literally marched toward me with her daughter in her arms and tears in her eyes.

"Since you consider me incapable of knowing what my own daughter needs, then take care of it yourself," she shouted over her shoulder to my mother, handing the little girl to me, before running to the stairs, leaving me behind with a baby in my arms.

What's going on here?

" Since you refuse to listen to simple advice just to follow your timetable, I really reckon," my mother shouted back, ignoring my presence, "the girl has been crying for at least half an hour!”

Daphne squirmed in my arms, getting redder and redder as she cried, leaving me not knowing what to do. I had never had this much contact with her, she was four months old, and it had been three months since Lara had come home with her in her arms. I liked the girl, but I was never one to take care of her, especially while she was crying!

I was about to hand her over to my mother, when Delphine came from the kitchen, carrying a baby bottle. She handed it to me, expecting me to handle the situation.

" Mom, can you…”

I interrupted my sentence as I watched the girl slow down her screaming, opening her mouth as soon as she saw the bottle. I put it in her mouth, enjoying the silence for the first time since I entered that house.

" Finally," my mother sighed, as my grandmother made her way to the backyard, "do you want to give her to me, Theon?”

" No, it's okay," I stammered, watching my niece in my arms, "I can handle this.”

And I'd better get some practice. I thought.

Soon I'll have one of these in my arms, and it will cry like this and be just as dependent as she is. That thought scared me a little, but I couldn't run away!

I will be a father in a few months!

" I swear sometimes I feel like hitting your sister for being so hard headed," she sighed, coming closer, "You were hungry, weren't you, kitten?”

" I've finally gone deaf? " Liny questioned, coming down the stairs and finding the room silent.

"Why did you disappear instead of coming to help? " scolded my mother.

" I was enjoying the fact that I wasn't the clumsy one who got pregnant by some random guy," she shrugged, throwing herself onto the couch.

That comment hit me with a punch, but what could I do? She was right. Getting someone I practically didn't know pregnant was crazy!

" Don't talk about your sister like that," my mother sighed, "it happened, it's gone now.”

" It happened? How does something like that happen? " she laughed, "It was pure stupidity, wasn't it, Theon?

I frowned at that new comment. Irresponsible? yes. But stupid?

I decided to devote my attention to my niece, who had finished her bottle and seemed satisfied.

" You better not judge," my mother rolled her eyes, taking the baby bottle from my hand, "or you might be next.

" God forbid," she made the sign of the cross amidst her laughter, "No one deserves a situation like this, right Theon?

" What do I do with her? " I ignored my sister.

" Let her stand for a while," my mother instructed.

I obeyed, straightening the little girl in the best position, feeling a sort of pride come over me. γιαγιά entered the house once more, watching me as I gave my attention to the little one, who looked pleased.

" I haven't come home in months and when I do you're having fun in Vegas," Liny insisted, following me.

" Months? You came for Gregor's wedding," I contradicted her.

" That doesn't count, I only stayed for two days. This time I'll get to spend the week.

" Why?”

" There was a problem at college and we'll be out of class for a week," she shrugged, "so I decided to visit you.”

" Great," I sighed, thinking about what I would have to tell my sister in her presence.

My mother handed me some plates, while my grandmother sat down with difficulty in her seat. Liny went to call Lara, and I wondered whether it would be better if I revealed all at once about Samantha or not. Finally, I decided to wait for dinner.

Lara joined us, carrying the baby monitor through which she monitored Daphne's sleep.

" Where is Harper? " my grandmother asked, ignoring my mother's angry look at my sister.

" She couldn't make it," I looked away, not wanting to talk about our possible breakup.

" You should put a ring on that woman's finger right away," she complained.

" That won't happen so soon, we've only been together for a month," I took a deep breath.

" I don't know why. You've known each other for so long, and I bet she spends more time at your house than at hers," Lara interjected, "she may not be Greek, but she's a good woman.”

" You should do it soon. I'm going to die soon, and I won't be attending my grandchildren's wedding," my grandmother let out, "and your sister is right, Harper is a good woman.”

" You're not going to die anytime soon, and besides, I don't see anyone demanding a wedding from Callie, and she's the oldest.

" Don't even get me started on that, if it were my time, you'd all be married with kids," γιαγιά murmured. 

Well, I'll soon sort out the children’s part. 

" Times have changed, besides, the decision has to come from Adam " My mother entered the conversation, watching everyone settle down and start serving themselves.

" I bet Harper is pissed at Theon for partying all weekend with Gregor and leaving her behind," Liny teased as she passed me the potato salad.

" I don't know what you see in Las Vegas," Lara muttered, "I hated that city.”

" Only because that's where you got pregnant," Liny laughed, receiving a glare in return.

" I didn't got pregnant in Vegas," she growled.

" If you do the math, you'll see that it matches your trip," Liny insisted.

" Anyway, we didn't go to have fun," I replied grumpily, interrupting the nonsense.

" What were you doing then? I hope Gregor didn't do anything wrong. He's only recently married and I doubt that Myron would accept a divorce so soon," my mother looked at me suspiciously.

" Gregor has nothing to do with the matter. He was just accompanying me.”

" Accompany you for what? " my grandmother gave me a shrewd look, putting her food aside.

" Can we talk about this later? " I asked despondently.

" No, we're all here now," Liny smiled innocently.

I stared at her before observing each of the women at the table, and at that moment I knew for sure that they would not wait until after dinner.

" Do you really want to talk about this now? " I sighed.

" Come on, Theon," γιαγιά hurried me, "it would be better if you just told us what you need to talk about.”