The Reaction

Kristo

“Your what?” Leda shrieked at the top of her lungs.

“What’s going on out there?” I heard Nonna Balaban’s voice float through from the kitchen, where she was no doubt holding court.

“Kristo’s married,” Leda yelled back, and I was sure I heard the entire house take a collective gasp of shock.

“Bring him in here,” my grandmother ordered, and I took Amaya’s hand and led her through to the kitchen. Lunch was nearly on the table, but the entire house virtually came to a halt at the news.

“Uh, hello.” Amaya waved, managing a smile. Nonna eyed her with an inscrutable expression.

“And this is your wife?” She turned to me, eyebrows lost in her carefully done gray hair.

“Yes, this is my wife Amaya.” I realized I didn’t know her last name, so I decided to forgo it.

“Your wife,” Nonna repeated again and then turned to the scattering of cousins in the kitchen. “Go, take the food to the table. I need to talk to Kristo.”

“I can help with that if you—” Amaya tried to offer, but Nonna cut her of