Free Sweet Baklava by Debby Mayne Page A

again until we get it like you want it."
    "I don't want to do this twice. Let's go see what they got." Without another word, she got out of the car, clutching the pillow. He followed her inside.
    "Ursa!" The paint store manager made a beeline toward them the instant they walked inside.
    "Hi, George. We need some paint for the living room."
    George gestured around the store. "We got plenty of paint. Take your pick."
    She glanced around the store looking lost. Nick couldn't remember the last time the house walls were painted, so he suspected she was overwhelmed. "Mama, let's start over there."
    It took her almost two hours to decide on a color, which was as close to what was already there as anything they'd seen. "If it works, why change it?" she said.
    All the way home she chattered about food, the sponge business, and how he needed to look nice tonight, giving him very little opportunity to say a word. If he'd had any doubt she was up to something, it was gone now.
    He carried the paint into the mudroom. His mother pointed to the corner. "Just put it there, Nick, and go get your clothes for me to press."
    "We still have plenty of time before dinner. I can paint one wall."
    "No."
    "Okay, just thought I'd try."
    He went to his room and emptied his suitcase on the bed. Before hanging anything in the closet, he selected a shirt and khaki pants to bring to Mama.
    "Not that, Nick." She reminded him of his drill sergeant at boot camp when she folded her arms and shook her head. "I want you to look nice tonight."
    "What's wrong with this?"
    "It's not nice enough."
    With nothing more than that to go on, Nick headed back to his room, tossed what he'd selected into the pile, and started digging some more. He did his best to think like Mama. What would she like? His gaze settled on a light blue shirt and some navy slacks. Yeah, she'd think that was nice enough.
    "Much better," she said. "Now go start getting ready."
    "I thought you said we needed to be there around six-thirty. It's not even five yet."
    "It wouldn't hurt you to take a little extra time with your hair."
    He reached up and raked his fingers through his close-cropped hair. "There's not much I can do with it."
    Mama tilted her head and studied his face. She hadn't looked at him like that since before his first day at kindergarten.
    "Okay, I'll go find something to do so you can finish whatever it is you're scheming."
    "Nick!"
    "I can see straight through you. I don't know what you're planning. All I know is there's something going on, and I'll find out in about an hour and a half."

    By the time Mama brought him the crisply pressed shirt and razor-sharp creased pants, Nick had done everything he could think of in the grooming department. Mama gave him a once-over and smiled, nodding. "Very nice, Nicholas. Now get dressed. I don't wanna be late."
    "Late for what?" Nick teased.
    She rolled her eyes. "Don't be so suspicious." She walked away mumbling and clicking her tongue.
    Nick got dressed and joined her in the living room a few minutes later. "So, am I presentable for whatever you have up your sleeve?"
    She looked him over and nodded. "You look handsome as always."
    "Is Papa coming home first?"
    "No, he's meeting us there."
    He crooked an arm. "Ready?"
    Mama took his arm and nodded. "Let's go. I'm starving."
    She fidgeted all the way to Apollo's, located at the base of the Tarpon Springs sponge docks—a block away from one of his dad's shops. When they got to a red light, Nick reached over and squeezed her tense hand.
    "Wanna stop by and see Papa at work? We're a few minutes early."
    "Nah, if he's still at work, he's busy. We'll just see him when he gets to Apollo's."
    Nick parked the car behind the restaurant in the employee lot. "Wanna go in the backdoor or make an entrance?"
    She frowned. "I'm not sure."
    "Mama." Nick chuckled and grinned. "Since when have you not been sure about anything?"
    "Let's go in the front door like civilized people."
    Apollo stood at the host