Free Greek for Beginners by Jackie Braun

kitchen should have had her mouth watering, but it was dry as sawdust. She stopped walking.
    â€œI need another minute,” she whispered and sucked in a deep breath.
    â€œYou are nervous. I understand.”
    Did he? It wasn’t only her part in the deception that had her worried, but what his family would think of her. Her old insecurities bubbled up before she could stop them. What if they found her as lacking as Evelyn had?
    â€œYou will be fine.”
    â€œFine,” she repeated, feeling anything but.
    â€œIt is only one meal.”
    Yes, but it felt like her last supper.
    â€œDarcie.” Nick framed her face with his hands. His palms were warm, the pads of his thumbs slightly calloused as they brushed over her cheeks. “You...”
    Whatever else he said, and she thought it might have been in Greek, was lost to the rushing in her ears. Besides, words, no matter what the language, were superfluous. He was going to kiss her again. That much came through loud and clear. And she wanted him to. So much so that she didn’t bother to wait for him to lean in and claim her mouth. She clasped the back of his neck and closed the gap between them herself.
    She’d always been a fan of fireworks, though it had been a very long time since she’d experienced any. This kind lit her up inside until she was sure her skin glowed from the heat. Someone moaned. She was pretty sure the sound came from her. Regardless, Nick took the opportunity to change the angle of their mouths. His hands no longer framed her face. His fingers splayed over the small of her back, exerting subtle pressure that brought her flush against his hard chest.
    A woman’s voice cut through the haze of hormones.
    â€œThis must be Darcie.”
    They sprung apart. Fireworks fizzled until they were but pesky smoke. Way to make a first impression, Darcie thought, giving herself a mental slap. Nick, meanwhile, offered the sort of charmingly sheepish smile that probably had helped him out of plenty of scrapes as a boy.
    â€œMama. My apologies. I seem to have gotten carried away.”
    â€œYes. That much I could see for myself,” she replied dryly.
    But she was smiling. And so was the older woman standing just behind her in the doorway.
    In heavily accented English, Nick’s yiayia said, “Manners, Nikolos, manners. Introduce us.”
    He rubbed his hands together. “Of course. Darcie Hayes, this is my grandmother, Sophia Pappas, and my mother, Thea Costas.”
    Hands were shaken, greetings exchanged. Darcie knew she was being sized up. Funny, but some of her earlier nervousness had evaporated. Nick’s mother and grandmother were curious about her, that much was very clear. But she sensed no antipathy, no animosity. She felt welcome if not accepted. And that was before his grandmother slid one of her boney arms around Darcie’s waist and propelled her toward the kitchen.
    â€œCome. I will pour the wine. You will tell us about yourself. Start with your ancestors. Might there be a chance some of your people came from Greece?”

FIVE
    Nick’s father arrived just before the meal was served. By then, Darcie’s nerves had calmed substantially. It helped that while seated in the kitchen watching Thea and Sophia finish the preparations she’d polished off a glass of a lovely dry red wine.
    She refused a refill when Nick would have poured her one. It wouldn’t do to get snockered. But she told them, “This was very good.”
    â€œIt is bottled by Nick’s uncle, my brother, and his sons,” Thea said proudly. “They have a small vineyard in Thrace.”
    â€œNick is the only one of his generation to leave Greece to work,” Sophia lamented. “We keep hoping he will return for good one day.”
    â€œYiayia,” he said.
    â€œWhat? I only say what is true. That is what we all hope will happen. Is it not, Thea?”
    His mother flushed and was saved from