Free Greek for Beginners by Jackie Braun Page A

answering by Nick’s father, who said as he entered the kitchen, “He is here now. Let us enjoy our time together.”
    The older man wasn’t as tall as Nick, but his shoulders were just as broad. Age had added more girth to his waist, deep lines to the corners of his eyes and gray hair to his temples. But he remained a handsome man. This is how Nick would look in thirty years’ time, Darcie thought. Warmth spread through her. She chalked it up to the wine.
    â€œThis is my father, George Costas,” Nick said.
    â€œDarcie Hayes.” When she would have shaken his hand, George kissed both of her cheeks.
    â€œShe is prettier than Danika.” He winked at Nick.
    â€œDanika?” Darcie mouthed.
    â€œI will explain later,” Nick mumbled.
    â€œStop flirting, Baba , and go wash up,” Thea said with an exaggerated shake of her head. “Dinner is ready.”
    They ate alfresco , seated around a table under a pergola in Yiayia’s backyard. Vine-covered trellises lined the pergola’s sides, offering shade from the late day sun. The center of the table was heaped with enough food to feed twice as many people.
    Darcie smoothed a napkin over her lap. “Everything looks wonderful, Mrs. Costas and Mrs. Pappas.”
    â€œCall me Yiayia. Everyone does.”
    â€œAnd you may call me Thea,” Nick’s mother said, passing Darcie a platter of sliced lamb. “You are not a vegetarian, I hope. A lot of young people are nowadays.”
    â€œNo.” Even if Darcie had been, the delicious-smelling meat would have tempted her to take a bite.
    â€œThat is good,” Yiayia said. “Nick likes red meat.”
    â€œTrue.” Thea nodded. “But he will fly home for dinner on a Palm Sunday if I promise to make bakaliaros tiganitos .”
    At Darcie’s perplexed expression, he explained, “It is a salt-cured cod that my mother then batters and deep fries. It is very tasty, but it is the dipping sauce she makes to go with it that has me booking my flight.”
    â€œHere, we are so close to the ocean that the fish is fresh and plentiful,” Yiayia said.
    â€œManhattan is next to the Atlantic,” he pointed out patiently and Darcie got the feeling this was a long-standing argument.
    â€œIt is settled,” George offered. “Water and fish are everywhere.”
    But Yiayia wasn’t done. “Do they even know how to make bakaliaros tiganitos in America?”
    â€œI will look on the menu at the next Greek restaurant I visit.”
    Sophia shrugged. “It does not matter. They will not cook it as well as your mama does. I taught her, just as my mother taught me. Just as your mother will teach your future wife.” She glanced slyly at Darcie.
    George apparently didn’t get the memo about playing it coy. “Maybe you could teach Darcie, Thea.”
    Everyone at the table turned and gaped at him. Nick was the first to recover. There was a gleam in his eye when he said, “I do like Mama’s bakaliaros tiganitos. ”
    â€œNick likes all of his mama’s cooking,” George said with a hearty laugh. “He gets that from me.”
    â€œIf he is not careful, he will get this, too.” Thea patted her husband’s stomach. More laughter followed, chasing away a bit of the strain.
    â€œIf you would like, I could share some of my recipes with you,” Thea said to Darcie, “including the one for bakaliaros tiganitos. It is not so hard to make, but you must soak the fish overnight or it will be too salty.”
    â€œThank you. I would like that.”
    â€œAre you a good cook?” Sophia asked.
    â€œUm, I...” Darcie had mastered the art of microwaving in college, and she knew how to whip up staples such as grilled cheese and spaghetti, as long as the sauce for the latter came from a jar. But her culinary skills didn’t go much beyond that since, at Evelyn’s insistence, Darcie and