by Holly Rayner
“I’m proud of you.”
“I…” Where are my words? “What for?”
“It doesn’t sound like things have been easy with Nikos, and now you’re dropping everything to fly across the world with him.”
“It’s not like I have anything going on,” I say.
“Still. You’re opening your heart to him. Taking a chance. That’s pretty admirable.”
“He’s worth it,” I breathe. “If you met him, you’d know.”
“I believe it. Hey, have fun, okay? It’ll be great.”
“Thanks, Laura. For everything you do. I love you.”
She makes a kissing noise into the phone. “I love you, too. Bye.”
We hang up, and I smooth out the wrinkles in the dress. It’s one I got the year before, on a shopping trip with Mom. She’s the one who picked it out. Despite my protests that the color was no good on me, she was right. The dress looks great against my skin and hair.
“What do you think, Mom?” I murmur into the quiet house. “Am I doing the right thing getting this involved?”
I don’t expect an answer. I never do. Talking to her here and there is something that helps with maintaining my sanity.
A light tapping makes me sit up straighter. Is that coming from in the house?
Looking over my shoulder, I catch sight of a bee through the window. It’s knocking itself into the glass, repeatedly trying to get inside.
“Aw, no, little bee.”
Opening the window, I wave my hand at it without a second thought. Getting stung doesn’t matter. I’m not allergic, and the world can’t lose any more honey bees.
The bee listens, taking off in the opposite direction and soaring across the yard.
“There you go,” I say, smiling at it. “Go get some of that pollen from the flower garden down the street.”
I’m turning from the window when something catches my eye. It’s a white butterfly, like the one that flew over the fence when Nikos and I were sitting outside earlier. Maybe it’s the same one.
It flits towards me, its tiny wings working hard. The sight of it makes me smile. Even though Sterling couldn’t even remotely be considered the country, there’s still far more wildlife here than in Brooklyn. Back home, animal sightings are pretty much limited to squirrels in the park and dogs on leashes. Every once in a while, someone will get a video of a coyote that’s come followed the railroad tracks into the city and found its way into a cemetery or onto a roof.
Leaning against the window, I smile at the butterfly. Like the bee, it gravitates toward the house.
This time, I reach my arm out, finger extended. The tiny creature lands on the tip of my finger, the touch bringing me a tickling sensation so slight it could be I’m imagining it.
She or he remains suspended there, wings slowly opening and closing.
“You flew high,” I tell it. “If I was your size and flew all the way up here, I’d be exhausted.”
The butterfly only keeps on doing its thing, fluttering its wings and resting on my finger. A flurry of white out of the corner of my eye makes me turn my head. Another butterfly has arrived.
This one flies circles in front of us, and I’ve hardly begun to smile when a third appears.
Then a fourth.
Then a fifth.
My mouth’s hanging open as two more arrive. That makes seven butterflies total.
As the first one continues to chill out on my hand, the other six fly all about in front of us. I don’t know why, but it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Appreciation like I’ve never felt swells in my chest.
Then, suddenly, the first butterfly lifts from my hand and flies off. As if the whole visit were planned, the other six follow it. They fly around the side of the house and vanish.
But the joy in my heart goes nowhere.
If that wasn’t a sign from above, I don’t know what could be.
“So you think I’m doing the right thing, Mom?” My face is lifted to the brilliant blue sky, but a completeness that I’ve never known secures me to the ground.
Chapter 23
Julia
I don’t know how long I stand at the open window for. The concept of time seems to have lost all meaning.
It’s the sound of the front door opening that draws me from the window.
“Julia!” Maya calls.
“Up here!”
Footsteps thump up the stairs. Maya’s got a backpack on, and she’s changed into a clean outfit.
“Ooh.” She points at the dress on the bed. “That’s pretty.”
“Thanks,” I say brightly. “My mom helped me pick it out. I think of her every time I wear it.”
The butterflies at the window come to mind, but I decide not to tell Maya about them. Not quite yet, anyway. The moment is still fresh, and I want to keep it all mine for a little while longer.
“Will you put it on?” Maya asks. “Are you wearing it to the airport?”
“I was thinking of it.” She fiddles with the straps on her backpack, and I add, “Are you coming with?”
“Yep.” Her chest swells with pride. “My dad said that I get to fly all the way to the island where he grew up. I get to meet my uncle, aunt, and grandfather.”
“That’s wonderful.” I wrap her into a hug.
I wasn’t sure whether or not Nikos planned to bring Maya or leave her with a babysitter. Either choice would be understandable. There’s no telling how difficult this trip will be. Things could get pretty ugly.
On the other hand, including Maya means fulfilling her dream to meet her extended family.
“I’m so glad you’re coming too,” I say into her hair.
She squeezes me tight then steps back to look up at me. “Me, too! It’s so cool.”
“I know. It really is.”
“Dad says it’s because of you we’re going. He said that you told him it’s a good idea.”
“I think your dad already knew deep down what a good idea it is. I only helped him remember it.”
“You’re the best, Julia.” Maya hugs me again, this time with all the strength her little body can muster. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I blink away tears.
“Will you put the dress on?” she asks, going and touching the fabric.
“Sure.”
Since I’m wearing shorts and a tank top, I slip the dress on right over them.
“Ooh,” Maya says.
I secure the last button and smooth out a wrinkle. The dress fits as well as it did the day I got it, a snug torso giving way to a flowing skirt.
Maya sits on the edge of the bed and bounces. “Do a spin.”
“Your wish is my command,” I say with a laugh.
Maya claps her hands as I twirl for her.
“Hello!” Nikos calls from downstairs.
“Here, Dad!” Maya shouts back.
“I need to get packing,” I tell Maya. “You both are probably ready, and I haven’t done a thing.”
Drawing my suitcase out from under the bed, I lay it open and consider what to take. How long will we be in Kalista for? And what about money? Do I need traveler’s checks? Thank goodness I have my passport with me.
There’s so much to consider that hasn’t crossed my mind till now.
Nikos appears in the doorway, and his eyes go wide.
“What?” I ask.
His gaze dips down my body, then back up to my face. “Nothing,” he says. “You look…” He clears his throat. “Really lovely.”
My cheeks warm. “Thank you.”
He turns his gaze to Maya. “Did you pick out a stuffie? You can only bring one, remember.”
Nikos’ eyes keep flicking back to me. I bite into a smile. Not gonna lie: it rocks to have him look at me with so much desire.
“Yeah, Dad,” Maya sighs. “I’m totally packed. I have been for hours.”
“Right.” Nikos rests a hand on top of her head. “It’s been, at most, an hour since I told yo
u we were going, so there is no way that statement can be true.”
“Which one are you bringing?” I ask Maya.
“Stuffie Cat. He should be good for cuddling on the plane.”
“Good planning ahead.” With a wink at her, I turn to Nikos. “I’m at a loss as to what to pack. How long will we be there for?”
His mouth draws thin. “A couple days, at most.”
I glance at Maya. She’s fiddling with the notepad next to the bed.
“Hey, do you want to do some drawing?” I ask her.
She grins toothily. “What should I draw?”
“How about a butterfly?”
“Ooh, yeah.” Pen and pad in hand, she settles on the floor.
Yeah, one day I will definitely tell her my butterfly story.
“It could go really well,” I say in a low voice to Nikos. “What then?”
“I am trying not to get my hopes up.”
“It doesn’t hurt to be optimistic,” I say, touching his arm.
“Thank you.” Despite the anxiety in his eyes, his smile seems genuine. “I truly appreciate you.”
“How about I pack for three days?”
“That is generous.”
I shoot him a feisty look. “How long did you pack for?”
“I don’t know. I merely grabbed some clothes and threw them into the bag.”
“Okay,” I laugh. “That’s one way to do it.”
Going to the wardrobe, I grab a handful of socks and underwear and stuff them in the bag—but not before seeing it Nikos is watching.
Call it immature, but I don’t want the boy I like seeing my panties that are covered with cartoon characters.
Nikos isn’t paying attention, though. He’s too busy pacing, running his hand through his hair then stopping to look at his phone.
“What’s up?” I ask. “Everything okay?”
He pockets his phone. “Yes.”
“Nervous?”
He offers me a weak smile. “I hope you don’t mind leaving within the hour.”
My stomach plummets. “Really?”
“Yes. Sorry for the late notice.”
“No, no. It’s all right. You said we were leaving today, so…” I select some shorts and a pair of dark pants and add them to my bag.
Leaving today is something I already accepted, but knowing the exact countdown of the clock has my heart racing.
Nikos clears his throat. “I just spoke to my sister, Thea. She is having rooms readied for us, although…”
“What?”
He stuffs his hands into his pockets and resumes pacing. “I don’t know that we should stay at the palace. Perhaps a hotel would be better.”
“Well, we can always make that decision once we get there, right?”
“I suppose,” he murmurs.
“Nikos.”
I stop him by placing a hand on his shoulder.
“It’ll be okay,” I say. “What did Thea say?”
One corner of his mouth turns up in the hint of a smile. “She was thrilled to hear from me. She said my brother will be there, and he is also excited to see me.”
“That’s great. And your dad?”
He shakes his head. “She did not mention him.”
“And you didn’t ask about…”
Maya is still absorbed in drawing, but I don’t finish the question. As far as I know, she has no clue her grandfather is of ill health.
“No,” Nikos says, reading the silence.
I squeeze his shoulder.
“Who is Nikos?” Maya asks. “Dad, your name is Kal.”
My stomach tenses. Did I just say his name out loud?
I shoot an anxious look at Nikos, waiting for him to answer.
“It is the name my family called me,” he says after a long moment.
“So why did Julia call you that?”
I nibble my bottom lip. How’s he gonna answer that one?
“Julia feels like family,” Nikos says. “Don’t you think?”
Maya smiles big. “Uh-huh!”
“I’ve decided to start going by that name again,” Nikos says, “when it comes to those who know me well. What do you think of it? Do you approve?”
“I like it.” Maya sits up straighter. “You look like Nikos, not Kal.”
“That’s exactly what I thought!” I say, beyond relieved.
Nikos’ warm smile is back. “It’s good to hear both of you approve. Now, if we are to make it to the airport on time…”
“Right.” Whirling around, I snatch shirts from the drawer, then grab my toiletries from the bathroom.
Another look in the closet, and I find a black, lacy dress. Just in case there’s an occasion that calls for looking good, I add that to the bag, along with my strappy high heels.
Maya looks into the bag with interest. “I want to wear high heels.”
“You will one day,” I say. “They’re not easy to learn to walk in, though. Don’t rush it.”
Nikos scrolls on his phone. “Anything else you need to do before leaving?”
“Um.” Biting my lip, I look around the bedroom. It would suck to forget something, especially since Shay is trusting me with her home.
“We should water the plants,” I decide, “Oh! And I’ll text Magnolia and ask her to collect the mail.”
Those things take little time at all, and soon enough the three of us are piling into Nikos’ car. A level of excitement I haven’t felt in years takes hold of me. I understand how Maya is feeling, because I feel like a kid headed on the vacation of a lifetime.
Kalista!
Will I see its beaches? Get a chance to explore its cafes and admire its architecture?
This trip is about Nikos, first and foremost, but I wouldn’t mind a bit of time to wander around and play tourist. Maybe I can bring Maya with me and give Nikos some alone time with his family. His father.
I work to suppress a shudder. It’s one thing encouraging Nikos to go to the man, but I certainly won’t be welcomed by Kalista’s ruler.
Maybe Nikos is onto something with his idea of staying in a hotel…
“Dad, does Grandpa’s house have a swimming pool?” Maya asks. “Does he have any animals? I hope he has a dog.”
I study Nikos’ profile. It feels like Maya still knows less about her father than I do.
“Yes,” he says, “there is a swimming pool. Two, actually.”
“Yes! What about dogs?”
“That, I do not know. It’s been years since I’ve been there. It could be that the palace has dogs now.”
“Palace?”
I turn around in time to catch Maya’s wrinkling nose.
Nikos clears his throat. “Yes. Do you know what a palace is?”
“Yeah, of course. Princesses live in them in the movies.”
“More than princesses.” Nikos glances at her in the rearview mirror. “Princes, kings, queens, all of the many people who work there.”
“Yeah. I saw that movie.”
Nikos opens his mouth, but it seems like he’s not sure how to respond next.
Maybe it’s not my place, and maybe he doesn’t want anyone bailing him out, but my desire to help wins above all else.
“Did you know that palaces are real, too?” I ask Maya. “They’re not just in movies.”
“Really?”
“Mm-hmm. There are some countries—not all of them, but some—that are still ruled by kings and queens.”
“And sometimes,” Nikos inserts, “the kings and queens are merely there to look nice while others do the work and run the country.”
I quirk a brow at him, and he gets the point: talking about that isn’t helpful right now.
“Does Ka.. Ka…” Maya struggles to get the name right. “Does Kalimsa have a king and queen?”
“Kalista,” Nikos corrects.
“Oh. Okay. What about beaches? And mountains? What do the people there do?”
Nikos visibly relaxes. “They are much like the people here, M
aya. Except in Kalista the main industry is tourism. Many people come to visit every year, and that is how most of the families who live there make their money.”
“What about my grandpa? And my aunt and uncle? How do they make their money?”
“Well, Maya,” Nikos says, “Your grandfather is… king of Kalista.”
He tenses. Either it’s that he’s talking about his father or that telling Maya the truth after keeping it from her for so long is hard, but he’s clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.
Maya’s mouth hangs slightly open as she absorbs this new information. Slowly, a smile creeps across her face.
“What do you think of that?” I ask her.
“It’s the coolest!” She giggles with glee. “Does he have horses? All kings have horses, right?”
“There is a stable, yes, with horses. Perhaps we can walk down there so you can pet them.”
“Really?”
“We will see.”
“You know what?” I say. “Maya and I could always take off and explore while you do your boring adult things.”
“Yes!” Maya says.
Nikos gives me a grateful look. I feel exactly what he’s thinking. He wants to give Maya a fun trip, but it’s too early to say how possible that will be. If things don’t go well at the palace, we could be in and out of there in ten minutes—which doesn’t give us much time for petting the horses at all.
“I can’t believe my grandfather is a king,” Maya says in awe. “What do you think about that, Julia?”
“It’s pretty rad,” I say with a grin. “My grandfather was a restaurant owner. Not that that’s anything to scoff at, but I think you might have me beat for coolest grandpa job.”
“Dad, if my grandpa is a king, does that make you a king?”
We’ve arrived at the airport’s entrance. A plane shoots across overhead, and Nikos takes the exit for the long-term parking.
For a few seconds, he doesn’t say anything. I put my hand on his shoulder, and our gazes catch. The anxiety he displayed a few minutes ago has been replaced with a look of calm.
“Actually, Maya,” he says. “That makes me a prince, and your uncle and aunt a prince and princess.”
“No way!”
Nikos finds a parking spot and unbuckles to turn around in his seat. “Yes, way.”
But Maya’s not looking at him. Her attention is on me.