“I want us to go to Greece to do it.” She glanced between Amaya and me. “Have the whole family there, and fly out whoever you want as well, Amaya, all expenses paid for everything.”
“Oh, that would be amazing,” Karen gushed, and I grinned. I hadn’t been to Greece in years, and I had wanted to show Amaya my home country since the day I’d met her. I looked over at her, and she pulled an apologetic face at me.
“You know I’d love to, but we have Jolene to think about,” she reminded me. “She can’t just hop on a plane the way the rest of us can. I’m not sure that much traveling would suit her.”
“You’re right,” I agreed at once. “We can’t do it abroad, Nonna. But we could invite everyone down here?”
“You know they’re always looking for an excuse to visit us in America,” my father reminded her, and I practically reeled in my seat. Was he taking my side with this? That woman had to have some kind of seriously amazing effect on him. I had never seen him so agreeable.
“Of course,” my grandmother replied. Even though I saw the flicker of disappointment at having her idea shot down, she breezed by it swiftly, not letting anyone catch on. “We’ll have it here. Maybe in the house?”
“That would be perfect,” Amaya agreed. “You already have the ramp for my sister. It would be ideal.”
“Then it’s agreed.” I nodded. “We’ll have it here. In the garden.”
“I’ll need to get the gardeners in to do it up,” Nonna muttered to herself, and I laughed.
“Have you seen it out there? There isn’t a single strand of grass out of place,” I reminded her. She shook her head solemnly.
“There won’t be a single leaf that isn’t where it’s meant to be by the time I’m finished,” she promised me, and she raised her glass.
“To Kristo and Amaya,” she toasted, and everyone else echoed her. I looked over at my wife-to-be and shared one of those sweet, secret smiles that only existed between the two of us, and I thanked God she was here to help me handle my crazy family. She had welcomed with open arms the thought of becoming a part of it.