Sweet Baklava (6 page)

"Maybe not, but I don't wanna throw the game away, just because you can't keep your eyes off Paula."

"Can you blame me?"

"Nah, but you gotta decide what you wanna do right now, dude—play football or be with your girl."

"Good point." Nick jumped up and caught the football before the intended receiver from the other team could get to it. "This'll be my last play." He took off running for a touchdown then threw the ball hard at the ground. "I'm done for the day."

A few loud whistles and cheers came from the guys on his team. "Why didn't you do that earlier, Nick?"

"I didn't want to show off." He waved and headed off toward Paula and his cousin.

Steph turned around when she heard him. "Who won?"

Nick folded his arms and quirked his eyebrows. "Who do you think?"

"Don't be so full of yourself, Nick."

"I am not full of myself. Those guys are tough competitors."

"I'm sure." Steph took a step back and lifted her chin in a nod. "One's a pastor, one's a techno-geek, and one's . . . I'm not sure what that new guy Zach does, but I don't think he's a jock. Good job, Nick. I'm going to go see if I can round everyone up and call it a day."

"Good luck with that," Nick said. "Your mother is in the house concocting something else to feed the animals."

"Then I better hurry." She turned and jogged up the steps to the house, leaving Nick standing there alone with Paula.

"So what's going on?" he asked. "Sorry I abandoned you."

The instant he said those words, her expression changed. "Nick, I've got to go home now."

"Did I do something wrong?" He sensed that something in Paula had snapped.

Paula shook her head. "No, Nick, it's just that . . ." How could she explain how conflicted she felt with him looking at her with those big dark eyes, his face inches from hers? Everyone she had ever loved took off and left her alone. Even Nick. "It's been a very long day."

He pursed his lips and nodded. "Okay, I'll take you home."

Steph's mother started to argue with her when she said she was leaving. But after a glance in Nick's direction, she scrambled to get some food packed up for Paula to take home. He must have gestured or mouthed something, but at this point Paula didn't care what it was. She needed to be alone. Nick obviously sensed her instant panic, and just like he used to, he gave her the mental space she needed—without filling it up with chitchat.

All the way to her house, she thought about Nick's choice of words. Yes, he'd abandoned her—so had her dad the summer before middle school. Her mother never let her forget it either.

Sometimes Paula wondered when she'd stopped being the daughter and become a parent to her mother. It had happened so gradually she hadn't seen it coming. Every time her dad was even mentioned, Paula's mother took advantage of it and made a verbal jab at his character. She knew her father hurt her mom deeply, and she never wanted to make it worse. Even after all these years, Paula didn't dare mention her dad to her mom.

Paula's mother had tried to fill the void with material things—mostly from thrift stores—and their tiny house had become packed with stuff they didn't need. She said she deserved everything after all she'd been through. Paula understood her mother's bitterness over her dad being unfaithful, but it seemed like she wasn't willing to put any of those feelings behind her—not even for the sake of her daughter.

A couple of blocks from her house in Palm Harbor, Nick pulled over and stopped. "Paula, I don't know exactly what happened back there, but if I caused you to be upset, I'm sorry."

She hung her head as she stared at her hands—the hands that had worked so hard to stay busy and keep her mind off the fact that she didn't have any family of her own. Most of the time she could banish it from her thoughts, but every once in a while it hit her—hard.

"You didn't cause anything. It's just that . . . well . . ."

He took her hand and squeezed it. "Don't try to explain anything, Paula. It's not my desire to ever put you on the spot. I want you to have fun when you're with me, not be miserable."

"I had fun."

One last squeeze and he dropped her hand. "Okay, I'll get you home now. Mind if I call you soon?"

"Can you wait a couple of days?"

She studied his profile and saw his jaw tighten before he gave a clipped nod. "Sure, if that's what you want, I can wait."

As soon as they turned the corner and her house was in view, Nick pointed to the car in front of it. "Are you expecting company?"

N
ot that I know of. Why did you slow down?"

Nick sped up and pulled into the driveway behind the car. "Who do you know that drives a Lexus?"

Paula squinted. "The windows are so dark I can't make out who it is, but the hair is big so I'll venture a guess and say it's my mom." She held back the fact that her mother had always wanted a Lexus, but Paula managed to talk her out of it.

She heard Nick mumbling something, but she didn't stick around to hear what he said. She hopped out and walked straight over to the driver's side of the strange car.

Yep, it was her mom. As tempted as she was to yank open the door, she refrained. Instead, she folded her arms and stared at the silhouette until the window lowered.

"Hi, honey. Surprised?"

"Um . . . not really. What's wrong this time?"

"Why do you always have to be so negative?" Without waiting for an answer, her mother raised the window, got out of the car, and nodded toward the Town Car behind her. "Is that Nick?"

"Answer my question first. Why are you here?"

"Do I have to have a reason to visit my daughter . . . my only child?"

Paula worked hard to resist a good eye roll. "Come on in and I'll fix you something to eat. But first I have to get some stuff out of the car." She glanced over her shoulder then looked back at her mother. "Yes, by the way, that is Nick."

"Anything I need to know about?"

"No, nothing."

After Paula turned and walked toward Nick, he got out and helped her with the bags of food. "Need any help?" he whispered.

"Nah, I'll be fine. Last time she did this, all she needed was a little money to get something for Mack."

He squinted his eyes at the Lexus then looked back at her. "Doesn't look to me like she needs money."

"Nick."

He shook his head. "Sorry."

Paula saw Nick's jaw tighten. And she was glad he didn't tell her what else he was thinking. He didn't have to. She already knew. The only person Nick didn't seem to care for was her mother, who tried to charm him but failed because of the way she treated the one person who needed her most.

"Hey, Nick. You're looking good. Military life certainly agrees with you. Did you resign?"

Paula bristled at the flirty tone of her mother's voice. "Nick's on leave for a few weeks."

The bags Nick carried into the house weren't heavy, but his grunts made it sound like he was toting an elephant. "I'll just put these on the kitchen counter. It was nice seeing you, Mrs.. . . , uh . . ."

"Bonnie. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Bonnie?"

He forced a tight smile. "Nice to see you again, Bonnie." Then he glanced at Paula. "Call if you need me. I'm taking Mama to St. Nick's, but when I get out, I'll have my cell phone on."

After the front door closed behind him, Paula turned to face her mother. "Okay, Mom, what's up?"

Her mother fidgeted with her purse for a few seconds and shuffled toward the bags. "I thought you said you'd fix me something to eat. I'm starving. I drove straight here from Birmingham."

"Okay, sit down. I'll get it for you. Tea?"

"Yes, of course."

Paula valued the few moments of silence as she prepared a plate for her mother and put everything else in the refrigerator. She poured a couple glasses of tea and sat down at the table.

"This is delicious. Which one of Nick's aunts made this stuff?"

"All of them. Most of it's left over from his homecoming party."

"I don't care what you say, looks like the two of you are an item again."

"Don't assume anything, Mom. So why did you drive all the way down here without calling first?"

"Would you have told me not to come?"

Good point. "So are you gonna keep me guessing for a while, or—"

"Okay." Her mother put down her fork and leaned back in her chair. "Things aren't good for me right now."

So what else is new?
Paula lifted her eyebrows but didn't say a word.

"Mack wants me to get a job."

"What's wrong with getting a job?"

"I've worked so hard all my life I deserve some time to . . .relax." She smiled at Paula. "Working full-time and raising a kid without a husband isn't easy, ya know?"

Paula wasn't about to remind her that she wasn't exactly Mom-of-the-Year. That would start a whole new discussion— one she didn't want to face again.

"What about the car?" Paula asked. "That thing wasn't cheap."

Her mother drummed her fingernails on the table. "I think I deserve a nice car."

"Okay, so the only problem you're having is that Mack wants you to get a job, and you don't want to?"

Her mother shrugged. "I guess things aren't going so well in other areas either."

"So do you need money?" That would be easy to take care of. Money was one thing Paula had enough of and some to spare.

"I always need money. Mack is such a tightwad. If I'd known—"

"Stop. I don't want to hear this."

Let the drama begin.
Paula had been the sounding board for her mother ever since they left Alabama after the divorce.

"You're right. I shouldn't air my laundry to my daughter. You have your own life, which you obviously don't want me to be a part of."

She continued her rant about how Paula had made a success of herself and didn't want anything to do with the one who made her what she was. All her intentions were self-centered and narrow.

This went on for a good ten minutes until finally Paula held up her hands. "Mom, do you realize you've just told me what a horrible daughter I am?"

She got a blank stare.

"And if I'm such a horrible daughter, why did you come here?"

Her mother closed her eyes and checked out the way she always did when she didn't want to answer questions or face something distasteful. Everything she accused Paula of was exactly how Paula felt about her.

After not getting an answer, Paula stood up. "Are you finished eating?"

"If I wasn't before, I am now. You're awfully hard on me, Paula. I don't know what I did to deserve this."

"Mom, you know I'll be here for you if you really need me. But I can't solve every problem."

"I never asked you to."

"But you're here for a reason." Paula held her mother's gaze until she got a nod of confirmation. "Tell me what you need."

"A thousand dollars."

Paula's ears rang. "That's a lot of money."

"I know, but that's what I need." Her mother shrugged and looked down at the table before leveling Paula with a pitiful look. "If you don't have it—"

"Do you really need the money, or do you want it for something?"

"Um . . . I sort of need it, or I might have to turn the car back in."

Now Paula understood. "Do you have to have all of it right away?"

Her mother frowned as she glanced away. "I guess I can take half now and the other half next week. I'm two months behind on the payment."

"Does Mack know this?"

Her mother looked down at her hands and shook her head. When she glanced back up at Paula, all color had drained from her face. "I spent the money he gave me for the car payment."

"What did you spend it on?"

"I don't think it's any of your business, but since I have to beg for money, I'll tell you. I'm having some personal problems, and I've been seeing someone."

"A man?" Paula shrieked.

"Stop that nonsense, Paula. Yes, a man, but he's a shrink."

At least she knew she needed help. "Will you still be here next week?" Paula asked.

"No, of course not. I have to get back home. Mack doesn't even know I'm here."

Paula got up and crossed the room to get her checkbook. This wasn't the first time her mother had wanted money, but it had never been more than a couple hundred in the past, and it was always to catch up on some credit card payments she'd missed. She'd never even attempted to pay a dime of it back. When Paula tried to call her out on it, she sobbed about how much she'd sacrificed being a single mother—a situation forced on her. Maybe a shrink would help. At least he couldn't hurt. Her mother's willingness to get help made giving her money a little easier.

After Paula made out the check, she handed it to her mother. "I'll send the rest next week. I have to transfer some money from a savings account."

"At least you have a savings account." Her mother looked at the check, still frowning. "Oh, I need to give you the address to send the check to." She stuck the check in the corner of her handbag, pulled out a little slip of paper, and thrust it toward Paula.

"This is a P.O. box."

"Yes, I know. I just don't want Mack to know about this." She lifted her eyebrows. "If you ever talk to Mack, don't mention the shrink."

"First of all, I never talk to Mack. Second, don't you think you need to let your husband know these things?"

Her mother shrugged as she stood. "I used to tell your father everything, and look what happened."

Paula wasn't in the mood for one of her mother's rants about what an awful man her father was. She'd seen him a total of twice since he walked out on them nearly eighteen years ago, so all she had to go on was what she heard. And not a word of it had been good.

If she hadn't overheard her mother complaining about how difficult a child she was, she probably would have believed every rotten word about her father. But she didn't. Throughout her childhood, her goal was to keep her mother from falling into depression.

Without so much as a thank you, her mom walked toward the front door. "I'll look for the rest of the money in a few days, in case you're able to do something sooner."

Paula didn't budge from where she stood as she watched her mother leave. And it wasn't until she heard the sound of the car backing out of the driveway that she took a full breath and bowed her head.

If Nick hadn't promised to wait a couple of days before calling Paula, he would have called her first thing the next morning. He'd lain in bed all night staring at the ceiling fan, illuminated only by the sliver of light from the full moon creeping in between the shade and the windowsill.

He knew he still had it bad for Paula, but until he returned he hadn't realized just how intense the feelings were. The instant he spotted her mother, his armor of protectiveness for Paula emerged.

Stoic as ever, she pushed him away to face whatever problems her mother created. Bonnie Andrews—or whatever her last name was now—was the polar opposite of all the moms he'd ever known. Selfish, distant, and mean-spirited didn't come close to describing how he saw her.

Everyone else saw Paula as smart, witty, kindhearted, independent, and pretty, while he knew her as a woman who needed love but was too proud to ask for it—even from her own mother. He couldn't help smiling when he remembered how she'd finagled her position on the school paper in order to fit into the tight-knit community at Tarpon Springs High School. Other girls were trying out for cheerleading, dating jocks, hosting parties, and making friends with the movers and shakers. Paula never did anything the normal way, and that was exactly what attracted him in the first place. She even admitted that she applied for the newspaper job just to snag an interview with him. No one else would have come clean.

He'd always admired Paula because she was different. After high school, her honesty, integrity and beauty—both inner and outer—kept him close to home when other guys fled to the big cities. It's what kept him from joining the Air Force right after he graduated.

He'd held onto hope that eventually he and Paula would be together, but her mother told him she would probably never return to Tarpon Springs after college, so he followed his other dream and enlisted.

He should have known better than to listen to Bonnie Andrews. Nick kicked himself all over the place after he learned that Paula had not only returned to the area but established roots—something she'd never had before.

When his last opportunity came up to get out of the Air Force, he came home, only to discover Paula dating another man—Drew, the new associate pastor of their church. How could he compete with that?

Until he met Paula, he'd only gone to the Greek Orthodox church with his family. Paula had been the one to invite him to her church back when he was doing everything he could to hold her interest. Mama said she didn't mind him going to church with Paula as long as he went to church with his family too. He smiled at the memory of his first time at Paula's church and how he'd met the woman who brought Paula to church her first time—a next-door neighbor who noticed that the middle school girl spent the entire weekend home alone while her mother was who-knows-where.

Yeah, he should have gone up to the college and talked to Paula face-to-face. She'd told him to let her get through school without any distractions, but this was bigger than a distraction. Too bad he didn't realize just how much of a distraction it was at the time.

"Nick!" The voice echoed up the stairs, snapping him from his thoughts. "Are you up there?"

"Hey, Mama! Yes, I'm up here." He hopped back into bed and pulled the covers over himself.

"You still in bed?" He heard the thudding of her footsteps. "You might be on vacation from work, but that doesn't mean you can sleep all day." She appeared at his door smiling, defying her tone.