04

Nicholas helped Theora up the steps and she seemed to calm down a bit seeing this. As the priest commenced the ceremony Theora stole small glances towards Nicholas and found he was staring at her every time. Nicholas found himself admiring her again he reasoned he was just playing the part and it benefited him in the long run if everyone attending thought he was smitten by this girl.

As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, Theora felt herself panic again. She had to kiss Nicholas in front of everyone when the priest gave Nicholas permission to kiss the bride she thought she might have a heart attack. Removing her veil Nicholas moved in tilting his head to the side causing Theora to tilt her head away from the guests while to the guests it might have seemed they were sharing a meaningful kiss in actuality Nicholas barely brushed her lips before backing away. Theora was relieved but did find it weird when she gave it thought. Maybe he did it not to make you uncomfortable a voice of reason said from within her and that was enough for her not to think of it again. As they walked down the aisle for the first time as husband and wife, all of the family members flooded the aisle to congratulate them. When they finally reached the limo with rice in their hair they were totally out of breath.

Theora put down one of the vanity mirrors to remove any remaining rice in her hair and to check her makeup and hair. Besides a few grains of rice here and there everything looked good. She nervously closed the mirror feeling Nicholas’ gaze on her but when she looked his way he turned his attention towards the window.

Once they arrived at the venue, Nicholas helped her get out of the car which she was thankful for as she wouldn’t be able to alone with the large skirt her dress had.

Inside the party had already started with the music blaring and all the cousins and drunk uncles on the dance floor. Nicholas and Theora sit at the table receiving another round of congratulations from guests. As Nicholas’s friends insist on him dancing he grabs Theora’s hand and leads her to the dance floor. Everyone links hands and starts the circle dance Theora truly smiles for the first time during the day and feels the stress lessen as she dances. After a while, she feels the weight of the dress and whispers to Carmen she wants to sit down both sisters make their way back to the table.

« See I told you he likes you. All that worrying for nothing » Carmen said as they sat down together

« Yeah I guess you were right » Theora smiled towards her husband who was happily dancing with his friends.

« Welcome to your new home Theora » her father in law tells her as he opens the door of the limo for her. They are at the house she and Nicholas are going to live in together.

After the wedding party, Theora had tearful goodbye with her parents, sister and grandmother as she left with her in laws to her new home.

Again Nicholas and Theora sat in the the limo alone but neither of them spoke a word the whole ride. Once they arrived Leon proudly lead his new daughter in law to show Theora her new home.

It was much smaller than the mansion she grew up in but still was quite a large house and perfect for a new couple according to Greek standards of course.

« My Nicky is such a lucky man to have you » Theora’s mother in law Odelle kisses Theora on her cheek.

« Nicholas mama » he never liked being called Nicky he felt it sounded girly « and why isn’t she the lucky one »

« Hush and take your wife over the threshold I’m going to film it and send to your aunties and uncles in Greece » Odelle says holding up her phone.

Nicholas dutifully picks Theora up and carries her inside. Theora feels her cheeks burn up and tries to hide it from her in laws to no avail.

« Look Odelle our daughter is blushing » Leon chuckled

« Oh dear we must leave before she turns red as a tomato » laughed Odelle. This caused Theora’s blush to intensify.

« Too late » Nicholas chimed in and all three erupted in laughter as Theora bit her lip nervously and looked down.

« We must leave Odelle » Leon said looking at his watch.

« Let me show Theora around first » by which meant she would take Theora up to the bedroom.

« Fine. Theora if this man ever upsets you just give me a call and I’ll straighten him out » Leon tells her to which Theora smiles. Odelle takes her up to the bedroom and shows her where she has placed all of Theora’s things.

« This is all I can remember but if you can’t find something I forgot just call me and I’ll tell you where it is » Odelle told her

« I’m sure I’ll find everything I need. Thank you » Theora kissed her mother in law on the cheek for the last time before she left.

Once alone Theora looks around the room nervously. It all felt so strange in a few moments Nicholas would come up and they would start their new lives together.

I must ask him for sometime she thought.

It didn’t feel right when she didn’t know him that well. Theora hears footsteps on the stairs and doesn’t know what to do before settling for just standing where she was by the vanity. She hears the door opposite to the master bedroom open before it’s loudly closed shut. A few seconds later Nicholas enters without even sparing Theora a glance he goes into the walk in closet and starts spewing expletives. Grabbing as many clothes as he can Nicholas throws them on the ground abruptly making Theora flinch. Once all his clothes are off the racks he starts to pick them up and take them to the room adjacent. Once he’s moved all his clothes Nicholas comes back into the room staring at Theora angrily.