KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS

my mother asked, her brow furrowed in concentration as she took her t

ute favorite snack-Flamin' Hot Lays-into my carry-on. "Mykonos is quiet. Peaceful. And aft

ght years shadowing him, two years as COO, and yet he acted like taking a vacation was a betrayal. My fa

Greece is too far away. Why not go to Canada instead? I lo

aughter. "Mama, the gyros in Mykonos will

bag of Lays in my hands. "Do you really need to take t

up my tan you know." I slipped the bag into my carry-on tri

where's

r lips. "Just be careful Adira. Don't want you getting hur

her logic at times was maddening. I knew she wasn't that concerned about th

for the delicate facial features I got from her. With soft brown hair that framed her angelic face and gre

"You don't need to worry. I've travelled solo for the past five ye

with unshed tears a

self. "You're acting like I'll wind up... I don't know..

b. I should know by now to keep my morbid thoughts w

cktracked quickly. "Ma

ed. I seem to have forgotten

She relaxed slightly in my arms, though her sobs continued for

you in serious trouble," she warned, d

th that's kept the company in the top Fortune 500

rotested, f

like a proper lady," she teased, a f

lease, just be careful," she said softly. "And smi

head. If that's what I'd look like

***********

ority. Standing at six feet tall, with arresting coffee brown eyes and a bald head that gleamed under the airport lights, Baba had a presence that demanded respect and as

your use, Adira!" he asked without looking at me, arms crossed in disapproval. Baba'

his stern gaze head on. "It's first c

ense moment before he finall

nt, they were beginning to worry me. Was there something I needed to watch out for? Deciding to ignore that thought

one milder. "I'll call you and M

t that as he opened his arms wi

have done that, but a head wound wasn't as bad as the mental trauma the other kid would have to go through. Stepping into his warm embrace, I inhaled the familiar sce

Destination: Athens," the announcemen

aken the jet," he muttered, always needing the last word. As if I nee

abbed my luggage. "Goodbye, Baba," I said, givin

***************

e assurance of tranquility-I hoped. As I leaned back into my seat, I opened the bag of Flamin' Hot Lays I'd smuggled into my snack carry-on despite Mama's protests. The first fier

to work their way through my system, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to dream. Going to Greece wasn't just a means of escape for me; it was an opportunity to rediscover myself outside the borders of my family's heritage. I'd spent my lifetime proving my caliber to Baba, but Mykonos was a needed retreat for me.

y now to be more spec