CHAPTER 3 - WHAT SHE WOULD DO?
The fourth week of vacation started sad to both Millers and Portokalos. A year ago, tragedy had taken the family by surprise, as Toula Portokalo- Miller, suddenly passed away from a heart disease.
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At the Miller´s house, Ian was trying to get himself ready to join the whole family at the cemetery. He was frustrated, his eyes had took a turn for the worse and he was barreling seen a thing, needing help almost the whole time to everything.
''Dad, how long you will take to talk to the doctor about the surgery?'' Paris asked him as they wait for someone to pick them up a few minutes later ''Dad?
''I heard Paris. And no, I didn´t say anything yet'' Ian said a bit angry ''let´s go?'' he said ignoring his daughter´s question, when hearing the doorbell hang.
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All the family stood in silence in front of the white mausoleum of the Portokalos family, whose format resembles a miniature of the Parthenon; for a while they stood just in silence, praying, for the only member of the family who rested there.
Despite of been angry with her husband, Maria keep holding herself into him, as they cry the loss of their youngest daughter.
To Ian everything was a blur, not only in his eyes, but hart as well. Those days, more than ever he wished that his wife was by his side. He started to cry silently, letting the tears burn his eyes as he force them to read the name at the gravestone. In vain.
How much he missed her, he loved and still love her very much, his personal Greek statue, his heart ached at the last memories he shared with her. And thinking they almost got the chance of a new heart. Part of him, thought, maybe he should get the surgery, it was just an easy thing, to fix his sight, but part of him, preferred to goes blind, rather than die on the hospital and left Paris without her only living parent.
At her dad´s side, the teen whipped as she remembered the last thing her mother said to her. She bent down then, placed the flower she had brought at the top of the tomb and said a couple of words to her mom.
One by one, each member of the Portokalo family did the same, when it was Nick´s turn, he bent down and took the opportunity to tease his brother-in-law again "Hey Sis, whatever you are, you better send some light to your husband, he got a bit coward nowadays'' he teased
''Nicko, stop this'' his mother scold him "show some respect! At your sister´s resting place"
" sorry Ma! "
''I already told you, I have my motives to don´t want to have the eye surgery'' Ian said annoyed.
The family continued to share memories about Toula for the next hour, then, after another pray and wishes to the woman rest in peace, the family gone away.
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After the cemetery, Paris and Athena goes to Nikki´s salon, Angelo and Taki went to the pet shop they owned and while Maria went to a friend´s house for a tea and distractions, the rest of the family gathered in the restaurant.
Gus on the other hand, was sad, once everyone took their seats, he seat together, but keep staring at the salt shaker, without enthusiasm.
''what´s the matter Dad?'' the Nick asked patting the older man shoulder
''I´m just trying to understand what is the matter with your mother, she´s been avoiding me.'' He said ''a lot''
''you called her old, it is a big motive'' Voula defended her sister
''yeah but, today is a day to all of us stay together… and she preferred to drink tea with some friend from that dance school.''
''she just want some time to herself Gus'' Ian intervene ''it´s a hard day to everyone'' he said rubbing his eyes.
''if she´s having an affair?'' the old man asked worried
''don´t be ridiculous Gus!'' Voula scold him ''you know very well that Greek women don´t have lovers, when we find the right someone, is to get merry and be happy for the rest of our lives'' she said and in response, it was Ian who lowered his head, sad.
''well, anyway, Ian, I'm getting worried, that Boy, Bennett, he disappear out of nowhere'' said the old man
''I don´t know'' Ian said ''every time I ask about him, Paris changed the subject.'' The father replies
''they had broken up'' Voula said out of sudden and the two men looked at her
''what you mean broken up Thia?'' Nick asked
''she told me just that, they had broken up, what´s the problem with that?''
''why she didn't told me?'' Ian seemed confused
''because it´s a girl subject. Could you three stop asking questions?'' she said as Nick spotted a young man on the street, looking around the place, before getting in the restaurant. It was Clark
''good afternoon'' he said ''this is the Dancing Zorba´s?''
''yeah?!'' Gus nodded
''hi, my name is Charles Fletcher i work with Paris at the dance studio'' he said ''she missed work today and I thought to come here and see if she´s okay''
''Clark!'' Aunt Voula exclaimed, walking toward him with a smile ''Come, have a seat with us'' she said ''Paris isn´t here now, but you´re welcome to have some coffee'' she smiled
''well, I would love to, but I'm really busy right now, I just passed by to have some news on Paris'' he apologized ''but thanks a million anyway'' he said walking away
Once Clark go away, the family looked to each other in confusion and The first thing Kosta asked, was if Clark was Greek, but when Voula replies the kid was British, the old man just shook his head disappointed, his whole life was just wrong.
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Next day, Paris got back to the dance studio, it was her last week working there and she wanted to stay with her friends, especially Clark. She was really fond of him and couldn't wait to introduce him to her father and the other members of her family.
As the two teens help a teacher clean the one of the class rooms, Clark decided to approach the girl, in order to know why she had missed the work the day before. He also noticed that she was a bit down that day, which worried him.
"Hey Paris" he greeted her "it's everything alright?"
" Yeah, why? " she asked, putting one tatami aside
"You missed work yesterday, so I went to your restaurant, in order to know how you are, but you aren't there."
" Oh, yeah, yesterday wasn't a good day and i wanted to stay with my family. Plus, my dad is having a very serious eye problem, but refused to go find a doctor to fix it" she said
''that's sucks'' he agreed '' your mother must be very worry as well'' he said and in response, Paris just lowered her head, making him realize that in some way he had said a bad thing '"As i was saying… '' He changed the subject quickly '' i hope your father get well soon. And by the way, your family seems very fun."
" Thanks! " paris seemed a little awkward "and you managed to have a lunch at the restaurant?" She changed the subject
"I haven't, i was very busy and just passed by there to know where you had gone, but i intent to come back there other day for a Baklava."
"What about next Tuesday? It will be my last day of work, we could celebrate!" Paris suggested.
"I think it's an awesome idea" Clark agreed, giving her a kiss on the cheek as they get back to work.
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Once Paris get home, she found Ian seat in the couch, with almost all the room in the dark, except for the reading lamp. The light has been hurting his eyes a lot now. So there he was, seating in the living-room, looking at nothing. Their dog Patches was lying down at the couch, sleeping.
"Hey Dad!" She greeted him
"Paris, we need to talk." Ian said straight to the point. Since the day before, she realized her dad was a bit distant, at first, she thought it was because of the day, but he was just worry about her.
"What s it Dad?" She asked
" Honey, why didn't you told me you had broken up with your boyfriend? " he asked
"Why are you worry about this Dad?" The girl got confused.
"Look, if you weren't happy with him, you are more than right to walk away from him." Ian start "but think of it, you got depressed for days, you get me very worried about you, for days, i was very anxious actually, trying to find out a way to help you."
" Sorry Dad " the girl said a bit ashamed "you had so much in your mind, that i didn't wanted to worry you even more" she said and in response, he reached out for her. Without another word, she seat beside him and rest her head on his chest.
"Paris, i'm your dad, the first thing i want in life is your happiness... Doesn't matter all the problem I'm going through, i will put it aside, to help you be happy again" he said
''I miss Mom, wish she could be here'' the girl said
''me too honey'' Ian said sadly
"Dad? What you think Mom would do?" She asked and Ian took a deep breath
" about what? The broken up? " he asked
"Everything actually."
" Knowing your mom, she would want to fix everything, she would make your grandparents stop arguing with each other all the time. Certainly she would want to know why you broken up... " Paris laugh at that. "And i would be on my way to the eye surgery already." Upon hearing that, the girl looked at her dad again, his eyes were getting cloudy and she felt tightness on her chest on that.
"Dad, what Theos Nick said, about you been a coward when it come to the surgery thing, i know he's teasing you, but why you're so afraid?"
" Paris... " he started "i don't know what expect of this surgery, i really don't. So i don't want to take a risk and let something happens to me, i know i can go blind if i didn't have this surgery, but i prefer to lie the rest of my life in the dark, rather than left you alone" he explained
"Ah Dad!" The girl hug him back " hey, look at this " she took the cellphone from her pocket, put the video on and give it to her father, who place it inches from his nose, looking at the blur in front of him.
"Its your grandmother?"
" Yep, i filmed her dancing" she laugh
"Humm" Ian raised his eyebrows "i think you taking her to these dance lesson, was indeed a very good idea, she seems to dance very nicely" he agreed.
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Meanwhile, at the Portokalos main house, Gus and Maria were again, arguing with each other. As they have dinner, the old man told his wife about his suspicious, letting her furious
"After everything we gone through Kosta, what made you think i would have an affair?"
" You have been avoiding me Maria, you only think about these damn classes, you barely stay at the restaurant and if not, you spend more time at Ian´s house than here... Speaking of it, you know a guy from your dance classes, goes to the restaurant, looking for Paris? "
"Yeah, Gus, he is her boyfriend, just this." She said angry "and what the problem i wanting to have a time for myself? I spend my whole life taking care of this family, i lost a child..."
" we lost our child" Kosta correct her
"I just want a time to distract myself. And don't worry, I'm not having any affair" she snapped "but till you apologize to me, i will sleep at the guest room" she left the main room, slamming the door behind her.