His Unwanted Bride ~Editing~

Chapter Forty One: Tabitha

     We placed our bags in the suv and walked past two or three other stores until we reached "Painter's Paradise." Alex opened the door for us and we stepped inside.
    "Have you thought of what color you want your room?" he asked Clarissa.
     "Not yet, I'm just going to look at the colors until I find one that's right. I've never picked my walls before, " she smiled,  her eyes wide.
     We looked at countless swatches until finally she squealed with excitement. "This one please! It's perfect!" she yelled holding up a swatch that was a mix between a pale magenta and lavender.
     "I love it!" Alex exclaimed with a smile. "Now, just for fun, if you could pick any paint color here for your dream room, which would it be?" Alex asked me playfully.
     "Hands down, brushed nickel and cosmic teal," I smiled. "I'd have all four walls technically teal and one teal accent wall with raised a geometric design made of brushed nickel colored wood and the trim would be brushed nickel as well."
     "That sounds wonderful," he smiled. He spoke to the man at the counter and arranged for the paint for Clarissa's room to be dropped off by courier. He explained that his staff would get it from the door.
      "Thank you," I smiled as he led us to the next shop.
     "Tabby. I have a question for you," she asked as we were looking through various clothes racks.
     "Yeah sweetie?" I replied, parting the clothes on the rack so I could see her on the other side. She giggled.
     "How do you say grandma in Greek?"  she asked quietly. I thought back to my own grandmother, long gone from illness.
     "Well there are a few ways, Yia Yia Ka is typically the formal way, Yiayia is the casual way, and Yiaka is what we call mine as a little nickname. Why do you ask?" I asked her softly, moving around the rack and crouching in front if her. I could see Alex trying to give us a bit of space in the small shop, but it was clear he could hear us.
    "I've never really had grandparents before," she spoke nervously. "Do you think Thea Roula would mind if I called her Yiaka Roula? She's so nice to me and cares about me, I want to show her I care too," she spoke quickly and blushed. "She just makes me so happy like you and Alex and I know I'm not her real grandchild, but she feels like shes my family too."
    I smiled back at her and looked to Alex for silent guidance. He nodded reassuringly, his eyes looking as if he was about to cry. "Well, I think that would make her very happy," I smiled hugging her tightly.
    "You'll get the chance today too, she is meeting us for dinner with my father," Alex smiled.
    "That's wonderful!" Clarissa's eyes sparkled.
     We finished looking through the children's clothing store picking out multiple outfits and having Clarissa try them on. By the end of our visit, she had a whole new school wardrobe picked out. "By the look if things you just need shoes, play clothes, and a bathing suit or two," Alex smiked at her.
      "Why would I need a bathing suit?" she asked.
      "To go swimming of course!" He laughed as we placed the rest of her clothes in the SUV. Next we shopped for shoes, bathing suits, and play clothes.   
     While looking for bathing suits, he'd gotten me a wet suit styled bathing suit that I had picked out.  It was a black and purple one piece with short sleeves and shorts. It was perfect because it covered all my scars, but still have ne the freedom to enjoy the water.