The Lover Boy Within

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"My boy is home..!!!!", Mama Antetokounpo exclaimed with joy as he walked in with Nora closely followed behind him holding hands and hugged him without acknowledging he came in with anyone.

"This is Nora", Giannis stated quickly noticing his mum focused only on him and the older woman had no choice to welcome her also into their family house. It was an awkward and unexpected exchange but mainly from his mother but he convinced himself that this was the first meeting. Things would eventually get better and his mum would be more cordial and relaxed around his girlfriend so he would give her time.

The house was full. All Veronica's children were present for the weekend inclusive of the eldest son Francis and his wife. Giannis had taken their luggage to his room while Kostas the second to the last sibling took Nora on a tour around the house. It was a beautiful family house and was embedded with state of the art architecture and gadgets that would make anyone wow. The Milwaukee Bucks player was extremely happy that she had at least bonded with one member of his family and believed she was going to be comfortable in no time.

Nora had changed into a casual tee which she paired with joggers before heading to join her boyfriend's mum and sister in-law in the kitchen to make dinner. Deep down she felt the negative energy directed towards her when they arrived but could only try and hope things will eventually get better before her and Giannis return to America. How could she tell him about the outcast feeling that engulfed her after their lack lustre meeting earlier? He most likely did not notice but even the brothers looked down on her like she was weird in their midst except Kostas. Alex just greeted her and went in with the NBA 2k he was playing on the console but Francis and Thanasis were outright distant. Sheila, the wife of the Francis also gave her attitude but Giannis was too excited to even notice. Eventually he and his brothers had gone to the beach to hang out while the women remained at home to prepare food.

"Hey", Nora nervously said as she walked slowly into the kitchen not to startle anyone. Mama Antetokounpo and Sheila had started preparing things for the upcoming dinner and she decided to assist.

"Oh you're here..!!!" Veronica said unimpressed. Ever since Giannis was involved in the stick up the month before she had been upset with anything that had to do with Nora, somewhat believing that the young girl was responsible for her son leaving to the restaurant that night in downtown. It was hard to hide she did not like her son's girlfriend and Sheila didn't even acknowledge her presence either.

"Yes I am", Nora replied after mustering up courage to speak. "Can I assist with the carrots for a start?", she asked hoping to douse the existing tension.

"No I will do that myself", the older woman replied and turned her back from Nora.

"Okay, Hey Sheila can I help you out with the sprouts? It's one of the fastest vegetables I can cut so we can be done in no time with others", Nora suggested and hoped she would be more receptive but Francis' wife's behavior was worse. There was no response at all from her. It was obvious she wasn't welcome in the house as there were two other attempts she made to still assist but was turned down. Nora had stayed in the kitchen for another one hour just quiet and waiting to see if any one of them will bulge but the reverse was the case. 

It was time for her to leave but at that moment Giannis mum reached for a spice in the cupboard above her and accidentally knocked the coffee jar spilling it across the floor.

"Let me help you with that" Nora exclaimed as she walked towards where the older woman was and squatted with wipes and a kitchen towel to wipe it off but the smell of the spilled coffee affected her, immediately making her nauseous. Suddenly she covered her mouth in order to control the urge to throw up making the other two women look strangely at her with Giannis' mum telling her to leave it.