I stirred, ignoring mom's voice, “Kathy wake up, we are having a family picnic, it's gonna be fun, common”.
“You guys go on without me”, I muttered, obviously asleep.
“Be down in three minutes and when I say three minutes, you should be done”.
I staggered to my feet, checking my closets for any picnic clothes I brought, luckily I saw a loose fitting short and a lovely purple top I never knew I had, picking up my sunglasses I rushed over to mum, who was obviously making snacks for the picnic.
“Done!”.She smiles and passes the sandwich to me, “try it”.
I took a bite from it, closing my eyes to savor the taste, “Great mom”.
“You ladies should really be coming”,Dad peeped through the door.
“Darling, could you help with the food basket?”. Mom says.
“Of course”, dad stops immediately, frowning at the content of the basket, “Hunny don't you think this is a lot of food, we aren't spending the whole day there”.
“I'm a mom, and you can't blame me if I don't want my kids to starve to death”.
“Fine you win”.Dad picks up the food basket and heads towards the front door. I meant to follow him when mom stopped me.
“Mom, I haven't got all day”.
“The young man”.Mom begins.
“Mom, please..”.
“He's cute and he really seems like a good chap, maybe you might wanna know him more?”.
“Mom, if we both want that, we would do it, we don't need a script to do whatever we want”.
“Just a piece of advice, if you ever love someone, never follow your rules, follow your heart and you will end up on the right path”.Mom advice.
“Yes we talked mom, and….”.
Dad peeps through the door again, “You two coming or what?”.
“We will finish talking when we both get back”.Mom says.
“Sure, if that's what would make you happy”.
The journey is slow and gentle, filled with beauty and wonder. The sun shines down on the path, dappling the trees with light. The leaves rustle gently in the breeze, and birds chirp merrily in the branches. A babbling brook trickles by, its waters sparkling in the sunlight. The air is cool and fragrant with the scent of pine trees and wildflowers.We could feel the peace and tranquility of the moment. We felt a sense of connection to the natural world, and to each other.We stopped at the place, it really looked historical.
“Spray out the picnic clothes”.Dad ordered me to fetch the basket from the car, so I slowly sat down.
“We chose this early because very soon it's gonna be filled with some other tourists”.
“And I don't like being in public, people are weird”.Hilly says and I don't know but it got me really upset, she should be thankful to mom and dad and not complaining.
“No one even knows you Hilly, it's not like you're some song artist or actress, you are just a mere tourist”.I frowned.
“True, I might be a mere tourist but at least I have got brains more than you”.
“You're just a loser, you couldn't even go to college because of your…”.
“Kathy”,Mom whispers but it was too late, I could see Hilly's face going red and then she started crying.
She turns to me, “I had to do that, I had no choice because I loved your brother, even when my parents didn't like it one bit”.
“Girls!!”.Dad shouts.
I could see Jacob walk towards Hilly, “What's going on here?”.
“Nothing”.Peter smiles.
“Did you do anything to her?”. Jacob is looking at me.
“Because your sister needs to be taught some manners”.I responded.
He walked towards me quickly, gripping my arms really tight. He bruised me, “And you are the one who would teach her the lesson, huh?”.
“Jacob let go of my daughter”.Mom walks over, trying desperately to pull him from me.
“Your daughter as been getting on my nerves for some time now, acting like she owns the world, your
nothing but a slut Kathy”.
“And you're a worthless man, you are nothing to anyone, just a piece of trash who thinks he can control just anyone”.I gritted my teeth and Jacob's hand connected to my cheeks.
“Jacob!How dare you slap my daughter”.Mom holds me tightly.
I turned towards Peter who looks away, he never defends me.Dad walks towards Jacob.
“I can take anything but I won't tolerate you beating my daughter”.
“I hate you!, I would always hate you”.I said running out of the place with mom and dad calling me.I found myself lost and wandering around the streets, I sat on a bricks bench, I didn't realize how late it was and people were retiring home and I could see the number of tourist returning.
“Excuse me”, I said to a man.
“But I am lost, maybe you might know..”.
“Am a tourist, I am sorry but I am afraid I don't know”.
“Okay, thank you”.
I rubbed my hands to warm it from the evening cold, I was still in my picnic clothes.
“Kathy?”.A voice says, I didn't bother to look when it called my name again, I looked at the direction of the voice.
“Mitch?”.I said running into his arms and we stood like that for a while.
“What are you doing here?”.he asks.
I burst into tears.
“No, please don't do that, let me take you home, are you lost again?”.
“Yes I am lost but I don't want to go home either”.
“If you don't wanna go home, where are you going to stay?”.
“I don't know”, I looked up, “Maybe in your house?”.I said, still unsure to follow him, he was still a stranger.
“What?”.
“Please could you do that for me, help me”.
“Common, we shouldn't be late”.He took my hands and I smiled.
The house stands on a hill overlooking the Acropolis, its white walls gleaming. It is surrounded by lush gardens, bursting with the vibrant
colors of the Mediterranean. The air is scented with citrus and jasmine, carried on a gentle breeze. It is a place where one can feel the history and culture of Greece seeping into the very air.Stepping inside the house, one is greeted by cool marble floors and high ceilings. White walls are accented with colorful mosaics and paintings, depicting scenes from Greek mythology and daily life. The room is spacious and airy, filled with scents of fruits from large windows and doors that open onto balconies and terraces. A central courtyard features a beautiful fountain and lush greenery, providing a tranquil oasis within the home. The room is simple and elegant, furnished with traditional Greek pieces that reflect the country's rich history and culture.
“I love your house”.I smiled.
“Really?”.
“It's cute, just like the house we are staying at”.
“Would you like anything?”.He offers.
“No”.My stomach isn't agreeing with me because it makes a loud noise and I felt a little embarrassed.
“Next time, don't let your stomach do the talking”.He teases.
“I hope your parents don't mind me being here”.
He hesitates, “No they wouldn't”.
“When will they be here?”.
He turns towards me, “They wouldn't ever be here”.
“What do you mean ‘ever”.
“My parents are dead”.
I placed my hands over my mouth, “Oh Mitch am so sorry”.
“Yeah, have gotten used to the fact, they died 5 years ago, they got into a ship accident and everyone aboard drowned, they recovered their bodies days later, it was a really painful experience for me" .He explains.
“Am so sorry I reminded you of the past”.I walked towards him and placed my hands in his.
“It's all better now”,he pulls away and chops the carrot really fast.
I helped him set the table when he placed the food. The carrots are roasted to perfection, drizzled by honey and sprinkled by fresh herbs, accompanied by a juicy roasted chicken, a pot of creamy mashed potatoes and a side of fresh green beans.
“Looks really delicious”.I said as I took a seat.
“Dig in”.He smiles at me.
I smiled as I took a spoonful into my mouth, I chewed slowly, then scooped more, “Hmmmm, I wouldn't want this to finish”.
“When you are all alone, you learn to do everything”.He said.
“It’s really delicious”.
He smiled softly not uttering any word but concentrating on his food.We were done eating and I proceeded to wash the dishes when Mitch stopped me.
“I would do that”.he says.
“No I would”.
“Of course not”.
“But I want to”.I said.
“Please listen to me Kathy, you shouldn't be doing all this, like I said I would do it”.He says softly.
“Sure”.I strolled over to the window, taking in the view and the good scent.When Mitch was done he walked over with a bottle of wine.
“Want some?”.
“Don’t mind if I do”.I said, I watched as he poured some for me and handed it over.
“You didn't tell me what really made you run away from home”.
I took a quick sip, tasting the pure grape, “We were supposed to have a picnic today, but things didn't go as planned, the girl you saw me with, well she's my brother's wife and we don't get along, she's always been naggy and annoying and I hate her for taking away my brother from me, when Hilly and my brother began dating, my brother's relationship with me became rocky and I got into a fight with Hilly every second, but today at the picnic, her brother defended her and slapped me in the process”.
Mitch's eyes widened, “Which numbskull would do such to a girl”.
“The numbskull you met some days ago”.I could see him looking confused, “He was quite angry when we…”.
“He’s a crazy one”.He frowns, “Where can I find him?, I wouldn't like anyone to lay a finger on you”.He leans and brushes a hair strand from my face.
Blushing suddenly, “You don't really have to do that it's all over now”.
“I had to do anything to protect you”.
“Anything?”.
“Anything”.He smiles widely.
I didn't realize what it felt like having someone look after you apart from mom and dad.
“So tell me more about your parents”.
He leans back, “I don't like talking about them that much”.
“It's okay if you don't wanna talk about it”.I said slowly.
“But I will say it to you, my parents and I really loved each other, and it really came as a shock when I lost them especially when I achieved the land for the the agriculture, and am producing in large stock, it's something dad has being doing and he hoped to expand it”.He explains.
“That’s a hard thing to cope with Mitch, didn't you have any friend?”.I paused feeling guilty about what I wanted to say next, “No girlfriend?”.
He smirks, “Why do you want to know about that?”.
“Not….”.I stammered.
“Just joking, yeah I did had a few but it just didn't work out, but after the lost and all I needed time for
myself”.
I stared at him, I knew what it felt like, being all lonely and I just couldn't think of him being all lonely, “It's been really hard huh?”.
“I should really be going to bed”. Mitch stands up.
“Can I know where my room is?”.
“Sure thing, come with you”.
YOU ARE READING
Binded Strings
RomanceKathy learns she has to go on a vacation to Athens , she is super excited but then she has to spend it with her annoying Sister in law, her nagging dad, her brother who she doesn't get along with and Jacob, her Sister in law's brother. When she gets...
