Love on the Dotted Line

Chapter 1: Kostas' Inheritance Surprise

Kostas Dimitriadis, the lively 80-year-old, has worked his socks off all his life to become a wealthy man, and boy, did he succeed! His late wife, Eleni, was right by his side, supporting him in achieving this wealth since the day they tied the knot. Sure, they weren't head over heels initially, with it being an arranged marriage. But, as luck would have it, Eleni and Kostas fell in love quicker than you can say, "I do!" They understood each other like two peas in a pod.

Aw, shucks! Poor Kostas is stuck in bed, feeling under the weather and out of sorts. Just last night, he got sick, and his sons had to ring up their trusty family doctor, Mr. Marks, who's been looking after the Dimitriadis clan for over 20 years. The doc rushed over lickety-split, even though it was around the witching hour, and gave Kostas a thorough check-up. He broke the news to the family that Kostas is in a bit of a pickle, health-wise, so they need to keep a smile on his face. The doctor made it sound like Kostas could be kicking the bucket any day now. It's got everyone scratching their heads, trying to figure out how this happened so suddenly, considering Kostas was as fit as a fiddle despite being an octogenarian.

This morning, Kostas is supposed to chow down on a light breakfast and take his meds, but his maid comes running to his kids, saying that their pops are giving her the cold shoulder regarding food and pills. That just won't do in the Dimitriadis household! Rita, Kostas's daughter, along with two of his sons and their better halves, hustle into his room to get to the bottom of this breakfast brouhaha and ensure he takes his medicine.

Rita, with her long, dark locks and youthful heart-shaped face, perches herself on the edge of her dad's bed and takes his hand. "Dad, what's the deal with you not eating? Come on, spill the beans! What can I whip up for you that'll tickle your taste buds? At least have a little soup to keep your strength up," she says, her voice full of love and worry. Her usually neat bun looks frazzled, and her thin lips press together as she tries to hide her concern.

"How can I eat with all these problems in my heart? I have so much wealth, but if I kick the bucket right now, none of you will inherit a penny! It's got me feeling blue as can be," Kostas spills the beans, and his kids and their better halves trade worried glances.

"Dad, you're pulling our leg, right? You didn't write a will?" Kostas' eldest son, Antonios, asks, his eyes as wide as saucers. He's trying to keep his cool, but he's about as subtle as a bull in a china shop.

"You bet your bottom dollar I didn't! I've been telling you a lot till I'm blue in the face - tie the knot if you want a slice of the pie. But your baby bro, Dion, is still flying solo. None of you lifted a finger to nudge him down the aisle. I can't bear the thought of any of my broods being all by their lonesome when I'm pushing up daisies," Kostas croaks out, his voice as weak as dishwater.

"But Dad, who's gonna get all your... um... if you... well...," Kostas' second son, Nikolas, fumbles, biting his tongue before he can say the D-word. He clams up and stares at his shoes like they're the most fascinating things in the world.

"If I shuffle off this mortal coil, every last red cent goes to charity," Kostas declares, followed by a coughing fit that'd wake the dead.

The room's mood takes a nosedive faster than you can say "inheritance". The kids and their spouses are eyeballing each other, looking like they've seen a ghost.

"At least I can rest easy knowing none of your better halves hitched their wagon to you for the green stuff. Your love lives won't go belly up over this bombshell," Kostas muses. His frail baby blues land on his eldest's hubby.

"Lakis, my boy, I'm tickled pink that you put a ring on Rita's finger. You'll treat her like gold, come hell or high water. You didn't say 'I do' for the dough," Kostas says, and Lakis tries to paste on a grin to back up the old man's words. But his face isn't playing ball. Poor guy looks like he's got an invisible noose around his neck.

"Y-yes... yes... Dad. I didn't marry her for money," Lakis stammers, and someone lets out a sneaky smirk.

"Zoe, Maria, I know you two also love my sons to bits. None of you tied the knot for the dough. What a lucky duck I am to have all of you in my family," Kostas says with a weak smile on his wrinkled face. "Now I can kick the bucket in peace. I wouldn't mind if the Grim Reaper came knocking today," Kostas adds, and everyone holds their breath like they're underwater.

"But Dad, Dion has a girlfriend," Antonios pipes up, eyeing the others awkwardly.

"He has a girlfriend?" Rita asks, her peepers wide as saucers. Her lips are itching to smile, but she's holding it back like a sneeze in church.

"Oh... how many girlfriends has that knucklehead had in his life? Today it's a French mademoiselle, tomorrow a Japanese geisha, then an American cowgirl, then an African princess...," Kostas says, rolling his eyes so hard they might fall out of his head.

"No... no, Dad. They're actually engaged," Antonios drops the bombshell.

"What?..." "What? When?" "Oh, that's just peachy!" Everyone starts yapping at once, like a bunch of excited puppies.

"What? So where is she? Get them hitched quicker than you can say 'I do'," Kostas says, his voice suddenly louder than a foghorn. He doesn't sound like he's at death's door anymore. He's as excited as a kid on Christmas morning.

"She was... I think he was planning for that," Antonios says, trying to keep up.

"Where in tarnation is that rascal now?" Kostas suddenly asks, realizing Dion isn't in the room.

"He... he went to meet her," Antonios says with a grin, and Kostas lights up like a Christmas tree. The others smile with relief, washing over them like a cool breeze.

"I want to meet her this week," Kostas declares, sounding like he's ready to throw a party.

"Okay, Dad. Can you eat and have some medicine now? We've hired a nurse for you. She'll come today," Rita asks, her voice as soft as a kitten's purr.

"Hmm... actually, I'm a bit peckish now. Bring me my grub and, oh, is this nurse a looker?" Kostas asks with a twinkle in his eye, and the others trade glances like they're playing a game of awkward hot potato.

"Dad!" Rita exclaims, her voice hitting a pitch that could shatter glass.

"I was pulling your leg," Kostas guffaws, his laughter booming through the room like he's as healthy as a horse. Everyone's jaws drop faster than a hot potato, wondering how he suddenly got the energy to laugh like that when he was at death's door just a few ticks ago. Then Kostas starts hacking up a lung.

"Easy does it, Dad," Nikolas says, worried, creasing his brow.