Winter Hearts

In Which Mikhalis Picks Siana Up

She stopped just before the exit to unlock her suitcase and pull out a massive bubble jacket that she had placed there for her arrival. 

She was dying to get out of the stuffy heated airport and into the cold fresh winter air and see her dad, Mikhalis. 

She zipped up and swished her way through the airport doors, her step lighter now that she was finally here. She felt the blast of chill air hit her and she breathed in a thirsty breath, feeling the chill settle deep into her lungs. As she breathed out, she watched the heat of her breath condense and make "smoke" come out of her mouth. She loved it.

She looked up and down the loading zone for her dad's svelte old Citroen. It was like a pimp mobile from the 70s, but she liked it because it was her dad's, and he loved it. It was low-slung and looked like it couldn't make it over traffic humps, but it had a big boot and liked to hug the people it carried with its cosy interior.

She couldn't see the car, but she saw her dad, in a large army surplus flak jacket, waving at her from across the thoroughfare. He was standing next to a shiny, tall, boxy four wheel drive. He ran over to her, a huge smile on his face, and gave her a big bear hug.

"My sweetheart!" He said in Greek loudly, causing bystanders to look at them. An obviously Greek, slightly hoary older man hugging a young girl of mixed asian descent.

"Yeiasou Baba!" She called him dad loudly, a little embarrassed that he had made a scene and now she was making an even louder scene. The onlookers kept looking. Well, she supposed they would wonder about her mum now. She felt so self-conscious. But, as was her habit, any thought that was even slightly negative always got replaced by something positive and happy.

Ah, why was she bothering?

She hugged him back tightly, leaning in to smell his cologne and feel his stubble on her forehead. He pulled away and took her suitcase, looking at her questioningly. She smiled.

"Mum sends her love," she said to him quietly. He nodded and took the bag across to the new car. She gawped at its shiny brilliance.

"What happened to the car?"

"She died a horrific death, gasping in the street. Don't worry! I found a new replacement straight away!" her dad joked as he loaded her case into the back. Siana hopped in the passenger seat as she undid her jacket and let it slide off her shoulders. She shut the car door and put on her seat belt.

When her dad got in and started the car, he turned to her and smiled a twinkly-eyed smile.

"Did you miss me, karthoula mou? Matia mou glykia? Omorfoula mou?" (my heart, my sweet eyes, my beauty)

"Aggh daad! No, not at all. I'm just here to make some money. And meet my future husband."

Her dad crinkled up his nose with disgust.

"But I thought boys were dirty and disgusting?"

"Well, they still are. But now I like it." 

It was her dad's turn to cringe.

"Let's not talk about boys anymore, not until you are 35 like you promised."

"I made that promise when I was 5. Mum can't wait for me to find someone and have babies. You should get with the programme, Dad"

"Is she still making you sell that stuff in the shop?"

"Yes. Half of it is back orders, but those sales paid for her new shoes."

"Thrifty!"

Siana laughed. She loved joking with her Dad. He always kept things light, maybe because he never really liked to talk about things that were too serious. Even though her mum had a great sense of humour too, his unwillingness to open up about their problems eventually led to her having enough, and leaving him.

 All thoughts of the sad VIXX news gone, Siana looked at her dad's profile as he drove the car out onto the highway. 

He wasn't particularly handsome, though he had a strong brow and nose and beautiful light brown eyes. His hair had been salt and peppery for a few years now, and she thought it made him look better, stronger. 

Yet he seemed a little smaller than she remembered him, and she felt a touch of sadness that he was here alone while she had her mum and a cheery life at home.