Nomads

Chapter 27

Luca was surprised to find that William wasn't overwhelmingly overprotective of Mara. There was the expected 'don't hurt her or there will be consequences' line with an extra firm handshake, but other than that Will was amicable.

Clara and Will had planned to chill at the house for the day and were delighted to have Luca joining them. They all had lunch together which was relatively unexceptional. It felt like spending time with family, goofing off and simply enjoying being together. Luca really enjoyed it; he didn't have cousins, so this new family dynamic was refreshing and welcomed. He could only hope that lunch with his grandparents would be half as enjoyable as this.

When Mara brought it up later while they were in her room (door open as per Mara's rule), Luca sighed loudly from the floor where he was stretched out on his back.

"Why do you seem so... wary... about lunch with your grandparents?" She carefully asked from her little nest of pillows on the bay window.

"They just... they are nothing like your family. They're overbearing and they don't always know how to think before they speak, and I don't want them to be rude to you."

Mara smiled. "I like old people. I know how they often don't have a filter when talking because of their age, so it's easy to give them grace. Besides, I love your Greek grandparents. It shouldn't be too hard to get along with your American ones."

Luca shrugged noncommittally. "The thing is, my dad's parents are nothing like my mom's. Lunches with them are always really awkward and uncomfortable. They're worried about me, and I understand that, but I don't like how they express it. They can also be very critical of my uncle, which bothers me."

Mara sighed softly, biting her lip. "That's tough. Maybe with me there they will tone back on the criticism of your uncle, at least?"

"Maybe," he mumbled uncertainly. "I just want you to be prepared for things to be uncomfortable. It's not like they're bad people, they just... They have their flaws, and I don't particularly get along with them. Even before my parents died, the relationship was always strained."

"Because they viewed your dad as a saint, right?"

"Sort of. They had high expectations that put pressure on him to be the best, and they are the same way with me. They expect perfection, and I am fully aware of the fact that I can't be perfect enough for them. My dad never truly was no matter how hard he tried, my uncle definitely wasn't, so I don't even want to try. I just sit through the Sunday lunches once a week so they know I'm not dead."

Mara hummed thoughtfully. "I'm going to infer that you feel like their pressure on the family to be perfect is one of the things that made your dad so... temperamental."

He nodded and sat up, shifting to lean his back against the foot of the bed and loosely wrapping his arms around his knees. "I know I shouldn't, but it's really easy to think that it's their fault. They have no idea what all my dad did, but after finding out that my uncle had a bad relationship with his dad, I'm not certain if they would take it seriously if I were to tell them."

Mara sighed softly. "I hate to admit it, but I can't help but agree. Especially if your dad really was their favorite son; your grandparents wouldn't even entertain a conversation that wasn't favorable about him now that he's gone."

Luca sighed again, running a hand through his hair agitatedly. "I hate those Sunday lunches, and I really don't want to have to bring you, but they've been on my case about meeting you since we got together and I've put it off these past few weeks."

"Something about your attitude has me worrying that there's another reason you don't want me to meet them. One you're hesitating to share."

Luca grumbled under his breath. "You know me too well, Naomi."