No Longer Needed by Brenda Grate Read Free Book Online Page A

of fast food, with Papous exclaiming about the benefits of home-grown food, was what had started her desire to learn to cook.
    Or it could be that Yiayia’s blood runs in my veins.
    According to Papous, she had been the most famous cook in their little village. And for Greek women, that was saying something.
    Emma’s mother passed away soon after Emma left for university. Her three sisters were in high school, so Papous took them in for their final years. He’d always loved his granddaughters, but Emma held the biggest part of his heart. She knew it even though he never said so aloud. But he’d often told her she looked just like his Maria. Emma had always realized it for the compliment it was.
    Emma climbed under the covers. She picked up the book and continued leafing through the pages. The pictures were almost overwhelming in their bright colors. There were photos of the Acropolis in Athens and some of the island of Hydra. Emma’s childhood longing to visit Papous’ country rose up.  
    He’d always said, “It’s your country, too, Koukla Mou.” Tears welled up as Emma remembered his old name for her, “my doll.” Papous had never liked her English name. He’d wished for his son to name his children good Greek names, but Mom had insisted on her first daughter being named after her mother. Emma’s sisters all had Greek names; Katerina, Maria, and Korina.
    Emma’s sisters were all she had left of her family, but they had moved away, and she seldom saw them. The divide only got larger when Papous left the house to her. She knew it was her right as the oldest daughter, and he’d left money and other possessions to them, but her sisters had always been selfish that way. They ganged up against Emma and refused to speak to her for several years. The ice had thawed a little a few years back, and they spoke at Christmas and a few times a year, but she hadn’t seen them in far too long.
    I wonder what they would think about me going to Greece.
    Emma set the book aside. She settled back on her pillow and closed her eyes. She made a mental list of the people she needed to call in the morning, starting with Alan’s lawyer. There was no way she’d let Alan put the little house in the divorce agreement. Once she’d realized the possibility, she felt positive he’d slipped it in, confident she wouldn’t notice.
    Emma felt sick at the thought of almost signing away Papous’ inheritance. She would never have forgiven herself. One thing she could be sure of, however, Alan wouldn’t give up without a long hard fight.  
    Emma’s fist clenched on the duvet. This was one thing she would never give in on. The one thing she’d always had in her back pocket was Papous’ house. It was hers, her safety net, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to take it from her, especially her hard-nosed husband who never even went on vacations.  
    She would never allow Papous’ house to become a status symbol.

     

Chapter 9

    As soon as Emma poured her morning coffee, she sat at the desk in Alan’s office—her office now until she moved out.
    Emma’s heart raced as she contemplated fighting with Alan over the little house. She’d always hated fighting with him. He was forceful and she had a natural instinct to give him whatever he wanted. Had he gotten so used to her compliance that he’d gotten bored with her? Doesn’t a man want a challenge, even in his marriage? It seemed to her she’d seen that in one of those marriage books she’d read over the years when she’d wanted to spice things up a little. She’d passed that advice off as silly. What man wanted conflict in his home? But maybe she’d been wrong. Whatever she’d done or not done, it hadn’t worked.
    Emma’s hand shook and she clenched her fist around the pen, trying to calm herself. She didn’t understand her nerves now. She’d kept calm over the last few weeks as she dealt with the divorce, but now that she’d made the decision to go to Greece, her nerves