Fated to Him

The man was there in a suit, with his briefcase in hands and another bag by his feet, scrunched up amid hissing cats, howling dogs and even a screeching parrot. Nia was sure he felt like a fish out of the bowl, and by the annoyed expression on his face he wasn't fond of animals. But Mondays and Tuesdays were the busiest days since they followed the weekend, and today was no exception.

"Good afternoon," she said half an hour later. He got his belongings with a bit of clumsiness from the floor and headed towards her. "May I help you, sir?" She looked from his face to his briefcase with an inquisitive look. He wasn't there for a pet appointment, nor did he look like a medical supplier.

"Yes please, I'm here to see Ms. Melina Karagianis."

"You mean Melina Calimeris. The doctor is in surgery right now. She won't be available for the next hour, but Dr. Gabriella is on. Where's your pet?" She shot an apprehensive glance at him.

He got a big envelope, and with a dark expression on, he checked it twice, and as magic, his face softened up a little and he let go of his breath.

"Sorry, I have to see her, it's a critical matter."

"Can I take the message?" She looked at the envelope and then at the man.

"No, in this kind of business, the person itself has to sign it. I'm from the Courthouse in Athens..." He almost jumped out of his skin when an angry growl came from the front door, as a guy dragged an enormous dog inside. He glared in the pair's direction and turned back to the girl. "I have to deliver this envelope in person and be on the next flight back to the continent, so please, if you can check with her?"

"Courthouse? What for?" She widened her eyes and cocked her head, just like the dogs in the clinic.

"Look, young lady, I have a long list of people I needed to see by tomorrow evening, and I can't afford to miss the flight out of Santorini. So please, help me out here."

She nodded to him, and the anguished look he gave her made her stand up like a robot. "Give me a minute." After that, she disappeared inside the clinic, coming back shortly after. "Doctor Calimeris, asked if you could give her fifteen minutes, and she'll be out, so her assistant can take over and finish for her."

"Thank you!" And with consternation he went back to his seat between two cats and their owners, looking sketchy to those evil aliens spitting and hissing. He wasn't an animal lover, it was written all over his face, and the animals were getting into his nerves.

About twenty minutes later, a petite woman in a light green uniform, full of paw prints patterns on it, showed up in the reception. Nia could see his eyes light up with hope.

"Nia? Where is he?" But before the girl could answer she found him, staring at her as if she was an oasis in the desert and squirming in his seat. He was a middle-aged guy, too skinny and jumpy to her taste, and something told her he didn't bring good news. "Can you bring him to my office, please?"

"Sure, Miss Calimeris." He came quickly once Nia signaled to him. "Please, the doctor will talk to you in her office. Follow me!" She opened a door and showed him inside, then excused herself and left.

"Ms. Karagianis." He couldn't help but notice her surprise at the mention of her last name. It seemed she rarely used it. "I just need you to sign here and I'll be on my way. I'm from the Family Court, and you've been served," he said, handing her the envelope and pointing where she should put her name.

"By whom? What is this about?" He felt sorry for her, and then he saw the strain lines on her face. He could see she was tired, and he was there to add to her burden. Not that it was his fault, no. that was his job, and sometimes he had to deliver bad news to good people.

He also noticed by the way she chewed on her bottom lip, she got nervous with the news. But hey, who wouldn't? She seemed a pleasant person, those kinds of beings that bring you peace. You feel good just by sitting in their company. Such a beautiful lady with those warm, chocolatey eyes. So whatever it was, he hoped she would be fine.

"I'm sorry, I don't have that information, but everything you need it's inside the envelope." She gripped it from him and signed with shaking hands. "That's all ma'am, thank you for your time." Before she said anything to him, he took off in a hurry, leaving the anxious woman and those pesky animals behind.

Melina sat back in her chair, staring at the envelope as if inside it was her passport to hell. From all the scenarios she could assume, there was only one that came to her mind, and it would be disastrous. Her life was about to take a nasty turn, and she didn't know if she was ready to face all the changes that it would follow.

She had made a life for herself on the island, and she didn't want to give up or leave everything behind. She made a home there, had her business, volunteered and helped in the local animal shelter. Now everything she fought so hard to achieve could crumble in a second.

With a loud sigh and dreading to even touch the damn thing, she reached for it. Her trembling worsened, and she dropped it twice on the desk, unable to hold still, so she left there and grabbed a small letter opener, ripping through the brown paper and dragging the contents out of it. The document had a few pages attached, and she didn't fix her eyes anywhere in those papers on purpose. She got afraid to see the inevitable, as if it would do her any good.

Melina gathered up her courage and skimmed the document. She didn't need to read the whole thing just to find what she looked for. As much as she wanted to remain calm, her lunch from earlier rolled like waves in her stomach, and she was sure she would be sick. Two lawyers signed the papers, and their names were familiar to her, but she couldn't place at the moment. The name and stamp on the paper were from Athens Courthouse, Family affairs section, and another from New York City Family court annexed, requesting her presence in Athens in two weeks.

Earth froze in space and the air around stalled as Melina's heart plunged into her stomach. Once her eyes settled on the name of who filed the petition for sole guardianship and custody of the minor, Evangeline Karagianis, her daughter. That wasn't fair. Eve was her strength and happiness. Why this shit now? It gave her the impression life hated her for some mean reason.

She felt her head swimming, and everything spun like a carousel. In a quick move, she put her head down between her knees, and without even noticing drops of tears puddled on the floor. But she wouldn't faint. It wasn't an option; she had to be alert and think about what she had to do.

"Mel? What's wrong, you're white as a sheet of paper!" She jumped in her chair when she heard Gabriella's concerned voice by the door.

"He found me, Gabs! He found me!"