Greek American sisters Nicole and Theodora have achieved the perfect balance between the old world rich in Greek tradition and the freedom of life in America - or so they thought. As the dramatic plot unfolds, the two young women must confront deceit and betrayal and the consequences of their personal choices – while they struggle to preserve the values they cherish.
The beautiful Parsenis sisters led charmed lives – or so they thought. Born into a prosperous Greek American family, sisters Nicole and Theodora have achieved the perfect balance between the old world rich in Greek tradition and the freedom of life in America. But when Theodora marries a rich and handsome man from outside the Greek community, events are set in motion that threaten to disrupt the enchanted “circle” of the sisters’ lives.
Headstrong and independent, Nicole plunges into life head-first. Her talent and astute business acumen make her the perfect heir to her father’s empire, but his old world attitudes prevent him from giving the top spot to a woman. Nicole’s world spins out of control when she falls for a married senator who shares her heritage and her dreams.
As the dramatic plot unfolds, the two young women must confront deceit and betrayal and the consequences of their personal choices – while they struggle to preserve the values they cherish.
Set in Baltimore, Annapolis and the tiny island of Ikaria, Greece, Circle Dance gives the reader a view into the lives of a dynamic family that has successfully achieved the American dream without abandoning the customs and traditions handed down through their Greek heritage. Artfully intertwined plots bring generations together in a dance of rejoicing and mourning, loss and healing that will keep viewers enthralled until the last frame.
Excerpt
IKARIA, GREECE - JUNE
Soon they would be back in America and in September Theodora would marry the wrong man. Nicole should be happy for her, but she knew that her sister was about to make the biggest mistake of her life. Nicole sat on the front porch of the small white house, the book she was reading lying open on her lap as the sun rose over the tranquil Aegean Sea. The fishing boats had gone out hours ago, before dawn, while the rest of the island slept. A gentle breeze ruffled the pages of her book, the welcome coolness of early morning that would soon turn to searing midday heat. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the back of the wicker chair. They were near the end of their summer idyll, she and her grandparents. Her brows came together in a frown, the corners of her mouth turning down. If only we could stay here, she thought, and put Stewart and the wedding forever on hold.
Her grandmother Sophia had always believed that America was her savior, but Greece was the essence and strength of her soul. This ancient land of her ancestors was a part of her soul too. It was here, summer after summer, that she had learned of childish romances and heard the melancholy chords of a lone mandolin dancing across the warm night air. It was here that she felt at one with herself.
She would miss these summers on the island. They had been some of the best times, with just the four of them. They had made this annual pilgrimage since she was ten. The summers together here had served to forge an even closer bond than already existed between the sisters. Nicole, bold and daring, and Theodora, the younger but more serious of the two, known affectionately by the doting islanders as ‘the Parsenis girls.’ As small children they had explored the far reaches of the island, discovering hidden trails and paths that took them from dry rocky hills to the glorious white beaches of Armenisti on the other side. Together with their friends, they’d ferried to Mykonos, Samos, and Santorini, carrying their lunches of hard cheese, crusty bread, and bottled water. Their Greek improved each year until they were easily able to converse with even the most rapid-speaking of the natives. The burley grocer in Ayios Kyrikos always made sure he saved the ripest and juiciest peaches for them, and Ari, the long-haired eighteen-year-old who rented motorbikes, never failed to flirt and give them the newest and shiniest of the lot. They were popular and well-liked, equally at home with the aging compatriots of their grandparents or their own young friends.
The clattering of dishes startled her and she sat up. Sophia must be making breakfast. Nicole rose, leaving her book on the chair, and went inside.
“Good morning, agapi mou. What would you like for breakfast?” Her grandmother’s thick gray hair was pulled back in a bun. At almost eighty, Sophia moved with an inherent elegant grace. She was a handsome woman, tall and solid, her face remarkably unlined for her age.
“Just some coffee, Yiayia. Not very hungry.”
Sophia turned from the coffee pot and looked at Nicole, her eyes narrowing. “What is it, my girl? Something is bothering you.” She gestured for Nicole to sit, poured some coffee for each of them, and then pulled out a chair for herself.
“It’s nothing. I guess I’m just not ready to go back yet. You know, sad it’s our last day.”
“But Nicole, there is so much to look forward to with the wedding and starting your new job. You should be excited, no?” Sophia’s thick accent had a lilting cadence to it.
“What do you think of Stewart, Yiayia?”
Sophia hesitated, surprised by the question. “Well, I do not know him well yet, but he seems like a hard-working and responsible young man. Why do you ask me that? Is there something we do not know about him?” There was concern in her voice.
Nicole looked down at the table and thought about what to say. Her fingers spun the mug in circles as she sat in silence.
“Tell me, Nicole. What is it you are keeping from us?”
Her grandmother was no one’s fool, she thought. If she couldn’t confide her fears to her, then to whom could she?
“This may seem like nothing to you, but, Yiayia, I’ve watched how he treats Theo; he just seems so controlling to me. I know he’s ten years older, but he acts like she’s not capable of making a decision without him. There are times he treats her like a child. I can’t understand why she doesn’t see it.” Her tone was angry now. “Sometimes I feel like the only reason he grabbed onto Theo was to go to work for Dad.”
Stewart had utterly ingratiated himself with Nick, their father, and had been comfortably ensconced in the family contracting business since last year. Nicole hadn’t heard any complaints at the office, but then, she was, up to this point, just a part-time employee, a graduate student and the boss’s daughter. When they returned to the States, she would assume a full-time position at Parsenis Contracting and then she would be working with Stewart every day.
Sophia straightened in her chair. “Have you spoken to your sister about this?”
“How can I, Yiayia? What would I say? She’s so happy and in love.”
Sophia was quiet as she considered this. “Are you sure you are not seeing things that are not there? That perhaps you are a little sad that things are changing?”
“No Yiayia, it’s not that. Really. I want to be happy for her, but the more I’m around Stewart, the more I dislike him.”
Just then Theodora came shuffling into the kitchen still in her robe. “You two are up early. What time did you get up anyway?”
Nicole and Sophia locked eyes briefly while Theo poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down.
“I think I’ll go put my suit on. Last day, can’t stay inside when the beach is calling.” Nicole rose just as Sophia also got up.
“Was it something I said? Everybody’s disappearing.” Theo yawned and ran her fingers through her long golden-flecked hair.
“I’ll take towels and water out for both of us,” Nicole said. “Come down when you’re ready.”
Theo stretched and took a sip of the hot coffee. “Okay,” she said lazily, “see you in a bit.”
Sophia busied herself at the stove, disturbed by what Nicole had told her.
“Are you on a coffee only breakfast like your sister?”
“Afraid so, Yiayia. I have a final fitting when we get back. Don’t want to bust a seam.”
“Nonsense, you do not have one extra ounce on you.” Sophia hated the low-fat, low-carb, low-everything mentality of her daughters and granddaughters. Life should be enjoyed. Everything in moderation, she believed, even moderation.
Morning quickly turned to afternoon as their final day in Ikaria melted away. As the sun moved lower in the sky, Nicole and Theo walked home along the narrow road that ran between the sea and the small waterfront houses.
“You’ve been awfully quiet all day.” Theo looked over at her sister as they strolled past the local grocery.
“Guess I’m just thinking about leaving and everything we’re going back to.” She looked straight ahead as they walked.
Theo slowed. “Something’s bugging you. What is it?”
Nicole found herself without words. How could she tell her sister how much she disliked Stewart? It wouldn’t change anything and would just put a strain between the sisters. She stopped and turned to Theodora. ”You just graduated from college. Are you sure you’re ready to get married?”
“I’ve never been more sure in my life. Stewart is everything I’ve ever wanted.” She squeezed her sister’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’m not disappearing off the face of the earth. We’ll still have lots of time together.”
Nicole realized that her concern had been misinterpreted. “I know you will always be there for me. I just wonder if you really know Stewart well enough to make such a serious commitment.”
Theo looked at her sister in surprise. “Don’t know him well enough? We’ve been together for two years. How much more could I know him?”
Nicole plunged in. “Don’t you think he’s just a little bit bossy? He kind of steamrolls over you and what you want sometimes.”
Theo’s voice turned sharp with anger. “Just because I respect his opinion and don’t feel the need to lead him around by the nose doesn’t mean he tells me what to do. Maybe if you didn’t always have to get your way you wouldn’t be alone right now.” She regretted her harsh accusation immediately.
The words hit Nicole like an arrow striking its mark. She picked up her pace and they walked beside each other in silence. Theodora spoke first.
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. But you’ve got it all wrong. Stewart’s a great guy. You’ll see. Please don’t worry. Come on, let’s not ruin our last night here.”
Nicole wasn’t reassured, but she smiled at her sister. “You’re right. We’ll make it a night to remember.”
When they reached home and entered the plain interior, the temperature was at least ten degrees cooler than outside. The thick white walls kept the fierceness of the late afternoon sun at bay, and the cool tile floors were a persuasive invitation to remove their dusty sandals.
It was funny, Nicole thought, how much they loved this unassuming little island house. Back home in the States, her grandparents’ beautiful old home in the city and apartment on the beach firmly established the fact that they had attained prosperity and success in their chosen land, but those places, though modern and comfortable, never got under her skin the way this simple dwelling by the sea did.
By seven o'clock they were dressed and ready for dinner with their grandparents, who awaited them on the tiny stone terrace.
"Come my girls, it is our last night here. Let us go have a good dinner," Andreas said.
They walked together to the center of town and the island's largest restaurant.
"So, today you say goodbye to all the island boys whose hearts you break?" their grandfather teased.
Andreas Zaharis, still a virile man at eighty-one, hadn't lost his craggy good looks. His thick hair, completely white, made his coal-colored eyes appear even darker, and the strong prominent nose gave his face an imperiousness that could be intimidating. The patriarch of the family, powerfully protective of his loved ones, Andreas had a soft spot for his only two granddaughters. His sometimes gruff teasing was his way of showing affection. They had long known this about him, and when he tried to appear angry with them, his eyes always betrayed him.
"I'm sure they'll get over it," Nicole laughed.
"I don't know about that. Stefano was crushed when you refused to go to the taverna with him last night. He's been moonstruck ever since you got here,” Theodora closed her eyes and clutched at her chest as if heartbroken.
"Ach, animal. I do not like these wild boys hanging around you. He has hair like a girl,” Andreas grumbled.
"Don't worry Papou, I'm saving myself for someone like you," Nicole replied, her voice filled with affection.
As the lane narrowed, Andreas put his arm around his wife's shoulder and they moved ahead of the girls. Sophia and Andreas still made a striking couple. Both had been born on this island and together since their marriage at eighteen and twenty.
The restaurant came into view and at once fragrant smells from the kitchen filled the balmy evening air. Georgios, the owner, stood outside the door.
"Yasas, elate mesa, come inside," Georgios called to them as he waved them in. "Come see what delicious foods we prepare for you tonight."
They made their way into the kitchen to look at the evening specials. Heavily seasoned souvlaki rotated on a skewer. Mixed salads of onion, plump tomato, and feta cheese sat in large wooden bowls. Fresh cleaned fish marinated in pans on the counter next to the huge oven. The smells melded into one mouth-watering aroma that piqued their collective appetites.
Georgios called a waiter over. "Give my good friends a table overlooking the sea," he told the young boy.
The view from the restaurant was magnificent. Bleached white rocks disappeared into the sparkling blue water, and the setting sun cast its amber glow over the calm surface. Theodora looked around as if to memorize every detail.
"Koukla mou, soon we will be dancing at your wedding,” Sophia said.
Andreas looked at Theodora. "Well, you did not pick a Greek gambro, but at least you picked a nice boy, eh?"
Nicole looked at her grandmother and then quickly away as the widow Despina, Andreas's cousin, dressed all in black, came swooping in and stopped at their table.
"Yasas! I am so sad to think you are leaving tomorrow." A black scarf covered her head.
"Despina, please sit with us," Andreas said as he stood and pulled over a chair from the next table.
"Just for a minute. I must go back and serve dinner, but I will come back later with the others and have coffee with you," she said in Greek.
Looking at the girls, she said to Sophia. "Your granddaughters are very beautiful." Turning to the ground she spat twice "Ftew, Ftew."
The old Greeks believed in the superstition of the evil eye, fearing that harm would befall the person paid a compliment unless this ritual followed the compliment. After some chatting, she stood up. "I will see you later tonight."
As she left, Georgios approached the table with a carafe of Retsina.
"Here my friends, let us have a farewell drink together,” he said as he filled their glasses. "Yasas! Here is to a safe trip home and a return to our beautiful island next summer."
"Efharisto, thank you Georgios," Andreas said.
He raised his glass to his granddaughters.
"To my two precious gems, thanks to God for the joy you bring to our lives. This is the last trip we will have both our granddaughters to ourselves,” he toasted, and his eyes shone with restrained tears.
Sophia's face registered surprise at the sentimental toast. Age had softened him. This summer marked an end to a fifteen-year tradition. To Sophia, this was reason enough to be sad. Knowing her husband as she did, she suspected it was more than the maturing of their grandchildren that was saddening him. Perhaps it was the knowledge that comes to all men and women past their prime, that their time left on earth is coming to an end. This was something she had been thinking about for a while. Sensing this sudden revelation in her husband was disconcerting. It made the inevitability of their eventual separation more real and frighteningly closer. After sixty years of marriage, the thought of living without her beloved Andreas was unbearable. She felt her chest constrict and pressed her nails sharply into her hands to dull the sudden emotion that flooded her. She turned her attention to her granddaughters and lifted her glass toward Theodora.
"Let us drink to a long happy marriage for our Theodora,” she said with forced cheerfulness. She prayed that the words of her toast were not empty wishes.
Professional Reviews
Olympia Dukakais
“Circle Dance has captured the essence of the Greek American experience. Full of plot twists and turns, it is a page-turner, appealing to Greeks and non-Greeks alike. Bravo to these two talented authors."
Olympia Dukakis
Great Story
Circle Dance is a well-crafted, touching story about two Greek- American sisters, Nicole and Theodora, who return to the United States after vacationing with their grandparents in Ikaria, an island in Greece. Each sister is thrust into life changes and circumstances that ultimately test their deepest values. Each one deals with deception that unfolds in their personal relationships, and it is not easy, as they have to handle conflicting emotions and passions. The authors have done an excellent job in realistically portraying love and loss. I loved the two sisters: their characters are rich and well rounded, and both have family values and strong ethics. I felt their heartbreak and sadness, and yet cheered them on when life smiled upon them. This is a wonderful, memorable story and I look forward to reading more from these talented authors!
- Patty Apostolides, Author of "The Greek Maiden and the English Lord"
Couldn't Put it Down
"This intriguing story filled with deception, hope, sorrow, and joy, is perfectly balanced with the traditions and culture of Greek America. The reader becomes an eyewitness to the saga of the close-knit Parsenis family. Compelling and wonderfully described characters come to life as you conjure up vivid images-trying to anticipate the fast-paced events impacting two sisters, Theodora and Nicole. The story often alternates between these characters with a seamless flow that contrasts and compares their lives. The book's authors, also children of the Greek-American experience, tell a story that is both delightful and suspenseful. It is not surprising to find the reader transported with ease between the unfolding drama in America and Greece. Beginning with an elusive death, the story comes full circle concluding with the shining hope offered by new life. In a surreal fashion, you are there with the Parsenis family every step of the way and once you finish Circle Dance...you will simply wish for more."
Nicholas M. Prevas, Historian, Author of History of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Baltimore, 1982. Gone But Not Forgotten, A Definitive History of the
Greek Section at Woodlawn Cemetery, Baltimore, 2001.
'Better Without You'is a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of an affair, hidden secrets, and abuse. It also highlights a daughter's heartfelt journey as she cares for her mother who is battling dementia.
