Dad's Opinion

Kristo

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mr. Balaban,” Amaya offered at last, and he leaned back and surveyed her like she was a piece of property he was thinking of investing in.

“So, you’re the wife, I suppose.” He shot a look in my direction.

“Yes, that’s me,” she replied perkily, and I could tell from the set of her jaw that she’d decided she was going to make a good impression no matter what. He picked up the menu and glanced over it as a waiter approached, looking up as he arrived at the table. He ordered for all of us as he was wont to do, and Amaya shot me a “seriously?” look that almost made me laugh.

“So, Amaya, what is it exactly you do?” My new stepmother, whose name I couldn’t for the life of me recall, smiled at Amaya.

“I’m a librarian,” she replied. “I work at the university library up on Main. What about you?”

“Oh, I retired a long time ago.” The woman shot an adoring look at my father. “I used to be a model, but then I met Leo, and that all changed.”

“A model?” Amaya leaned i