The stakes rise in Cleo and David’s romance!
Week Nine:
August 22-28, 2025
David meets up with Cleo in front of The Treasury in Petra, Jordan, Monday, August 25. His newly lean, tan appearance and stubbly beard intrigue Cleo and make her nervous- -not only her attraction to him, but being honor-bound not to tell him, or anyone, the Petra summer home is a mansion and her family is rich.
The mansion wows architecture student David. It’s concealed by magic in the rock behind the Treasury and has a vast entryway with sweeping staircases and statuary, all carved out of the same rock! Cleo, apologetic about this splendor, shows him to a guest room four times the size of his grad student apartment. Suddenly overcome by being indoors after so much traveling in the sun, David sags against a post on the massive bed. Cleo eases him onto the bed and. . .Wow! their lips lock in the deepest kiss of his life! She breaks away after a long moment, says her parents are waiting for them, and gives him a head’s up to wear a toga to dinner.
Cleo’s dad, Peter, warms to David right away, but her mother, Titania, is haughty and cold. They sip a wine that Cleo describes as “from the family vineyard.” David knows it as the highest priced bottle on the Club Dionysus wine list! Sold since the day they met on Cleo’s beauty, kindness, brains and work ethic, David is staggered by this new load of information.
After dinner Peter Petra pours brandy and relates their family history. Titania comes from a very good family; the Petras were humble folk until Poseidon consorted with the girl who became Peter’s mother. As a son of Poseidon, Peter Petra is David’s cousin!
David withdraws to his room shortly after this revelation. His thoughts ricochet between Cleo being his first cousin at one remove (which his raised-as-mortal morals considers incest) and the incredible kiss they shared. Confused and feeling betrayed, he can’t figure out why she never told him this, or about her family.
At breakfast Tuesday, August 26, Peter explains his one condition for Cleo pursing college and work in Mount Olympus: she promised to conceal the family’s Big-G connections so she could rise on her own merit rather than favoritism.
But still, the cousin thing? Their conversation is stilted as Cleo leads David on a tour of the City of Petra’s tombs and ruins. When he brings up their being first cousins at one remove she dismisses it, says her grandfather being his uncle wouldn’t even be taboo for most mortals. He smiles, but Cleo is furious with herself for all but admitting she’s in love with him!
They wander to more remote sections of the ruins, beyond where tourists go. David realizes Cleo hasn’t smiled since her taboo remark. He contemplates the reality of their situation- -she’s older and more sophisticated than he is, not some child he’s taking advantage of. Maybe the cousin thing isn’t such a big deal- –
Suddenly three men attack! On wrenches off David’s backpack. Another is on top of Cleo, who was thrown to the ground. David swings wildly at the attackers, forgetting everything Milton Bernstein taught him about how to fight. Cleo’s screams ring in his ears. He receives a hard punch in the gut. Eyes tearing with pain, he remembers the words Hera taught him and activates Biggest of Big-G Cloaking. Now invisible, he deals some strategic kicks to the most vulnerable parts of the attackers. He grabs Cleo’s hand, tells her to get up and not let go, no matter what happens. David strains to get airborne, coaches her on distributing her weight for optimal buoyancy. They land near the Treasury, unobserved by tourists who have retreated from the midday heat.
David holds Cleo. She bursts into tears. The attackers meant to kill them for whatever was in their packs. Impossible, but they could have been badly maimed or disfigured- –
“Try not to think about it,” he says.
For once, David no longer feels like Cleo’s half-mortal pet. For once, he feels more like a god, instead of just a guy.
At Cleo’s insistence they don’t tell her parents what happened. During cocktails Peter Petra mentions he used to work for the Romans as a census taker during the reign of Herod and sons. The census records were taken to Rome. Everyone was counted, nobles and slaves alike. David grows quiet with thought.
Titania changes the subject to Veronica and Clifford’s engagement. When she realizes David is Veronica’s brother, she suddenly warms to him. She laughs at his stories, offers him seconds of everything at dinner and insists he take a bottle of brandy to his room for his own enjoyment. He stops by Cleo’s room and proposes they make a trip to Rome where maybe, just maybe, he can get a look at those ancient census records.
What will they discover in Rome?
If you can’t wait, go here:
https://www.susandmatley.com/beyond-big-g-city/
