‘Look at that beach, Eléni. The sand is almost white. Wouldn’t it be good to play there and go in the sea?’
Ignoring her, the little girl looked straight ahead. It was going to take time to regain the progress she and Tom had made with her. Cassia had to keep hold of her conviction that what she was doing was right. Tom ran his hand along the top of the carriage seat and patted her shoulder, mouthing words of comfort. ‘It’ll be all right.’
‘We’re over halfway,’ said Stavros. ‘Do you want to stop and stretch your legs or carry on?’
‘Please, can we go? The sooner we get there the better.Efcharistó,Stavros.’
There was still no reaction from Eléni.
* * *
The journey continued without incident. Nearing the beautiful village with its Venetian architecture caused feelings of nostalgia to flood through Cassia. She had called this place home for over twenty years of her life. Memories of a happy childhood all came flooding back — helping her mother with her embroidery-and-lace business, learning to cook her favourite moussaka and spanakopita, joining the partisans during wartime and meeting her beloved Nikos.
Stavros manoeuvred the horse and trap down through a narrow street that led to the harbour. On either side were pristine houses rendered in every pastel hue imaginable. There were more oleander trees with their pink-and-white blooms than Cassia remembered. The last in the row was where Nikos had lived and where they used to meet, before life had become impossible, living in the same town as her father, who’d had so much influence there. Her eyes misted when she thought of how happy they’d been when they’d moved to Argostoli, and of Angelika, the baby daughter they’d lost. Nikos had been overjoyed when he’d found out they had a baby on the way.
Tom interrupted her thoughts. ‘Are you all right, Cassia?’
She nodded. ‘Just memories. That house is where Nikos and I used to meet before...’ She stifled a sob. ‘So many painful things happened after the awful row with my father.’
One day soon she would tell Tom everything, including what had caused them to be estranged from her family. But not yet. He seemed to sense that she didn’t want to talk about it and reached across Eléni’s lap to squeeze her hand.
They stopped at the quayside. Fishing boats filled with nets and large pots were lined up along the harbour wall. Facing the water was a ship chandler’s where a man with snow-white hair mended large ropes. Cassia recognised him as a friend of her late father’s and hoped he wouldn’t look up from what he was doing. She didn’t want her mother to know she was in Fiscardo. Not yet.
‘Where shall I take you?’ Stavros said.
‘My sister’s place,parakaló.You carry on this road past the harbour and up the hill. Then you will see her smallholding overlooking a tiny bay.Efcharistó.’
Tom turned to Eléni. ‘It is not a long time now,cariad. We’ll soon go to the beach.’
Eléni didn’t change her expression. Cassia wondered what she was thinking, and yet again doubts filled her mind. Turningup with a child her sister knew nothing about could be a huge mistake. The horse slowed as the incline steepened.
‘We’ll have to get out and walk, I think.’ Tom’s joke brought a tiny flicker of a smile to Eléni’s face.
The little girl didn’t make eye contact with Cassia, but looked down at her hands resting on her lap. She nodded.
Chapter Seven
Once they got to the top of the hill, they were rewarded with the most wonderful view. Through the pine trees, the sea was a vivid aquamarine, streaked with varying shades of turquoise and azure. Tiny frills of white foam edged the little beach. Eugenia’s house was crystalline white and glowed in the bright sun.
‘What a view!’ Tom turned to Cassia. ‘Your sister is so lucky to look out on that every day.’
Cassia’s stomach churned the nearer they got to the house. To the side was an olive grove casting shade on the sandy soil underneath. White sheets billowed in the breeze on a washing line that stretched from the opposite side of the house to a tall pole hammered into the ground.
‘It’s the first time I’ve seen it,’ said Cassia. ‘When I left Fiscardo, Eugenia still lived with my parents. She hadn’t met Georgios then. When she got married, a friend let me know her address but I didn’t think I’d ever need it...’ She lowered her voice. ‘She sided with my parents. Believed what they said about Nikos.’
‘Oh, I am sorry.’
Cassia got down from the trap and walked to the front door that was set back under the overhang that ran the whole length of the house. She knocked on the door and waited, her heart thumping. How would her sister react?
The door opened. Eugenia’s mouth dropped open when she recognised who it was.
‘Hello, Eugenia.’
‘Cassia! I don’t believe it! What are you doing here? I’ve been so worried. I had no address for you and I heard most of Argostoli has been flattened.’
Her face drained of colour. She pulled Cassia into her arms and both sisters dissolved into tears.
‘It’s been terrible. I came to you. I have nowhere else to go. My house was destroyed along with others in Argostoli. You wouldn’t recognise it. Our beautiful town has been reduced to a pile of rubble.’
