Cassia rushed over, and Eléni’s body shook as she held her tightly, whispering soothing words. ‘Shh, shh,agápi mou. You’re safe now. Mamá’s got you.’
Gradually, Cassia felt the little girl’s heartbeat slow down against her own chest. Eléni was soaked in perspiration. She stroked her forehead and held her until the little girl became calm again. By this time, Eugenia had appeared at the door.
‘Is she all right?’ she whispered.
Cassia laid Eléni back in her bed and the child shut her eyes straight away. Cassia went to talk to her sister.
‘Yes. I should have warned you. Sorry. She often has these nightmares, but they are getting less frequent. When the quake first happened, it was a couple of times a night. It’s as if she’s not fully awake, but there is real fear in her eyes. I think she is reliving the horror of what happened to her. I suppose it has been a long and difficult day for her. Saying goodbye to Sophia and Arianna.’
‘And to Tom.’
‘Yes, and to Tom.’ It had been difficult for Cassia, too.
By this time, Maia had joined them. ‘What was that noise?’
Her mother picked her up. ‘Poor Eléni’s had a nasty dream, but she’s all right now. Let me take you back to bed.’
Chapter Nine
‘It’s so good the way Eléni has settled. No more nightmares, eh? She and Maia have become great friends, haven’t they? When you see them miming and signing now, it doesn’t matter that Eléni doesn’t speak. She will one day, I’m sure of it.’
Cassia smiled at her sister, thinking back over the progress Eléni had made since the day they’d arrived. ‘I hope so. And it’s all down to you letting us stay here.’
‘It’s lovely hearing those two having fun, especially with Calix and Callista.’ Cassia and Eugenia were watching the girls play while they enjoyed a well-earned cup of iced coffee. They’d spent the morning collecting the zucchinis, which had ripened well over the last month.
‘It’s good for Maia. Living here, she had no one of her own age to play with, and now she’s learning to share, too. I’d always hoped she’d have a brother or sister one day, but the siren in Ithaca put paid to that.’ Eugenia became quiet.
What about the awful Georgios? Surely, he was to blame, too. Cassia kept her thoughts to herself and hoped her sister wasn’t still hankering after a reconciliation with her husband. ‘You may meet someone. You’re still young and very attractive.’
Eugenia shook her head. ‘Pah! No, I have finished with men.’
Cassia had declared the same thing when Nikos had died, but for a different reason. She could never love anyone as much as she had her dear husband, whereas Eugenia’s reason was that she had been betrayed by a womaniser. She changed the subject.
‘I’ve been thinking. Does Maia like drawing? The girls are doing so well pointing and miming, but I wondered if it would help if we let them draw what they want to say. It’s what we did back in Argostoli and it seemed to work. I’m convinced Eléni will talk one day.’
While Eugenia was in the house getting paper and pencils, Cassia heard Maia shouting from the other side of the house. When she turned the corner, she witnessed Eléni push Maia to the ground and stamp on her hand. Maia screamed in pain.
‘Eléni, stop! That’s very naughty. What’s going on? Maia, come here.’ She placed her arm around her niece.
Both girls were crying. Eléni got more and more upset. She pointed at Maia and then at her leg, where there was an angry red mark. She picked up a small rock, pointed at Maia again and mimed throwing the rock at her leg.
‘Are you saying Maia threw the rock at your leg?’
Eléni nodded and glared at Maia.
Cassia dropped her arm. Her niece wouldn’t make eye contact.
‘She wouldn’t play. Anyway, she’s not my friend anymore. She can’t talk.’
Eléni ran to Cassia and grabbed her thighs, burying her head in her skirt.
‘You mustn’t shout at her, Maia, and you certainly shouldn’t throw rocks at her. Eléni will talk when she’s ready, won’t you,agápi mou?’
Sad brown eyes looked at Cassia and Eléni nodded. Cassia took her hand and they returned to where her sister had set out paper and pencils on the table outside. Eugenia took one look at Maia’s red-rimmed eyes and hugged her. ‘What on earth’s happened? Did I hear shouting?’ The little girl remained silent.
‘They’ve had a bit of a falling out. It’s all dealt with now, isn’t it girls?’
Cassia had a bad feeling it wasn’t and this was just the start of Eléni being rejected because she couldn’t speak. It had all started off with so much promise but of late, she could sense Maia’s frustration that their communication was one sided and had overheard her niece becoming annoyed with Eléni. If shedidn’t do what she wanted, Maia would raise her voice as if Eléni couldn’t hear her. They were starting to spend more time alone, each playing with their kittens in different areas of the yard.
