‘She learns very fast, this daughter of Nikos.’ The old man rewarded Eléni with a huge smile.
Cassia realised she had no idea about Eléni’s actual age. She’d taken Sophia’s word for it. She didn’t know when her birthday was either.
The cold weather meant they were staying indoors more frequently, and when Cassia left to take her spanakopitapies to the market, Eléni would often stay behind with Michaíl and spend her time drawing. Often, she would come home to find Eléni playing with Kynigós, rolling a ball of wool to him from Kýria Pavlis’s work basket, given to her by Michaíl.
Christmas was just a month away when she received a visit from Eugenia. Her face was drawn and she appeared to have lost weight.
‘Kaliméra. What brings you here?’
‘I didn’t know where to look for you but Rhea at the market told me where you were living. I used to follow you and Nikos here, you know. I was always scared Baba would find out. He always said he didn’t see what you saw in “the communist” and how you were throwing your life away.’
Some of their father’s last words came back to Cassia. “If you choose that communist over your family, you are dead to me.” And nowhewas dead, and she would never hear his voice again.
‘I came to give you this... and to tell you that me and Maia miss you and Eléni.’ Her sister handed over an envelope addressed to her at Eugenia’s house.
‘What’s this?’ It didn’t look like Sophia’s handwriting, but she hoped it was. She put it in her overall pocket to read when she was alone.
‘It arrived with overseas mail at the post office.’ Appearing uninterested in anything else, Eugenia said, ‘Please come back.’ Tears welled in her eyes and without warning, she grabbed Cassia and hugged her tight.
‘He’s left again, hasn’t he? Who for this time?’ Cassia knew she sounded harsh, but it was what she’d thought would happen.
Eugenia didn’t answer her. ‘I’m afraid I need my stall back. I have to make a living on my own now he’s gone. If you come back, we can share it and split the money we make.’
Colour drained from Cassia’s face. She now had a roof over her head, Eléni was settled and she was starting to put aside some money. It was due to the growing number of customers and the fact that her prices were what people could afford.
‘No, no. I can’t let Eléni be uprooted again. She’s settled now, happy too. All her drawings are of people with smiley faces. She adores Michaíl and it’s good for her to have another person apart from me in her life. I can’t risk it. What if Georgios comes back yet again? Will you accept his profound apologies and believe him when he says he will never do it again? I’ll come to visit, yes. It will be nice for the girls, but I can’t move back to live with you. I’m sorry. My life is here now.’
Her sister began to cry.
‘You can have your stall back,’ added Cassia. ‘I’ll have to ask if there is another one going vacant.’
Michaíl and Eléni joined them in the bar as Eugenia wiped her eyes. The little girl rushed to hug her theía and Eugenia swung her around. The little girl squealed as she circled the room.
Eugenia offered Michaíl her hand. ‘Kýrios Pavlis. I’ve been hearing all about you from Cassia. My sister and niece seem very happy here with you.’
Cassia saw her sister to the door. ‘If you need the stall back, will you go and speak to the owner today? I’ll ask him to keep me in mind when there’s a new stall available.’
They embraced and all seemed well, but Cassia couldn’t help thinking her days at the market were numbered. She enjoyed Rhea’s company and would miss her.
Chapter Thirteen
Once Eléni was settled in bed, Cassia returned to the sitting room downstairs. She remembered the envelope in her pocket. Having been so wrapped up in the conversation with Eugenia and the prospect of losing her income, she’d momentarily forgotten about it.
She looked again at the handwriting. She still didn’t recognise it. As she unfolded the letter inside, her heart skipped a beat when she saw the words HMSDaringon the top right-hand side. Tom hadn’t forgotten them after all! Her hands shook as she read.
AgapitíCassia and Eléni,
I hope life, it is good for you at the house of Eugenia and you enjoy the goats and the chickens, Eléni. The sea, it is cold now, and you do not swim but you paddle, I think. If no, you look at the beautiful sea and cove. It helps you forget the awful sights we left at Argostoli.
I write to tell you we move from the ship here in Malta. After some weeks, they send us to other ships.
Tom had written the next part of the letter in English:
I would like to visit you both again before my posting. I will arrive on the island at the beginning of December and we could spend Christmas together if you’d like that. I’ll find somewhere to stay and call to see you each day. There isn’t time for you to send a reply so I just hope you will both like to see me.
I think about you both every day. I can’t wait to see you. How are your drawings coming on Eléni, my little artist? Perhaps by now you have started to talk to your mamá.
Your friend,
