‘It’s because Kefalonia is an island and Greece is a maritime country. Decorating boats is important for them. More important than decorating Christmas trees. It’s quite new here.’
‘But why December sixth?’ Tom asked.
‘Today is the feast of Agios Nikolaos, the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. They say he worked hard to save sailors from the angry seas. Nikos and I always celebrated his saint’s day, and we joked that the boats all being lit up were just for him. You arrived on the right day.’
‘But I don’t think there’s a Tom Day.’ They both laughed.
As they talked, Cassia relaxed. She didn’t think about money, or lack of it, or the dire state of the island once. Instead, she enjoyed being in the company of someone who was interested inher. It was obvious he was pleased to see her again. He kept looking at her, smiling with his eyes, and every now and then when they remembered something from the early days when they’d met in Argostoli, he would give her hand a gentle squeeze. Sophia and Eugenia’s words about him being in love with her entered her head for a second, but she dismissed the thought. He told her about his work aboard HMSDaringand how it was coming to an end. When Tom told her, her skin prickled.
He took her hand. ‘Not for a time yet, though, but it’s what I do, Cassia. I signed up to join the Royal Navy and if it means going to an area of the world to protect my country, I have to do it. But let’s not talk about me leaving. I’ve only just arrived.’
They walked along the quayside watching the fishermen fix the lights for the evening and position their boats in a row. Larger vessels with masts were anchored further out in the bay.
‘Show me where you found a room to stay,’ said Cassia.
They left the harbour and walked up a narrow street to a house Cassia recognised. It was the one belonging to Kýria Galanos, the woman who had refused to let a room to her and Eléni.
‘I asked at a bar along from Michaíl’s and they sent me here. The old lady doesn’t speak a word of English. I don’t think she understands my feeble attempts at Greek when I try to speak with her, either. She seems very nice, but she could be swearing at me and I wouldn’t know!’
They both laughed.
‘You’d better not let her know you’re a friend of mine.’
Tom looked puzzled. Cassia explained how she’d been rejected and how Kýria Galanos had treated her with such disdain. ‘That was before I answered Michaíl’s notice. He, on the other hand, took us inbecauseof Nikos. Fellow partisans.’
She and Tom had been in each other’s company for a short time and already, Cassia had laughed more in that hour than she had in weeks. Carrying on with their walk, Cassia pointed out places of interest, including where she had played as a child, and pointed in the direction of her parents’ house.
‘Do you want to tell me about why you don’t have anything to do with them anymore, Cassia? I know it was something to do with them not approving of Nikos.’
Cassia linked her arm with Tom’s as they walked. He deserved to know. She took a deep breath.
‘After the war ended, Greece was a divided country. Families were split, with some members on the side of the fascists and others were communists. My father was a typical Greek man whose word was law in the family. He fought in the war and was a very proud Greek. He supported the far right, but Nikos had played an important part as a partisan in the war and could not agree with my father. He and his partisan friends were communists wanting the best for the poor people who hadnothing. Secretly, I began meeting him, and we fell in love. Once my father found out, he forbade me to see him. He made me choose between my family or Nikos. Said I was dead to him. In the end, we fled to Argostoli where we would not be noticed in a big town. We married in secret. Then one night, he did not come home to me. He’d been to a communist meeting and was killed on the way home.’ Her voice cracked. ‘To this day, we do not know who did it. I still wonder if Georgios Papadatos was involved, but I have no proof. No one has ever been caught.’
Tom pulled her towards him and placed his arms around her. ‘That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘Thank you for telling me.’
They walked on, the mood now sombre.
‘Come on, let’s talk aboutChristoúgenna.Christmas.’ Cassia broke the silence, lightening the mood. ’I’ve tried to explain what it’s all about to Eléni. She won’t remember last year, will she? Michaíl has been making some little wooden toys for her and a spinning top for Maia, carving and whittling them when she’s in bed, and I’ve made her some cloth teddies and teddy clothes. Tell me about the Christmases you have back in Wales.’
Tom told her about a typical Christmas and how, although his parents didn’t have much money, they always gave him and his brother a magical time.
‘I can still taste Mam’s Christmas cake now. She used to let Glyn and me cover it with thick white icing. Even during the war, she saved up her sugar rations so we could have an iced cake. It looked like snow, and then we’d take turns putting miniature snowmen and Father Christmases on top. And tiny Christmas trees. Do you hang up stockings in Greece? We’d always have an apple and an orange in there with some nuts. Oh, and a sugar mouse and some chocolate coins. At the top of the stocking, or really one of my dad’s socks, there would be some toy cars or a few colouring pencils.’
Cassia laughed at his enthusiasm. ‘You’ll have to wait and see what a Greek Christmas is like. Just less than a month to go.’
Tom stopped walking. ‘What do you mean? December twenty-fifth is less than three weeks away surely.’
‘Yes, that’s whenChristoúgennais, but we also celebrate St Basil’s Day on the first of January. New Year’s Day is when we also exchange presents.’
Tom’s face dropped. ‘But I’ll be back in Malta by then. I leave on the twenty-ninth.’
Chapter Fifteen
Michaíl stayed in the bar to serve several older men with their tots of local raki. Between them, they had celebrated many 6 December days, so instead they preferred to sit drinking, smoking their strong tobacco and playing Tavlí. He handed Eléni a small wooden boat he’d made for her. It was filled with sweets and, underneath, he’d hidden a drachma for her to find. Eléni’s face broke into a huge smile as she examined every detail.
‘I think her smile tells you everything you need to know, Michaíl.Efcharistóa hundred times.’ Cassia hugged the old man, whose eyes were red-rimmed with unshed tears.
‘You are so clever,’ said Tom. ‘Where did you learn to carve like that?’
