Later that afternoon, with just one day left before Tom had to return to his ship, he and Cassia walked out of Fiscardo hand in hand. She didn’t mind who saw them now. They’d told Michaíl and Eugenia, who’d both wished them well.If word gets back to Mamá. what can she do? I’m a free woman, and she disapproves of anything and everything I do.She was convinced her mother deliberately made sure they would avoid each other, whereas Eugenia reported that on the days she ran the stall, their mother always came in to see her. When Eugenia had first admitted this, Cassia had felt a pang of envy, but shehadn’t been surprised. Their encounter the first time she’d seen her mother since she’d returned to Fiscardo hadn’t ended well.
On Cassia’s suggestion, she and Tom walked to a pretty cove hidden from view not far from the village. They walked down the narrow track to where the turquoise water glowed in the sunlight. The creamy-white beach Cassia knew would be fine shingle when they got down there formed a half-moon shape, surrounded by rocks.
‘I wanted to show you this. Isn’t it beautiful? No desolate buildings, no people worrying about where the next meal is coming from, no queues of people leaving. Just look at it. How can anyone leave a place like this?’ Tom didn’t comment. ‘Come on, it’s quite a steep path to get down there.’ A strong breeze blew Cassia’s long black hair behind her as she led the way down to the cove.
Once they were there and sheltered by the cliffs, the air was much warmer for a December day. The wind had dropped.
Tom pulled Cassia in close and kissed her. Cassia’s stomach flipped as her body responded to him. He took off his jacket and spread it on the fine shingle.
‘This will have to do for a travel rug.’ He patted the jacket. ‘Come and sit by me. I want this day to be perfect, for you to forget all about the marketand your worries.’
Cassia sat beside him and they fell back together with their arms entwined. Tom sought out her lips. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
Her voice became scratchy. ‘I don’t want you to go. How will I manage without you? Eléni will miss you so much.’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘No one can get her to open up like you do. Because of you, she’s trying to say a few words. I’ll always be grateful for that.’
He kissed her tenderly. ‘When I left you both at Eugenia’s last time, I was leaving a much-loved friend and her little girl. That was hard enough, not knowing if you wanted to see meagain. But this time it’s different. This time I know you love me too and all I can think about is that.’ He sat up. ‘You asked me why I looked into the people emigrating and I told you I found out for you. Well, I have something to put to you.’
Cassia’s heart skipped a beat. Her mind whirred with ideas of what he was going to say.
Chapter Nineteen
‘What if I help you and Eléni leave Kefalonia for somewhere where you won’t have to worry about money ever again? Where you could get help for Eléni?’
Cassia’s mouth gaped open. ‘No! No, I’ll never leave — you know that.’
‘Some of my mates on the ship carve out the insides of bars of soap and send money to their wives in there so they get the whole lot. I would do the same for you.’
Cassia shook her head. She didn’t want to hear any more.
‘But think about it. Michaíl told me even here, there will be no work — the economy is failing due to lack of resources. Things are not going to improve for a very long time. What if Eléni never learns to speak in that time? The longer she doesn’t get help, the more likely she will never speak.’
Cassia stood and began pacing the beach. ‘She will — I know she will.’ Deep down, did she truly believe that? If Eléni did need professional help, would she be able to get it in Kefalonia? Would she be able to afford it? No! Using Eléni’s problem as a way of trying to convince her to emigrate wasn’t fair! Money wasn’t everything, was it? She’d find a way of feeding her and her daughter if it was the last thing she’d do. But how was a different matter. And her little girl would learn to speak. Another thought entered her mind. What if someone worked out she wasn’t Eléni’s mother? She quickly dismissed it.
Tom stood up too. ‘Don’t get upset, please. I just want you to think about it. If you have a contact in the country you want to settle in—’
‘I wouldn’t even know which country to go to. I don’t know anyone outside Kefalonia.’
‘You could move to Wales. Like I told you, my brother is married to a Greek woman. You could use Katerina as yourcontact. She’d vouch for you, I’m sure. She would be your Greek connection. You’d like her. She’d help you settle in. In the little town where I’m from, there’s a school for the deaf. The children are older, but we could find someone there to help Eléni, I’m sure of it.’
‘I can’t use a non-relative as my connection, and Eléni’s not deaf!’
‘I know, but they could help with signing and the methods they use when getting their pupils to speak.’
What Tom said next made Cassia freeze to the spot.
‘You’d have a stronger connection if you were my wife. Cassia.’ He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Will you marry me? I love you so much.’
Her heart drumming inside her chest, Cassia stood open-mouthed. She was happy for their relationship to move on past friendship. But marriage? Hadn’t she told herself she would never marry again because of the depth of her love for Nikos? Yet, Nikos wouldn’t expect her to remain single forever, would he? Where would they live? How could she uproot Eléni again? She was shocked at herself for even asking these questions. How could she tell Eugenia, Michaíl? Even though she was adamant she wouldn’t leave the place of her birth, the questions kept coming. Cassia’s mind was in turmoil. She was thinking of all the reasons she couldn’t or shouldn’t marry Tom, but she hadn’t asked herself one important question. Did she love him andwantto marry him?
‘Oh, Tom. I don’t know what to say. I know you said you loved me and I love you, too. But marriage? I wasn’t expecting this. It’s too soon. I’m flattered, but you’ll be posted somewhere else and I won’t see you for months. Isn’t it better for us to stay here and wait for your visits?’
As much as he tried to cover it up, Cassia could tell by Tom’s expression it was not the answer he’d been hoping for. But she had to be honest with both him and herself.
‘Just think about it. The worse things get in Kefalonia, the more difficult it will be to visit you through the ports. I couldn’t bear not to see you and Eléni.’
They sat back down, both deep in thought. The earlier moment for romance had been replaced with practicalities and serious decisions.
Tom looked at her. ‘I know your love for me is not the same as your love for Nikos, but I’ll be happy if you can learn to love me as a wife. We’ll be a family for Eléni and give her the best life. She deserves that, doesn’t she?’
