Cassia wanted that above all else.
A cool breeze had sprung up, and the two of them decided to make their way back up the steep path to the road. The sun was lower in the sky now. The streaks of lemon and pale apricot against the blue-grey backdrop promised another spectacular sunset later. Cassia wondered what the sunsets were like in Wales and remonstrated with herself for considering the possibility of moving away from Kefalonia.I have to stay. This is where I belong!
‘It’s got to be your decision,cariad, but I truly believe we’d be doing the best for Eléni. And one last thing. I won’t mention it again. We only have Sophia’s word Eléni has no relatives.’
Goosebumps prickled the skin along Cassia’s arms. All Tom was doing was expressing what she’d already thought herself.
That night, Cassia didn’t sleep. Tom’s face kept invading her mind.
The next morning, she and Eléni accompanied Tom to his waiting boat that would take him down to Argostoli to catch his ferry. It was a day Cassia had been dreading and now there was another reason why she was sad to see Tom leave. She’dpromised she’d give him her answer, but she wasn’t ready. Afraid he’d consider the delay as a rebuff, she was determined to put on a happy face so he would have no idea of the turmoil she was going through. Tom and Eléni seemed oblivious to her dilemma, and they laughed together as Tom scooped up the little girl, tickling her as he said a special goodbye.
‘You be a good girl for your mamá. I come back to see you both soon.’ Eléni nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck.
‘Goodbye, Cassia. Please think about what I’ve had to say. You would make me the happiest man in the world if you said yes. One lastcwtch?’
Cassia hugged him tight, the little girl between them, and tried to put all her feelings into that one embrace. Tom let go and put Eléni down, then ran up the gangway without a backward glance. Cassia knew his eyes would be full of tears like hers were.
Goodbye, Tom.
Hearing the hooter of the ship, they waited until the ship was manoeuvred away from the harbour wall. By this time, Tom was up on deck, waving.
Eléni spotted him first and pointed. ‘To...’ Then she burst into tears.
* * *
In the days after Tom left, Cassia felt empty inside. To make it worse, Eléni retreated into her shell and didn’t utter a sound. Even Michaíl could not get a smile or reaction from her. New Year was approaching and yet, not one of them seemed in the mood to celebrate. Cassia went through the motions of making the melomakarona and Vasilopita to eat on St Basil’sDay, and Michaíl even managed to get the promise of a small piece of pork from his butcher friend.
Cassia woke to the sound of sobbing. Eléni was hugging her Maltese doll, tears streaming down her face.
‘What is it,Elenáki mou?’ She picked up the little girl, knowing the exact reason. ‘You’re missing Tom, aren’t you? I am, too. Shall I give you an extra tightcwtchlike he would do?’
Eléni nodded. ‘Tom, Tom gone.’
It was the first time she’d spoken Tom’s whole name and the first time she’d said the wordgone. The first time she’d uttered anything since he’d left. It was Cassia’s turn to become tearful. How she wished she could tell him what had just happened. Could she marry Tom and leave all ties with Kefalonia behind? The little girl in front of her would benefit and hopefully learn to speak with specialist help. She did love him not just because he would make Eléni happy but because it would make her happy to become his wife. It was Tom who filled her waking thoughts, and she missed him terribly. Cassia stifled a sob. She’d made a huge mistake. Why, oh why, hadn’t she accepted his wedding proposal before he left on the ship?
‘Eléni... Would you like it if Mamá and Tom got married, and he became your baba?’
Eléni pulled away from Cassia. She nodded and pointed at her heart. There was no going back now. She’d write and tell Tom she would love to become Kýria Tom Beynon. All she had to do now was tell Eugenia and Michaíl of her decision.
Chapter Twenty
Unable to sleep that night, Cassia began to write the most important letter she’d ever written. She tried several times, but each attempt was screwed up into a ball and thrown on the bedroom floor. She wanted to get her love across to Tom, not sound as if she was accepting his proposal for Eléni’s sake. She’d told him she loved him before he left, so why were the words so hard to write?
Taverna Zervas
Fiscardo
Kefalonia
My dear Tom,
By now, you will be back on board your ship. Life here is not the same without you. I miss our talks, how you make me laugh, the way you are with Eléni. Above all, I miss you. I know you were disappointed I didn’t say yes to marrying you straight away and yet even then, you still wanted me. Since you left, I have not been able to think of anything else but you. Yours is the first face I see every morning when I wake up and the last at night when I close my eyes. I made the biggest mistake of my life by letting you leave without my answer.
If you still want to marry me, then, yes, I accept. Yes! I promise to be the best wife I can to you. I know we can’t see each other until your next leave, but please write back and tell me you still want to marry me. I look at the beautiful bracelet you gave me and it isn’t afriendship bracelet to me. In my eyes it is a gift from the man I want to marry.
Please write back as soon as you can.
With my love,
