* * *
Over the next few weeks Eléni came home exhausted after each shift at the hotel, but she was full of stories about the guests and what had been on the menu each night. She didn’t work on the day off she had from the craft shop so she had a full day with no work. Each week she handed over some of her wages to Cassia towards her keep.
‘There’s no need. But thank you. I thought you were saving?’ said Cassia.
‘I am, but if I wasn’t living here with you and Baba I’d be paying rent somewhere, wouldn’t I? It’s only fair. Did I tell you Mr Williams had my drawings framed and four have sold already?’
Cassia beamed at her daughter. ‘I’m not surprised. They are stunning.’
‘Thank you, Mamá. You’ll never guess, the manager at the Metropole bought one of them and as you walk along the corridor from the foyer, there’s one of my drawings among the other Welsh artists’ work. It’s the one of the waterfall in Rock Park.’
‘Oh, I love that one.’ Cassia was pleased to see her daughter so happy. If Eléni continued to sell her drawings, she could see her fulfilling her dream of renting a space for a small gallery of her own. Then, she would need every penny she earned to finance it so perhaps Cassia would put the money aside each week and hand it back to her when the time came.
On one day off, Eléni went to Credenford again.
‘Was it busy?’ Cassia asked her when she came in.
‘Not too bad. The sun was out so I expect that’s why. Do you know if Bronwen’s in tonight? You and Baba will be here, won’t you?’
Cassia was puzzled. Her face creased into a frown. ‘Yes, and as far as I know about Bron. She’s not going out much now her exams are approaching. Why do you ask?’
‘I just want to tell you something and I’d prefer to tell you all together.’
Cassia’s heart raced. What could be so important that her daughter needed them all together? What did she have to tell them? Her mind went back to what she’d found in Eléni’s room earlier.
Eléni huggedher mother. ‘Don’t look so worried, Mamá. It’s nothing to fret about.’
But Cassia knew it was.
Chapter Forty-One
ELÉNI
The time had come for Eléni to share her plans with her parents and sister. She’d booked and paid for her plane ticket to Athens and from there to Kefalonia. She’d made another visit to Get Away Travel in Credenford. The assistant had found the best route for her journey and appeared to be as excited as Eléni herself. In one of the brochures she’d been given, Eléni found a small family-run hotel situated in the main square of Argostoli. It looked quite basic, but reports were it was clean and the family who ran it were friendly and welcoming. The main attraction for her was the price. It was a lot cheaper than the larger hotels with more amenities. All she wanted was a base and to make her money last as long as it could.
Her stomach churned as she flicked through the books, a map of the island and the travel brochure she was going to show everyone. Her mother’s worried face earlier told Eléni it was she who needed to be persuaded that the trip to Kefalonia was a good idea. She was prepared for resistance from her. She was sure her baba and Bronwen would wish her well.
She left everything on the chest of drawers and went downstairs after hearing her mother call everyone for their evening meal. Once they were seated, her mother dished out the steaming lamb cawl into large bowls. Her mother had prepared it before going to her typing classes. She’d never worked while the girls were small but with Bronwen going away next year, she’d talked about getting a job as she’d have more time on her hands.
Eléni didn’t have much of an appetite as she rehearsed what she was going to say later. In the end, her mother’s announcement paved the way for her.
‘Eléni’s got something to tell us after dinner, but I’ve got some news, too. I’ve got a job!’
Everyone looked at Cassia in amazement. She’d always said she wouldn’t work as looking after the house and family was a full-time job. When she’d started her typing classes at the beginning of the term, she’d said she’d get a job at the end of it but Eléni wasn’t sure she’d go through with it.
‘Where?’ the three of them said in unison.
‘This morning, before my typing class, I went for an interview at the clerk’s office in County Hall. I had to show my typing speed and they seemed to like I could do shorthand, too. They don’t need to wait to see if I pass my exams. I can start a week Monday.’
Tom got up from his side of the table and kissed her cheek. ‘Well done,cariad. If that’s what you want.’
‘Yes,’ said Bronwen. ‘It will be good for you.’
Eléni could feel her mother’s eyes on her.
‘Eléni, what do you think?’
‘I’m just surprised. I thought you didn’t agree with working mothers after having to work when I was young. You never said a thing.’ Why did she say that? She wouldn’t be here anyway.
