Cassia felt the long-held guilt inside her finally leave. She may not have had her mother’s blessing or made up with her, but she knew that she had her sister’s love and that meant far more to her. Determined not to cry in front of Bronwen and Tom, she smiled warmly at Eugenia and changed the subject.
‘Right. What shall we do tomorrow?’
‘As long as we go to the beach, I don’t care. Please,’ Bronwen said. ‘I can’t wait to swim in a turquoise sea.’
‘That’s settled then. We all have to do what Madam says,’ Tom said.
‘Great. I’ll go and unpack my bikini now.’
They all laughed.Dear Bron, always so enthusiastic about everything,thought Cassia.
Later that night, she lay awake thinking back to the same time twenty years before. The warning signs had all been there. The whole summer had had more seismic activity than usual and, in the weeks building up to that fateful day, more frequent tremors had warned of a disaster coming. She tossed and turned, not able to get the images of devastation out of her mind.
‘Not able to sleep,cariad?’ It seemed Tom was awake too. ‘It will be better once the day actually comes. On the morning of the twelfth, we should go down to Argostoli and pay our respects. We’ll have seen Eléni tomorrow night, so let’s hope she’ll join us. I’m sure there will be something organised for us to attend. Now, it’s been a long day. Try to get some sleep.’
He kissed the top of her head and held her close until she finally drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
The next morning, Eugenia took them to a small beach a short way out of Fiscardo. It was just along from the one overlooked by the smallholding where she’d once lived. They followed a narrow stony path down through the trees to the sea which was, in Bronwen’s words, a deep turquoise. The smell of the wild herbs growing over the path was strong as their legs brushed against them. Cassia bent and picked one, rubbing the leaves between her fingers. As they got closer to the beach, the hint of saltiness in the air deepened and they could hear the gentle waves breaking onto the tiny white pebbles.
Several families were already there, so they found an isolated spot near the edge of the cliff to spread out their towels. Bronwen stripped down to her bikini and ran into the sea, before diving into the water and swimming away from the beach. She turned round and shouted to them, ‘It’s like bathwater! You should have brought your bathers.’
Tom laughed. ‘I think you can tell she loves Greece, Eugenia. Thanks for bringing us here.’
‘I used to bring Maia here. And now we bring baby Eléni.’ Her face grew pensive. ‘I just wish they didn’t live so far away. I do miss them.’
Cassia patted her hand. Eléni had been away a mere few months and she’d found it hard enough. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like for her sister.
The rest of the morning was spent looking around Fiscardo. To Cassia, it seemed very little had changed, apart from Taverna Zervas where she’d once worked and lived with Eléni. Poor Michaíl would turn in his grave if he saw its present dilapidated state. There were more tavernas and restaurants now as tourism was bringing more visitors to the island. They walked to the little market, which was just as she remembered it.
* * *
The table at Ta Elaiódentra was booked for seven o’clock. Eléni’s friend had rung Eugenia to ask if everyone could be seated upstairs by that time, then he and Eléni would arrive at seven fifteen. Cassia couldn’t wait to see her and wondered what she would make of the surprise.
‘This is beautiful,’ said Cassia, as they approached the restaurant. She turned and looked out to sea. ‘What a view!’
‘It will be even better from our table. Simos told me he’d booked one upstairs on the verandah.’ Eugenia led the way through the outside terrace.
‘It’s a bit posh,’ whispered Bronwen.
‘We’re with the party booked by Kýrios Georgatos.Efcharistó.’
‘Ah, yes. Follow me,parakaló. Some people have already arrived.’
Cassia’s stomach churned as they walked up the stairs. Perhaps they were late, and Eléni and her friend were already there. She looked at her watch. No, it was ten to seven.
The waiter took them onto the verandah. Sitting at the long table was a young couple and a middle-aged gentleman, who was engrossed in pointing out things to look at with a little girl. The young man stood to greet them.
‘You must be here for Eléni too.’ He held out a hand. ‘I’m Theo Koulouris, her cousin.’ Cassia caught her breath. Her head started to spin.No. Eugenia hadn’t mentioned anything about others being there.‘And this is my wife, Irida.’
Tom was the first to shake his hand. ‘My wife, Cassia. Our daughter, Bronwen and my sister-in-law, Eugenia.’
The little girl joined them. Cassia nearly gasped and had to blink away tears. The same huge dark eyes. The same black curls. It was like turning the clock back twenty years.
‘And this is our daughter, Amara.’
Cassia knelt down and took the little girl’s hand.’Kalispéra, Amara. You are beautiful, aren’t you?’
