They found a table outside and ordered their drinks, ‘A beer for me and a bottle of house red for the ladies,parakaló.What about you girls?’
Bronwen nudged her sister. She read the menu. ‘A beer for me, too, and my sister will have a tsípouro,parakaló.’
‘No,’ said Cassia. ‘Tell her, Tom. You’ll have a soft drink. Eléni can have what she wants. You’re underage.’
‘Only just. Eighteen days and six hours to go.’ Bronwen pretended to pout.
Eléni giggled. ‘I’d better have a soft drink with Bron, then. Two Cokes,parakaló.’
She looked over at the boats moored along the quayside. There was a long queue for a motorboat advertising trips over to coves and beaches along the coast. She thought of the timeshe and Simos had taken one and made love on the white beach. How she was going to miss him!
‘Penny for them?’ Her father’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
She felt her cheeks redden. ‘Oh, I was looking at all those people queuing for their boat trip. You should do that before you leave. The little coves are beautiful.’ She knew her sister would love it.
After leaving the taverna, they browsed the pretty souvenir shops. The two sisters entered one while the others waited outside. Eléni bought a silver bracelet with the Greek key design for Gabriella.
‘She’s missed you a lot.’ Cassia admired the gift. ‘She’ll love it. What have you bought, Bron?’
Bronwen took her purchase from its wrapping and held it up for the others to see. It was a stunning polished-glass pendant. The colour was a vibrant sea-green that glowed and sparkled as it caught the sun.
‘It’s so you, Bron. Bold and sparkly.’ Her father and all the others laughed.
‘It’s gorgeous.’ Cassia took the necklace from her for a better look.
They slowly walked back to Eugenia’s house, where they spent a lovely afternoon in the garden.
‘What time are you meeting lover boy?’ asked Bronwen. ‘Hasn’t he got any dishy friends he can introduce me to?’
Cassia rolled her eyes. ‘Eugenia, it’s all she thinks about.’
Eléni agreed. ‘In answer to both questions, seven o’clock and no. In any case, if he had, I’d need to warn them what you were like.’
Bronwen nudged her sister.
* * *
‘Thank you for driving me back, Baba. There are very few buses on a Sunday.’ But she wondered if there was another reason why he was keen to take her back to Argostoli himself. From the way he had persuaded her sister to stay behind, Eléni suspected he wanted to speak with her alone.
‘There’s no way I’d have let you do that. I wanted to speak to you anyway. Find out what your real plans are.’
Eléni shifted in her seat. ‘Plans?’
‘You’ve done what you came out here to do. You’ve found your uncle. Mamá and I are so pleased for you.’
‘Mamá, too?’
Tom looked across. ‘Yes. She changed after she received the letter from Kostas and it’s all down to you, Eléni. She was nervous about meeting him and even Eugenia, too, if I’m honest, but since yesterday she’s relaxed. No, I mean your plans for you and Simos. You seem to be very close, yet you haven’t known him long. How is it going to work with you two being over two thousand miles apart?’
Eléni’s pulse quickened. What did her father want her to say? ‘Sorry, Baba. I’m not coming home after all’? She and Simos had talked about it. Shewouldgo home and they’d keep in touch through letters and phone calls. If they’d have her back, she’d go back to working at the Welsh craft shop and the Met to save every penny she could. But should she tell him everything?
Eléni took a deep breath. ‘I knew from the first time I met Simos he was the one.’ Warmth spread up from her neck. It seemed strange talking to her father about love. ‘I know it was love at first sight. It was the same for you with Mamá, wasn’t it? For Simos, it took longer. But now we both know this is for ever. And as for the distance, look how long you were away for when you were in the Navy. We will make it work, Baba.’ She decided it was enough for now.
‘We both want you to be happy,cariad.’
They spent the rest of the journey planning their visit to the monastery of St Gerasimos in four days’ time and before their return home the following day.
‘Just drop me here, please, Baba.’ Tom parked in the street across from Simos’s apartment. Eléni leaned across and kissed her father on his cheek. ‘Bye. See you soon.’
