When I catch Athena say the name Konstantine, I flick my gaze back to the duo as she drops her voice to a whisper. ‘I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but word around town is he was seen flashing large amounts of cash at the Corfu Casino last night.’
Gran laughs it off but her energy changes; her shoulders stiffen. ‘Not possible, darling. I spoke to him on the satellite phone and he was definitely on the oil rig last night.’
‘They seemed so certain, is all.’ Athena raises her palms.
‘Who’s “they”?’
Athena blushes. ‘Maria.’
Gran’s eyebrows shoot up. ‘Maria, my landlord Yannis’ wife –thatMaria?’
With a small cough, Athena agrees, ‘Yes, that Maria.’
‘Loukoumades Maria?’ Surely not! She made those Greek donuts with love. I tasted it in every bite. A person who makes delicious food like that cannot be a gossiper, surely?
‘They’re spreading these scurrilous rumours in the hopes of further tarnishing my reputation. Of all the dirty tricks. I’m not sure what they hope to achieve except to keep people away from my business, which further hurtstheircause.’
Could it be true?
Outwardly Gran appears cool as a cucumber, but if you know her as well I do, you can see the set of her jaw, the slight pitch change in her voice that tells me there’s more to this than there first seems. I’d never question Gran in front of a friend, but I plan to do just that when her guest leaves.
‘Sorry, you’re right. It couldn’t be him – I should have told them straight.’ Athena plays with a loose thread on her dress.
‘You don’t need to fight my battles, darling. Don’t give it a second thought.’
The conversation moves to happier subjects before Athena takes her leave. As soon as she’s gone I zone in on Gran. ‘Was it him at the casino?’
‘Don’t you start!’
‘It was, wasn’t it?’
‘It’s not as simple as all that, Evie. And I really can’t get into it right now.’
‘Gran.’
She lets out a sigh. ‘If you really want to help, darling, then come up a launch plan for Epeolatry. Funds, or the lack thereof, is one of the biggest hurdles I’m facing right now. The membership fees will tide us over until I figure out phase two of my plan.’
Phase two. Oh God. ‘That’s it? You’re not going to enlighten me about what’s really going on?’
‘It’s complicated.’
I huff and puff like the big bad wolf, knowing it won’t matter an iota to Gran. She’s a vault when she wants to be. ‘Fine. But it’s going to be increasingly hard to keep the Fun Police away. You know what Mom’s like – she will find out.’
‘Lie, darling. As we’ve discovered, you’re good at it when you want to be.’ Dammit, she’s got me there.
‘Fine. I’ll come up with a launch plan but you have to promise to enlighten me soon.’
She waves me away, looking distractedly to the deep blue sea. ‘Sure, sure. Look after the shop, will you? I’ve got some errands to run.’
‘Now? But …’
‘Yeah, now. Why?’
‘The first fake date is in a few hours. I’m showing him Epeolatry, and I wanted to discuss with you in slow, painful detail every worry that springs to mind.’
Using her compact mirror, Gran reapplies bright fuchsia gloss and smacks her lips together. ‘Oh, darling, how I’ve missed your neuroses. Lily is a wonderful listener.’ She bends down and scoops up the little dog.
Before I can protest her lack of support, Gran thrusts wise-faced Lily into my arms. ‘Tell her everything.’ And she dashes off, her energy as always astounding me.
