‘Oh don’t you start, Evie. You sound too much like your mother at times. Life is for living. I was catching up with Zorba, the old man who mixes up the colours of the books for fun.’
The retired pig farmer. I’ll never understand the woman. ‘Well speaking of my mother, Posy says Mom’s on the warpath because she’s got proof Konstantine is not on an oil rig and you’re not answering her calls to explain.’
‘Oh God.’ She groans and replaces the flannel. ‘She’s on her way here, isn’t she?’
‘She will be if you don’t sort it out. Where is Konstantine, Gran, if he’s not on the oil rig? Did he steal your money? Is that what this is all about? I borrowed some jewellery when I went on my first fake date and I wasn’t snooping but I found a note that said something like:Your husband isn’t to be trusted.’
She groans. ‘It’s all these meddlesome, gossipmongers who are putting their nose in where it isn’t wanted that are causing all these extra problems.’
‘What? Who wrote the note?’
‘I’m guessing loukoumades Maria.’
I gasp. ‘Georgios’ grandmother. Why?’
‘Because she saw Konstantine at the casino in Corfu. And she figured if we couldn’t afford the rent then he shouldn’t be able to afford to gamble.’
‘So you’re admitting hewasat the casino?’
‘He was.’
‘And … you’re OK with that?’
‘Yes, darling. Look, I’ve made a few mistakes along the way, but life is a gamble, is it not?’
‘I don’t like the sound of this. Tell me you didn’t send him to a casino to bet it all on black?’ It’s something she’d do, risk it all in the hope Lady Luck would come through.
‘No,of coursenot. I always bet on red and that’s exactly what he did on my express orders.’
I slap my head. ‘Gran,seriously! You thought that roulette was the answer to your money problems? And how did that go?’
She pulls a face. ‘Not well. Turns out we should have bet black. We’ll know for next time.’
I exhale a long breath. ‘You never learn.’
‘Isn’t it fabulous? Anyway, poor old Kon lost the remaining funds, got spotted by nosy Maria in the process, snuck back to the rig late and got fired.’
If I was a sweary pants I’d let out a string of expletives but I’m not so instead I mutter and mumble about responsibilities and her being old enough to know better, knowing full well my mumbled meanderings are falling on deaf ears.
I remember Athena’s visit and her warnings that Konstantine was spotted at a casino with aladyon his arm. ‘Who was the woman he was spotted with?’
She rolls her eyes. ‘An Uber driver, well that’s what I toldhimanyway.’
‘Told him? Who was she really?’ God, the plot thickens.
Gran swats the air as if my questions are pesky flies. ‘A pal looking after my best interests. I’ve learned a thing or two when it comes to marriage. It’s best not to be too trusting. I’d given him a hefty dose of cash, and I wanted to make sure my instructions were followed.Alwayshave a witness, Evie.’
I scrub my face so hard I’m sure my freckles come off. ‘Gran, why would you waste your money like that? Urgh. And now he’s unemployed and where …?’
‘Don’t panic, darling. Golly you’re reverting to type. Kon has since found work on another oil rig. Obviously the timing hasn’t been great, and all those weeks he spent looking for another job means he wasn’t earning anything but it won’t be long now; maybe another month and we’ll have a steady income from him again.’
‘Anothermonth!’ I’d expected his salary would be arriving any day and that would be part one of the rent payment arrears. ‘I could cheerfully strangle …’
‘Save your strength for more important matters. Your mother. Call her and tell her I’m fine. Hubby nine has switched jobs and everything is A-OK.’
‘Can’tyoucall her? She’s not going to believe a word I say. She’ll get all huffy and puffy and talk over the top of me like she always does.’
Gran lets out a sound that’s half-shriek half-sigh. ‘Golly, you’d think I’d be able to live my life unmolested, but no. I’ve got the entire District of Fun Police all set to barge in and create more problems. Ring your mother,darling, and put her off. Tell her I’ve taken a tumble and broken that hip she’s so obsessed with. Oh no, tell her I fell off the roof and now I’ve got amnesia! And that I get very agitated when I don’t recognise my own family. And the doctor, no, no thetraumaspecialist advises against family visits for the near future. Yes, say all that. Do you want me to write it down for you? But you can’t read it robotically, it has to sound natural.’
