‘Good plan.’
‘What about this instead … If and when you ditch us for the bright lights of Hollywood, I’d like to be considered for some shifts in Bibliotherapy. PR is my passion but I don’t want it to consume my life like it did in Athens. I adore the bookshop and working there a couple of days a week would be a dream come true.’
‘Of course, Roxy! Gran was going to ask you last night if you’d consider doing some shifts in the future.’
‘Yay!’ Roxy puts her hand on her heart. ‘I solemnly vow to protect those books and not let anyone buy them for nefarious purposes, like hiding engagement rings or making flowers from their pages. Or God forbid using them purely for display purposes.’
So my bookselling foibles may have come up from time to time? Someone has to watch over those precious tomes.
‘Ha. Well make sure you keep an eye out, I’m sure there are so many book-destroying scams about.’
‘I’ll be a step ahead, don’t you worry. One thing – what if Kon quits his oil rig job? They won’t need me then will they? It’s mostly that I’m certain I’m going to meet my dream man in a bookshop. It’s written in the stars.’
I bite down on my lip to stop the secret spilling out. ‘Konstantine won’t be back.’Oops.‘Don’t say anything though.’
She sits up abruptly. ‘What? Where is he? This has something to do with you asking me a while back if he was trustworthy, doesn’t it?’
It’s too late to turn back now so I make her promise it’ll stay between us and I tell her the whole sorry story. It feels good to share one of the many secrets I’ve held so close to my chest. ‘I’m not sure why he’d have come back to Santorini though. Why risk being spotted here if he was all set to escape to Mexico?’
Roxy hugs her knees to her chest and considers it. ‘Ah! To pick up his passport?’
‘Right.’ How did I not think of that! ‘Do you think he snuck into Gran’s villa to grab it?’ I’m curious to find out if Gran had been aware he’d returned to Santorini, albeit briefly.
‘I doubt it. The dogs would have created a ruckus if he did and no way would Zeus let a stranger inside Floretta’s villa. Maybe he left it with his mother who lives on the other side of the village?’ Roxy’s complexion reddens as if she’s mad. ‘Who does he think he is! Doing that to Floretta! What a vile …’ she lets out a string of expletives that capture the attention of a mother sitting close by whose child mimics the last F-word.
‘Roxy,’ I say quietly and tilt my head towards the child.
She mouthssorryto the mother and is rewarded with an icy glare. ‘Well he is all of those things and more. What does Floretta have to say about it all?’
I make a face. ‘I haven’t talked to her about it yet. Mom swore me to secrecy and look how well that’s going. I’ll wait and see what further investigating unearths. My mom sensed there was something fishy going on. I figured they were making a big deal over nothing as usual when it comes to Gran. Turns out this time Mom was right.’
Roxy’s forehead furrows. ‘Floretta doesn’t strike me as the type to let things slide, Evie. You should chat to her about it – maybe she’s already planning a way to get the money back. Or revenge. Revenge would be better. I for one would like to seethat.’ She clicks her fingers. ‘Better yet, we could go and tell Konstantine’s mom what he’s done. The family will make good on what he stole, or they’ll die of shame.’
I pull my lips to one side. ‘It’s a lot of money, Roxy. It wouldn’t be fair on them.’
‘Well it’s not fair on Floretta either!’
Roxy has taken a real shine to Gran. ‘I’ll see how Gran is tonight. I have to broach it carefully because she hasn’t opened up to me yet so there must be a good reason for that. And if my mom finds out I’ve spoken out of turn she’ll kill me. Or she’ll turn up here when we least expect it. I’m not sure which is worse.’
Roxy waves the worry away. ‘Ah who cares. What can she do?’
‘You don’t know my mother. I’m sure the phraseif looks could killcame from someone who made the mistake of crossing her. Solving this muddle of Gran’s will be the top of her list and if I mess up her investigations, they’ll never let me forget it.’
‘You’re Floretta’sgranddaughter! Fierce protector of books and words alike. But I get it. Moms can lay on the guilt thick.’
‘Yep.’
‘So, back to real-life love. What happened with Georgios and Lucy last night? Why were they running so late and what was with Lucy’s threat of only staying an hour?’
I blow out a breath, remembering it all. ‘Well, the damsel-in-distress act all started with theI can’t do up my buttonscon.’ I fill her in on the story as she peppers me with questions as I go. ‘No I have no idea what colour the first dress was. Does it matter?’
‘Well it matters forcontext.’
I continue relaying what I know.
Roxy gasps. ‘She launched herself at him, withkissy lipsat the ready?’
‘He didn’t say if she had kissy lips at the ready. He wasn’t one hundred per cent sure what she was attempting to do, but what else would you lunge at a guy for? Either to kiss him or kill him – there’s no in between.’
