‘Well, historically speaking …’
‘He’s on an oil rig. OK? Money’s been tight, so we felt that a steady income would help tide us over.’
‘An oil rig? How old is he?’
‘Seventy.’
I stare her down.
‘Sixty.’
I cock my head.
‘OK, he’s fifty, a verymaturefifty.’
Really, I shouldn’t be surprised. ‘Right.’ How am I supposed to navigate this mess? Mom will be expecting an intelligence report and I’ll have to word it just so, giving breadcrumbs but not the whole loaf.
‘They won’t throw you into jail for not paying rent, will they?’
Her gaze shifts about the place as if she isn’t quite sure how to answer. ‘Yannis has threatened that. Says he went to school with the chief of the Hellenic Police or some other nonsense. But I can smell a bluff a mile away.’
I cover my face with my hands. ‘What if it’s not a bluff? What then?’
‘Don’t worry, I’ve got a new plan! One that will buy me some time and get them off my back. Tell you over cocktails.’ She air-kisses me and goes to leave.
None of this is good. Just how much money did Gran sink into this place? How much does fancy furniture cost? Maybe it all went on books. Yeah sure, Epeolatry is a haven for literary lovers, but Gran always leaves herself a monetary safety net in case she gets into a bind.
By the door, Gran turns back. ‘Oh and a word of warning, if Georgios appears, be on high alert. Don’t let him snoop around. He’s likely to take my cherishables as collateral.’
‘How am I supposed to fend him off? Should I kick him out?’ Knowing my luckI’llend up in a Greek jail.
‘No, darling! Kill him with kindness.’ She gives me a fluttery wave as she shuts the door behind her. How can she be so calm? Will the launch of Epeolatry be enough to keep the wolf from the door?
I toy with what to message Mom to keep her off my back.
The bookshop Bibliotherapy is a wonder. Library bar Epeolatry, to launch soon, is a showstopper. Gran’s got a few money quibbles, what with the bookshop being on the quiet side of the village, but she’s got a new plan that she’s going to wow me with later. Husband Konstantine is away working, so that’s one less thing to worry about. Gran seems to be enjoying island life, despite a few rocky patches. Evie.
What a muddle this all is, but Gran seems unperturbed, so I let it go for now.
What does a girl have to do to get some food around here …
Chapter 5
As usual, the universe provides, but never in the way I want. No sooner has my belly rumbled in protest than he doth appear. The Greek god, holding none other than a fragrant-smelling box of just-baked goodness.
My mouth waters in anticipation, but I cannot, and I will not, yield to the likes of him. I remember Gran’s warning to be on high alert, but my resolve crumbles with every step closer he takes. Blame the hunger pangs and Gran’s speedy exit this morning. Here I’d been expecting us to breakfast under the soft morning sun with the sea lapping gently in the distance while she caught me up on what exactly has unfolded since she stepped off the cruise ship. Alas, she’s MIA, I’m starving, and hereheis.
‘Sorry we got off to a bad start yesterday.’ Georgios gives me a warm smile that belies his traitorous heart. I’ve seen these ploys in romance novels a million times. Does he think this kind of sultry smile will work? Well not on my watch. He’s probably scoping the place out for valuables he can sell to recoup their rent money. I can’t exactly blame the guy, but I will because Gran told me to.
I pretend to be completely uninterested in him and flip the page of my book, not able to take in a single word with him looming so close and me being so hungry and all.
He lifts the lid and it’s all I can do not to jump up and snatch the box from him. The sweet scent of cinnamon and syrup perfumes the balmy air. I must not give in to temptation.
‘My grandmother made freshloukoumadesespecially for you and Floretta this morning. We’re sorry things got fraught these last few days.’
I raise a brow and give him a slow once-over, regally like cats do, thus proving I’m completely unimpressed, when I’m anything but. My stomach has a mind of its own and is telling me to dive right in, morals be damned! ‘And does your grandmother know that you berated a little old lady over a few euros?’ Look at me go, playing the part of indifferent heroine! Does that make him the hero?This isn’t fiction, Evie!
‘Well, it’s not exactly …’
