‘Helena, haven’t seen her,’ I say by rote.
He points excitedly to the cover of the book and I note the title:Helenaby Evelyn Waugh. I face-palm. This whole time he was looking for abookcalled Helena! In retrospect, it seems wildly obvious. ‘Another mystery solved!’ I invite him in for a drink and he readily agrees.
Chapter 37
‘I’m sorry things didn’t work out with you and Billy the Knuckle,’ I say to Roxy, telling yet another porky pie.
‘Gah, he had that big … tech energy, you know?’
Yeah more like gamer boy than wise guy. ‘He did not look the way I expected. Blame the movies.’
‘Really? I thought he was dreamy. But after all is said and done I’m not sure I could love a mafia hood. The movies do add a touch of glamour and mystique, but all I can imagine is Billy coming home after a long day with a range of different-sized pinkies in plastic baggies – it’s a little stomach-turning. But argh!’ Roxy grabs her hair and scrunches it. ‘He would have made beautiful babies!’
‘Plus his work-life balance is no good.’
‘True. I’d be left with the screaming babies while he’s off to God knows where to do God knows what. If this were a book do you think there’s a chance I’ll find love in the sequel?’ She gives me a hopeful smile.
‘Every chance. You’d be the heroine in book two and I’ll be your trusty sidekick.’
‘So there’s hope?’
‘There’s always hope,always.’
‘I’m off to open Bibliotherapy. Meet for lunch?’
‘Sure.’ Technically, I’m ‘working’ with a book open on my lap. And this book has real promise. It just might make it all the way to the screen. A fun fake-date trope – what’s not to love? I have high hopes it’ll be a fan favourite.
The day ticks along and when I look up Georgios is there, manuscript in hand. ‘Got room for one more?’ He motions to my ‘office desk’, which is the outdoor table and chairs.
‘Pull up a chair.’ I grin.
We work quietly together for a few hours and then it’s time for my Greek lesson. He’s teaching me the language and while I find it difficult, I’m a tenacious student and vow to be fluent as fast as possible.
‘I have a special word for you today.’
‘Ooh.’ I love his special words. I’m learning the basics but each day we have one beautiful word that captures my imagination.
‘This word is how I feel about you.’
‘OK.’ My heart speeds up.
‘Kapsoura.’
‘Kapsoura.’ I say the word, enjoying the shape and melody of it. ‘What does it mean?’
‘Well that’s just the thing, there’s no exact English translation for such a word; nothing comes close to defining the amount of desire and passion it evokes. It’s describes a type of love that burns so fiercely it almost consumes itself.’
‘It’s highly combustible – sounds dangerous.’
He laughs. ‘An explosion of love.’
‘A supernova.’
We kiss as if our hearts are truly on fire, as if we’re stars heavy with heat all set to explode.Kapsoura. A love that burns so brightly.
Chapter 38
Gran and I are playing with the dogs, waiting for Zorba and Georgios to arrive for a barbecue dinner. Mom and Posy are inside assembling salads. After two long weeks, they go home tomorrow and I’m already missing them, even though Posy has been getting on my last nerve. Sisters, eh?
