I think back to how much has changed since I’ve been here and how crazy it is that everything has worked out, in one way or another, either with brute force or naturally. Still, there are some questions that remained unanswered.
‘Gran, what really happened to all of your husbands?’
Gran shifts her gaze to the heavens. ‘They died tragic deaths and no I wasn’t involved and if any detectives ask you, you don’t know a thing. Call it selective amnesia.’
I scratch Sir Spud’s ear.‘Gran.’
She moves to a sun lounger next to me. The breeze blows her long thick hair back. Love gives her a vitality. It’s evident in her bright eyes, her happy smile.
‘OK, OK, fine. They’re all alive and kicking.’
I gasp.What!I take a moment to process the men I thought suffered horrible early deaths. ‘Why the dramatic demise stories?’ They’re alive!
Gran stirs her Virginia Woolf cocktail with a swizzle stick shaped like a pineapple. ‘Love should be wild and fun. Admitting we broke up because I couldn’t stand the fact Vlad insisted the bed be made with hospital corners every damn day doesn’t sound exactly thrilling, does it? He’d clean behind me as I made coffee or a sandwich as if any crumb would be his undoing. Jimmy from Australia was fun. We danced those tropical nights away, until the shine wore off, and we stared at each other across a plastic table in a house with no air-conditioning and realised we didn’t have a thing left to talk about. Talk about mundane! I loved my husbands with all of my heart – until I didn’t. And don’t get me wrong, some fell out of love with me first, like Irish Sean who just wasn’t the commitment type. For some the spark was there and then it died and I didn’t want to waste another minute in their company. It happens. I’m a hopeless romantic, Evie, and I always will be. Maybe I jumped into marriage too soon with some, but I don’t regret a single thing. What’s love if not a gamble? And that’s a risk I’malwaysprepared to take.’
I consider it. It’s beautiful, really. That no matter what, she was always willing to give her heart away, even if it had been bruised before. She’d risk it all for the hopes of finding love again. Herkapsouramoment. She didn’t shy away from it ever.
But wait a minute. ‘What about my grandad? If he’s alive how come we’ve never seen him?’
‘Oh Gerald? Sorry to tell you this, darling but he reallyisdead. There was that terrible mix-up with the antifreeze.’
‘Really?’
She gives me a ‘what can you do’ shrug. ‘Accidents happen.’
*
Life resumes a slower pace once Mom and Posy leave. Summer is slowly drifting away but the days are still warm and the nights balmy. Georgios texts me about joining him on a hike. Honestly island life is an exercise in itself. There’s always a hill, a cliff, or water to traverse.
When he arrives he plays with the pooches who won’t let him get near me until they’ve had a chance to play first. He knows all their quirks and moves his wallet to his shirt pocket so Houdini can’t steal it.Again.A few days ago, when I was cleaning my villa, I found Houdini’s stolen stash of credit cards and cash hidden under my bed. We’ve done our best to return them to their rightful owners but it’s proven hard to track some of them down. You live and learn. Doesn’t stop Houdini from his thievery though, so we’ve had to make signs that read: Beware of the dog – he will steal your wallet. Always a good conversation starter.
Georgios gives Gran a peck on the cheek. ‘Would you like to join us on a hike, Floretta?’
She waves him away. ‘No, darling man, but thanks for the offer. Zorba is coming over to talk wedding plans. We’re thinking Vegas?’
‘Vegas, Gran!? Really?’
‘Not really. Just wanted to get a rise out of you and look, it worked.’
The minx.
‘OK, well we’re off,’ I say.
‘Enjoy, lovebirds.’
Georgios takes my hand and we walk towards the caldera. There’s a gorgeous view from a vantage point I haven’t seen before and he assures me the arduous climb is worth it. We chat about our lives, how we’re living the dream. A dream that seemed just out of reach at the start of summer. As always, he manages to distract me from the burning in my muscles, either that or I’m truly getting fitter and what an achievement that is for this bookworm.
After an age we get to our destination. I’m breathing heavily but the view is worth it. ‘It’s a heart!’ I cry out. Carved by nature into a great big rock is a love heart. Through it you can see the Aegean Sea, the caldera and the volcano.
‘It’s one of the island’s best-kept secrets.The heart of Santorini.’
‘It’s beautiful. I’ll even forgive you for bringing me so close to a volcano.’
He laughs and takes me into his arms. ‘This is our heart, Evie.’
‘Formed by the elements and will last forever?’
‘Exactly.’
