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As she stretched out on her bed, she glanced at her tablet. Tomorrow’s itinerary would be waiting for her. She debated whether to check it or not, but she needed to know what time to have the children up and ready. She skimmed the schedule and noticed a little red dot by her message box. That was new. She clicked on the dot and read the message from Mr. P.
“I’m sorry to have missed saying goodnight to the children. Tucking them into bed is one of the highlights of my day. I trust you had an enjoyable afternoon. The children seem quite taken with you. I’m grateful they feel comfortable in your presence. You have a wonderful way with them. If there is anything you require, please let Stavros know immediately, and he’ll take care of you.”
Rose turned off the tablet and the light. She sat in bed, staring out at the water beyond the pool. In his message, Mr. P was all warmth and gratitude, so different from his aloofness in person. He was an enigma she intended to solve.
♥ ♥ ♥
Rose and the children stood in front of the wooden sign.
Nefeli opened her mouth to read.
“Nefeli, let Adonis try to say the words, please,” Rose said.
She’d noticed that Adonis didn’t read much on his own. Nefeli read everything to him, and he depended on her for it—a habit Rose planned to undo. Adonis needed to learn to read on his own and enjoy it. A child who could read could do anything he wanted in life.
“C—C.” Adonis frowned.
“I’ll help you with the first word,” Rose said. “Corfu is the name of the island we’re on.”
“Corfu,” Adonis said. His little face scrunched. “D—D.”
“You’re doing fine. Keep going,” Rose encouraged.
Nefeli tried to be patient, but Rose saw one sandaled toe dragging through the dirt.
A braying sound filled the morning air.
Adonis looked around. “Is that a horse?” His eyes lit up.
“No.” Rose spent a few minutes helping Adonis sound out the words on the sign.
“Corfu Donkey Rescue,” he said.
“Yes.” Rose clapped. “Good job, Adonis.”
“We’re going to see donkeys?” He turned bright eyes on her.
“Very special ones.” She took their hands and led them into the rescue center. “These donkeys were abandoned or unwanted by their owners. Some were mistreated. A wonderful English woman saw how many donkeys needed homes, and in 2004 she started this place where the donkeys can live in peace.”
“How many donkeys are there?” Nefeli asked.
“Five hundred so far.”
“That’s a lot of donkeys.” Adonis reached out to touch a gray donkey with white spots. “Can I get a pet donkey? Can we take him home?”
“You can touch him, but these donkeys need to stay here.”
“We already have donkeys and horses at home,” Nefeli said.
“But these are special. Rose said so.” Adonis stuck out his lower lip.
“Do you help take care of the donkeys at home?” Rose asked him as she rubbed her hand over the coarse hair of a brown donkey.
“Sometimes I get to help feed them. Papa only lets me ride the smallest and oldest one. He says I’m not ready for horses yet.”
“I can ride horses,” Nefeli said proudly. “Papa let me start on my seventh birthday.”
“Do you wear a helmet?” Rose asked. The idea of one of these precious children being hurt by a fall from a donkey or horse worried her.