Page 20 of The Silent Sister

‘What if I help you and Eléni leave Kefalonia for somewhere where you won’t have to worry about money ever again? Where you could get help for Eléni?’

Cassia’s mouth gaped open. ‘No! No, I’ll never leave — you know that.’

‘Some of my mates on the ship carve out the insides of bars of soap and send money to their wives in there so they get the whole lot. I would do the same for you.’

Cassia shook her head. She didn’t want to hear any more.

‘But think about it. Michaíl told me even here, there will be no work — the economy is failing due to lack of resources. Things are not going to improve for a very long time. What if Eléni never learns to speak in that time? The longer she doesn’t get help, the more likely she will never speak.’

Cassia stood and began pacing the beach.

‘She will — I know she will.’ Deep down, did she truly believe that?

If Eléni did need professional help, would she be able to get it in Kefalonia?

Would she be able to afford it? No! Using Eléni’s problem as a way of trying to convince her to emigrate wasn’t fair!

Money wasn’t everything, was it? She’d find a way of feeding her and her daughter if it was the last thing she’d do.

But how was a different matter. And her little girl would learn to speak.

Another thought entered her mind. What if someone worked out she wasn’t Eléni’s mother? She quickly dismissed it.

Tom stood up too. ‘Don’t get upset, please. I just want you to think about it. If you have a contact in the country you want to settle in—’

‘I wouldn’t even know which country to go to. I don’t know anyone outside Kefalonia.’

‘You could move to Wales. Like I told you, my brother is married to a Greek woman. You could use Katerina as your contact. She’d vouch for you, I’m sure.

She would be your Greek connection. You’d like her.

She’d help you settle in. In the little town where I’m from, there’s a school for the deaf.

The children are older, but we could find someone there to help Eléni, I’m sure of it. ’

‘I can’t use a non-relative as my connection, and Eléni’s not deaf!’

‘I know, but they could help with signing and the methods they use when getting their pupils to speak.’

What Tom said next made Cassia freeze to the spot.

‘You’d have a stronger connection if you were my wife. Cassia.’ He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Will you marry me? I love you so much.’

Her heart drumming inside her chest, Cassia stood open-mouthed.

She was happy for their relationship to move on past friendship.

But marriage? Hadn’t she told herself she would never marry again because of the depth of her love for Nikos?

Yet, Nikos wouldn’t expect her to remain single forever, would he?

Where would they live? How could she uproot Eléni again?

She was shocked at herself for even asking these questions.

How could she tell Eugenia, Michaíl? Even though she was adamant she wouldn’t leave the place of her birth, the questions kept coming.

Cassia’s mind was in turmoil. She was thinking of all the reasons she couldn’t or shouldn’t marry Tom, but she hadn’t asked herself one important question. Did she love him and want to marry him?

‘Oh, Tom. I don’t know what to say. I know you said you loved me and I love you, too. But marriage? I wasn’t expecting this. It’s too soon. I’m flattered, but you’ll be posted somewhere else and I won’t see you for months. Isn’t it better for us to stay here and wait for your visits?’

As much as he tried to cover it up, Cassia could tell by Tom’s expression it was not the answer he’d been hoping for. But she had to be honest with both him and herself.

‘Just think about it. The worse things get in Kefalonia, the more difficult it will be to visit you through the ports. I couldn’t bear not to see you and Eléni.’

They sat back down, both deep in thought. The earlier moment for romance had been replaced with practicalities and serious decisions.

Tom looked at her. ‘I know your love for me is not the same as your love for Nikos, but I’ll be happy if you can learn to love me as a wife. We’ll be a family for Eléni and give her the best life. She deserves that, doesn’t she?’

Cassia wanted that above all else.

A cool breeze had sprung up, and the two of them decided to make their way back up the steep path to the road.

The sun was lower in the sky now. The streaks of lemon and pale apricot against the blue-grey backdrop promised another spectacular sunset later.

Cassia wondered what the sunsets were like in Wales and remonstrated with herself for considering the possibility of moving away from Kefalonia. I have to stay. This is where I belong!

‘It’s got to be your decision, cariad , but I truly believe we’d be doing the best for Eléni. And one last thing. I won’t mention it again. We only have Sophia’s word Eléni has no relatives.’

Goosebumps prickled the skin along Cassia’s arms. All Tom was doing was expressing what she’d already thought herself.

That night, Cassia didn’t sleep. Tom’s face kept invading her mind.

The next morning, she and Eléni accompanied Tom to his waiting boat that would take him down to Argostoli to catch his ferry.

It was a day Cassia had been dreading and now there was another reason why she was sad to see Tom leave.

She’d promised she’d give him her answer, but she wasn’t ready.

Afraid he’d consider the delay as a rebuff, she was determined to put on a happy face so he would have no idea of the turmoil she was going through.

Tom and Eléni seemed oblivious to her dilemma, and they laughed together as Tom scooped up the little girl, tickling her as he said a special goodbye.

‘You be a good girl for your mamá. I come back to see you both soon.’ Eléni nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck.

‘Goodbye, Cassia. Please think about what I’ve had to say. You would make me the happiest man in the world if you said yes. One last cwtch ?’

Cassia hugged him tight, the little girl between them, and tried to put all her feelings into that one embrace. Tom let go and put Eléni down, then ran up the gangway without a backward glance. Cassia knew his eyes would be full of tears like hers were.

Goodbye, Tom.

Hearing the hooter of the ship, they waited until the ship was manoeuvred away from the harbour wall. By this time, Tom was up on deck, waving.

Eléni spotted him first and pointed. ‘To...’ Then she burst into tears.

* * *

In the days after Tom left, Cassia felt empty inside.

To make it worse, Eléni retreated into her shell and didn’t utter a sound.

Even Michaíl could not get a smile or reaction from her.

New Year was approaching and yet, not one of them seemed in the mood to celebrate.

Cassia went through the motions of making the melomakarona and Vasilopita to eat on St Basil’s Day, and Michaíl even managed to get the promise of a small piece of pork from his butcher friend.

Cassia woke to the sound of sobbing. Eléni was hugging her Maltese doll, tears streaming down her face.

‘What is it, Elenáki mou? ’ She picked up the little girl, knowing the exact reason. ‘You’re missing Tom, aren’t you? I am, too. Shall I give you an extra tight cwtch like he would do?’

Eléni nodded. ‘Tom, Tom gone.’

It was the first time she’d spoken Tom’s whole name and the first time she’d said the word gone .

The first time she’d uttered anything since he’d left.

It was Cassia’s turn to become tearful. How she wished she could tell him what had just happened.

Could she marry Tom and leave all ties with Kefalonia behind?

The little girl in front of her would benefit and hopefully learn to speak with specialist help.

She did love him not just because he would make Eléni happy but because it would make her happy to become his wife.

It was Tom who filled her waking thoughts, and she missed him terribly.

Cassia stifled a sob. She’d made a huge mistake.

Why, oh why, hadn’t she accepted his wedding proposal before he left on the ship?

‘Eléni... Would you like it if Mamá and Tom got married, and he became your baba?’

Eléni pulled away from Cassia. She nodded and pointed at her heart. There was no going back now. She’d write and tell Tom she would love to become Kyria Tom Beynon. All she had to do now was tell Eugenia and Michaíl of her decision.