Page 26 of The Silent Sister

The next morning, Cassia found Tom already up and dressed, making coffee.

‘Is Eléni all right this morning? I didn’t hear her again. She sounded terrified.’

Cassia sat down at the kitchen table while he poured the coffee from the copper briki .

‘Efcharistó. I took her into my bed and she went back to sleep. She hasn’t had one for ages. It was like going back six months. Poor little thing.’

She decided this was a good way to begin telling Tom her thoughts about staying. ‘I’m worried even more upheaval — leaving everything she knows here — is going to set Eléni back to square one. She’ll be having nightmares like that every night.’

His face became serious. ‘What do you mean? She’ll have both of us with her.’

‘But she won’t, will she? You’ll be at sea for long periods of time. Michaíl’s letter has given us another option. We can still get married, but make our home here in Fiscardo. Instead of waiting for you to come home to somewhere new, we’d be waiting here among people and the language we know.’

She waited for Tom to say something. ‘I’m sorry, Cassia, but there is no future for us here. You’ve said it yourself. Everyone’s emigrating as there is no work, no food, no...’

He stopped as Eléni joined them. Her face was serious. She’d obviously heard the conversation.

‘No smiles for us this morning.’ The little girl shook her head. ‘I think we’ll carry on with this later,’ he whispered to Cassia.

Disappointment shone on Tom’s face. He’d been so happy when Cassia had told him she’d marry him and move to Wales.

Now all she could think about was how she could make things work by staying.

She imagined what Eugenia would say. ‘I was right. If you truly loved him, you wouldn’t even be considering staying here.

A marriage of convenience was all it was going to be to get away from the hardships of the island.

Now you’ve got a permanent home, you don’t have to move away.

’ Is Tom thinking the same? That I only agreed to marry him as a way of getting away from the desperate state of the island?

The subject was not mentioned again. Cassia set about making up a bed in Michaíl’s room for Tom while he took Eléni out for a walk. The little girl was still subdued, but he did raise a smile from her when he suggested they walk down to the beach.

Cassia hoped things would soon be back to how they were.

While they were out, Eugenia arrived at the taverna. It was the first time the sisters had seen each other since their row.

‘Where’s Maia?’

Her sister hesitated. ‘Umm, she’s spending time with Mamá so I thought I’d come to see how you’re getting on. I understand Tom is here. I was sorry to hear Michaíl has left. I would have liked to have said goodbye. It all seems so sudden.’

Cassia’s throat constricted. ‘Yes, his sister sent a ferry ticket for him, and Dr Alexatos thought it was better to go now before...’ — she inhaled deeply — ‘... it was too late. Tom went with him. I don’t think he could have managed on his own.’

Eugenia reached across and held her hand. ‘I’m so sorry. You’re going to miss him... but then again you would have missed him when you leave for Wales anyway.’

Cassia pulled her hand away and retrieved Michaíl’s letter. ‘Read this.’

Her sister gasped as Michaíl’s words sank in. ‘So, you don’t have to leave. You can live here permanently. What did Tom say?’

‘That’s the problem. When I suggested we make this our home and he leaves for his spells at sea from here, he wasn’t very pleased.

He came with several reasons why and then Eléni came in, obviously having heard us.

She had another nightmare last night with all the upset.

What is she going to be like when I uproot her again?

I’m not even sure what I’ll be like in a foreign country, not knowing anybody, having to speak English all the time and Tom away for months on end.

’ Tears fell. Eugenia pulled her close in a sisterly hug. All thoughts about their row forgotten.

‘You know my feelings. But you must be really sure it’s what you want. If there’s any doubt, you must tell Tom.’

Cassia nodded. ‘I know.’ He deserved the truth. Was her love for him strong enough to take a risk for both her and Eléni? ‘Anyway, how is our dear mother? Come into the kitchen with me and tell me.’

‘As judgemental as ever. It’s why I came to see you and to make it up with you after our row.

Apparently, she’s heard rumours I’ve been having visits from a man — it’s obvious she means Tom — and she is concerned they’ll get back to Georgios.

I haven’t told her he’s gone again. A bit ironic when he’s the one who’s been unfaithful, eh?

She invited us over with the excuse she wanted to play with Maia.

Really it was to find out what I had to say about the rumours.

Also, she wanted to know about you. I didn’t let on the truth about Eléni. ’

‘ Efcharistó. I couldn’t bear it if she knew the real story. At least in Wales, no one would question if Eléni was mine.’

Cassia poured the coffee and the sisters sat deep in thought while warming their hands on the cups.

‘I’m so pleased you called round, Eugenia.

I’ve hated all this time not being friends.

I was too stubborn to give in. I’ve got to decide whether it’s worth me being stubborn about staying here when we get married or risk losing Tom for ever. ’

Eugenia put down her cup and stood to go, kissing her sister on both cheeks.

‘Only you can do that. Say hello to Tom and Eléni for me. I’d better go.’

* * *

Both Tom and Eléni came back from their walk in a better mood.

‘We had a great time, didn’t we, Eléni? We had a nice paddle in the sea.’

She beamed and couldn’t wait to get her coat off before rushing to get her pencils and paper. Her drawings were becoming more and more detailed. She’d learned to write the first letter of her name and each drawing was always signed with an Ε .

While Eléni was preoccupied, Cassia and Tom sat and talked. She told him about Eugenia’s visit and the rumours surrounding her male visitor.

Tom laughed. ‘I’ve only been to her house a few times. This town and its spies.’ Cassia didn’t react, but wondered if he wanted to add, The sooner we get away from here the better .

Eléni came back with her drawing. She’d taken care to colour the sea blue with a creamy-white beach.

In the water were several swimmers, with two figures near the edge of the water.

This was the family life Cassia yearned for, so why didn’t she have faith in Tom’s judgement that emigrating would give her and Eléni just that?

Friends of Michaíl’s came into the bar that night enquiring after him. Word had got round he’d left for good.

‘Listen to them reminiscing about the times they had in here with him.’ Tom watched from behind the bar. It struck Cassia that Tom was already taking Michaíl’s place, even if it was for a short time.

After Eugenia had left that afternoon, Cassia had made a tray of spanakopita and that night she handed around the spinach- and-feta pies in Michaíl’s honour. The old men raised their glasses of ouzo, knocked the drinks back and slammed them on the bar.

‘ Yamas! To Michaíl.’

One of the men took out his bouzouki from a battered leather case.

He began to strum the steel strings with a plectrum.

Soon the haunting metallic sounds of a traditional Greek folk song filled the bar.

It was as if he was playing a musical homage to an old friend who had started his final journey.

A lump formed in Cassia’s throat and Tom’s eyes glistened with tears.

A few of Michaíl’s friends brushed away tears.

There were cries of, ‘ Bràvo. Excellent.’

Many came up and slapped Tom on his back. ‘ Efcharistó . He was a good friend.’

When the last customer had left and Cassia had bolted the door, she and Tom cleared up. They retired to the living room with a glass of retsina.

‘I think we did dear Michaíl proud tonight. I didn’t realise how important a role this old taverna played in the past. I heard some of them talk about how it was the hiding place for the partisans during the war.

I know now why it’s called Taverna Zervas .

After the leader of the Greek resistance, Napoleon Zervas. ’

‘And after the war, too. It’s where I met Nikos.

Michaíl let me and Eléni have the room once he knew I was Nikos’s widow.

He admired him for what he’d done for the ordinary people.

’ She took a deep breath, not knowing what reaction she’d get from Tom.

‘After tonight, don’t you see, Tom? Taverna Zervas can’t be left empty, only occasionally lived in by Michaíl’s nephew.

Its history surely shows it needs to remain the heart of Fiscardo’s community. Please.’

Tom didn’t say a word. For the second time that day, disappointment drew a veil across his face. She had no idea what he was going to say, but she knew she was fighting a losing battle. If she was determined to stay and run Michaíl’s taverna, it looked as if she would be doing it alone.