Page 36 of The Silent Sister

Cassia, Bronwen and Tom stood in a queue of hospital visitors, all with their eyes on the clock, watching the minute hand move towards two o’clock.

Cassia’s stomach churned as she wondered about the state they would find Eléni in.

Tom had called the hospital to see how their daughter was, but all he’d been told was she’d had a comfortable night.

‘You’ll have to speak to the doctor,’ was all the person on the other end of the line had said.

At dead on two o’clock, a young nurse opened the double doors, and the visitors streamed into the women’s ward. Cassia noticed a sign on the wall saying, STRICTLY ONLY TWO VISITORS TO A BED .

‘You go in with your baba, Bronwen. Eléni will be pleased to see you.’

‘No,’ said Tom. ‘I’ll wait. I’ll try to find someone who can tell us how things are.’

Eléni was propped up on two plump pillows, her broken arm supported by another pillow on the bed.

The bandage around her head had been removed and part of her hairline had been shaved to reveal a line of stitches where she’d cut her head.

Violet bruising ran from the head wound down her left cheekbone.

Cassia leaned over to kiss her daughter.

Eléni smiled, but did not say anything. She seemed a lot calmer than when they’d left her the night before, but Cassia would not relax until she heard her daughter speak.

Bronwen sat on the chair beside the bed opposite her mother.

‘Well, you certainly put the wind up us lot,’ Bronwen told her. ‘Getting in the car with Handy Andy driving! You must have taken leave of your senses.’

Eléni shook her head, but crinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes as if amused.

But Cassia wasn’t amused. She knew the boy to whom Bronwen was referring.

Andrew Smith was the town’s tearaway and even though they’d only been living back in Porth Gwyn for a year, they already knew of his unsavoury reputation.

What on earth was her sensible, level-headed daughter doing getting mixed up with the likes of him?

Her heart pounded. She’d hoped that Eléni would start to speak but she remained silent, just responding to Bronwen with the familiar nods and facial expressions she’d relied upon all those years ago.

‘You look a lot better than you did last night, agápi mou . You’ve got a bit more colour in your cheeks.’ Cassia patted Eléni’s hand. ‘Has the doctor been round this morning? Baba’s gone to see if he can find out more.’

Eléni pointed at the wound on her head with her free arm. She put her good arm across the one in plaster to form an X shape. Cassia was puzzled.

‘You’ve been for an X-ray,’ said Bronwen. Her sister nodded in agreement and made a thumbs-up sign. ‘Everything is all right?’ Eléni nodded again. ‘See, Mam. I’m getting good at this. Here’s Baba, now. I’ll wait outside. We’d better stick to Sister’s orders.’

Cassia watched Bronwen walk the length of the ward as Tom approached the bed. She tried to read his expression, hoping for good news from the doctor.

Tom’s face broke into a wide grin as he got closer. He kissed Eléni before taking the chair vacated by Bronwen.

‘Well, you’re looking better today. You didn’t half give us a fright, didn’t she, Mamá?’

Cassia nodded. ‘But what did the doctor say? Did you manage to speak to anyone? Eléni says she’s been for an X-ray on her head and it’s all right.’

Tom turned to Eléni and took her hand. ‘You’ve been speaking. That’s great news.’

Eléni shook her head.

‘She mimed it to Bronwen and gave the thumbs-up sign,’ said Cassia.

‘Ah. Well, it’s still good because that’s what they told me.

’ Tom turned to Eléni. ’The sister on duty today said they’ve checked you over and they’re happy there’s no lasting damage to your head.

The cut will heal now they’ve stitched it and the bruising will go.

We have to bring you back in a week to check the bones in your arm have knitted back together properly. ’

Cassia breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Oh, that’s such good news, isn’t it?’

Eléni’s eyes sparkled as she nodded. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out. Her eyes filled with tears.

Cassia stood and put her arms around her daughter.

‘Don’t get upset. The words will come back.

I’m sure of it.’ Eléni snuggled into her mother’s neck.

For the first time since the blazing row they’d had, it looked like things might be all right after all.

Cassia sat back down. She looked across at Tom.

‘So can we take her home with us this afternoon, then?’

‘No, we’ve got to ring in the morning to check the doctor has been to the ward on his rounds and if he’s happy, we can pick her up sometime in the afternoon.

’ Tom smiled at Eléni. ‘We’ll soon have you back in your own bed.

You can put this behind you then. Your arm will soon mend, a young girl like you.

You’re lucky it’s your left hand so you can get back to those amazing drawings you do. ’

Eléni again went to speak, but the words just wouldn’t come.

Cassia cast a concerned glance at her husband.

She tried to hide her worries by changing the subject and looked up at the clock on the wall above the door.

‘I’ll let Bronwen have the last ten minutes with you.

Lady’s missing you. She keeps going to the back door as if you’ll be there soon. ’

Eléni smiled and nodded. She moved her free hand back and forth to indicate the dog’s wagging tail.

Cassia hugged her daughter, and they waved to each other as she walked away.

* * *

The next day, after getting confirmation she was fit to be discharged, Tom and Bronwen left Porth Gwyn to fetch Eléni from the hospital.

Cassia stayed behind to make her daughter’s favourite treat, baklavá, to welcome her home.

After all the years of living in Wales and even though Aunt Gwladys had taught her to make the most amazing Welsh cakes, Cassia always returned to her Greek recipes for special occasions.

Living in Wales meant she’d had to make some adjustments, but with practice her sweet pastries were now almost as good as those she’d made in Kefalonia.

In Porth Gwyn, it seemed olive oil was only available in small bottles from the chemist to treat blocked ears.

Instead, she melted half a block of butter to mix with the strong white flour.

She rolled out the dough, getting it thinner and thinner to make the layers for the pie.

Her mind wandered back to her time in Fiscardo when she would do this each day before taking the baklavá to sell at the market.

She had not heard from her sister in years so she didn’t know if she still ran her stall at the town’s market.

What would Eugenia think about her refusing to contemplate a return to Kefalonia as Tom had suggested?

But she would not give in over this. Cassia had vowed she would never set foot on the island again.

She filled the layers with a mixture of chopped nuts and brushed the final layer with melted butter before cutting the dough into diamond shapes.

Cassia heard the tyres of Tom’s truck crunch on the gravel drive. She finished drizzling honey over the tray of pastries when Bronwen opened the front door. ‘She’s home, Mamá.’

Cassia brushed her hands on her apron and rushed to greet them.

Lady beat her to it and barked with excitement as Tom helped Eléni from the passenger seat of the car.

Her plastered arm was now supported with a sling, and she’d combed her hair towards her forehead so her wound was less obvious.

She leaned over to stroke Lady who rolled onto her back, inviting Eléni to tickle her tummy.

Eléni looked up at her mother and beamed.

‘She’s been pining for you . Let’s go in. I’ve made your favourites.’ Bronwen appeared in the hallway with her mouth full.

‘And mine!’

‘Don’t talk with your mouth full,’ Cassia and Tom spoke in unison, laughing. Eléni rolled her eyes and chuckled too.