Page 37 of The Silent Sister

ELéNI

Later that night when she lay upstairs in bed, Eléni thought back over the last few days and how much everything had changed.

She was pleased to be back, but also frustrated.

Just three days before, she’d left home in such a temper she’d told herself she was leaving for good, never wanting to see her parents or her sister ever again.

She knew now that wasn’t going to happen.

She’d wanted to break free from her quiet goody-goody image — well, she’d done that.

According to her parents, who’d had to pass the crashed car on the way to see her in hospital, she was lucky to be alive.

All they kept saying was it was so unlike her, so out of character.

They’d let her live a lie, so what was her true character?

She was so confused she didn’t know herself.

The last thing she remembered on Saturday night was the Mini speeding towards the hedge, the noise of the skidding crash and the car rolling over into the field.

Every time she closed her eyes, her head filled with her own blood-curdling scream and panicked voices of the others. Then no images. Just blackness.

What had she done? She’d put her parents and sister through hell all because she didn’t have the courage to do the right thing.

She didn’t want a second double Bacardi and Coke.

And yet she’d drunk it. She knew Andy had been drinking and still got in the car with him.

Did she really think it was worth trying to impress Andy Smith and show him she was one of the trendy girls?

It was obvious he only thought of himself.

She was sure there would already be someone else to show off to by now.

How could someone as weak as her even contemplate travelling to Kefalonia on her own and trying to find a long-lost relative?

She knew her parents had been overprotective of her because of her mutism.

She’d always shied away from social situations because of it, but she was a grown woman now!

She tried to turn over and pain shot through her arm.

She had to remember how restricted she was with her arm in the splint.

In a week’s time, she’d return to have it replaced with a plaster cast once the swelling had gone down.

Her quickly made plans as she’d rushed to Gabriella’s house after the row were dashed.

She’d planned to get the money for the Kefalonia trip by asking for extra shifts at the Welsh craft shop and trying to get work at the large hotel in the evenings.

They were always advertising for waitresses to do evening shifts.

But how could she manage waitressing with a broken arm?

Tears prickled along her eyelids. She’d ruined everything!

Eléni heard what sounded like a tap on the window.

Then several more. Slowly, she got out of bed and drew the curtain back a fraction.

Standing below, about to throw more chippings up at the window, was Andy Smith.

Eléni gasped and closed the curtain. He continued to throw the tiny stones until she drew back the curtain again and managed to open the window with her uninjured hand.

‘Eléni, I’ve come to see if you’re all right,’ Andy said in a loud whisper.

Eléni went to answer him, but it was as if a door slammed shut at the top of her voice box.

No words would come out. Her pulse raced.

She’d hoped her speech would come back now she was home and sleeping in her own bed.

The ordeal of the crash was over, so why couldn’t she get her words out?

All she could do was give Andy the thumbs-up. Yes, I’m all right.

In a louder voice, he said, ‘That’s good. I want to say I’m sorry.’

The outside light flashed on, and her father marched across to where Andy stood looking up at her.

‘What the hell are you doing here, Smith? You’ve caused enough trouble so GO!’

She thought her father was going to hit him. Andy put up his hands in protest.

‘Okay, I’m going. I just came to see if your daughter is all right and to apologise. If you must know, she was begging me to slow down and I was too pig-headed to listen. Showing off, see.’ He looked up at her window and waved as he slunk away.

The next morning, PC Cooper arrived at the house to speak to Eléni. Her mother called her down from her room and they went into the sitting room.

‘I’m afraid my daughter won’t be able to answer you, constable.’ Tom placed a hand on Eléni’s shoulder.

The young man frowned. ‘Well, I’m afraid she’ll have to, otherwise she will be obstructing the police with our enquiries.’

‘No, what my husband means is she is physically unable to answer you. She has lost the ability to speak... since the accident. It’s happened before. But I think she’ll be able to write her answers down, won’t you, agápi mou ?’

Eléni nodded. Cassia went to the bureau and took out a writing pad and pen. She handed it to Eléni.

‘Oh, I see. Sorry.’ The policeman faced Eléni. ‘Now, Miss Beynon, all I want to know is everything you can remember before the accident. The six of you who were travelling in the red Mini had just left the dance at the Rock Park Pavilion, is that right?’

She nodded.

‘Can you tell me why you left the dance and whose idea it was to get into the car?’

Eléni paused before beginning to write, her left arm propped on a cushion. She knew she would be incriminating Andy Smith, but he did seem genuinely sorry by calling last night to see if she was all right.

Everybody thought the dance was full of sixth formers. We’d all left school and were working. Somebody said there was a Young Farmers’ dance in Nant Melin, so we left to go there. She still hadn’t mentioned Andy’s name.

PC Cooper read what she’d written and handed the pad back to her.

‘Whose suggestion was it?’

She wrote, I can’t remember.

‘Think. I put it to you it was Andy Smith who suggested you go to Nant Melin as he wanted to show you all his new motor.’

Eléni’s face burned. Yes, I think it was Andy.

Her parents exchanged glances. ‘Why are you shielding that yobbo? He’s a waste of space.’

Eléni’s eyes blazed. No, he’s not, she wrote . He told me he’s sorry.

‘Anyway, let’s get back to Saturday night,’ said the police constable. ‘We know Mr Smith was driving. He was seen racing out of Porth Gwyn, and it seems he lost control on the bend before the mill. Was anyone egging him on before the impact? Anyone telling him to increase his speed, for instance.’

Eléni decided not to tell the policeman that, led by Dave, everyone had laughed and shouted, ‘Faster, Smithie’, ‘Put your foot down’, ‘Woo-hoo’ . . . except for her. She remembered her terror. Perhaps that’s what had locked in her words again.

She shook her head. She didn’t want to get them into any more trouble. The accident had happened, and that was it.

PC Cooper made a note of her answer. ‘Now one more thing and then I’ll leave you all in peace for now.

The police officers who arrived on the scene reported a distinct smell of alcohol on the driver and indeed on the passengers.

Can you verify this, please? How much had everyone had to drink at the Rock Park?

I must stress this is very important because if Mr Smith drove while under the influence of alcohol, the people in the next accident he has may not be as lucky as you were.

He would not cooperate and refused to be breathalysed, so he’s in trouble for that anyway. Do you understand?’

It was the constable’s last statement that made Eléni realise the seriousness of what had happened. She had no doubt Andy shouldn’t have been driving so she had to tell the truth.

She picked up her pen again. Gabbie and I had two Bacardi and Cokes. They were doubles. Dave and Andy had a beer each time and they’d already had drinks before we arrived. I don’t know how many. Does that make him over the limit? I don’t know how many drinks Paul and Marie had.

She handed her pad to PC Cooper.

‘Thank you, Miss Beynon. May I tear out these pages and keep them as evidence of our conversation today? In due time, I’d like you to come down to the station and make a formal statement.

I hope your arm heals quickly.’ He turned to Tom and Cassia.

‘Thank you, both. If there’s anything else your daughter remembers, please don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll see myself out.’

Eléni ran back upstairs to her bedroom.

* * *

Eléni had another visitor the next day. Gabriella arrived with the clothes she’d left at her house and a bunch of flowers.

‘Come in, Gabriella. Eléni will be pleased to see you.’ Eléni heard her mother invite her friend into the hallway and approached them.

In a low voice, her mother told her, ‘I’m afraid she can’t speak so she may mime or draw things in answer to you.

See if she’ll talk to you. I’m not going to say anything about what you both did on Saturday.

I’m sure you’ve had all that from your mother.

We’re just so pleased her injuries weren’t more serious. ’

Gabriella looked contrite and nodded. When she noticed Eléni halfway down the stairs, her face broke into a smile. ‘Hiya. I came to see how you are. You gave us all a fright. These are from Mr Williams at the Welsh craft shop to get well soon.’

Cassia led the girls into the living room. ‘I’ll let you girls have a chat while I make us all a cuppa and put those beautiful flowers in water.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Beynon.’ Gabriella handed Cassia the bouquet. She turned back to Eléni. ‘He says once you can work the till with your good hand, you can come back to work and we’ll manage the other jobs between us.’

Eléni nodded but knew that until the words flowed again, serving at the till in a shop would be impossible if she couldn’t converse with the customers.

Gabriella took her hand. ‘We’re all so sorry about what happened.

When you were lying on the ground when the car door flung open, I thought you were dead.

I couldn’t bear it if we were the cause of you losing your life.

’ Her voice became scratchy. ‘I’ve finished with Dave.

Well, I didn’t really get started, did I?

He was the one egging Andy on to go faster.

We had this almighty row.’ She paused. ‘No, we were all doing it. We were all to blame.’

Eléni stood and got her pad and pen. I’m going to be fine. Once this arm heals, I can forget about it. The police came by. Have you had to give a statement?

‘Yes. I told the truth as we all had to. We’d be found out if we didn’t.

My mamma heard Andy has been charged with drink-driving and refusing to take a breath test. He’ll probably be banned from driving for a year, she says.

’ Gabriella became thoughtful. ‘But why can’t you talk?

You told me all about when you were a little girl, but because you’ve been talking for all these years, I don’t understand it happening again now. ’

Eléni held her arms open wide to indicate she didn’t know either.

She began to write. It’s horrible. I try to speak and it’s as if the words get stuck at the back of my throat.

How can I get back to the craft shop if I can’t speak with the customers?

I was going to see if I could get some shifts waitressing at the Metropole, but no one will want a silent waitress, will they?

For the first time since the accident, her whole body dissolved into racking sobs.

‘Aww. Come here.’ Gabriella stood and pulled her friend into a tight hug. ‘I’m sure it won’t last long. It won’t be like before.’

Cassia entered the room carrying a tray of tea and pastries. Eléni dried her eyes on her sleeve, but not before her mother noticed.

‘Oh, don’t cry.’ She placed the tray down on the coffee table and hugged her daughter.

‘She’s worried about not being able to speak. I’ve told her it won’t be like last time, will it? She was so little, she didn’t know how to speak then. This is temporary, I’m sure of it,’ said Gabriella.

Her mother smiled and agreed, but Eléni wasn’t sure either of them actually believed it.

‘Come on, let’s have some tea and some of Eléni’s favourite baklavá. Sugar, Gabriella?’