Page 41 of The Silent Sister

CASSIA

Cassia continued peeling the potatoes. Smiling, she knew she was lucky to have both her girls still living at home.

This time next year, Bronwen would be at university.

Now the awful row with Eléni was all forgotten, she enjoyed the feeling of them being a tight family unit again.

An image of her handsome first husband entered her head.

She’d been younger than Eléni when she’d married Nikos after the terrible argument with her father.

After his death, she’d had to survive on her own in a town where she’d known no one.

She still thought of Eléni as being a child.

The sound of her daughters chatting and laughing together made her happy. No longer the silent sister, eh, Eléni?

Cassia filled a saucepan with water and put the potatoes on the electric stove to boil.

She was relieved Eléni had forgotten all about her threat to go to Kefalonia.

She hadn’t mentioned it again. Cassia knew there was nothing she could have done to stop her daughter.

She was over twenty-one and officially an adult.

Her heart racing, Cassia gripped the edge of the table.

But what if that was what she needed the second job for?

She could be saving up to go. But surely, she wouldn’t plan it in secret. .. would she?

She heard Tom’s car pull up outside. The row had not been mentioned by Tom or Bronwen either. It was as if it was all a bad dream and had never happened. But what if that was what Eléni wanted them to think?

‘Hi, cariad .’ His voice carried along the hallway. ‘Something smells nice. I’m starving.’

He entered the kitchen and kissed her on the cheek.

‘Shepherd’s pie. Just for you. A change from moussaka, eh?’

They both laughed. Not being able to get aubergines in Porth Gwyn, Cassia’s moussaka was nothing like the authentic Greek dish — she had to use slices of potato in between the meat layers instead.

She’d switched from attempting Greek dishes with the ingredients she could find available to Welsh ones.

Today was one of Tom’s favourites. Just like Auntie Gwladys used to make, in his opinion.

‘It won’t be long. I’ve just got to mash the potatoes for the topping and put it back in the oven to brown.’

‘Had a good day? I fancy a cuppa. Do you want one?’ Tom took two mugs from the pine mug tree and filled the kettle.

‘Yes, I met up with Pam. She needed a shoulder to cry on. Her mother’s very ill and not expected to last much longer.

Poor thing. I would have gone to Credenford with Eléni, but I didn’t like to let Pam down.

’ Cassia thought back to Eugenia’s letter from a few years ago, begging her to return to Kefalonia to see their mother before she passed.

She’d always regret her refusal had caused the rift between them.

Tom was talking. ‘Cass? I said, did Eléni enjoy her day off?’

‘Sorry. I think so. She didn’t buy much.

The Met rang while she was out and asked her to call in about a waitressing job tomorrow.

She’s serious about getting more work, you know.

Don’t you think it’s odd? She won’t have any free time.

Do you know why she wants this extra job?

She says she’s saving, but she hasn’t said for what. You don’t think...’

Tom reached across the kitchen table and took Cassia’s hand.

‘I know no more than you, Cass. But I do think we have to let her do what she wants. She’s a grown woman and if it hadn’t been for her being so shy and those years when she didn’t speak, she’d have left home years ago. She’ll tell us when she’s ready.’

‘Who’ll tell us what when she’s ready?’ Bronwen entered the room.

Cassia and Tom exchanged glances. ‘Your mamá can’t understand why Eléni needs another job and wonders what she’s saving up for.’

‘Maybe she’s planning to elope with Andy Smith and be the breadwinner because he’s lost his job again.’ Bronwen laughed.

‘It’s not funny. Anyway, I thought she wanted nothing more to do with him.’

‘I’m just teasing you. I know how much you can’t stand him, Baba.’

Cassia stood up to take the shepherd’s pie out from the oven.

‘Will you call your sister down?’

Bronwen went out into the hallway.

‘Why did you say that?’ Cassia whispered to her husband. ‘She’ll tell Eléni now.’

‘And what if she does? You should ask her yourself.’ Tom sighed. Cassia knew better than to mention it again.

* * *

Eléni got the job at the Met. After receiving training in ‘silver service’, she was given three shifts a week serving dinner to the guests.

Cassia listened as she recounted what she’d had to do.

‘They’re so strict, Mamá. My uniform must be neatly pressed and my hair pinned back under the cap. Oh, and my skirt mustn’t be too short either.’ Excitement showed in her voice. ‘I’m used to that after waiting at table in the Louis in Cardiff, though.’

‘You’ll have no trouble looking smart. But it was afternoon teas you served at the Louis, wasn’t it? So how did you get on with the “silver service”? I’d be all fingers and thumbs.’

‘I got the hang of it in the end, and carrying two plates along one arm, too. I’ll let you know after my first shift tonight. Wish me luck.’

Eléni left the living room to get ready. It was good to see her daughter so animated. She was back to the old Eléni.

* * *

Over the next few weeks Eléni came home exhausted after each shift at the hotel, but she was full of stories about the guests and what had been on the menu each night.

She didn’t work on the day off she had from the craft shop so she had a full day with no work.

Each week she handed over some of her wages to Cassia towards her keep.

‘There’s no need. But thank you. I thought you were saving?’ said Cassia.

‘I am, but if I wasn’t living here with you and Baba I’d be paying rent somewhere, wouldn’t I? It’s only fair. Did I tell you Mr Williams had my drawings framed and four have sold already?’

Cassia beamed at her daughter. ‘I’m not surprised. They are stunning.’

‘Thank you, Mamá. You’ll never guess, the manager at the Metropole bought one of them and as you walk along the corridor from the foyer, there’s one of my drawings among the other Welsh artists’ work. It’s the one of the waterfall in Rock Park.’

‘Oh, I love that one.’ Cassia was pleased to see her daughter so happy.

If Eléni continued to sell her drawings, she could see her fulfilling her dream of renting a space for a small gallery of her own.

Then, she would need every penny she earned to finance it so perhaps Cassia would put the money aside each week and hand it back to her when the time came.

On one day off, Eléni went to Credenford again.

‘Was it busy?’ Cassia asked her when she came in.

‘Not too bad. The sun was out so I expect that’s why. Do you know if Bronwen’s in tonight? You and Baba will be here, won’t you?’

Cassia was puzzled. Her face creased into a frown. ‘Yes, and as far as I know about Bron. She’s not going out much now her exams are approaching. Why do you ask?’

‘I just want to tell you something and I’d prefer to tell you all together.’

Cassia’s heart raced. What could be so important that her daughter needed them all together? What did she have to tell them? Her mind went back to what she’d found in Eléni’s room earlier.

Eléni hugged her mother. ‘Don’t look so worried, Mamá. It’s nothing to fret about.’

But Cassia knew it was.