Page 59 of The Silent Sister

Cassia looked across at Bronwen, who was sitting next to the plane window and looking down on Kefalonia.

‘The sea is bright turquoise, Mamá. A bit different from Borth, eh?’

They both laughed. ‘Just a bit. And warmer.’

Tom squeezed Cassia’s hand as the plane descended, landing smoothly on the runway. The pilot’s voice came over the tannoy to welcome them to Kefalonia and inform them that the temperature outside was thirty-four degrees. He then repeated the message in English.

‘Oh. No. My poor freckly white skin. Over ninety Fahrenheit.’

‘You and Bron will have to be careful.’ Cassia thought how different it was for her and Eléni. They had to use suncream, but their olive skin was far better suited to the hot sun. Who in their right mind would go to Greece in August?

Her stomach churned when she thought of what lay ahead. Just treat it like a holiday, Tom had said. Bron’s face when they’d told her about the visit had been a picture. She’d kissed them both and told them she’d love them for ever.

‘I should hope so,’ Tom had told her.

Nearly twenty years was a long time to have stayed away.

The island was no longer in ruins. It was slowly building up its tourist industry and Eugenia had told her many people were returning to their homeland from abroad, often with husbands or wives and families to start again.

For the first time in ages, she thought about Nikos and baby Angelika both buried in the cemetery in Argostoli.

Once through passport control and arrivals, Tom led the way to the car rental desk to pick up the keys for the car, a red Toyota Corolla. Even to Cassia, it seemed strange to be sitting in a left-hand drive car after the years spent in Wales.

She was the navigator for the journey to Fiscardo.

When they passed the town of Argostoli just a few kilometres into the journey, Cassia’s skin prickled as she thought about the last time they’d been in the capital city with their eldest daughter, and how awful it had been.

It had been rebuilt, with structural specifications to prevent such devastation again, but the threat of seismic activity was always present.

She was glad when they were out on the coastal road away from her memories, and she was able to point out the views of the coast on one side and the mountains on the other.

‘It’s so beautiful, Mamá. I can’t see Eléni wanting to leave this. I know I wouldn’t and I haven’t got a handsome boyfriend like she has.’

Cassia’s heart raced. ‘What do you mean? I know she’d got a friend who helped her find her uncle. But that’s all he is. He was with her when they called on Eugenia. A nice young man, but she just said they’d become friends. And of course she’ll be coming home. She’s got her ticket.’

Nothing more was mentioned until Tom slammed on the brakes as the car came round a bend. Three goats were in the middle of the road.

‘Bloody things.’

Cassia jerked forward in her seat. ‘Take your time. They roam everywhere.’

Cassia thought back to the first telephone call she’d made to her sister.

Eugenia had been thrilled. She’d been sworn to secrecy and now it was just Eléni who knew nothing about their visit.

Cassia thought back to what Bronwen had said.

She knew the girls were writing to each other and Bronwen had promised to keep it a surprise, too.

When she’d last spoken to Eugenia, her sister had told her Eléni’s friend had booked a meal in a restaurant supposedly just for the two of them and he wanted her family there as a surprise.

Tomorrow they would see their daughter again.

It wasn’t long before they were entering the beautiful village of Fiscardo.

She remembered how apprehensive she’d been when she’d left for Athens to marry Tom, before emigrating to Wales.

In her head, she was back at Eugenia’s smallholding one last time, intending to tell her sister her plans, but instead facing her mother, introducing Eléni to her for the first time.

Eléni had clung to Cassia’s skirts as if she’d sensed disapproval from her grandmother.

‘Doesn’t she have anything to say for herself, then? A bit different to her cousin here. You always have plenty to say to Yiayiá, don’t you, Maia?’ Her mother had pulled the little girl onto her lap and stared at Eléni.

‘She’s just shy.’ Annoyed at herself for making an excuse, Cassia gathered up Eléni and left without telling Eugenia her plans.

Now, here she was, returning not as a Greek citizen but as a visitor, just like the many others who would be coming to commemorate the twenty years since the island had been decimated.

Eugenia rushed out to unlock the gates and enveloped Cassia in the tightest hug.

Both women had tears streaming down their faces. ‘I’m sorry, Cass. We should never have left it so long.’

‘I’m sorry too. It’s as much my fault as yours. If Mamá hadn’t been there, I would have told you I was leaving face to face. That’s why I came.’

‘I know. But it was a shock to find out from your letter. But let’s forget about that now.’

Cassia turned to see Bronwen standing there while Tom unpacked the car. ‘This is our lovely daughter, Bronwen. Bron.’

‘There’s no doubt who you are, agápi mou . You are the image of your baba. And Tom. Efcharistó. It was you who persuaded my sister to return, I think.’

Entering the house was like going back in time.

Cassia could see her sister had recently decorated the rooms. It was bright and fresh, but it was still the family home.

She chose to remember the happy times when she and Eugenia were children, and suppress the heartache of the last time she’d been there after her father had found out about Nikos and banished her from the family. She shuddered.

‘I’ve put you and Tom in your old room, and Bronwen in Maia’s. Do you remember the view from the back of the house? You can see the sea in the distance. I always envied you.’

There was an awkwardness between the sisters despite their apologies. How could Cassia make Eugenia realise she was sorry? ‘Thanks, Eugenia. It feels strange to be back, but I’m so glad Tom and Bron persuaded me. We can talk face to face now.’

* * *

After their meal, Tom and Bronwen left them to it. They walked into Fiscardo and he took her down to the pretty harbour where they looked at the variety of boats and yachts before stopping for a drink in one of the tavernas.

‘We didn’t order any olives or pistachios, did we, Baba? Perhaps they’re not for us.’

Tom laughed. ‘You’ll find the Greeks always serve little snacks with drinks. My beer, your orange juice and something to nibble on. What do you think about the place?’

Bronwen speared another two olives on a cocktail stick. ‘It’s so beautiful. I’m glad I know where Mamá is from. I know she doesn’t like the idea, but I mean it when I say I don’t think Eléni will leave it.’

Tom’s face became serious. ‘Has she said anything, then?’

‘Not in so many words, but I think things between her and this Simos are getting serious.’

‘Well, as much as I don’t want her to, many daughters her age have left home and are married with children. After the upset earlier this year, I just want her to be happy. And you’ll be off to uni soon, so it will just be Mamá and me.’

‘So you can visit Eléni as often as you want.’

‘You mean you want free Greek holidays. Come on, drink up. I’ll get the bill.’

* * *

When they got back to Eugenia’s house, the two sisters were sitting out on the terrace, chatting. ‘We’re out here,’ said Cassia. ‘Come and see this amazing sunset.’

Tom and Bronwen joined them. By then the sky was a deep apricot, streaked with scarlet and coral. They all watched in awed silence as the fiery orange ball sank behind the silhouette of Ithaca and disappeared.

Bronwen turned to her mother. ‘Wow! I’ve never seen anything so spectacular. Aren’t you glad Baba persuaded you to come now if only to see that?’

Cassia laughed. ‘Yes, Bron. I’m so pleased I came.’ She turned and took Eugenia’s hand. ‘We’ve had a great time catching up, haven’t we?’

‘We have.’ Eugenia grinned at her sister. ‘After all the years apart and our silly rows, we’ve realised that nothing can break the bond between us.’

Cassia felt the long-held guilt inside her finally leave.

She may not have had her mother’s blessing or made up with her, but she knew that she had her sister’s love and that meant far more to her.

Determined not to cry in front of Bronwen and Tom, she smiled warmly at Eugenia and changed the subject.

‘Right. What shall we do tomorrow?’

‘As long as we go to the beach, I don’t care. Please,’ Bronwen said. ‘I can’t wait to swim in a turquoise sea.’

‘That’s settled then. We all have to do what Madam says,’ Tom said.

‘Great. I’ll go and unpack my bikini now.’

They all laughed. Dear Bron, always so enthusiastic about everything, thought Cassia.

Later that night, she lay awake thinking back to the same time twenty years before.

The warning signs had all been there. The whole summer had had more seismic activity than usual and, in the weeks building up to that fateful day, more frequent tremors had warned of a disaster coming.

She tossed and turned, not able to get the images of devastation out of her mind.

‘Not able to sleep, cariad ?’ It seemed Tom was awake too.

‘It will be better once the day actually comes. On the morning of the twelfth, we should go down to Argostoli and pay our respects. We’ll have seen Eléni tomorrow night, so let’s hope she’ll join us.

I’m sure there will be something organised for us to attend.

Now, it’s been a long day. Try to get some sleep. ’

He kissed the top of her head and held her close until she finally drifted off to sleep.