by Angel Sefer
She waited there until she heard her bedroom door closing behind him. She just couldn’t face him right now—she couldn’t face anyone right now.
He’s mad, she thought. I’m not going to be affected by such nonsense, she promised herself, and started brushing her hair really hard. She finally had to stop when she realized her scalp was hurting. “Damn him!” she cursed out loud, and after throwing the brush on the shelf, she walked back into her bedroom.
Feeling the need to get out of the house, she walked out on the balcony and took some deep breaths. She needed to do something to release the tension. On a sudden impulse, she went back inside and put on her bathing suit. Taking a beach towel, she rushed downstairs and out on the veranda. Thankful there was nobody there, as she was in no condition to talk to anyone right now, she rushed down the steps which led to the private beach. Throwing her towel on the sand, she ran to the water. It was nice and refreshing, and she jumped right in.
She swum for a while, then finally turned on her back and floated motionless on the surface, relaxing for a while. Salt water won’t allow a body to sink, and one could actually float on it and relax as if on a bed. Helena was surprised that she remembered that. Ever since they had left the island, she had swum in the sea only once, during a trip to Spain. Swimming in the pool wasn’t exactly the same, and if one tried to lie still, his body would slowly sink.
Hearing a splashing noise, she turned to see Dimitris swimming towards her, and her heartbeat accelerated. She watched him swim right past her and out in the open, and couldn’t help but admire the strength and self-confidence his effortless, harmonic moves revealed. Taking a deep breath, she swam back to the shore.
Trying to put him out of her mind, she got out and dried herself with her towel. Then she laid it down on the sand and lay on it to get some sun. It was late in the afternoon, so the sun wasn’t that hot, and she didn’t have to worry about getting burned.
After a while, she felt really hungry. Sophie and she had skipped lunch. Helena didn’t want to ruin her appetite for dinner, but she couldn’t wait until then either. So she decided to head back to the house and have some fruit. As she was walking up the steps, she saw that Dimitris was still swimming. She walked back to the house and was glad to find some bananas in a large fruit-bowl on the table out on the veranda. This way, she didn’t have to go to the kitchen and have to face Martha, who was probably preparing dinner. She grabbed a banana and rushed upstairs to her room. She didn’t really feel like talking to anybody.
She ate her banana, then took a quick shower and washed her hair. She put on a long, emerald dress made of fine silk, which she had bought that morning, and a pair of golden sandals. Looking in the mirror, she had to admit the dress fitted her just perfectly. Sophie was right when she had insisted on her buying it.
Walking downstairs, she found Sophie in the living room.
“You’re absolutely stunning!” Sophie exclaimed and gave Helena a warm smile. “I knew it was perfect for you,” she added.
“Thanks,” Helena said simply. “I love the color, and the material feels really good.”
“Would you like something to drink?” Sophie asked.
“I’ll have some wine,” Helena said and walked over to the bar. “Can I get you something?” she asked Sophie.
“I would like some more wine,” Sophie said, and gave Helena her glass to fill it back up.
Helena filled up Sophie’s glass and gave it back to her. Then she filled up her own and went to sit by the window, letting her eyes wander over the magnificent view.
“Dimitris isn’t going to have dinner with us tonight,” Sophie said.
Helena didn’t comment on that, and even though, she sensed her aunt’s gaze on her, she just sat there avoiding her look.
Silence stretched in the room for a few minutes, as they both seemed lost in their thoughts.
“I’m really sorry about this morning,” Helena said suddenly, turning to look at her aunt.
Sophie looked at her, without saying a word.
“I know I’m being foolish, but I became really upset over something that happened,” Helena went on. She knew she had been acting rudely to her aunt, and she tried to explain her behavior.
“I knew something made you upset,” Sophie said. “But I could tell you didn’t want to talk about it.”
At that time, Martha came into the room to let them know dinner was ready, and they went to the dining room. Even though, they weren’t in the best mood, they enjoyed their dinner. Martha had prepared moussaka for them—a traditional Greek casserole with eggplants, potatoes and hamburger-meat topped with delicious creamy béchamel sauce. Helena thanked her for going into all this trouble, and assured her it was delicious.
After they were served their dessert—sweet apple pie topped with ice-cream—Helena explained to her aunt what had happened that morning, and the conversation she had with Dimitris afterwards.
Sophie was really upset about the whole thing. She got up and gave Helena a big hug.
“You poor child,” she said. “She must have scared you to death.”
“It’s okay,” Helena replied. “I’m not going to think about it anymore. It was stupid of me to get upset in the first place.”
“I’ll talk to Asimina if you want me to,” Sophie said.
“No,” Helena insisted. “Let’s just forget about the whole thing.”
Sophie didn’t seem to agree, but she kept silent. They finished their pie and went back into the living room. Sophie sat at the piano and played some classical music.
Helena lay back on the sofa and closed her eyes, feeling totally contented and relaxed. Vivaldi was one of her favorites.
After a while, Sophie got up and went to turn the stereo on. They both sat there, listening to Greek love songs.
Unwillingly, Helena realized she couldn’t put off any more telling her aunt about her decision to leave. She got up and walked over to the window, staring at the sea.
Sophie must have sensed her change of mood, because she got up and turned the music down. Then she went back and sat on her chair, waiting for Helena to talk.
“Aunt Sophie,” Helena started. “I really hate to do this, but I think it would be better for everybody, if I moved to a hotel.”
Sophie let out a deep breath and jumped out of her chair. “What are you saying, sweetie?” she asked. “This is your home. Why would you ever want to leave and go to a hotel?”
Helena could tell she was shocked.
“I think it would be better,” Helena whispered, trying to hide the uncertainty in her voice.
“Better for whom?” Sophie insisted.
Helena wanted to explain to her how she felt about Dimitris, and that she didn’t feel comfortable staying at his house. On the other hand though, she didn’t want to hurt her aunt’s feelings, pointing out to her this way that this was really Dimitris’ home, and they were just guests.
She shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to do. Maybe she should just be quiet and stay there for a few more days. After all, she would be gone in a while, and she would put all this behind her. What did she care about him? She wouldn’t have to see him again in her life. If she moved to a hotel, her aunt would be heartbroken, and it would also be a shame, and the whole island would talk about it.
Helena knew how important pride was for Greeks. What would people think if Sistakis’ daughter moved out of her family’s home to stay at a hotel? No, Helena decided, I can’t do that.
She suddenly realized Sophie was expecting an answer. She turned and hugged her aunt. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I just didn’t want to upset your lives.”
“Are you crazy?” Sophie asked. “What are you talking about? We’re so happy to have you here. This is your home, Helena, as much as it is ours. This home was built by your great-grandparents and will stay in our family forever. Your children will grow up here and so will their children.”
Helena inwardly laughed at that thought but didn’t
say a word. She didn’t want to bring her aunt back to the cruel reality. She would be gone in a few days and most probably, she would never set foot on this island again. However, she kept her gloomy thoughts to herself.
***
Around eleven o’clock at night, they heard the front door open. A couple minutes later, Dimitris walked into the living room.
Helena drew a deep breath and swallowed hard, secretly admiring the seductively handsome man with the flawless face and the incredibly built body showing underneath the tight fitting jeans and t-shirt.
“What are you two up to?” he asked, his gaze set on Helena. The irresistible, sexy smile on his face made Helena’s pulse accelerate.
“We’re listening to some music,” Sophie said. “Did you have a good time?”
“It was all right,” he replied, keeping his eyes on Helena.
Walking over to the bar, he poured himself some brandy. He took his glass and went to sit by the window.
“Did you enjoy your swim this afternoon?” Dimitris asked her.
“You went swimming?” Sophie cut in. “You should have told me to come with you. I love swimming. I just don’t like going by myself,” she continued.
“We can go tomorrow morning,” Helena said. “It was wonderful this afternoon, and I want to enjoy it for as long as I stay here.”
“We’ll go tomorrow morning then,” Sophie said and got up. “You have to excuse me, but I’m really tired,” she said and left the room.
Helena was uncomfortable being left alone with Dimitris. She went and left her empty glass on the bar and walked towards the window. The surface of the water was lit by the moonlight, and Helena felt the urge to go swimming again. Don’t be ridiculous, she reprimanded herself.
Dimitris came and stood right behind her, looking outside, too.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Isn’t it? I would never trade this place with anywhere in the world.”
Helena understood exactly how he felt. She wished she could stay here forever, too.
“How could you stay away for so long?” he asked her, and Helena shifted uncomfortably.
She didn’t want to discuss such matters with him. She never really wanted to leave the island, and all these years she was away, she always dreamed about it. Then again, she knew how her mother felt about this, and she didn’t want to upset her. After her mother was gone, she wanted to come back, but she was dreading it, too. She had no idea how to approach her relatives here, after not been in contact with them for so long. And even worse, she wasn’t sure they would want her to come back, after her mother’s behavior all these years. However, she wasn’t about to discuss all these things with Dimitris. He was nothing but a stranger to her.
“I’m really tired,” she said and wishing him goodnight, she walked out of the room, leaving him alone.
She thought she heard a soft laugh, but she couldn’t be sure. Walking upstairs to her room, she was convinced she wasn’t going to be able to sleep. However, she fell asleep the moment she laid her head on the pillow, totally unaware of the dark shadow hovering outside the French doors leading to the veranda, watching her.
Chapter Five
HELENA SPENT THE NEXT few days swimming or visiting friends with her aunt. People were really nice and friendly to her, and she felt her spirits rising. Everybody they met seemed glad to meet Helena, and before she knew it, she was invited to a lot of parties and social gatherings. For a while, she forgot her decision not to stay for too long. Her first negative impressions of people’s behavior were erased from her mind, and she started to enjoy life on the island.
Every morning, she would get up early and go down to the beach for a swim before breakfast. She loved the water this time of the morning, when it was cool and refreshing. Most of the time she would be alone, since Sophie didn’t like early morning swimming and Dimitris was gone to Athens.
Helena was confused with her mixed emotions for Dimitris. She was relieved he wasn’t around that much, but at the same time, she was anxious for him to come back.
One day they visited Stella’s house, but fortunately for Helena, Stella was away visiting a friend. She really liked Stella’s parents. They were nice and friendly people who made her feel at ease. They invited her to come back and visit. Helena thought she would like that, as long as Stella wasn’t going to be there. She didn’t like that girl, and she was sure that the feeling was mutual.
***
The only thing that really bothered Helena was that she hadn’t been able to find out anything about the circumstances surrounding her father’s disappearance. No one seemed to know anything or, even if they did, they weren’t willing to talk about it. It was like a forbidden subject. And of course, she had to be careful how she brought it up, every time. This was a closed community, and news travelled fast. Every time she would bring up the subject about her father disappearing and eventually, pronounced dead, she felt like she was walking on eggshells.
Is everybody avoiding talking about it or am I being paranoid? And what about the diary? Where could it be? She had discreetly searched everywhere she could think of in the house, but nothing. The diary was nowhere to be found.
She even brought it up in casual conversation with her aunt, trying to find out if Sophie knew where it was. No luck. Sophie said she had no idea where it was, and for some reason, Helena believed her. It was probably the way she said it… like she wished she knew where it was.
Is Sophie looking for the diary, as well? Helena wondered. And if she is, why is that? Does Sophie share Erin’s suspicions, or does she want it for some other reason?
***
Dimitris was due back that Saturday, but he called and said he had to remain in Athens throughout the weekend. That suits me just fine, Helena thought. She immediately felt guilty, though, seeing how disappointed Sophie was with the news. Sophie really liked Dimitris, and Helena had to be very careful about what she said, so she wouldn’t hurt her aunt’s feelings. Besides, if she wanted to be honest, she would have to admit she was disappointed, too.
It was Saturday night, and they were going to a party. She and her aunt had gone shopping, and she had bought a beautiful silk dress for the occasion. Her dress was light blue, like the clear afternoon sky, and had silver threads on it forming flower patterns. With her hair raised up and the beautiful diamond earrings her aunt gave her to wear for the occasion, she really looked beautiful.
She admired herself in the mirror and was getting ready to leave the room, when the door swung open, and Sophie walked in. Helena drew a deep breath, staring at her aunt. She always looked good in red, but tonight she had outdone herself. Her dress was made of fire red silk, and her beautiful dark hair was brushed to a shine, falling in waves on her shoulders. She was wearing ruby earrings and a beautiful matching necklace.
“Oh, Aunt Sophie, you are gorgeous!” Helena exclaimed.
“So are you, sweetie,” Sophie said. “You always look like an angel, but especially tonight, you’re breathtaking. Your dress resembles the sky, and the silver threads are similar to the silver of the stars. Those young men at the party tonight had better watch out.”
Helena laughed. She was getting used to Sophie’s compliments. At the beginning, she used to feel uncomfortable. But now, she didn’t mind any more. She knew her aunt wasn’t the type of person to pay compliments; she meant every word she said.
During this short period she had spent with her, the close connection they’d had as children had been rekindled. She was so sweet and giving, and she reminded her so much of her late father.
“We need to go if we don’t want to be late for the party,” Sophie said.
Helena picked up her little silver purse, matching the silver high- heeled sandals she had bought with the dress, and they rushed laughing downstairs like two schoolgirls going to their first dance.
Walking outside, Helena inhaled deeply, enjoying the light breeze on her face and bare shoulders. It was a beautiful night to be outside.
Sophie went to get the car. The Koukakis’ house—where the party was taking place—was on the other side of the island, and they had to drive over there.
Helena sunk into the soft leather seat and remained silent, while Sophie concentrated on steering the Jeep through the narrow, winding roads.
Driving uphill, Helena enjoyed the magnificent view of the island and the sea lying at their feet.
Going around a sharp curve, all of a sudden, she heard Sophie scream. Abruptly, Helena turned her head towards the front and got a glimpse of a black car which almost ran right into them. As Sophie wrenched the wheel violently to the right, Helena felt her breath catch in her throat. She desperately grabbed hold of her seat as the Jeep skidded off the road and onto the unpaved, bumpy shoulder. Helena’s stomach was doing flips as the car bounced all over the place. Sophie hit the brakes, and after the car stopped, she sat there holding onto the steering wheel, taking deep breaths.
After catching her breath, she turned to Helena. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” Helena whispered. “How about you?”
“I’ll be okay,” Sophie replied and kept on taking deep breaths. Her hands, still holding onto the steering wheel, were shaking pretty badly.
Helena opened the door and got out of the Jeep, leaning against it. She took deep breaths as well, letting them out slowly, trying to calm down.
That was close, she thought. Replaying what had just happened in her mind, a cold hand of fear grabbed her heart as she realized that the car, which nearly hit them, seemed to be the same black Mercedes as at the port. Am I being paranoid or is someone out to get me?