by Angel Sefer
According to Erin, Eleana had premonitions about certain people and upcoming events. She seemed to have known about Erin meeting her son and getting married to him, years before it actually happened. Erin had seen proof of it—these events were all written down in the old lady’s diary. And there were a lot more things written down in that diary… things her mother never wanted to talk about. But she would warn Helena from time to time to be careful. After they had gone to England, she would keep on urging her to never to go back to the island.
Helena shivered, thinking of her mother’s face—weak and pale— staring at her with eyes wide open from anxiety, and squeezing her arm desperately, asking her to promise to stay away from Mykonos… She remembered her faint voice saying: “I made the grave mistake to ignore the warnings once… and paid for it dearly. I would never make that mistake again…”
Even though it was summertime, all of a sudden, Helena felt really cold. She hastily went back inside, closing the French doors behind her. Absentminded, she turned and glanced at the glass panel of the doors. Oh, My God! Bewildered, she saw her mother’s figure, standing behind her in a long, sparkling white dress. The hairs on the back of Helena’s neck stood up. Mom! She turned abruptly and looked behind her… Nobody was there. I need to grab hold of myself, Helena contemplated, feeling her mouth going dry. My vivid imagination is playing games with me, again. If I go on like this, I’ll end up going crazy…
She sat on her bed and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Please… she pleaded, not really knowing if she was inwardly talking to her mother or anyone else in particular. I really need some help…
Her eyes flew open, as she sensed a cold breeze sweeping right through her. Mystified, she looked at the French doors… They were closed. Turning her head, she took a glimpse of a transparent, female figure dressed in white, standing—or rather floating—in front of the painting on the wall.
Helena blinked, and the vision disappeared into thin air. She took a sharp intake of breath. What was that? She could swear she saw someone. Was that Mom? No, she thought, and stared at the painting. Astonished, she realized the figure she had seen resembled the angel in the painting. Now I know there’s something wrong with me, she thought, worryingly.
Feeling shaken inside, she stood up and hesitantly approached the painting. She stood in front of it and looked at it really close.
Helena froze. “How come I didn’t see that before?” she whispered, and bewildered, stared at the angel in the painting. It was a portrait of her grandmother, Eleana. Helena was left speechless…
Stepping back, she sat back down on the bed and looked at the painting, as if seeing it for the first time. It was amazing… Years before she was even born, her grandmother had painted Helena at the age of eight, with the sadness in her eyes from losing her father, and herself—as an angel—watching over Helena from Heaven.
“Grandma…” she whispered and sensed a soft breeze like a caress on her cheek. She didn’t care if it was real or not. It felt real, and it made Helena feel wonderful. The bliss spreading inside her was an unbelievable experience.
She smiled, and standing up, she walked over to the painting again, as if in a dream. She reached and took it off the wall. Walking back to her bed, she placed the painting on the bed face down and stared at the brown paper covering the back. Without knowing why, she walked to the little secretarial desk by the French doors and took out a letter opener. Then she carefully cut the brown paper on one side of the back of the painting and slowly pulled it away… and there it was.
Chapter Six
BEWILDERED, HELENA STARED at the little, burgundy diary, taped to the back of the painting. Grandma’s diary, she realized, and taking a deep breath, let it out slowly.
With shaky hands, she carefully pulled the tape away and released the diary. Then she placed the painting on the floor, against the rocking chair by the French doors. Sitting back down on her bed, she took the diary in her hands and leaned back against her pillows.
“Thanks,” she whispered and tenderly ran her fingers over the soft, burgundy leather of the cover. She slowly opened it up and was thrilled to see the exquisite handwriting of Eleana:
My name is Eleana Angelidis
I was born in 1938
on the day we celebrate the Assumption of Virgin Mary into Heaven
August 15th
was written on the first page, and right underneath, there was a pencil sketch of her grandmother’s face.
Helena stared at the adorable face of the grandmother she never met, but she got to know and love through her mother’s stories and looking at the photos Erin had taken with her to England. Tears welled up in her eyes, thinking how different things could have been, if her grandmother were still alive.
Turning the page, she read:
August 15th, 1954
Today, I started keeping a diary.
It is a very special day; I never want to forget.
On my birthday, I met him—the man of my dreams, the one I have been waiting for.
His name is Periklis Sistakis.
He was dressed in his captain’s uniform, just as I have dreamed about him.
I stood there, staring at him, not knowing what to say.
What could a sixteen-year-old say to a handsome ship captain—the most eligible bachelor on the island?
However, it turned out I did not have to say anything.
He smiled at me, and we both knew it was fate...
Helena wiped the tears running down her face, and flipping the page, she read:
August 23rd, 1954
I met him again this morning. He waited for me behind the church after the service.
He held my hand, staring into my eyes, and time seemed to stop…
This same afternoon, he came to my father and asked for my hand in marriage.
We will be married the day I turn eighteen.
My heart is filled with bliss and joy.
He is my destiny…
Helena was stunned to realize, her grandfather asked her sixteen- year-old grandmother to marry him, only a few days after they had first laid eyes on each other. Different times back then, she thought. Different customs and traditions…
She kept on reading until her eyes felt really heavy. Her grandmother’s story kept her glued to the yellowed pages. Helena was amazed by this young girl, who seemed so mature for her age and way ahead of her time. Not to mention, her startling ability to foresee events… Mom was right after all, Helena thought, relieved. She wasn’t hallucinating when she said all these incredible things about Eleana.
Helena smiled, and holding the diary in her hands, she drifted off to sleep.
***
The sun was shining bright, when Helena woke up next morning. She stretched lazily in bed, when all of a sudden she remembered what happened last night. What an amazing dream!
She sat up, and as she was placing her feet on the floor, she was stunned to see the painting leaning against the rocking chair. Abruptly, she turned to look at the bed. There it was… the little burgundy diary of her grandmother was lying on the pillow right next to hers.
Helena was left speechless, realizing that last night’s events were real.
She sat there, staring at the little book, not being able to comprehend what had actually happened. She felt as if time had stopped…
The noise of a car engine starting brought Helena back to reality.
She stood up and nervously looked around. Thinking fast, she decided to place the painting back on the wall and hide the diary for now. She wasn’t going to talk about this to anyone. Not until after she had read it.
The thought that she might find in there something which could shed some light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding her father’s disappearance, made her feel edgy and anxious.
She hastily taped the brown paper back on the rear side of the painting and hung it on the wall. Then she took the diary to her closet and hid it in her suitcase. This will have to
do for now, she thought. But I have to find a better hiding place for it, later on tonight.
She washed up and got dressed in a hurry. It was getting pretty late, and someone might be coming upstairs to check up on her.
Glancing at the mirror, she saw dark circles under her eyes. Her beautiful face was whiter than ever.
She thought about putting some makeup on, but she really didn’t feel like it. Actually, she didn’t feel like doing anything. All she wanted right now was find a quiet place to sit and read the diary. However, this had to wait. In the meantime, she needed to act normal if she didn’t want to raise questions she had no intention answering.
When she went downstairs for breakfast, she saw Dimitris sitting outside on the veranda, drinking some coffee.
"Where is Aunt Sophie?" she asked, stepping outside.
"Well, good morning to you too," he said. "You look awful."
"Thanks for the compliment," Helena replied, in a low tone of voice, and poured a glass of orange juice from the jar on the table. She felt weak and was in no mood to get into a fight with him.
"Sophie had to go to town this morning," he said, and stared at her intensely. "She couldn’t wait for you any longer."
Helena’s cheeks grew warmer, but she decided to ignore him. He was trying to upset her, but she wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. She was really tired—too tired to even speak. Last night’s emotional roller-coaster had drained all her energy. She sunk into a lounge chair. All she wanted right now was to just drink her orange juice and let her eyes wander over the magnificent view of the sea, shining in the glorious morning sun.
"I understand that in England your morals are different than here," he said, "but as long as you’re here, I expect you to respect this family and behave accordingly."
Helena sprang up, spilling her orange juice on the white tiles of the veranda. She couldn’t believe he was giving her instructions on how to behave. "What do you mean by that?" she asked sharply, feeling her temper rising.
"I’m talking about last night,” he responded. "Everybody at the party must have noticed you left with Alex, and this isn’t England. People talk, and they don't agree with this kind of behavior. I don't want you to embarrass this family."
Helena gave him a hard look and set her glass down on the table. "I would never do anything to embarrass my family, or myself for that matter. I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t allow you or anyone else talk to me like this.” Angrily, she turned on her heel and walked towards the French doors, yelling over her shoulder, “I’m going to pack up my things and be out of here by noon."
"You’re not going anywhere,” he snapped, jumping out of his chair.
Helena stopped dead in her tracks. She couldn’t believe her ears. What’s wrong with him? Does he think he can keep me here against my will? That was it! She had enough!
Hastily, she made her way through the French doors and up the stairs. She heard him calling after her, but she didn’t stop until she reached her room. She grabbed her suitcase, threw it on the bed, and started taking her clothes out of the closet.
All of a sudden, her bedroom door swung wide open, and there he was.
"Leave me alone!" she yelled at him, not being able to control her temper any longer.
"You’re not going anywhere,” he repeated. "This is your home, and you’re staying."
"This is not my home," Helena pointed out. "This is your home, and I’m leaving. It’s time for me to go back to England."
"Helena," he said, "you don't understand. There’s so much you don't know. You have to stay," he went on, running his fingers through his hair.
Helena stared at him, shocked. He couldn’t be serious. He was the one who was always giving her a hard time and probably couldn’t wait to get rid of her. And now, he was telling her she couldn’t leave. She was confused. She could sense there was a lot more he wasn’t telling her.
"What’s going on, Dimitris?" she asked. "What is it you’re not telling me?"
"There’s nothing going on," he said. "It’s just that Sophie loves you so much, and she’s used to having you around. It would break her heart if you left like this."
Helena realized she hadn’t thought about Sophie at all. She was getting used to having her aunt around, too. She sunk onto her bed, feeling empty inside.
Dimitris hesitated for a moment, staring at her intensely. Then he turned on his heel and left her room without saying another word.
Helena’s eyes rested on the painting. What am I supposed to do, Grandma? What is going on? I’m so confused… I know I should leave, but at the same time, I feel like I belong here. I wish you or Mom were here. I really need someone to talk to… I feel so alone…
***
Helena lost track of how long she sat there. All of a sudden, she heard Sophie's voice downstairs. In a few minutes, her aunt was by her side.
"What's wrong, my child?" she asked. "Dimitris said you wanted to leave. You’re not happy here?"
"That's not it, Aunt Sophie,” Helena replied. "It’s just that it’s time for me to go back to England."
"But why, Helena? This is your home! This is your family! Is there someone waiting for you back in England?"
Steve’s face came to her mind. He was a very good friend and always there for her. But that was all he was—just a friend. Helena was aware of his feelings for her, but she didn’t feel the same way, and she had made that clear to him a long time ago.
No, she thought bitterly, having no close family on her mother’s side. There’s nobody waiting for me back in England. That was another reason—besides searching some answers for her father’s death—why she had decided to come back here in the first place. However, things hadn’t turned out the way she’d expected.
Helena swallowed hard and taking her aunt’s hand in hers, she went on, “Aunt Sophie, I just came here for a visit. My life is back in England," she lied.
Not being able to bear the hurt in her aunt's eyes, she glanced outside. She heard Sophie sigh, but Helena stood her ground. She had to get out of there and as far away from Dimitris as she could.
"You’re upset," Sophie said in a soft tone of voice. "All I’m asking you is to give us a chance. Maybe you’ll learn to like it here and decide to stay. At any rate, you have to stay, at least for your party."
Helena turned abruptly and looked at her aunt. She had forgotten the Aliveris were giving a party in her honor. Then again, that wasn’t until three weeks from now. How could she possibly stand it for another three weeks? She sighed. She already knew she’d lost the battle. It would be rude of her to leave like this and not go to her own party. She couldn’t do this to her family. The Sistakis family had been on the island for ages, and everybody liked and respected her family. Angelos’ daughter would never behave in such a manner.
"All right, Aunt Sophie," she said and let out a deep breath. "I’ll stay until the party."
She saw the satisfaction on her aunt's face and knew she had made the right decision. She would have to put up with Dimitris for the next three weeks, but she was going to stay out of his way and give him no reason to get upset with her.
Helena started putting her things back in the closet, and told her aunt she would meet her downstairs when she was finished.
Sophie, probably realizing Helena wanted to be alone for a while, left without saying another word.
Helena could tell her aunt understood there was something going on between her and Dimitris, but she didn’t want to impose. After all, if she did ask, what could Helena say? She wasn’t even sure herself what was going on between them. She knew he made her furious, and he seemed to get upset with her, no matter what she did. But on the other hand, he seemed determined to keep her around. His behavior was so confusing… and even more confusing were her feelings for him. Because she couldn’t deny anymore she had feelings for him. He dominated her every thought, every moment of day and night; and every time he was around, fireworks went off underneath her skin
.
***
A little bit later, Helena walked downstairs. Hearing Sophie’s voice, she stood still at the bottom of the staircase, trying to locate where the voice was coming from. She realized it was coming from the kitchen. She’s probably talking to Martha, Helena thought.
She started for the living room, but stopped dead in her tracks when she heard Sophie saying, “I pray for both of them. I really love them so much and hope that everything works out. Helena is still too young to understand. She needs more time, and Dimitris should be more patient with her…” Sophie’s voice trailed off as Martha said something which Helena didn’t understand.
Puzzled, Helena walked to the family room and went to sit by the window. What was that all about? What was really going on? She was sure there was a lot more than they were telling her. Did it have to do with the family fortune? Or was it something else?
A few minutes later, Sophie came in. She saw Helena sitting by the window and went to sit in a chair close to her without saying a word. Silence stretched in the room, as they were both lost in their thoughts.
Finally, Sophie broke the silence by saying, "Dimitris had to go to Athens." And as Helena turned to look at her, surprised, she added, "Something very important came up."
Helena wanted to point out he had just come back from Athens, but she decided to keep silent. Why would she complain anyway? The farther away he was, the better it was for her.
"He didn’t know for how long he would be gone,” Sophie went on. "I sure hope he’ll make it back for your party."
Helena remained silent, even though, she knew Sophie was expecting her to say something. However, she couldn’t say what was on her mind. On the other hand, she couldn’t lie about it, either—not even for Sophie's sake.
All of a sudden, she felt a chill running up her spine and swallowed hard. She had a strong premonition… something was going to happen… something bad…