by Mandy Baggot
‘And they will not have the money to pay if you take this boat out in bad conditions and someone gets hurt, or worse.’
Theo swallowed. He needed no further explanation. He pulled at the rope tethering them to the dock. He didn’t know why, he just needed to feel the firm connection.
‘Theo, you need to know that your father paid the family money. The family of the girl who was hurt. Just like you wanted him to.’
Theo’s whole body swayed and it had nothing to do with the rhythm of the ocean.
‘No,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I do not believe you. He said to pay money was to accept liability. That was everything we fought about. He said it would ruin his business. He said it would send a message that we were weak, as a company. As Greeks.’
‘Yes,’ Spyridoula said, scuffing her feet on the concrete landing platform. ‘There is so much Pappas bullishness and, not just with the men.’ She sighed. ‘Too much pride. Too much concern about what people think. So much wasted time.’ She shook her head, tongue clicking in annoyance. ‘He went to see her too, the girl with only one arm.’
‘Limoni,’ Theo said. ‘Her name is Limoni.’
‘Your father made sure she is having the very best rehabilitation. Not to avoid a lawsuit like you might think but because underneath that hard, proud, uncompromising outside is a good, genuine person.’
‘Why did he not tell me, Spyri?’ Theo asked. ‘Why did he simply not say “Theo, you were right, helping Limoni was what we should do”?’
‘Because you know why. Because he is stupid and stubborn, just like you.’ Spyridoula swallowed before continuing. ‘Just like me.’
Theo’s eyes went from his aunt to the darkening sky that was signalling that nothing good was coming their way.
‘You ask me about the bougatsa,’ Spyridoula said softly. She held her hands together, her fingers trembling a little. ‘When I was much younger, bougatsa was something I made all the time for the man I loved.’ She paused, seeming to fight with her emotions. ‘And I made gigantes plaki and froutalia and kokkinisto … so much cooking and eating and being in love …’
‘I do not understand,’ Theo said, now studying his aunt intently.
Spyridoula sighed again, heavier this time. ‘That wizened old man in his house of sticks in the woods.’ She raised her eyes to the heavens. ‘He has always had my heart and I let my parents keep me from him.’ Her lips curled a little. ‘“You are a Pappas, Spyridoula, you will go to college and you will learn your fashion and you will open a design house, be successful, be powerful.”’ She tutted. ‘I should have stood up to them, stood up for what I wanted – the love of a man who does beautiful things with wood.’
‘Stamatis,’ Theo breathed. ‘You are the one who advised him on the garden area. You are cooking for him again.’
‘We are both proud, stupid, egotistical people, but we are also too old to waste any more time or care too much about what the village thinks. I do not want to be the princess to his frog. I want to be frogs together, old, warty toads hopping about in the sun and eating until our stomachs weep.’
‘All those years not being happy.’ Theo shook his head.
‘Because that is how things were with us, but that does not have to be how they continue. Do you hear me, Theo?’
‘I hear you,’ he answered.
‘Then believe me when I say I have not been spying on you. I have not been doing your father’s bidding. I hoped to give you a little time, some space, a chance for a different viewpoint. I do not want you to become like your father or like me, Theo. Life is a song. You must sing it.’
Spyridoula’s words touched him hard and he had to quickly swallow, then take an edifying breath.
‘So, you need to make sure you take Daughter-of-Jackie, Abby to the panegyri and maybe also take along your old auntie and her man from the trees.’ Spyridoula sniffed. ‘There will be those who whisper about us.’ She smiled. ‘By the time the festival is over I will be three times pregnant with kittens and joining the gypsies, you know how village gossip is.’ She shrugged. ‘But it is time for change, no?’
‘Yes,’ Theo replied. ‘I agree.’
‘So, now you know about the bougatsa … about everything.’
‘And we need to get out of here,’ Theo stated. He jumped off the boat, landing next to Spyridoula. ‘Let’s go and get everybody. Right now, and then—’
His last words were drowned out by a big bang of thunder, and then the sky opened up and fat, hard raindrops began pelting the earth.
Sixty-three
Hotel Erikousa
‘This is nice, Diana. Isn’t this nice?’ Spyridoula commented a little later as the party sat inside the hotel restaurant watching the storm outside. Abby had had no choice but to try to get rooms for everyone at the hotel the moment Theo declared it unsafe to sail. But it was July and the hotel was the only one on the island. Diana had been given the best room they had available, Aleko was in a single with George on a sofa bed, Spyridoula and Mrs Karakis had a comfortable double and Jackie, Melody and Abby were sharing a king-size bedroom. Theo had opted for the only remaining option, the wooden shell of a shack on the beach that was being renovated.
‘It’s an adventure,’ Jackie said. ‘Let’s think of it that way. We like an adventure at Desperately Seeking, don’t we?’ She wafted her arms around in a bid to get someone to agree. ‘New horizons, new lives in the sun …’
‘New newsletter coming soon,’ Melody chipped in, winking at Milo.
‘Can I get anyone a hot chocolate?’ Abby asked, the rain still hammering on the roof, the atmosphere humid and oppressive, the sky seeming to blacken further every few minutes.
‘I think this whole disaster calls for something a little stronger than zesti sokolata,’ Diana said, folding her arms across her chest.
‘Red wine?’ Aleko suggested. ‘Or perhaps a little Metaxa? I notice they have a twelve star on the drinks menu.’
Abby swallowed. She had no idea how they were going to afford to pay for the rooms, let alone enough food and drink to keep everyone happy. She wished, not for the first time, that she had opted for something simple and sparkling from the supermarket as the raffle prize. But, it was meant to be a treat for her mum and Jackie looked radiant despite the weather/travel/staying over chaos. She and George had finally arrived harbourside, albeit too late, glowing with a hue only two people falling in love could radiate.
‘I will buy some drinks,’ Spyridoula said, getting to her feet. ‘What would everybody like?’
‘Oh, that’s very nice of you, Spyridoula, but—’ Abby began.
‘How about a little Muscadet?’ Diana suggested.
‘House white?’ Spyridoula overrode. ‘I hear it is very good here.’ She made off towards the bar and Abby looked over to Theo. He was sat at a table on his own, a beer bottle in one hand, eyes on the raging ocean outside the window. She crossed the room to join him.
Slipping into the seat opposite him she put her glass of lemonade down on the table. ‘We did the right thing staying,’ Abby said. ‘You made the right decision.’
He didn’t turn his head from the sea scene. ‘I did not do anything. We ran out of time that is all.’
‘I know, but perhaps my mum and George going off and not getting back soon enough was meant to be. It stopped us having a choice.’ Abby shivered a little. ‘I wouldn’t want to be caught up in those waves.’
‘The sea is powerful,’ Theo agreed. ‘It must be respected at all times.’
‘Will the boat be OK?’ Abby asked, looking through the driving rain to the dock where everything tethered was being tossed around by the force of the storm.
‘I do not know,’ Theo answered. ‘I have to hope. But there is nothing we can do about it. Nowhere else for it to go.’
‘Are you OK, Theo?’ Abby queried.
‘I do not like storms,’ he admitted. ‘They are unpredictable and violent and—’
‘You’re sleeping on the beach toni
ght,’ Abby said.
He shrugged. ‘It does not matter to me where I sleep. It matters only that your prize-winners are looked after. I feel I have let you down.’
‘That’s silly,’ Abby insisted. ‘You haven’t let me down at all. If it wasn’t for you bringing us here we would have been bankrupted paying for everyone to come by a tour.’
‘But now they are expecting food and drinks and there is a night at a hotel,’ Theo reminded.
‘I know,’ Abby said. ‘But that’s Dolan Law. We never seem to get things easy and straightforward.’
Suddenly Theo’s phone erupted into life and Leon’s photo flashed up on screen. He picked it up, answering.
‘Ne … yassou, Leon … ochi.’
Abby watched Theo’s expression turn from being a little disheartened about the storm situation to something like absolute fear. He ended the call, jumping up from his seat and slipping his phone into the pocket of his shorts.
‘I have to go.’
‘Go?’ Abby exclaimed. ‘Go where?!’
‘I have to take the boat out.’
‘Theo, what are you talking about?! Take the boat out where?!’ Abby jumped out of her seat as Theo began to make a move towards the door to outside. ‘Theo, stop! This is mad – what’s happened?!’
‘My father, he heard about the storm. He thought we were going to try and sail back. He left Corfu two hours ago and he isn’t here yet. He’s out there, somewhere, in this weather, looking for us.’
‘Oh my God!’ Abby exclaimed, hands going to her mouth.
‘I have to go and find him,’ Theo said, one hand on the door knob.
‘Wait! Please!’ Abby said, frantic. ‘Wouldn’t it be better to call the coastguard or something? They’re professionals. They would send a helicopter. They would know what to do and—Theo, if you go out there you’re going to be risking your life too!’
‘It is my father,’ he said firmly.
Theo’s chest was burning and fizzing with panic. His dad had forced a boat company to give him the keys to a boat and had headed out into the storm to rescue him. Except he hadn’t needed rescuing. He had done the sensible thing, the right thing, listened to his gut, looked at the warnings and known, once time had run out, that staying put was all they could do. Now Dinis was probably fighting the vicious waves, or had already succumbed to the sea, been capsized … or worse.
‘Theo, please! Please don’t do this!’ Abby said, taking hold of his arm.
‘Abby, I have to.’ He pushed at the door with his free hand, battling to open it against the force of the wind.
‘But you’re in shorts, you’ve no coat …’
He stopped his retreat for a brief moment and looked at her wide, frightened eyes. She cared for him. He could see that so clearly. And he cared for her too, more than he had cared for any woman.
‘Abby,’ he whispered. ‘You lost your father. I lost my mother. You know I have to try.’
She looked like she might burst into tears and he felt his own torn emotions twisting and turning as they battled to take control.
‘What is going on?’ Spyridoula appeared next to them, a large jug of wine in her hand.
‘Nothing,’ Theo said calmly, trying to rid his expression of the concern that was zipping through his body. ‘I am going to check on the boat that is all.’
‘Check on the boat?’ Spyridoula looked at him with a large degree of suspicion. ‘I can see the boat from here. It is going up and down like it is a ride at a carnival. What is there to check?’
‘I just …’ Theo started. ‘Thought I should make sure it is tied up tightly enough.’
He saw Abby look away from Spyridoula, unable to join in with his lies. He hated himself. He should tell his aunt, but he knew she would, quite possibly, barricade the door to the outside if she knew what he was planning to do.
‘You check,’ Spyridoula said. ‘And then you come back and help make a quiz.’ She sniffed. ‘Everyone wants another quiz.’
He nodded stiffly and waited for her back to be turned before he pushed at the door again. Abby grabbed hold of his arm and held on tight. Looking back at her, all he saw written on her face was not desperation now but sheer determination.
‘If you’re going to do this,’ Abby said. ‘I’m coming with you.’
Sixty-four
Theo had burst out of the door without reply and Abby immediately followed. The full force of the storm hit her the moment her feet touched the terrace, the flowering vines entwined over the pergola that shielded the outside seating were being ripped and whipped, just like Abby’s hair. The wind was warm but wild and her dress felt like it was being torn from her. This was like a hurricane. A big, scary, damaging hurricane.
‘Theo!’ she screamed into the wind. ‘Wait for me!’ She rushed down onto the sand.
‘Go back!’ Theo yelled as she caught up to him and he strode onwards towards the dock.
‘No! I’m not letting you do this on your own,’ Abby said. ‘If I really can’t stop you then I need to help you.’
‘You are crazy!’ Theo yelled, finally looking at her. ‘The weather is—’
‘Life-threatening?’ Abby shouted back. ‘I can see that! But you won’t stop so—’
‘I won’t let you on the boat,’ Theo told her.
‘You’re not going to be able to stop me!’
Adrenalin was flooding her. She didn’t want him to go. She didn’t want to go but it seemed neither of them were about to give in.
‘Abby, please, go back into the bar!’ Theo’s hair had all but escaped from its bun, dark jaw-length swathes blowing up around his face. He swept it back, staring at her but Abby stood her ground.
‘No,’ she said with every amount of determination she owned. ‘I’m not going to stand here and watch you risk your life.’
‘Instead you are going to risk yours too?’
The sky roared with thunder and Abby tried not to flinch, swallowing the urge to scream with terror. Out to sea, the waves were like large, gnarly monsters, ready to swallow up anything that dared cross their path. As the wind billowed around her, almost blowing her off her feet, Theo raced onto the pontoon, heading for the Pappas boat.
‘Theo! Don’t you dare!’ Abby screamed. ‘Theo!’
She started running, desperately, frantically, fighting the ferocious wind to get to the boat before he could start the engine. She watched him jump on board then begin to untether the rope.
‘Theo!’ she yelled. She had to move faster. She had to get there. Then the engine roared into life …
There was absolutely no way she was going to let him go without her now. At least, with two of them, they had a better chance of being able to deal with whatever crisis came their way, and being in the midst of this weather, that was a given.
She reached the boat and, uncaring for the widening gap between bow and dock, launched herself off the solidity of the pontoon, praying her sandals planted on the craft. Foot slipping on the wet surface she fell, first down onto the seats then further to the floor, the boat listing with the current. It hurt. Her chin, her ribs, her shins … but she was on board.
‘Abby, what are you doing?’ Theo demanded.
She could only see his feet from her near prostrate position. She took a breath and then he was gathering her up, lifting her off the floor, holding her in his arms. It felt so good but also so wasteful. There wasn’t a lot of time. Anything could be happening to his father at sea.
‘Please, Abby, please get off the boat,’ he begged.
She shook her head, holding on to him so tight as he set her back onto her feet. ‘I’m not getting off. I’m going with you. But please, Theo, please let’s call the coastguard, get them looking too … in case we can’t find him.’
He nodded, bracing himself against the boat as he got his mobile phone out of his pocket to make the call. As he spoke against the sound of the raging wind, Abby surveyed the ocean ahead of them. This was a suicide mission, wasn’t it? W
hat was she doing? Risking everything for someone she hadn’t known very long? But it felt like the right thing to do, the only thing to do. And then, something appeared, right at the edge of her line of vision, just coming into sight.
‘Theo!’ she called, trying to stand still on the reeling boat. ‘Theo! There’s a boat!’
Turning his head to the open water Theo spoke quickly into the phone before ending the call. He could just see the vessel. It wasn’t faring well with the waves, being so small and a lot less powerful than the Pappas boat, and it looked like it could be engulfed at any moment. It had to be his father, but he couldn’t see anyone on board.
‘Can we make it over there?’ Abby called, swaying as the boat was rocked even more violently by the swell.
Theo got behind the wheel. It was just five hundred metres away, maybe a little less. They could get to the boat, tie it to them and get it into shore.
‘Sit down, Abby,’ Theo urged. ‘And hold on.’
He needed every skill he possessed to do this but at least the vessel was in sight. They weren’t going to be scouring the ocean with no idea where to find it, if it was Dinis. But then who else would be crazy enough to be out on the water and heading to Erikousa?
He had to get this right. Slow and steady, working with the water as much as he could. Going too fast, not showing the sea enough reverence, meant he would be putting himself and Abby in more danger. He throttled up a little, heading across the ocean rather than straight ahead, each metre seeming like a struggle as the water sprayed the boat, soaking everything, including him.
‘Abby, are you OK?’ he shouted back.
‘Yes!’ she called.
It was so tempting to go faster, to reach the boat quicker, but if they capsized there was no chance of saving Dinis and maybe not even themselves.
And then the rain started again. It felt like hailstones. Fat, hard rivulets began to hammer down from the sky pinching his skin. It was making the visibility even worse. He edged the power on a little more …
The small boat was being tossed around like it was made of paper and he hoped that Dinis was somehow still on board, perhaps hunkered down on the floor, holding on, hoping to wait out the storm. What other choice was there?