The Lady of Tarpon Springs

by Judith Miller

  “Hard to believe you gave in, Zanna. I know how much you enjoy a good argument.”

  She extended her leg beneath the table and ground the heel of her shoe into her brother’s foot. If her grandmother and Atticus continued with their barbs, she was going to be on edge the entire evening. With any luck, Nico might decide to leave immediately after supper. He must feel as though he was being attacked from all sides.

  When her brother grimaced, she offered a sweet smile. “Unlike you, I argue only when I know I’m right, Atticus.”

  Her grandmother filled their bowls with the steaming bean soup while her mother cut two meat pies into thick slices. The aroma of seasoned lamb and zesty tomato sauce filled the small kitchen.

  “That’s enough from the two of you. I’m weary of your childish bickering. We have a guest in our home who is new to this country. Let’s make him feel welcome. He has much to learn about America. After listening to the two of you, he will want to return to Greece.”

  “This food makes me feel like I am at home, but I am not yet ready to leave.” He took a bite of the lamb pie and swallowed. “I am interested to learn about Florida and the spongers who are harvesting from the hook boats I’ve seen in the area. I would also like to know more about the sponge dealers. Mr. Pappas wrote that there are sales conducted twice a week. Do you know if this is true?”

  Her father nodded. “There are eight sponge dealers working at the docks in Tarpon Springs. They sell the sponges harvested by men using the hook boats. Years ago, the sponges were sold at Bailee’s Bluff, but a hurricane in 1896 wiped out the area. Since then, the dealers have held the sponge auctions near the docks.” He helped himself to the feta cheese and sprinkled it on his pie. “Can never have enough feta.”

  Homer dipped his spoon into the soup. “Did you ever harvest sponge from a hook boat, Nico? I don’t think that looks as dangerous as diving.”

  “I went out with a friend one time and fell in the water. He told me to look through the glass in the bottom of the bucket until I saw some good sponge and then hook it. When I leaned over the side of the boat to get a better view, that’s when I fell in. My friend was the sculler and he didn’t balance the boat. I think he did it on purpose so I would fall in.” He laughed. “I never went out with him again.”

  “I’d like to learn how to use one of those diving suits. I think it would be exciting.”

  Yayá pointed the tines of her fork at Atticus. “You can stop all that nonsense talk. You are a boat builder, not a diver.” The older woman looked across the table at Zanna’s father. “Isn’t that right, Jurek?”

  “That’s right. Atticus needs to keep his head above water.”

  Zanna grinned at her older brother. This was one disagreement he wouldn’t win.

  The following morning dawned bright and clear. Zanna was surprised to see the men at the docks so early—all except Nico. She’d passed by all three boats and he was nowhere in sight. She approached Markos, one of the divers who usually remained close to Nico’s side. “I see you’re checking the equipment. Has Nico said when you’re to go out?”

  He shook his head but didn’t look up.

  “Where is Nico this morning? I haven’t seen him on any of the boats.”

  Markos shrugged and continued wrapping a length of air hose. He turned his back as she continued to quiz him. She knew he understood every word she was saying, yet he refused to answer.

  Well, if he wouldn’t talk to her, she’d find someone who would. She marched the short distance to the St. Nicolas, where she approached several of the men. Perhaps she needed to begin with a friendlier approach. “Good morning. It’s a beautiful day, is it not?” One of the men nodded. “Are you preparing to set sail today or tomorrow?” When they didn’t reply, she continued, “I wasn’t certain if you’d completed your inspection of the equipment. I’m eager to see the diving suits and have you show me how they work.”

  They stared at her as though she’d been speaking to them in English rather than Greek. She was doing her best to help these men. Didn’t they understand she only wanted to help? She inhaled a deep breath, determined to elicit a response of some sort. “I am curious, where will you store the sponges while you’re out in the Gulf?”

  They stared at her for a moment, then turned and boarded the boat without a word. Anger swelled in her chest. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Where is Nico?” Her question echoed along the river like the wail of a mythological siren.

  Moments later, she saw him emerge from a storage shed used by owners of several hook boats. He sprinted toward her. Even at a distance, she could see the deep furrows creasing his brow. “What is wrong?” His eyes darted from boat to boat. “There is some trouble with the boats or one of the men?”

  “The boats are fine, but the men are not.”

  He frowned and gestured toward the men scurrying about the boats. “They do not look sick, so what is the trouble?”

  “They won’t answer any of my questions. They wouldn’t tell me where the sponges are stored or if you’re going to sail today or tomorrow. They wouldn’t even tell me where you were.”

  “To these men, I am the boss. They will not answer to a woman. If you have questions, you need to ask me.”

  She glanced toward the men. They were listening to everything that was being said, yet they wouldn’t talk to her. “I want to know how far out you plan to go on your first sailing and when you’ll return.”

  “There is no way for me to answer that question. I don’t know these waters. Until we go out into the Gulf and dive, I cannot be sure of anything.”

  “You’re as bad as your men. You don’t want to answer my questions. Maybe I should go along on your first trip. That way I can see for myself how things are done.”

  The men shouted a chorus of objections. If a woman set foot on the boats, they would not sail.

  “The decision is yours, Miss Krykos. Either you remain behind when eventually we sail, or we remain tied to the docks.”

  CHAPTER

  8

  Lucy clicked the latch on the front door and trudged into her office. It had been a long night, but the end result had proved worth the loss of sleep. Delivering twins had happened only once before in her career, only this time both babies were healthy. She rounded her desk, dropped into the leather chair, and traced her finger down the appointment book. Good! There was no one on the schedule until this afternoon. Barring an emergency, she could go home and take a nap.

  After locking the door, she slipped the key into her pocket and headed off. The sun was ascending on the eastern horizon, and she stopped to admire the bold mixture of orange, gold, and blue. There was nothing more beautiful than a sunrise over water, except perhaps a sunset. However, the mood was soon broken by shouts of activity along the docks. There were auctions on Tuesdays and Fridays that always produced a flurry of activity, and yet it was far too early for the arrival of buyers.

  She tipped the brim of her hat to shade her eyes and gain a better view. Uncertain what was going on, she crossed the street and walked to the end of one of the piers. Those looked like the boats Zanna had pointed out to her—the ones purchased by her father. What were those men doing? There was no sign of Zanna. Her heart pounded beneath her bodice. Had the boats been left unsecure? Were the men stealing them? She quickened her step and then stopped short.

  What could one woman do against so many men? If they wanted to take the boats, she would have no way of stopping them. By the time she could get help from the sheriff, they’d likely be out in the Gulf. Hoping to hear their conversation, she edged closer.

  “Dr. Penrose! What are you doing?”

  Lucy gasped, spun around, and clasped a hand to her chest. She narrowed her eyes and let out a whoosh of air. “Oh, Atticus! You frightened the wits out of me.”

  He gave a lopsided grin. “I’m sorry, but why are you hiding behind that piling?”

  Though her explanation came in fits and starts, she gave him a
brief narrative of the morning’s events. “I couldn’t be certain what was happening, so I wanted to take a closer look. I believe those are my boats.”

  Atticus nodded. “They are, but there’s no need to worry. They’re preparing to take the three boats out to the Gulf for a short time. Nico wants to have a few divers go down in some different areas to see if they can locate some good sponge beds.” He gestured toward the boats. “I’m going with them.”

  “That’s nice. Has Zanna hired you to help look after things?”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to work for my sister. She’s too much of a taskmaster. I’ve got an interest in those diving suits—I want to learn how the men stay underwater for so long. I’ve promised Nico I’ll stay out of the way if he’ll let me go along and observe this one time.” His brow creased. “Have you met Nico? I can introduce you.”

  “We met at the train station when he arrived, but thank you. Now that I know everything is fine, I believe I’ll go home and get some rest. I had a long night.”

  She’d meant what she said, but the unfolding sight held her attention. Perhaps because Atticus had been so excited, or perhaps because the boats that belonged to her were going out to attempt something new in the waters off the Florida coast. The exhilaration caught her by surprise, and when the boats finally pushed away from the dock with their blue-and-white Greek flags flying alongside American flags, she experienced a sense of pride. She wasn’t certain why. She’d had nothing to do with any of what was happening, and yet she sensed something special might materialize because of those Greeks and their diving boats.

  Long after they’d sailed out of view, she remained on the dock, listening to the Anclote River lapping alongside the pilings and feeling an unexpected sense of peace. When at last she picked up her bag and headed toward home, the sun was above the horizon and the sky held promise of a beautiful day.

  Before she could make out her features, Lucy caught sight of Zanna’s familiar plaid skirt. Still sensing the peaceful mood she’d experienced at the dock, Lucy waved to her friend and hurried to meet her, eager to share the incident with Zanna.

  Instead of stopping when she drew near, Zanna offered a quick greeting and continued walking. Lucy turned about and joined her. “Where are you off to in such a rush? I thought we could talk for a few minutes.”

  Zanna gave her a quick sideways glance and continued on her way. “If you want to talk, you’ll have to do it while we walk. I must get down to the encampment.”

  “Whatever for?”

  “I want to find out when Nico is going to take the crew out on their first run. When I talked to him yesterday, I couldn’t get a straight answer, but I intend to get one today.”

  Lucy reached forward and grasped Zanna’s arm. “Would you please stop for a minute?”

  Zanna shook her head and tugged her arm from Lucy’s hold. “I’m in a hurry, Lucy. I know you don’t care about the business, but I need to give it my full attention. I can’t do that by standing in the middle of the sidewalk visiting with you.”

  Lucy stopped and watched her friend take several more strides. “There’s no need to go to the camp, Zanna. Nico isn’t there.”

  Zanna came to an abrupt halt and wheeled around. “What? How do you know?” She marched back to Lucy’s side.

  “Because they sailed earlier this morning.”

  Zanna shook her head. “That’s impossible. Nico wouldn’t sail without telling me, not without gaining my consent. You must be mistaken.”

  “I think not. Atticus assured me the three boats at the end of Pier Two were my boats. I watched them set sail just as the sun was rising this morning.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m confused. You were at the docks at daybreak, spoke to my brother, and watched all three boats set sail?”

  “I did, and it was the most peaceful, serene experience, Zanna. I can understand how you could find pleasure in working near the water. It’s truly peaceful, don’t you agree?” She grasped Zanna’s hand in her own. “I owe you an apology for my behavior and—”

  “You don’t owe me an apology.”

  “Please don’t interrupt, Zanna.” Lucy touched a finger to her friend’s lips. “I want you to understand that ever since you told me about my father’s investment—and the arrival of all those men—I just haven’t been myself. I spoke harshly and I feel terrible about it. I took advantage of you and our friendship, and I need your forgiveness. Please say you’ll forgive me.”

  “You’re forgiven. Now can I talk?”

  “If you truly mean it?”

  “I do, Lucy.” Zanna flashed her an indulgent smile. “There’s no need for an apology. You’re my friend and I love you, but right now I’m trying to take care of your sponging business. If I don’t know what’s going on, I can’t do that. So, please detail for me what happened this morning. Why were you at the docks at daybreak?”

  Step by step, Lucy recounted the morning’s events. “There you have it, every detail.”

  Zanna frowned. “After Atticus told you about the boats and offered to introduce you to Nico, where did he go? I didn’t see him at home this morning, and I didn’t pass him on my way.”

  Lucy giggled. “Oh, I forgot. He said he was going out with Nico.”

  “What?” Zanna clenched her fists. “And you let him go? Oh, Lucy!”

  “How was I supposed to stop him?” A train whistle hooted in the distance. “Come back to my office and let’s talk. Nico and the rest of the men are gone, Atticus is gone, and other than commandeering a boat yourself, there’s nothing you can do to bring them back. Besides, I don’t think you’d get far in a canoe, and that’s the most you could handle by yourself.”

  The comment was enough to gain a weak smile from Zanna. Right now, that was the most Lucy could expect. “Why don’t we go to my office and chat? I don’t have any appointments until this afternoon.”

  “You look tired, Lucy. Are you sure you are up to it?”

  “I delivered Mrs. Faraday’s twins last night, but I’ll catch a nap later.”

  “Twins? Are they doing well?”

  Lucy beamed. “They are absolutely perfect, and Mrs. Faraday is fine, too.”

  “Then congratulations are in order for all—including their tired doctor.”

  “Thank you, but do say you’ll come to my office with me. I’m longing to chat with you.”

  Zanna agreed, then stepped behind her as a group of chattering youngsters sidled past them on their way to school. “Oh, to be young and without worries once again.”

  Lucy chuckled. “You sound as though you’ve one foot in the grave, Zanna. I didn’t realize this job was taking its toll on you—and so soon. Perhaps I should devote myself to finding someone else. This is unfair to you, and I’m ashamed of myself for forcing you into this position.”

  “You didn’t force me, Lucy. I offered. If you recall, I even listed the reasons why you should select me to take over. I will admit that sometimes I feel there is more to it than I imagined. Nevertheless, I’m up to the task. And I don’t know that there’s anyone else who would be more capable and available to do the job.” Zanna followed Lucy into the office. “I’m merely concerned because Nico didn’t let me know he was planning to depart this morning. As for Atticus, I know you couldn’t have stopped him. Not even I could have stopped him once he’d gained Nico’s permission. When they return, I’m going to have a long talk with both of them.”

  “If you’re certain you want to continue, then I’m delighted to have you do so. But if it becomes too much for you, I want to know. Between us, we can come up with an alternative plan.”

  “Thank you, Lucy.” Zanna scooted back in the chair. “Since you have a little while, I can tell you what’s been accomplished so far, but if you have other things that require your attention, we can talk later.”

  “Absolutely not. I have time right now, and I’d like to hear whatever you want to share.”

  Lucy gave an affirmative nod once Zanna had
recounted events of the past days. “You’ve done an amazing job, Zanna. I’m impressed that you took Nico grocery shopping, but I am a little surprised you invited him home to dinner. Has he captured your attention?”

  “Lucy! Not in the way you’re thinking, and I’m not the one who invited him to dinner. It was Atticus who extended the invitation, and now I understand why. He was intent upon befriending Nico in order to go out on the boat with him. He’s enthralled with those diving suits, and it worries me that he’ll be fool enough to try using one if given the opportunity.”

  “He did mention he was eager to see how the diving suits were used, but he never said he wanted to dive. I don’t think he’d attempt anything so dangerous, and surely Nico wouldn’t let him.”

  Zanna fidgeted with the ink blotter on Lucy’s desk. “I’d like to believe Atticus couldn’t convince Nico, but Atticus can be persuasive when he wants something.”

  “I’m sure he can. Still, don’t those divers have to be trained before using the equipment?”

  Zanna shrugged. “I haven’t been able to obtain many answers about the equipment from Nico or the other men. I do think they’d need a great deal of training, however. I know it doesn’t do a whit of good to worry, but I won’t feel at ease until the boats return.”

  “Yes, I wish I would have asked when they were coming back.”

  Zanna pushed up from her chair. “It’s fine, Lucy. I may go home for the noonday meal and see what I can find out from Papa. I’d like to know if he gave Atticus permission to go out on the boat. If so, he may know when they’re due to return.”

  “Try to be careful how much you say. I know you wouldn’t want to cause your parents concern.” Lucy stood and rounded the desk. Although she longed to comfort her friend, she doubted anything other than the appearance of Atticus would bring her any peace. She wrapped her friend in a warm embrace. “Everything will be fine. Remember our favorite Bible verse.”

  “‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.’” Zanna turned toward the door. “I’ll do my best.”