‘May I?’
‘Of course.’
The boy, he’d probably describe himself as a man, but he was around the same age as her youngest son, was shaking. He grabbed her hand and spoke to her in a croaky whisper.
‘Please, please do not tell my mother what you have seen.’
There was real fear in his eyes, and Charlotte put her hand on his to reassure him.
‘Of course I wouldn’t do that. It’s none of my business, and anyway’—she tried out a wink—‘I didn’t see anything.’ Charlotte turned her head in the direction of the garden. ‘I was totally focussed on the cute kittens playing over there.’
The air seemed to settle around them.
‘Thank you.’
One of the kittens chose that moment to dart out onto the path and was ushered back to safety by its watchful mother.
Dimitris pointed over to some empty dishes at the edge of the garden.
‘I feed the mother and leave water out for her. She is very protective of her kittens.’
Charlotte smiled.
‘We mothers tend to be.’
The young man was quiet for a moment, but Charlotte wanted to remove any doubt for him. Her youngest son, Rueben, was gay, and after a few turbulent years in his teens had found a lovely partner, George, who everyone adored.
‘I honestly would never say anything to your mother, but can I just ask why telling her is such a problem?’
‘In Greece, being gay is not so accepted as somewhere like Britain, and while no one would turn a blind eye in Athens or Thessaloniki, on the islands it’s more difficult. Island life is intense; everyone knows everyone, or is related to them. They’re always in each other’s business.’
Charlotte smiled and patted his shoulder.
‘Yes, it’s a little bit like that in the village where I live in Surrey.’
Dimitris took a deep breath.
‘And I have been stupid enough to fall in love with a priest. Although he is thinking of leaving the Church anyway. And please don’t mention that to anyone either.’
‘You’re not stupid. You’re in love. I can see it’s not an ideal situation…’ Charlotte almost laughed at her own understatement. ‘But your mother might surprise you if you can work up the courage to tell her.’
‘Maybe…’
The sad young man next to her didn’t seem convinced. The full light of a new day illuminated his expressive blue eyes, framed against the background of the sea.
She kept her voice low.
‘Sometimes you just need to be brave, rather than live in fear of the consequences of your actions.’
She was talking to herself as much as him.
They both stared out at the ocean as the sun rose higher, turning everything golden.
Dimitris rose slowly from the bench.
‘I must go now; it will soon be time to start work. Thank you for your advice. I’m not sure when or if I’ll be able to take it, but it was good to talk to someone.’
‘You’re welcome. Your secret is safe with me.’
