‘It’s gorgeous, thank you.’
A peaceful few minutes looking at the sea while eating reminded Maddie how little men talked compared to women. She, Sofia and Charlotte, wouldn’t have been able to stop themselves commenting on everything in front of them. It was nice for a change.
Thanassis reached into his pocket and brought out a tobacco pouch.
‘Do you mind if I smoke?’
‘Of course not. In fact…’ Maddie deliberately stamped on her sensible side. ‘Can I have one?’
‘A roll-up?’
‘Yes please, I used to smoke them back in the day.’
She hadn’t had one for years, but it was that sort of day.
‘With your husband?’
Thanassis’s fingers were working at making the cigarettes while he spoke.
‘Yes, with Tony.’
Thanassis put both cigarettes into his mouth, lit them and handed one to her. It seemed perfectly natural to take it off him, and the slight dampness at the end when she took the first drag brought Charlotte’s horrified face to mind.
‘And your husband, Tony…’ Thanassis turned to look at her. ‘He is dead, yes?’
‘Yes.’ She didn’t mind telling him for some reason.
‘I know this. I saw it in your eyes that first day down at the port.’ Thanassis turned back to look out to sea. ‘The pain is something you can recognise instantly if you see it in the mirror every morning.’
Maddie stared straight ahead, rather than at the man sitting next to her.
‘You too?’
‘Yes, my wife, Eimear, died five years ago.’
Thanassis did the sign of the cross on his chest.
Maddie put her hand on his arm. The soft dark hairs were warm to the touch.
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘For you too.’
The sea began to blur in front of her eyes. She blinked and sneaked a peek at him.
‘It’s coming back to me. You said her name out loud several times the other night… while you were barely conscious.’
Thanassis turned to her with a smile.
‘Did I? I suppose it is not so strange. I think of her every day. One day, not too soon I hope’—his smile was like the sun after the rain—‘we will be reunited.’
‘It must be nice to believe that. I really don’t know, but I would love to think it’s true.’
Maddie turned her head away, so Thanassis didn’t see her eyes. But she didn’t need to tell him she was near to tears.
‘Don’t be sad. Why don’t we talk about them a little? It is hard to talk to people who don’t understand.’
Maddie nodded. It was hard. So hard. Some people got upset themselves, and others just looked embarrassed and made excuses not to meet up again.
