‘I’d love to hear about some of the good memories you had growing up in Greece. You don’t have to give me any details if you don’t want to. No names or places. But I’d love to know something which happened to make you feel good when you were young.’
She closed her eyes for a second, and cocked her head as if she were listening. She opened her eyes again. ‘The sound of the sea. It takes me back. Except the sea in Thessaloniki didn’t rise and fall onto sand — not in the city anyway — it slapped against the rocks at the base of the harbour wall on good days, and crashed over the road on stormy days. I liked both. But it was a summer day that I remember well. My mother usually kept me close at home. It’s a long story. But this Monday morning I was allowed to go with my grandparents to a café. It felt so warm and the food was lovely, and my grandmother kept hugging me. Which wasn’t something my own mother did. I tend to go back to that memory when I feel the need.’
His heart squeezed a little.
‘So,’ she continued, ‘I guess in the reliving of it I may have exaggerated some aspects. And I think I have one even earlier memory. I must have been around two or three years of age, because I only remember looking up at a tree in the garden of a grand house. It was shifting in the breeze and there was a bird in the tree which was brightly coloured. I think it must have been, again, at my grandparents’ house. They kept song birds. But this bird seemed to be competing with their own caged birds.’ She shook her head. ‘Anyway, I’ve talked too much.’
‘You’ve talked just the right amount,’ he said. ‘I’ve enjoyed hearing your stories.’
‘That’s what they are. Just stories.’
‘Important stories. Tell me one more. Please?’
‘It would have to be, again, the house of my grandparents. My memories aren’t many, but they left an impression.’
‘What was it like?’
‘Grand. It sat high on a ridge overlooking the harbour. Like it didn’t have to hide from the world. My grandfather was very successful in business but he was happy to stay in the house on the hill even though his colleagues said he should move to a more prestigious area. He never did, because my grandmother loved it there. It wasn’t a showy house, but solid and always sunny. That’s how I remember it anyway.’
It suddenly clicked for Dan. The house she admired opposite the library. Solid, understated but elevated, not hiding from the world.
But Augi wasn’t living anywhere like that. She was living in a house that didn’t suit her. Shadowy, secretive, hidden. And he knew that he’d do anything within his power to find Augi a home where she could be happy again.
‘You must be cold,’ said Augi. ‘The sun’s gone behind a cloud and you’re still wet from your swim.’
He couldn’t care less about how cold it was. He could stay there listening to Augi forever.
She got up. ‘We should go and talk to Kate. Tell her what we’ve found out.’
Reluctantly he rose, grabbed his towel and phone and they walked the short distance up to the house. As they went up the garden path, he realised he still didn’t really know why Augi had waylaid him on the beach. But whatever the impulse behind it had been, he was pleased.
‘Augi!’ exclaimed Kate in surprise as they came through the back door.
‘Good morning, Kate. I’m sorry to arrive unannounced.’
Kate looked from Augi to Dan and then back to Augi, her smile brightening even further. ‘Last time you were here, I said you’re welcome any time, to just knock and come on in. And I meant it.’ She walked over, hesitated only briefly and then gave Augi a hug. Dan raised his eyebrows in surprise and walked away.
‘I’ll, er, just have a quick shower,’ he said looking at them both. ‘I won’t be long.’
By the time he returned dressed in jeans and shirt, the coffee was ready and by the slightly guilty look on the faces of both his mother and Augi as they glanced up towards him, he guessed they’d been talking about him.
‘Do you want me to leave again?’ he asked.
Kate waved him to the coffee machine. ‘Pour yourself a drink and come and join us. Augi was just telling me about the Bach concert.’
He raised an eyebrow in surprise as he poured himself a coffee and slid into the seat opposite Augi. She looked stunning. Her loose hair, tousled by the breeze, tumbled around her shoulders and the flush of exercise gilded her dark brown eyes. Even the shirt she wore had unbuttoned cuffs which were turned up to reveal a fine gold chain bracelet. Her elegant fingers were unadorned by jewellery.
‘So, what is this early morning visit really about?’ asked Kate, sitting back, her fingers laced around her coffee cup. ‘Because I don’t believe you’ve dropped in to pass the time of day.’
‘I live here in case you hadn’t noticed,’ said Dan.
His joke was rewarded with a tap of admonishment on his thigh. ‘Daniel,’ Kate said in a warning voice. ‘You know perfectly well what I mean.’
‘Of course, you’re right,’ said Augi. ‘I’ve found out a little more about the house. Lucy has so much going on that she asked if I could follow up with the Michigan lawyers.’
Kate raised her eyebrows. ‘And?’
Augi glanced at Dan. She looked suddenly unsure. He cleared his throat. ‘Augi wanted to run by her findings with me before telling you.’
