‘Is that why Dimitria took my phone? So I didn’t see them? Because she said I left it in her apartment, but I know I didn’t.’
‘I don’t know anything about that,’ Faye lied.
‘Mum, what are you doing with him? He’s young enough to be your son!’
‘Keep your voice down.’
‘Why? Because you’re embarrassed? So you should be! It’s wrong! It’s so wrong! He’s not interested in you! He’s using you! He probably has mummy issues. You will be a fetish for him… you know what that is, right?’
Faye got to her feet. ‘Stop it, Saffron. Stop this right now. The only thing I’m embarrassed about is you acting like this in front of everyone trying to have a relaxing meal.’
‘Dad is so upset.’
‘Now you’re being ridiculous. Dad doesn’t care what I’m doing as long as it doesn’t affect him. And I don’t care what Dad thinks about anything I do either.’
‘Dad does care! I know he does! I told you that!’
OK, that was enough. She was not going to have this discussion here, in one of her favourite places, with all the other diners – tourists and locals alike – paying so much attention to everything. One of them even looked like they were texting notes.
‘I’m going to pay the bill and then we are going back to the hotel to talk about this like grown-ups,’ Faye told Saffron.
‘I don’t want to talk about it! I’ve told you how I feel about it!’
‘But I haven’t had a chance to tell you anything,’ Faye said seriously. ‘And that isn’t fair.’
Saffron had no response but Faye could see there were tears she was holding back, her cheeks flushed from emotion, not the humid night. Her daughter needed time to calm down. Faye only hoped the car journey back to Avlaki would be time enough.
48
AVLAKI BEACH
The last time Kostas had sat on the stones here drinking a can of Alfa beer he had been fifteen. His father had brought him here in the summer, determined to get him to windsurf. It had been a disaster. The wind was so strong it had ripped the sail, and Kostas’s balance was always something he had had to work on. But Konstantinos Senior had found the humour in it – something he very rarely did. The best part of the afternoon had been the shared beers – only one each – but it had been enough to induce relaxation, quiet conversation, conversation Kostas had never forgotten.
‘You should always stand by who you are, Kosta. Not what people say you are. Do you know what I mean by that?’
‘Do not let yourself get distracted by other people’s opinions.’
‘Yes, son, but it is more than that. And it is not only about winning or losing. There are times we win and there are times we lose. But it is always important to keep focussed on your next goal. People’s opinions come and people’s opinions go. Keep moving. Because no one wants to stop unless they have to, right?’
Now, after speaking to his grandmother and hearing everything she had to say, he was remembering the conversation in a completely different way.Keep moving. His father had kept moving towards his ultimate downfall no matter what or who was in his way. Even his own son. He took a swig from his can and looked out into the waves. What did he do with this revelation? He had built all his next moves based on the fact he had always believed that his father had been led to his death by the people on this island – the guys he went drinking with, went to OPAP with; that was the story his mother had always told him.
‘Your father pretends to be strong, Kosta. But inside he is too kind, too soft with others. They take advantage of his generous nature.’
He knew his mother had loved his father very much but to have her be so veiled by that adoration that it warped the reality for their son? Why had he not asked better questions when she was alive? Because he was too scared of the answers?
He sought the shoreline again and then, something else caught his eye. Something a little further down the beach, a stationary mound. Something big. What was that? He got to his feet and began crunching closer. Was it… a person? His heart dropped as he rushed to get his phone from the pocket of his shorts, fingers suddenly slick with perspiration. He flashed the torch towards the lump as he quickened his pace, praying his worst fears were not going to be realised. And then a sharp breath left him. It wasn’t relief but he knew exactly who he had to call.
* * *
‘Have you touched it at all?’
‘No. Should we?’
‘I don’t think so. I called the hotline and they said do not worry, someone will come. I’m sure they would have given me more help, but we got cut off. I’m going to call them back.’
‘You have the training though, Faye. What do they say in the training?’ Kostas asked her.
‘I’ve only got up to the dolphin section. Turtles might not be the same. I mean, they are an entirely different shape.’
