Page 126 of Summer in Greece

‘Then they’ll be the lucky ones.’

They pulled their clothes off and leapt into the water. Harry, with the food tray above his head, waded to the flat rock. Shelly swam, and once on the rock, saw herself as the little mermaid. He came to her side, and they fed each other flaky croissant, and drank lukewarm coffee, until they wanted each other so badly they slipped into the water and made love.

*

They arrived in Syros at lunchtime, and both were hungry again. They moored up, then sat at a quayside table.

Shelly stared around, trying to imagine the dancing bear, Gertie’s first kiss, and searching the shops for loukoumi. She wondered about the house where Manno and Gertie had made love. Then she stared out to sea and wondered how many war ships had docked there, remembering all the ships that came to fill up with water.

‘What are you thinking?’ Harry asked.

‘I’m just trying to remember how it was when I came here as a child. My great-grandmother was here too. I was four or five, and she was an old woman. Every afternoon she’d disappear, and not return until dinnertime, all red-eyed and weepy. We never discovered where she went, but you’ve listened to the tapes now. I think she went to Manno’s grave, or even Adam’s grave, wherever that is.’

He shook his head. ‘No, she didn’t. I actually know where she went.’

Shelly sat up. ‘What? Where?’

‘Are you ready to order?’ the waiter said.

Shelly blinked at him, trying to unravel the mystery and think of food at the same time. ‘Er, village salad and lamb chops,’ she said and turned to Harry. ‘Where did she go?’

‘One moment.’ He turned to the waiter. ‘The same for me, and a large bottle of water.’

‘Where?’ Shelly insisted.

‘Well, that’s my surprise, so don’t spoil it now. I’ll take you there as soon as we’ve eaten.’

‘Give me a clue?’

‘No clues. Now stop pestering me, and don’t bother batting your eyelashes like that. I have a will of iron.’

Shelly’s shoulders dropped. ‘I think you’re terribly mean, but I’ll let you off just this once.’

*

‘That was the most delicious food! Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome, now if you are up to it, we have quite a walk ahead of us.’

‘So, come on, where are we going?’

‘Still not telling. You just have to tag along, but, it will be worth it, and I promise you’ll love it. First, we have to check in, but we’re just over the road, so that will only take a minute. Then, I am going to show you something so amazing, I will have you under my spell forever.’

‘I think you’ve managed that already,’ she whispered.

He met her eyes and smiled. ‘You bewitch me,’ he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her up. ‘Come on, we don’t have all day!’

Ten minutes later, they were striding uphill, panting and perspiring. ‘Slow down!’ Shelly cried.

‘I can’t. We have an appointment. We’re running out of time. Come on!’ he called, taking her hand and tugging her onward and upward. They staggered up steps, panted up pathways, and blazed up backstreets too steep for cars or scooters. Finally, they arrived at the top of the hill and from outside the great monastery of St George, they looked down on the harbour town of Ermoupoli and the port of Syros.

‘What an amazing view! Have I got time to take some photographs?’

‘Not now, we’re late,’ Harry said quietly. ‘Whatever happens next, I want you to understand that I have done this with your best interests at heart.’

Shelly nodded. ‘I understand, but what have you done?’

‘You’re about to find out.’ He knocked on the great oak door, and after a moment, it was heaved open by a hooded monk. ‘Father, this is Shelly Summer, great-granddaughter of Gertrude Smith who died in 1998.’