“Ksenia!” Zoe called out to her friend, rushing after her. As she hurried down the marble steps, the red scarf that held her blond hair back in a ponytail came undone, falling to the ground. Zoe stopped as soon as she realized, and a young man rushed to pick it up for her. She thanked him quickly and rushed on. Cursing the loud noise that didn’t allow her friend to hear her, she ran faster now and finally caught up with her at the gate.
“Wait!” said Zoe out of breath as she grabbed Ksenia’s elbow.
“Oh! You startled me, Zoe! What is it?” asked Ksenia with a dreamy look on her face.
“You’ve lost your mind, that’s what it is!”
Ksenia knitted her brows. “What?”
“Here you are.” Zoe handed her a leather wallet.
“Oh! Did I leave it behind?”
“Duh! You took it out to pay me for the coffee, remember? You left it at the auditorium.” Zoe shook her head with mock exasperation.
“Okay, then! Thanks,” answered Ksenia and turned to go.
Zoe rolled her eyes. “You’re losing your mind over this guy. It must be love.”
“Oh please, don’t start again!”
“Why do you keep denying it? What’s just happened is proof, isn’t it? You left your wallet behind, and you had no idea! You’re so forgetful recently, and forever daydreaming. Admit it, girlfriend! You’re in love!”
“Oh, Zoe, stop it already!”
“All right, I’ll stop but only for now.” Zoe raised both hands. “When I meet him tonight, I’ll tell you my opinion in all honesty.” She took a step back and gave her friend the once over, wrinkling her nose with mock distaste. “Really! How do you expect a man to notice you in jeans, for heaven’s sake! I bet he hasn’t even seen you in a skirt yet! But wait till he takes a look at you once I’m finished with you tonight. You’re not coming out of your room unless I personally turn you into a goddess first!”
“All right, all right! But don’t you dare make me look like an airhead! I’ve got a personality, you know. We’re not all like you!” Ksenia teased her back, laughing.
Zoe gave her a gentle squeeze and finally let her go. Ksenia gave a little wave and vanished into the crowd that was hurrying along the pavement.
The day was special to Ksenia. Not only was it her nineteenth birthday, but she was also planning to go out that night. She was very stressed about it because she had invited Phevos and Daphne to come along. She was rushing now, as she needed to take care of a few things in Pallada before she could go home. She knew her afternoon was going to be mad with Zoe around helping her with her clothes and make up.
She never spent hours in front of the mirror trying different outfits and styling her hair, but she knew she was going to do all that later that day. Although she hadn’t admitted it to anyone, the truth was she’d grown really fond of Phevos and often thought perhaps she was in love with him. She couldn’t be sure because she’d never felt like this before. Her heart was telling her this must be it, since she thought of him day and night. She didn’t see him often because of his work, but when she did see him, she felt so awkward because of her feelings that it became agony to her to act normally.
On the contrary, she saw Daphne every day when she returned from her classes to take care of things in Pallada. There were matters to discuss with her accountant, supplies to be ordered, and various issues to be addressed with guests. She’d spent a lot of time with Daphne and loved her company, yet the girl was still quite a mystery to her. She knew by now not to ask any questions about her family or her life back home. The couple of times she’d done that, Daphne had become tongue-tied. It was quite clear she didn’t wish to offer any information. Ksenia had surmised something terrible had happened to her family that had made her and her brother leave home.
Ksenia’s mind was full of these thoughts as she ran to catch the bus. When she got on it, she found an empty seat and returned to her thoughts of Phevos, as blurry images of Athens city life fleeted past the window. Often she wished she weren’t so tactful or shy every time she passed the fruit store. If Phevos or Mr. Giorgis weren’t in sight, she’d simply rush on. As a result, she only spoke to Phevos on the rare occasions when he happened to be outside the store as she walked past. Sometimes, if he had no customers to attend to, he’d walk up to her, quickly enough for her blood pressure to fly off the mark, to ask how things were with her studies or how Manos was getting on with school.
If there was no immediate rush for him to go back into the store, she’d linger there a bit longer, and they’d talk about the cool evenings of spring and how they both longed for the heat of the summer. Three days earlier, during one of those brief discussions, Ksenia had asked him what he thought of the city. Phevos looked her in the eyes, as his smile slowly faded. He remained silent for a couple of seconds longer and then replied that perhaps Athens should be explored in the company of someone who knew it well.
Ksenia found herself volunteering for the task, and the huge smile he gave her had been haunting her ever since. When she relayed this to Zoe, her friend had given her the idea of a night out on her upcoming birthday, inviting him and Daphne to come along. It was a wonderful idea, but unfortunately he hadn’t been in sight at the store when she’d passed in the last two days, and so she hadn’t had the chance to invite him in person. Instead, Ksenia asked Daphne for both of them to come but wasn’t sure if her thankful response had meant Phevos was coming for sure. Yet, she felt too nervous to push the point. By now, it was also out of the question for her to barge into the store and invite him in person.
She’d thought it out well and imagined that in case he declined the invitation she’d be so disappointed it would be impossible to hide it. She shuddered at the very thought and focused on a single wish, in the hope that fate would be kind to her, as if owing it to her because of her birthday. Her wish was that as she passed by the shop, he’d be standing there.
Ksenia hopped off the bus and started to walk briskly along the busy avenue. She turned right onto a narrow street and from there, changed course a few times through the Plaka lanes. She knew them like the back of her hand. A gentle breeze cooled her cheeks as she almost ran now with her head held high, her eyes looking straight ahead, lost in the thought of her secret birthday wish. The thought that it might be granted in the next few seconds made her heart beat erratically.
It felt like a fluttering dove in her chest that strived to break free and fly away for the first time to faraway places described through the ages with bright colors, places she longed to see too with her own eyes. Her heart kept beating faster and faster, as she hurried along a narrow passage that led to her street, straight opposite the fruit store. She slowed her pace, trying to catch her breath as she approached.
Ksenia gasped and put a hand over her mouth. Her birthday wish had just been granted. Phevos was standing on the pavement, saying goodbye to an elderly gentleman who was leaving, laden with bags.
“Ksenia!” cried Phevos when he saw her. With two long strides, he was there, standing before her, wearing his brightest smile.
“Hello, Phevos,” she replied with a voice as sweet as the smile she offered.
Phevos put out his hand. “Hi, Ksenia! Happy birthday to you.”
Ksenia took his hand and willed her knees not to buckle. “Thank you.” His touch felt warm and from the palm of her hand, it shot rays of glorious sunshine throughout her body. It was like a surreal dream standing so close to him. The sunlight danced in his eyes, and their blue became a warm sea again. She lost herself in its depths once more, in that timeless place where she felt safe and blissful. If it hadn’t been for him to withdraw his hand first, she wouldn’t have found the way back on her own, out of the depths of his gaze.
“Thank you for the invitation for tonight. My sister has told me, and I never got the chance to thank you earlier. I’m sorry . . .”
“So, you’re coming?” she asked as casually as she could while trying to control the wild beating of her
heart.
“Of course we are!”
“Oh, that’s great!”
“So, are we meeting in your house?”
“Yes! My friend Zoe from university is coming too. The restaurant is here in Plaka, and we’re going there in her car. Is eight p.m. all right with you?
“That’s great! But are you sure about all of us getting there in the car? If there’s not enough room I could walk—”
“No need for that! It’s only going to be the five of us so there’s room for us all. The restaurant is within walking distance, but since we have the car at our disposal, it makes no sense to walk. Besides, a bit of luxury is to be expected on special days, right?” She giggled, buoyant with joy.
At that moment, a couple of customers walked into the store. Ksenia couldn’t thank her lucky stars enough for the perfect timing. Not only had her wish been granted, but also this perfect intervention meant he’d have to go now. Her heart was still pounding, and she’d started to feel uneasy. She felt she had to leave while she could still act relatively cool.
“I’m sorry, I have to go now,” he said just as she’d predicted.
“That’s okay, see you tonight!” With a little wave, she turned to go.
“See you!” He waved back, his bright smile reaching up to his eyes.
Ksenia walked away, feeling as if she were gliding rather than walking, as if she had flapping wings on her back. She went up the marble steps of Pallada and turned around at the entrance to take a last look at the fruit store. What she saw then brought her heart to its previous frantic state. Phevos was standing at the shop front under the awning, watching her. When he realized she’d seen him, he raised a hand to greet her. She did the same with a nervous giggle and entered the reception hall in a state of bliss.
Mrs. Sofia was coming from the corridor opposite. She was trotting, huffing angrily as she did so. Ksenia’s dreamy smile faded and concern colored her face. “Hello, Mrs. Sofia! What’s the matter?”
“Psyche mou! Let me greet you first,” she said rushing to embrace her. “Happy birthday! May you reach a hundred years of age! Health and happiness and a good fortune to you with a good husband!”
“Thank you, Mrs. Sofia! May you also have health and happiness! You and your children!” replied Ksenia, repaying Mrs. Sofia’s wish with one of her own, as is customary in Greece. “Where’s Daphne?” She looked around, eager to see her friend.
“She’s gone to get a few things from the supermarket. She won’t be long.”
Ksenia nodded and placed a gentle hand on Mrs. Sofia’s arm. A deep frown creased her forehead. “So tell me now, what’s the matter? When I walked in, you looked rather upset.”
“Need you ask, kyra mou? It’s that Scottish girl again in number seven upstairs! She’s had another overnight guest! Another young lad, who didn’t look any better than the rest of them, mind you! I caught him as he was going down the stairs!”
“Really?” Ksenia’s worried expression relaxed into a smile as the melodic sounds of the Corfiot vernacular rang in her ears again like the opening chords of a mandolin song.
“Oh, yes indeed! I heard his stomping on the wooden floor and came out at once. I was cleaning the room next door at the time. I saw him go down those stairs like a baby goat, jumping about. Oh, what a sight! And I shouted out to him, ‘come here you rascal!’ When he caught sight of me, he jumped in surprise and tripped half way down the stairs like a mad thing! He nearly fell over his bony face, and then he was out the door like a bolt of lightning! He was a miserable looking thing, like a plucked bird! Skinny, with spindly legs, and his hair, oh his hair! It was short and spiky as if he had stuck his fingers in an electric socket! I bet you can find goblins walking around on New Year’s Eve with more meat around their bones! Agie mou Spyridona!” She exhaled loudly and crossed herself with bulging eyes.
“And how do you know that he’s spent the night here with the Scottish girl?” asked Ksenia as she covered her mouth surreptitiously with one hand, trying to stifle the laughter that brewed inside her. Mrs. Sofia’s selection of words when she was excited always amused her immensely.
“Ah, well! I may be old, but I’m not blind!” Mrs. Sofia shook a sharp finger in front of Ksenia’s face. “That Scottish girl was standing at her open door! She was in a t-shirt and her panties, seeing him off! Ah, the shame of it! And he was going down the stairs with sleepy eyes and bare feet, holding his shoes in his hand! Imagine that! He must have taken off his shoes to be quiet, and yet, he was stomping on the wooden steps, jumping about like a baby lamb on Easter day! He made enough noise to wake the dead, I tell you!”
Ksenia doubled over and burst into hysterics. Mrs. Sofia had set the scene vividly before her eyes, as she gestured frantically with her hands, goggling at Ksenia and grimacing to demonstrate her surprise when she saw the lad and his terror as he tumbled down the steps. Ksenia’s eyes were alight with mirth when she finally caught her breath and looked at Mrs. Sofia again. “And what did the girl do?” she managed to ask before she started laughing again.
“Hey, I’m talking seriously here, and you’re laughing? Have you forgotten what trouble this girl has been already? He’s the third one she brings in here in a week! Agie Spyridona, woe is me!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Sofia, but it sounds so funny!”
“Why don’t you talk to her? She’s lucky I don’t speak English, or I’d have given her a good piece of my mind as she stood there in her underwear, the little minx! I did say a thing or two in my own language, mind you, and from the look she gave me, I think she understood me!”
“What? Do Scottish girls speak Corfiot?” said Ksenia with effort, between giggles and snorts.
“Yes, I’m pretty sure she understood me! But I got really cross afterwards because she shut the door on my face. Fancy that, what a nerve!” Mrs. Sofia placed a hand on her forehead. She sighed heavily and hung her head, and when she looked up again, her eyes looked tired. The black attire she always chose to dress in, amplified the effect.
“Calm down now, Mrs. Sofia,” said Ksenia in a soothing voice. The old lady had started to look distressed and this always worried her.
“Well, it’ll take me a while to calm down, that’s for sure! It’s only just happened, you know. It wasn’t five minutes before you came in.”
“What? So late? But it’s almost one!” asked Ksenia after checking her watch.
“Hey, psyche mou, you know what these Northerners are like! They drink and drink until they can’t feel their toes or their fingers, and then they hibernate in their rooms for hours on end! Don’t you remember the Scandinavians last month? For two weeks we hadn’t seen the inside of the room! They barely opened the door to hand us the garbage, and we handed them rolls of toilet paper as if they were prisoners in there! Aye, I’m surprised we didn’t find cockroach nests in that room by the end of the fortnight! Two weeks! No cleaning, no sweeping! All day they were asleep and all night they were out on the prowl for yet more drink!”
“Yes, yes, I do remember!” Ksenia couldn’t help giggling again.
“Go and talk to that little minx for me now, will you? There’s a good girl!”
“Sure, I will do that,” she said and started to climb the stairs.
“If she lies to you, tell her I saw them both with my own eyes! And tell her that if I catch her again, I’ll throw her stuff out the window!” Mrs. Sofia’s lower lip quivered as she spoke.
“Don’t worry. If she does it again, she will go. I’ll make sure she understands that! Now, please, calm down, Mrs. Sofia. All this aggravation is not doing you any good.” Ksenia’s eyes were pleading. Mrs. Sofia sighed in response and nodded, but her eyes remained alive with anticipation as Ksenia continued up the stairs.
By the time she reached the landing, the girl’s face was no longer amused. She now wore the professional expression required for the occasion. She was determined to uphold the regulations of her guesthouse. A few minutes later, she was half way down the stair
case when Mrs. Sofia appeared hurriedly at the bottom holding a broom. She wore an unmistakable expression of impatience across her face.
“Okay, I’ve told her,” said Ksenia when she came down the last step. “She apologized and promised me it won’t happen again.”
“Did you tell her I’ll throw her stuff out the window if I catch her again?”
“Don’t worry, she’s fully aware we won't be giving her another chance. So let’s forget this now, my dear Mrs. Sofia, shall we? If she does it again, I’ll throw her out myself! All right?”
“Oh, all right!” Mrs. Sofia resigned with a huff and then hugged Ksenia to wish her a happy birthday again. The young girl held her close to her and thought what a joyous gift this little episode had been, this generous dosage of Mrs. Sofia’s explosive temperament. Reserved as she was by nature, Ksenia admired Mrs. Sofia for her passion in everything she felt and did, which made her unique in many ways.
Chapter 7
“You’re so pretty!” exclaimed Manos from the open door. His sister was standing before the tall mirror in her bedroom. She wore an elegant, blue dress that accentuated her slender figure. She’d bought it earlier that week at a shop near the university. Zoe had convinced her to buy it, and now Ksenia felt pleased she’d listened to her. The beautiful color and the velvety feel of the fabric made her feel wonderful, almost like a different person.
Indeed, Ksenia was a rare sight tonight. Hairpins with turquoise sequins sparkled on her gelled hair; her face was made up to perfection in a way that set off her blue eyes and full lips. Zoe stood behind her smiling with glee, as their eyes met in the mirror. When Manos walked up to them, the girls turned around to take a better look at him. He looked dashing, dressed in a white cotton shirt, black jeans and dark leather shoes. To please his sister he’d agreed to wear all that, despite the fact the new shoes felt uncomfortable and the shirt offered much less warmth than the sweaters he was used to wearing this time of year.
The Necklace of Goddess Athena Page 7
