Moti on the Water

by Leylah Attar

  The hallways were empty, the lights dimmed. When the elevator doors glided open on the main deck, I stepped out, not expecting to run into a plate of cheese and olives.

  “Whoops, look out,” Thomas said.

  “I’m so sorry!” I intercepted a runaway olive with my foot. “Midnight snack attack?”

  “Yeah.” He laughed. “Just wiped out the snacking station.” He flashed the other plate he was holding, proud of his midnight foraging.

  “You mean the kitchen?”

  “The snacking station,” he repeated, declining the olive I’d rescued. “You know, the small room off the main salon.” He got into the elevator and hit the button with his elbow. “Isabelle and I are having a party in the jacuzzi.”

  “Have fun.” I tossed the olive into the receptacle by the elevator as the doors closed.

  Ugh. Offering a billionaire an olive that had rolled off the floor.

  To his credit, Thomas was sweet and down-to-earth. Plus, he tipped me off to the snacking station. I rounded the main salon and found a small room off the corridor. Thickly carpeted with plush seats, it looked like a mini-movie theater, except the main attraction was the buffet table, topped with all kinds of platters. Most had already been picked over. Apparently, everyone was onto this smorgasbord of munchies. I’d missed orientation on the first day and Alex had kept me out of the loop with his private midnight snacks. Our little game. A silent conversation.

  My feet started making their way to the galley. Tonight, separated from him, I needed to know we were okay, that he got the note I left him and understood why I had agreed to meet Nikos.

  Please be there.

  Please be there.

  My throat clenched at the thought of finding nothing but an empty counter, nothing but Alex’s silence. But there was a small plate waiting in the same spot he always left it. I wasn’t hungry for what it held. I was hungry for what it meant. Always steady, always strong. Alex was the one thing I could always count on. My throat clenched even tighter as I reached for the note:

  The stars weren’t the same without you tonight.

  They told me tomorrow is a terrible day for a picnic.

  Absolutely, friggin’ awful.

  But you do what you have to, and I’ll do the same.

  Lifting the dome off the plate, I found a single star-shaped cookie. It reminded me of all the nights we watched the stars on the sky deck. Sleeping under their twinkling canopy on Alex’s roof. Watching them come alive, one by one, after the sunset in Santorini. Holding hands and floating like stars on the water.

  I picked up the little star. It wasn’t a cookie at all, but a piece of baklava Alex had cut into a star—a five-pointed, multi-layered slice of sticky-sweet heaven.

  I saved the note and pulled up a stool. Then I lined up another one next to it. Breaking the baklava in half, I toasted my invisible companion.

  “To men who pluck stars instead of flowers.” I bit through the buttery layers and honeyed walnuts and smiled.

  We sat together as I finished my half of the treat, my legs swinging off the stool as I licked the last crumbs from my fingers. I covered the rest and turned off the light.

  Climbing back into bed, I drifted off, smiling at the thought of Alex finding half a squished-up, crumbly star in the morning.

  “Tie it up higher. Like this.” Isabelle demonstrated with her sarong. “Not you, Naani.”

  “Sure.” Naani tossed aside the sheer fabric she was experimenting with. “No one wants to see my legs. Just wait until I get back from the thermal springs. You won’t recognize these beauties.” She patted her veined calves. “Hippocrates himself wrote about the rejuvenating powers of the Lakkos baths.”

  “A few hours marinating in the hot springs of Milos isn’t going to give you Tina Turner gams, Naani.” Isabelle fixed the knot on my sarong and stepped back. “And what’s with the sudden urge to turn back time? I don’t know how you managed to convince us to spend our last day on the yacht off the yacht.”

  “I just want to know what the hype is all about. You’ll thank me when your skin is glowing on your wedding day.”

  “As long as I’m not smelling like a boiled egg from all the sulfur in the water.” Isabelle tilted her head and appraised me.

  “Look at you.” Naani’s eyes met mine in the mirror. “An overnight tryst with the chef. A private picnic on the beach with the millionaire. Vah re vah.”

  “You know why I’m going.” I made a face. “And Isabelle, you can stop fussing around. I’m not wearing this.” I untied the sarong from my waist and slipped on the white Indian-style kaftan lying on my bed. It swirled around my ankles, its breezy folds covering my arms and legs.

  “Saving it all for Alex,” Isabelle whispered to Naani, but loud enough for me to hear.

  “The chef has left his mark.” Naani wagged her finger at me.

  “Really? He did?” Isabelle tugged the kaftan away from my body and peered down my back. “Where?”

  “I don’t know about those kinds of marks.” Naani said, chuckling. “But in here for sure.” She patted her heart.

  “You two are impossible,” I said, but I couldn’t help smiling as I grabbed my sunglasses and hat.

  “Moti beta, hurry up.” Dolly waltzed into the suite. “They’re all set to…” She trailed off when she saw me. “How beautiful you look. Meri pyari si gudiya. Hold on one minute.” She went into the bathroom and returned with a small pot of kajal—the traditional, velvety black eyeliner. Rubbing her index finger over the surface, she applied a small dot on the side of my forehead. “There. Now you are not so perfect. No jealous, evil eye will fall on you.”

  “I’m already wearing this.” I dangled the bracelet the farmer in Folegandros had given me, with the eye-shaped blue bead.

  “Double protection from Nikos’s lustful eyes. Indian and Greek magic. One can deflect his right eye, the other, his left.” Naani made cross-eyes at me.

  Dolly ignored her and kissed me on both cheeks. “Have fun. I’ll be waiting right here when you get back.”

  “You’re not going to the hot springs with everyone else?” I asked.

  “No. I want to hear about everything the moment you return.”

  “Ma…” Something about the way she was looking at me—really looking, stopped me. Moments of connection with Dolly were like rare pearls. The last thing I wanted was to squelch the light shining in her eyes. I was the one who’d put it there. Maybe I was wrong to let her go on spinning happily-ever-after scenarios with Nikos and me, but I wanted to find a gentler way to let her down. And when I did, I hoped she would still look at me the same way.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Nothing. I better be off.” I grabbed my handbag and paused. “Bye, Naani. Bye, Isabelle.”

  And then, as I turned to go, I heard Dolly say, “Love you, beta.”

  My footsteps faltered at her words.

  Dammit. A lump the size of a golf ball lodged in my throat. I was such a liar for playing along with the whole Nikos thing. I told Dolly there was someone else, but she only heard the things she wanted to hear.

  “I love you too.” The words flew out of my mouth like they’d been waiting, fully formed, for the right moment to squeeze through.

  Dolly smiled, and for those few seconds, we were as open and perfect as we’d ever get—me pretending to be the daughter she wanted, and her loving me for it.

  I skipped the elevator and took the stairs, looking for Eddie. I found him readying the tender for our trip ashore, to the spot where Nikos had picked out.

  “All set?”

  “Almost. Just waiting for—” He broke off and grinned at someone behind me. “Perfect timing.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and saw Alex and Hannah carrying coolers into the boat. My heart went off on a wild gallop at the sight of Alex.

  His arms glistened in the sun as he handed one of the coolers to Eddie.

  “One picnic lunch, ready to go.”

  I cring
ed. Nikos had asked Alex to prepare lunch for us, and of course, Alex was obliged to follow instructions.

  His eyes twinkled when they met mine. “Enjoy your afternoon.”

  He was way too upbeat for my liking. Your confidence in us is great, Alex, but a little pathos would be nice, considering I’m heading off to some remote cove, to be alone with your biggest nemesis—a three thumbed man. I adjusted my floppy hat so he was no longer in my line of sight.

  “Hey,” he called softly.

  When I ignored him, he tapped my shoulder.

  “Heart-Eyes.”

  “What?” I snapped.

  “Thank you for my morning star.”

  “Half star.”

  “I missed you last night. Captain Bailey snores like a horse.”

  “Good.” My face broke into a reluctant smile. “I hope you didn’t get any sleep.”

  “I didn’t, because I was thinking about you. I should’ve been planning today’s menu. It’s the grand finale dinner, and I have no idea what I’m going to serve.”

  “You thrive under pressure,” I said, trying to disguise the heaviness in my chest. The grand finale dinner. Tomorrow, I’d be saying goodbye to Alex. More than anything, I wanted to spend the day with him—in the galley, pretending to help, listening to his favorite tunes and watching him put together the final meal.

  “Alex?” Eddie said. “We need to get going.”

  Alex’s expression filled with pathos then. I really, really don’t want you to go, it told me, even as he nodded and got off the boat.

  “Be sure to try the pastitsio,” he called. “In fact, try a little of everything.”

  He stayed on the platform, watching us drift away. His smile was pure gold, like a kid who’d left a hidden surprise.

  I smiled back, watching him as he got smaller and smaller.

  The yacht was still on the horizon when Eddie steered into a quiet inlet and cut the engine.

  “We’re here already?” I asked. We were on a narrow sandy beach, squeezed between the cliffs and the sea. The water was a startling cobalt blue, warm and clear and shallow.

  “Captain Sandy decided to anchor the yacht close by, so we didn’t have to backtrack to pick you up,” Eddie said, unloading the coolers onto the beach.

  In the shadow of the cliffs, a table and two chairs were beautifully set with sparkling plates, wine glasses, and silverware. A canopy of white sheets, held up by tall pieces of wood, fluttered over a blanket by the beach. Cushions and pillows lay scattered over it. A couple of loungers faced the sun, with drink tables lodged firmly in the sand beside them. Ice buckets, towels, water bottles—everything meticulously laid out for a picture-perfect beach picnic.

  “Did Nikos do all this?”

  “Eddie and I were here earlier today, setting up,” Hannah said.

  Of course. All Nikos had to do was snap his fingers and everything fell into place.

  “Are you all right?” I asked. Hannah seemed to have recovered from her allergies, but she wasn’t her usual bubbly self.

  “I’m fine.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She probably had a ton of things to look after on the yacht, and here she was, laying out chocolate-dipped strawberries.

  “Here comes Nikos.” Eddie pointed to the water-taxi approaching the inlet.

  I shaded my eyes and squinted into the horizon.

  It was Nikos all right—shirt unbuttoned and flapping in the wind, his buffed-up muscles unmistakable as he waved at us.

  “Glikia mou.” Arms outstretched, he engulfed me in a big hug. “How I’ve missed you.”

  I turned my head, so his lips landed on my cheek.

  “So coy.” He laughed. “I love it.”

  Hannah signaled Eddie. “That’s our cue to leave.”

  “I just need another minute,” Eddie said. He was setting up a pair of speakers between the crevices in the cliffs.

  “Take your time, Eddie. No rush.” Nikos led me to the table and held out the chair before seating himself. “I’m thinking it would be nice to have Hannah serve lunch before you leave.”

  “I’ve laid everything out exactly as you requested,” Hannah said. “Captain Bailey is expecting us back—”

  Nikos cut her off with a dismissive gesture. “Captain Bailey can wait. My date deserves to be waited on like royalty. I think we’ll start with champagne.”

  Hannah wavered for a second. Then her professional demeanor kicked in. “Of course.”

  “Nikos.” I leaned across the table. “We don’t really need Hannah and Eddie to—”

  “Shhh.” Nikos put his finger on my lips. “I promised to make it up to you. So, let me.”

  Hannah uncorked the champagne with an expert pop and filled our glasses.

  Nikos took a sip and shook his head. “Nope. Not cold enough. I don’t think you put enough ice in that ice bucket. How long has this been sitting out here?”

  “We just took it out of the—”

  “I shouldn’t have to tell you how to do your job. Is it too much to ask—”

  “Stop being such a jerk, Nikos,” a voice piped up.

  My eyes flew to Hannah.

  She stared at me.

  I stared at her.

  I was the one talking. “Let’s go, Hannah. I don’t care to be in the company of someone who treats people so poorly.” I got up, but Nikos grabbed my wrist.

  “Hey. Hey. I’m sorry.” He looked from me to Hannah. “I’m sorry, Hannah. She’s right for calling me out. I’ve been a complete asshole to you.”

  There was no doubting his sincerity. He was like a spoiled kid, throwing his weight around and needing to be reminded of his limits.

  Hannah nodded, her chin quivering. “I have to go,” she said. “Eddie has to get the other passengers to the hot springs. You two should stay. Please stay. Don’t let me spoil your afternoon.”

  “Hannah,” Nikos said, but she spun on her heel and headed for the boat.

  Nikos turned to the deckhand, but he was already on his way to check on her.

  “Moti?”

  Moti with a hard T. I’d corrected him the first time he said my name, and he’d never attempted it again until today.

  “Moti, please sit down.” He looked so dejected I almost felt sorry for him.

  “Thank you,” he said, when I sat.

  “Don’t thank me yet. I’m only staying because I need to clear some things up.”

  “Fine.” He let out a tired, frustrated sigh. “My day can’t possibly get any worse. My plan totally backfired.”

  “You guys okay if we take off?” Eddie called to us from the boat. “Captain Bailey just radioed us in.”

  “Go.” Nikos raised the glass of champagne that started it all. “Cheers.” He downed it as Eddie started the boat.

  “The cell phone signal isn’t strong here,” Eddie called over the drone of the engine. “Use the flag when you want to come in.” He pointed to the green flag lying on the ground beside us. “Stick it upright in the sand. We’ll keep an eye out for it on the yacht.”

  “Got it,” said Nikos, watching as the tender took off, leaving a trail of foam in the water. “Well…” He poured himself another glass of champagne. “It’s just you and me.”

  “About that, I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Everything was fine in the beginning. I was completely smitten with you. At least, the idea of you. It meant a way out for me, but…”

  I took a deep breath. Forgive me, Dolly. I’m about to destroy whatever future you’ve envisioned for Nikos and me.

  “I’ve fallen for someone else,” I said. “Madly. Completely. Unexpectedly. The only reason I agreed to meet you today is because my mother wanted me to. Now I can tell her I did as she asked, but it didn’t work out. I’m sorry for using you to get her off my back. I have no intentions of pursuing anything with you.”

  A furrow formed between Nikos’s grape-green eyes. “You used me?”

  “I k
now. I feel terrible about the flowers and the—”

  “Let me get this straight. You…” He pointed my way. “Used me.” He pointed at himself.

  I kept my eyes on his extra thumb, the magical digit I had pursued all my life, only to push it away. I deserved whatever his bruised ego was about to unleash on me.

  Nikos slapped his thigh and roared with laughter. “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s just…” He trailed off, chuckling. “That’s a first for me, but you know what? I deserve it. That’s karma for you.”

  “How’s that?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I applaud your honesty.”

  “There’s something else.”

  “By all means.” He leaned forward. Intrigued? Entertained? “Don’t let me stop you.”

  “The incident at your club? The one you had to stay back for?”

  “Yes?”

  “I started it.”

  Nikos blinked. “I’m sorry?”

  “I started the brawl that landed you in trouble. If you go over the security footage, you’ll see.”

  “I have people who analyze things like that for me. I’m sure they know exactly what happened. It’s a nightclub. We’re used to containing these kinds of situations. The reason everything blew up that night wasn’t you. It was Olympia Aravani. Once the paparazzi got a hold of that little bit of information…” Nikos held his hands up and shrugged. “But if you’re truly remorseful, there is something you can do for me.”

  He chuckled when he caught the look I threw him. “Nothing questionable. Believe it or not, I’ve learned a few lessons today. All that aside, I’ve been meaning to conquer one of these cliffs for years. Would you mind taking a picture of me diving off that one there?” He pointed to its flat-topped summit. “One for the record, then we can head back to the yacht. What do you say?”

  “Sure.” Heading back sounded good. Even though Captain Bailey was keeping an eye on Alex and me, I just wanted to be where he was.

  “It’ll take me about ten, maybe fifteen minutes to get to the top.”

  “You want me to go with you?”

  “You’ll capture the perspective better from here. Take as many shots as you can before I hit the water. Use the burst mode for that.” He demonstrated the camera function on his phone.