“Yes I have, thank you. But what’s the matter, Charles? Are you all right?”
“You tell me, Lilly. Should I be all right?” He moved slowly towards her, his stare intense.
Alarm lit up in Lilly’s eyes. “I . . . I don’t understand . . .”
He stopped right in front of her, causing her to look up at him, her brow creased as she waited for an explanation.
Charles thought she looked impossibly beautiful then; the kind of beautiful that had always urged him to kiss her fervently and to undress her until his urge to show her his love and loyalty was fully satisfied. Loyalty . . . The word caught on his mind, like a careless fly on a thick spider web. Loyalty . . . The word alone caused him to flinch.
Lilly tilted her head. “Charles?”
Before he knew it, his rage had already erupted. He simply watched himself, as if another person had taken over his senses as that strange man grabbed at Lilly’s hair and pulled her up, then sent her crumbling to the floor.
Lilly began to wail as she lay on the carpet, her eyes wild, her arms outstretched, shaking. “Please, please, what are you doing?”
Before Charles could say anything, as if he could communicate with the enraged man that had taken over his body and voice, there was an urgent knock at the door. He rushed to open it, to find Joe behind it, his face ablaze with alarm. “Boss? I heard shouting. Everything all right?”
“Mind your own business!” the strange man barked at Joe, Charles’s loyal bouncer and friend, but this was no time for friendship. Now the strange man had taken over, the one who got enraged and upset beyond tolerance, the one who had always caused Charles to lose control. “Don’t you interrupt me again! Return to your post and leave us alone!” Charles slammed the door shut.
He returned to the kneeling girl, who was sobbing quietly now, shocked to silence. He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her up, then slapped her hard across the face once, twice, until her knees buckled and he had to lift her up and throw her back into the chair like a rag doll. Now he was holding her by the shoulders as she screamed.
“You thought you could go behind my back, did you? You thought you could spoil my plans? Who are you? Who do you think you are?”
“I . . . I . . .” Lilly whimpered, lost for words.
“Guess what,” Charles sneered at her, his eyes glinting, his face glistening as if he ran a fever. “Harold got your letter!”
“Oh, my God . . . Charles, I—”
Charles raised his hand and struck her again, this time too close to her eye, causing her to wail in pain.
“Please, please don’t!”
He stood there, his chest rising and falling, a crazy look in his eyes. “You know what? You’re not worth it, you slut!” He lunged at her and pulled her up forcefully, causing her to stand. “Go now! Take all your things and go! Get out! Get out now! I never want to see you again!”
Shivering, Lilly put up a begging hand. “Please Charles, don’t . . . Whatever I did, I did it only because I love you.”
Charles snorted and flashed her a wry smile. “Love? What does love have to do with treachery?”
“Treachery?” said Lilly in no more than a whisper, regarding him through eyes that were brimming with tears. I’ve done this solely out of love! Because you don’t know your own good. Because this woman has poisoned you, and from where I’m standing, I’m guessing you’ve poisoned her too. You’re no good for each other! I tried to tell you to let her be so that you can be happy again, but you wouldn’t listen!”
With remarkable cool after his fiery outburst, Charles laughed at her in response. “You think you know what’s best for me? You think I need another woman capable of lying to me and going behind my back? Well, you thought wrong, you pitiful whore! Now, get out! Get out, I said!”
“But, Charles, I love you! And I know you love me too. You can't be serious! Please!” Lilly knitted her hands together before him as if in prayer but he laughed at her.
“Listen girl, this was fun! It was fun and now it’s over. I certainly never loved you. And how could I? I’m a Willard! You can only fall short,” he said, tipping his chin. “If you thought you could ever serve adequately as my significant other, you were sadly mistaken!”
“But . . . But why not? Isn't love enough?”
“Love? You’re a romantic fool! I am a nobleman, and you’re a cheap, dancing girl. Now go,” he commanded, shoving her carelessly towards the door. “Go back to the gutter where you belong! That should teach you a lesson to mediate in my affairs! Who do you think you are?”
“I am the woman who loved you . . . Probably the only one who ever did,” said Lilly, her voice quivering.
Charles opened the door and pushed her through it. “Shut up! Shut up and get out! I want you packed and out my door within the hour! And don’t you show your face here ever again!”
Without him holding her, her own knees couldn’t support her weight. The shock and her pain had turned her legs into liquid. Lilly teetered for mere seconds and collapsed to the floor. As Charles and the patrons watched, Joe and the barman rushed to Lilly to help her. Crying, she gazed pleadingly at Charles as the two men held her up. “But I don’t have anywhere to go . . .” she said, sounding as fragile as a little child, her eyes huge with regret. “Please, please, Charles. Forgive me! Let me stay, at least . . .”
“I don’t care where you go. That’s none of my business,” Charles replied without feeling, then addressing the men, “Make sure she’s out within the hour. I don’t want to see her ever again.”
Ignoring the puzzled look from the two men and the torment in the young girl’s face, Charles slammed the door shut and returned to his desk. He threw a cursory glance at his watch. It was half past six. Still, plenty of time till his run to town for nine o’ clock. Plenty of time to put a few more scotches in me. He needed to think straight. While he had Lilly to count on, he didn’t care that much. Now he was all alone again, with his last chance on love lost forever, he had nothing left to lose.
Chapter 35
1988
When Danny came home from work in the early afternoon, Sofia was still there with Sue. After he had a shower and some lunch, he sat with them in the living room, and the girls deemed it the perfect time to share the earth-shattering news. With the aid of Sofia, Sue told everything to her brother, starting from the bundle of letters she found in the shed and ending at the phone call with their mother earlier that day.
After the initial upset, Danny grew all the more excited to hear about his mother and that she hadn’t abandoned them, after all. He was thrilled to know he had two half-sisters; the idea he’d been oblivious to their existence all this time made him even more livid with his father. He agreed with Sofia that the timing was perfect to visit Hythe. He and Sue could take the Monday off work and Sofia could skip the classes for a day. This way, they could spend Saturday and Sunday night in the hotel with their friends.
After an enthusiastic telephone chat with Loula, the three lounged in the living room, the mood shifting all the more from elation to anger and from joy to resentment, as far as the two siblings were concerned, all aimed at their father.
When he came through the door, neither of his children showed him the same courtesy the girls had shown Danny. Without waiting for him to get a fresh change of clothes or even a bite to eat, unable to contain their rage, Danny and Sue intercepted him at the door, going on him like a ton of bricks.
Moments later, their father slumped down on the sofa as they towered over him, scolding him. He hung his head, then hid his face with his hands shedding tears, having no words to defend himself and no excuses.
“How could you?” shouted Sue, tears streaming down her face, while Danny paced up and down the length of the rug, spewing out expletives.
Their anger was more than justified, and their father knew it. He had always expected this day would come and he chastised himself for it, therefore he believed he deserved the embarrassment Sofia’s presence
caused him during this private family scene.
From day one since his wife left him for another man, he had decided to hide her letters from the children, to intercept her phone calls and stop her from visiting at the house. It was the only way he could think of to keep them safe, in case she hurt them the way she hurt him. At the time, he didn’t trust her and couldn’t bear the thought that she would stay in their lives only to abandon them a second time, should she decide to move away or break contact at any point.
So, it seemed better to end all contact between her and the children once and for all. Of course, in time, especially once the children grew from teenagers to young adults, he found himself regretting his choice and the upset he caused his wife by keeping her away. But even though he considered many times telling his children what he did, he was afraid of their wrath, of their rejection.
Now, the inevitable had happened and his children were right to be angry. All he could do is apologise. He listened to all they had to say and once they calmed down, like a forlorn ghost, quiet and wasted away, he stood and made to go. At the threshold of the small room, he turned around and, in a whispering voice, promised to make it right, to accept their mother back into his life, for their sake, despite the pain she caused him by leaving. He said he’d do anything to redeem himself in their eyes and he meant it.
***
The big day came quickly enough. Danny drove Sofia and Sue in his car and after a comfortable enough ride, they arrived in Hythe about an hour and a bit later. Turning off the main road at a bridge over a picturesque canal, they headed for the seafront to find the hotel at the promenade.
When they pulled to a stop outside the hotel, Sofia and Sue rushed out of the car. They were bursting with excitement to look around the seafront. It was spectacular. Gentle waves made a delicious sound as they lapped at the shore, seagulls cawing overhead, the breeze gentle, like a welcoming friend.
The beach extended on both sides as far as the eye could see. The coastal road that ran alongside it was lined with magnificent residential buildings with quaint bay windows. A pub stood on one corner; a few patrons sat outside on wooden benches enjoying a drink.
Among the locals and tourists, there were many fishermen, who had set their fishing rods here and there. A few families were having picnics. In the far distance, there were beached fishing boats and a couple of strange, round towers, the likes of which none among the three had ever seen before.
Once they’d had enough standing on the roadside by the hotel entrance taking it all in, Danny beckoned the girls to follow him inside. The helpful receptionist signed them in, handing them the key to a triple room, then summoned their friends. Loula came down the stairs to meet them and soon Steve turned up too, coming from the kitchens below. The two had to work for a couple more hours, and then they were free to spend the rest of the day together. Everything was ready for their packed picnic later on. Steve was bringing along finger food and a cake he made for the occasion.
To pass the time till their friends would be free to join them, Sofia, Danny, and Sue had a leisurely walk down the seafront. Before they knew it, they were all in Steve’s car, heading for the canal they saw earlier to have their picnic there.
Their destination was idyllic. Sofia, Sue and Danny made appreciative sounds as they took it all in. “What a beautiful canal!” exclaimed Sofia, enchanted.
“Yes it is, and it’s quite old, you know. It was built in the 1800s to repel a possible invasion by Napoleon,” offered Steve.
“Really?” asked Sue wide-eyed. “What about those strange towers on the beach? Are they old too?”
“Yes, the Martello Towers are another remnant of the Napoleonic Wars.”
The girls and Danny seemed impressed, gazing around them mutely.
“See? Not your average little town, Hythe! I told you you’d love it here!” said Loula. Steve was standing beside her, beaming.
Seeing his friends seemed interested, Steve continued to relay more on Hythe’s history and the nearby places worth seeing. While the others listened, Danny kept stealing glances at Sofia. The elation on her face reminded him of the fun times they had in Vassilaki. His heart leapt. Once again, he wondered how far she’d gone with Jeff, and if it was further to where they got together back in September. Not that it mattered. He’d have her back in an instant no matter what. He only hoped what she had with Jeff was over. He ached for another chance.
“What a beautiful church!” said Sue when she noticed a stone church perched on the hill. Its steeple was tall and proud, rising above lush vegetation and quaint brickwork buildings that looked welcoming, their large windows glinting in the sunlight.
“It’s St Lenard,” said Steve. “There’s a large collection of human skulls in its ossuary.” He gave a mock shiver, then an easy laugh. “If you’re feeling morbid enough, we could visit in the afternoon.”
“This town is amazing! And you two seem to know it so well already,” said Sue.
“Hythe is small but there’s beauty everywhere,” said Loula, her face exuberant. “Wait till you see the High Street with its old buildings and antique shops. You’ll be lost there, Sofia! I know how you love beautiful things,” she added, causing her friend to cheer with delight.
After a leisurely stroll along the canal, they visited the High Street to sample its medieval charm. Even Danny and Sue, who had seen many charming little towns before, gasped at the whimsical sight. Everywhere you looked, you half-expected a horse carriage to emerge from a side road.
The five visited a couple of antique shops, and Sofia bought a quaint cat figurine made of porcelain. After a quick drink at a pub that looked ancient, the five friends returned to the canal. They took their blankets and picnic baskets from the car and settled by a small bridge. Dozens of ducks paraded on the grass or swam in the canal. Some people had brought stale bread to feed them, and the ducks were competing in the water for the odd chunk. It made Sofia titter. Enthused, she cut a bit of bread and went to the bridge to throw it to them. Danny trailed behind her to keep her company. Soon, they were both laughing as they watched the ducks eat, racing each other and raising a great deal of noise.
Chapter 36
The picnic was wonderful, but the early December weather wasn’t being too favourable that day. Heavy rain came without warning but luckily they had finished eating by then. They picked up their things in a rush and got back to the car, returning to the hotel to lounge in a cosy sitting room by the fireplace. Through the large window panes, they watched as the rain fell on the beach, people running for shelter under the odd building or inside a car, the sky turning dark grey as thundering clouds moved to the east.
Sofia left the others behind to sit alone on a sofa by the window and enjoy the sea view for a while. The anti-climax of the grim world outside as she watched from a warm room full of laughter filled her with a precious sense of comfort. She gave a mute smile of sympathy as she watched the last two fishermen in sight give up and pack up their equipment in haste, running to their cars for shelter.
“A penny for your thoughts,” said Danny, when he came to sit beside her.
“I was miles away . . . But thinking of nothing in particular.” She gave a dreamy smile.
Danny shrugged. “Typical English weather . . . But even so, the view is gorgeous.”
“Yes, it is. Hopefully, it won’t rain again tomorrow.”
“Speaking of gorgeous,” said Danny with a cunning grin, “What’s your latest news, beautiful?”
Sofia threw him a cautious glance and looked away as she said, “The same. Nothing new.”
“What about Jeff?”
Sofia turned to face him. The concern in his eyes was unmistakable. In a couple of hours, they expected his mother to come over. Sofia felt impatient for Danny to meet her, praying they would get along as then perhaps he could heal one day, enough for her to stand a chance with him in the long run. It seemed early still to tell him the truth, which was that Jeff was past history. Sue felt
the same and her advice had made sense. “He’s fine,” she finally said.
Danny searched her eyes. “Fine? How can he be fine? I don’t mean his health, Sofia. I mean with you. I was there at the club when you had the row, remember? Are things okay between you now? Last time I asked you, you said he hadn’t called yet.”
Sofia broke his gaze and looked out the window. A lone seagull marched up and down a ledge at the hotel’s façade, unperturbed, as if it were a perfect sunny day outside. She imagined this is what it must feel like to let nothing get to you. She felt an immense envy towards that seagull, wishing it could share its secrets of endurance with her. “Oh, Danny, do we have to talk about Jeff?”
“All I want to know is, do you love him, Sofia? If he comes back, will you take him?”
Sofia turned to face Danny, then shifted in her seat to stare him squarely in the eyes. She noticed his own light up then. “No, I probably won’t. He was more like a friend than he ever was anything else.”
“Was? Past tense, Sofia?”
“Yes.” She gave a long sigh. “We’ve drifted apart. For me, it might as well be over.” She knew she was treading on treacherous ground by giving him hope, but the way he looked into her eyes like that had made her defences melt. She couldn’t lie any longer.
“Do you feel ready to consider being with someone else, Sofia, or is it too early?” He placed a gentle hand on hers.
The touch of his hand felt wonderful, but warning bells began to ring inside Sofia’s head. Back up. If Sue finds out, she’ll kill me, and I’ll surely regret it if things move too fast again. “Danny, I need time.”
“Sure,” said Danny, removing his hand. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
***
When their long-awaited guest walked into the hotel’s sitting room, she wasn’t alone. Abby arrived with her husband and twin daughters, two little blond angels at the age of three. Seeing that Danny and Sue became as tongue-tied as the newcomers, it was Sofia who wound up doing all the talking as to make the necessary introductions.
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