Charles’s paternal grandmother, on the other hand, had been an unapproachable woman with a vile temper. Charles always thought she was to blame for his father’s detached and bossy demeanour. He felt pleased he had a son so he could honour the memory of his grandfather. He would never have done the same for his detestable grandmother, Stephanie.
Shortly after the child was born, Laura’s mourning for her lost mother somehow returned. She took to crying often while cradling the baby in her arms, wishing Ruth could only see little Frederick just once, just to see how perfect and beautiful he was. Charles and his parents started to worry about her for she even stopped eating at some point, and Dr Barnett was summoned to examine her at home one particularly worrisome evening. He determined at once that she was deeply depressed.
Maggie wound up visiting to be with her for many hours every day. Somehow, her love and attentions seemed to help Laura escape from the overwhelming world of despair she’d built inside her; especially because she found it easy to speak openly to Maggie about all things.
Laura confided in her friend that she still ached desperately for Christian and that somehow, as much as she loved her baby, its birth had made her separation from him seem final and irrevocable, and that this was something she just couldn’t bear. Maggie listened and then advised her over and over again to let go of the past and to embrace her blessings of the present. What’s more, she convinced her to take long walks along the shore with Charles while she minded the baby. With all that, she soon became indispensable to everyone in the house.
Even Charles, who often turned his nose up at Laura’s friends, could now see how good Maggie was for his wife, how she helped her shift her gloomy mood to brightness; not to mention how good she also seemed to be with the baby. One day, out of the blue, Charles proposed to Maggie to work in the house as a nanny for Frederick.
Maggie was taken aback at first. She had sound experience with minding babies and children as a teenager when she was at school and her mother was still alive. It didn’t take her long to decide though. Her job at the Pier had become tedious after so many years, both at the haberdashery and at the bathing station. Without Laura and Christian around, it didn’t feel the same any more and at times, their absence there even upset her. After all, being with Laura was what she always loved best. And Laura practically begged her to accept Charles’s proposal. She trusted no one else better than Maggie with the baby and having her all day at home would be like living with her again; something she missed terribly.
And so, in early August, Maggie quit her job, served a short notice and started work at Laura’s house straight after. She still went home in the evening though; that was non- negotiable to her. She loved her house too much to ever leave it. It was where she still felt the presence of her late parents, and for this reason she could never reside anywhere else.
With Maggie in the house, the dark cloud in Laura’s heart gradually lightened until it lifted altogether. By the end of August, she was her old self again and by then, her child was a constant source of joy to her. To see her back in good spirits was a miracle to Charles and his frequently visiting parents.
In the grand household, everyone looked to the future with excitement and happiness again, but no one could prepare them for the worrisome news on the papers towards the end of the summer. On September 1st, the dreadful whispers became a fact, printed in black and white, impossible to ignore any more. Germany had invaded Poland. It seemed absurd to even think of the possibility of war again, so shortly after the Great War that had cost the land so many young lives.
The first reaction in everyone’s mind was to dismiss it even then, to hope the dreaded headlines meant nothing. After all, they were all just a handful of inky shapes on paper. Yet, talk of war started to spread fast around town, and the government effected the Blackout immediately as a precautionary measure.
On September 2nd, when the evening performance at the Pavilion was cancelled because of Blackout precautions, the people of Brighton—especially the bon viveur kind and the refined, theatre-lovers among them—felt violated for this appalling intrusion in their self-indulgent lives.
But it wasn’t just them who deemed the Blackout bothersome. Every inhabitant of Brighton huffed and puffed with the nuisance this would cause. They all had to take time from their blissful and sunny lives in order to make fabric squares in striking black and to line all the windows so that the hateful Mr Hitler could not get as much as a chink of light that might aid an invasion from the air. Even car headlights and street lights had to be adjusted at the right angle to shed the least light possible. However, the hardest above all things by now, was to watch the light in people’s eyes diminish likewise.
By September 3rd, when Great Britain and France declared war on Germany, Brighton had already grown quite numb with apprehension. By then, even the young turned their eyes to the night sky, not with a soaring romantic heart any more, but with the growing dread of invasion or attack.
Laura embraced little Frederick far more tightly and more protectively these days, trying to surround herself with friends as much as possible in order to stop her mind from wandering. Still, her attempts were futile and she knew it. She was now constantly plagued by a feeling of dread for the safety of her loved ones, and this is why her heart didn’t truly lift, not even when Charles offered to invite her friends for dinner one evening.
Even as she watched Ian pay particular attention to Maggie, who sat next to him around the dinner table, she didn’t have the peace of mind to even wonder if it meant anything. Still, she was pleased for one thing: Charles was being a charming host to her friends. Having met Meg and Paul only a couple of times for instance, first at the wedding and then during chance meetings in the centre of town, he had never really bothered speaking to them much; being arrogant as always with people of working class.
It seemed his vast appreciation for Maggie had now changed all that, and so, that evening, he made sure to engage in conversation with both Meg and Paul and even Ian whom he had never really liked at all. Around the dinner table, Charles even noticed what Laura didn’t: how flirtatious Ian seemed to be with Maggie. Even when they left at the end of the evening, Ian offered to give her a ride in his tiny Austin 7.
A few minutes later, standing outside Maggie’s front door, Ian asked if he could take her out to the movies sometime. Her eyes lit up at once and he didn’t fail to notice. She smiled and said that would be lovely. She produced a pen from her handbag, and he offered her the palm of his hand to write her number on. Giggling, she did that and he joked he wasn’t going to wash his hands for some time. With a broad smile, she left a daring kiss on his cheek and said goodnight, leaving him light-headed and grinning from ear to ear as he walked back to his car.
Chapter 29
1940
By April, the idea of war had settled reluctantly in people’s minds. Even if the average optimist could cheer themselves up with the thought that the town still looked the same more or less, it was often hard not to be reminded that situations had changed radically after all. The shortage of goods in the market, the rationing of petrol, clothing and even basic food items affected people’s daily lives by now.
That cloudy spring morning, Charles was in town meeting someone on an errand for his father and then joining a couple of friends for brunch. As always, he had James to drive him around in the Rolls. His chauffeur had left Lakeview since the wedding to live in his master’s new home, just like Charles’s valet, Harold.
Laura had just returned from a long stroll along the beach to find Maggie in the drawing room, hunched up on the sofa. Frederick, whom now everyone called Freddie for short, was sitting in his pen at the time, playing with his toys and swaying his head to the sound of the song on the wireless. It was Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’. It played ceaselessly these days.
“What is it, Maggie?” Laura approached hastily when she noticed she was holding a letter. Startled, Maggie looked up. Her eyes were ab
laze with worry.
“What’s happened? Is it bad news?” Laura feared the worst. She knew the only person Maggie corresponded with was her cousin Eric. A pang of paralysing fear numbed her senses, since she lived with the constant dread of bad news about Christian. She felt the world swirl around her and grabbed the armrest to steady herself, then took a seat beside her friend.
“Eric has signed up with the Army. Christian too,” Maggie finally managed when she met Laura’s silent stare. “They’re waiting to hear where they’ll be stationed for basic training. After that, he says they’ll probably be sent to France to join forces with the French troops. Then, God only knows where they’ll wind up,” she managed in a frail voice that sounded more like a whisper.
“But why are they going? They haven’t called them up yet, surely?”
“They’re volunteering.”
“This has been my worst nightmare since the day this dreadful war was put upon us!” Laura left her seat to pace with urgency across the room. With a huff, she switched off the wireless. The last she needed was Vera Lynn’s soulful voice pulling at her heartstrings.
Heaving a sigh, she rested her eyes upon her darling boy in the pen. He looked startled to have his favourite song cut off so abruptly. But even his stunned, lopsided little grin didn’t lift his mother’s spirits. Maggie stood to approach Laura and when she met her face, she found it had changed dramatically within seconds. Her cheeks looked even more sullen now, all colour gone from them. It was impossible to think that just a minute earlier, she’d come from the beach bright-faced and rosy-cheeked.
“We both knew they were thinking about it,” burst out Maggie, resting a reassuring hand on her friend’s arm. “Eric said as much in his last letter, didn’t he? You can't blame them for wanting to defend our country.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“I know,” replied Laura, taking a handkerchief out of her pocket to wipe her tears away.
“Let’s just keep our heads and above all, stay positive. Maybe the war won't last. Let’s pray and hope they’ll stay perfectly safe,” soothed Maggie.
“You’re right, as always.” With a feeble smile, Laura picked her little boy up from the pen to sit and play with him on her lap. “You’re still going out with Ian tonight?” she asked.
“Yes, it’s our sixth month anniversary today!” cheered Maggie when she joined her on the sofa.
“Really? Oh, how time flies! It seems only yesterday when we had that dinner here,” she responded, her face vivid again, mirroring her son’s expression of delight, as she bounced him on her knee. Then she sat him down and they started to play peek-a-boo with the aid of Charles’s folded newspaper. A comforting thought crossed Maggie’s mind then as she watched them. For all her pains, Laura had the blessing of her child, and she could always count on him to overcome anything.
“Yes, time has flown by really, hasn’t it?”
“You know, until he asked you out, I had no idea he had such a soft spot for you,” continued Laura, still engrossed in playing with little Freddie. “He hadn’t breathed a word to me, sneaky rascal!” She laughed and turned to face her friend.
“Well, he’s a guy! He wouldn’t confide in a woman, would he?” Maggie chuckled and swallowed the knot in her throat. She felt amazed to see Laura laugh like that. Maggie thought she was remarkably brave, the bravest woman she’d ever met. Life had only granted Laura happiness in tiny treat-size chunks while tossing pain at her by the bucket loads.
“So, six months! Anything special planned for tonight?” asked Laura to the sounds of her child’s gurgles and giggles as she tickled his side. When she stopped, he paused to look up at her, his twinkling eyes two galaxies exploding with mirth.
“A special dinner, but he won't say where, says it’s a surprise . . . and then to the dance hall, no doubt,” said Maggie, watching the scene with an equal measure of delight.
“Oh, how lovely! Have fun you two,” commented Laura. For now, the dreadful thoughts over Christian and Eric going to war were abandoned along with the letter Maggie had quickly hidden in her pocket. Charles had no idea Laura was kept informed about Christian through Maggie’s correspondence with her cousin. Of course, neither of the two women had any intention to risk him finding out.
***
Dinner at the Italian restaurant in the outskirts of town was superb. It had come recommended by one of Ian’s mates, and as he’d never been to that part of town before, it had taken a bit of effort to find it, but it was well worth the trouble. The food and the service were surprisingly good. Even Maggie, who always ate like a bird, had far more than usual.
They sampled delicious appetizers from a large platter—cured meats, cheeses, mushrooms, olives, tomatoes, and sausages—and then went on to enjoy steaming plates of ravioli covered in a rich cheese sauce. The palate feast was accompanied by generous amounts of Chianti, and by the time they left the restaurant, Maggie felt far too full for the dance hall.
Ian took her in his arms and kissed her as soon as they both got in his car. When he joked she had far too much garlic bread for his liking, she pulled a face at him, then laced her hands around his neck, causing him to stop teasing.
He squeezed her in his arms again and gazed into her eyes with sheer adoration. “I love you, darling,” he whispered, leaning in to nibble at her neck.
She gave a titter. “Maybe you should start the car before we get arrested.”
“Where to, darling?” he asked. She had already voiced her concern that she felt too full for dancing. “One last drink perhaps and then back to your house?”
“Yes, my love. That would be lovely.”
“Somewhere new maybe?” he asked and she shrugged. When he saw a man rushing past along the sidewalk, he cried out to stop him. “Hey! Excuse me, do you know any quiet bars around here?”
The man scratched his head, then gave a firm nod. “There’s a dive nearby. It’s called The Black Cat. Good atmosphere.” The stranger looked half-drunk but he had an earnest face. “Can get a bit loud on weekends, but you should be all right on a Wednesday night.”
“Right! And where is it, mate?”
“Just take the second turn left, then carry on for two blocks. It’ll be on your right hand. You can't miss it. Large sign an’ all that,” he trailed off and raised a hand in greeting, making to go.
“Cheers!” shouted Ian behind the man’s back then turned to Maggie full of enthusiasm.
“The Black Cat, it is then!” he burst out gaily.
“And then home to end a perfect night!” she added with half-closed eyes, her heart soaring with romantic love.
“Yeah!” he cheered starting the engine. “First the Cat . . . Then home for the real purring session!”
She rolled her eyes, then rested her head on his shoulder. As he drove, whistling a happy tune, she closed her eyes, knowing that now she’d found him, she’d always follow him everywhere he went.
Shy as she’d always been, although she had fancied him from the first day she saw him at the theatre with Laura, she hadn’t dared speak of it, not even to her friend. She’d thought he was far too handsome to ever notice her. She didn’t have much experience in love and would never have dared make the first move with someone. Thus, she always expected one day she’d wind up with a man who fancied her instead, enough to pursue her. Who would have thought though that eventually, this would turn out to be Ian, the very man who had stolen her heart from the start?
Chapter 30
1988
After their talk in the cave, Akis and Sofia joined the others outside and together they returned to Akis’s house. There, his mother fell in his arms, ecstatic with joy, yet fully drained after the day’s upset. Soon, his father joined them and together they drove to the police station for Akis to give his belated statement. The detective in charge accepted without suspicion his apology for fleeing due to mental strain. After a series of difficult questions, two hours later, Akis was finally dismissed.
When he got home,
being totally exhausted, he went straight to bed. Thanks to his cousin Sofia, who had made it all clear in his heart and mind, he slept soundly that night and every night after that. Not that his heart didn’t feel the pain. Pain tugged at his heart and up to a point, regret too, for quite a while after that. Tracey was a lovely young girl who had her whole life ahead of her. But upset and guilt are too totally different things.
The same evening, Sofia joined Jeff for that last drink. As he respected her choice to be just friends, there were no awkward pauses or difficult questions to answer. Afterwards, to make sure their goodbye would be as easy as possible, she left him at the gate of his guest house. After a quick peck on the cheek and a hug, she walked away, looking back only once to give him a little wave.
In her hand, she held a slip of paper with Jeff’s address and telephone number in London. She looked forward to keeping in touch, and meeting again in England, but that was all. As she made her way uphill to her grandparents’ house, she made plans in her head for her new life that would soon start in England. Without a shadow of a doubt, it involved Danny and Brighton; not Jeff and London. Her certainty about her choice made her smile more widely to herself with every step.
***
As of the following morning, things at Karavi were different. Akis’s parents kept shooing their son out of the kitchen, saying he should take a break or even have a swim. Earlier that morning during breakfast, Akis had finally talked to his parents about how he felt. They were both astounded; it had never occurred to them their son felt trapped in the family business, eager to leave the village and see a bit of the world. Also, it turned out his plan was well thought out.
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