by Joanne Walsh
“Of course. So, I have this T-shirt because—” He stopped to take a deep inhale. “I have it because, when I was around three years old, I was abandoned on the steps of the Cathedral Church of Santa Maria dell’Idria in Ragusa wearing it, even though it was slightly too small for me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Abandoned? Do you know who by?”
“Because of the Trapazakia Festival logo on the front, the authorities thought it likely I was the victim of a trafficking deal gone wrong.” He grimaced. “The Mafia had a thriving trade in children, paying Romanian Gypsies to steal them from all over Europe, either to sell them to childless couples, or for worse.”
“How awful,” she said huskily.
He shook his head. “It’s distressing thinking about what might have happened to some of those kids. But, in a way, I was one of the lucky ones.”
“You were?”
“I like to think so. When I was found, I was placed in church-run care, from where my parents adopted me. You see, my brother, Stefano, is ten years older than me and is my parents’ biological son. After he was born, Mama and Papa had trouble conceiving again but longed for another child. Later, my younger sister, Felicia, arrived, and she was a complete surprise, because Mama became pregnant with her after they’d adopted me.”
“I’ve heard of that happening before.”
“I had a very happy, loving childhood. My parents were open with me from a young age about how I’d come to them, and so, I always had a yearning to know who my real family was. Once I turned eighteen, with Mama and Papa’s blessing, I set about trying to trace them.” He smiled ruefully. “I didn’t get far because I had almost nothing to go on. In fact, I have no idea of my real birthday. Mama and Papa chose the date of the day I was found at the cathedral.”
“But the T-shirt—” Sally leaned forward. “Was it of no help to you at all in your search?”
“Eventually.” He placed the garment on the low table in front of him and smoothed it out. “It was my turning point. Just as I was about to give up, a couple of years ago, my mother produced it. I didn’t actually know anything about it, but it had been in our attic the whole time.”
Sally frowned. “Why didn’t she give it to you earlier?”
“I don’t think she attached much importance to it. She reasoned that if I had been with the gypsies, I would probably have travelled through a number of countries. She rediscovered it while looking for something else.” He gave a shrug. “Anyway, once I had it, I searched on the internet for anything I could find about Trapazakia, and a British newspaper report about child trafficking in southern Europe came up that mentioned, among others, the unsolved case of Marco Brodie-Stewart, a little boy who disappeared from the festival in January 1996. That was my first real lead, although not definite proof. I mean, it’s not impossible the T-shirt belonged to Marco and then got passed onto me. However, about the same time, the Italian media got very excited about a homeless Greek man who was found wandering the streets of Rome—”
“Who claimed he was stolen by gypsies, then kept by them as a slave until he escaped,” Sally couldn’t help leaping in. “Thanos, that was his name. He told the police that when he was first abducted, he remembered seeing another Greek boy of about two years old travelling with other Romanies crying ‘Arcadius’ over and over.” She reached for her mug and took a last gulp of her now-cold coffee. “Marco’s teddy bear was named Arcadius—”
“You made the bear the symbol of the Finding Marco campaign,” Alessandro responded.
“Arcadius has really struck a chord with people, gained us some good publicity. I think the image of a toddler being separated from his beloved bear is so heart-rending.” She sighed. “For a while, knowing the child Thanos saw had called out for Arcadius filled us with fresh hope. But when Sergei followed the sighting up with his friends in the Romani community, although it was confirmed children were stolen for the Mafia, no one could or would say if the boy was Marco. Since then, the trail’s gone cold.”
“I see.” Alessandro’s expression became reflective. “Finding Marco was what made me feel as if I’d finally made the connection I’d been searching for. Nik Kontarinis’s account of how his little brother went missing at the festival is one of the most emotional things I’ve ever read. And there are also the photos of Ian and Drusilla and their four sons. Sally, when I viewed them, I was blown away. I felt I was looking at pictures of myself as an infant. I just had to come here and follow up.”
For seconds, expectation bloomed inside her. Alessandro seemed a really sweet guy and his story fit together in a credible way. But then, a sliver of wariness pierced her. How could she be sure Alessandro wasn’t a con man? His eyes… She forced herself not to be swayed by the apparent sincerity she could see shining out of them. She had to make sure before she took this any further. “Can you answer something for me? Finding Marco was launched, what, over a year ago now. Why has it taken you so long to come forward?”
“Honestly? This will sound crazy, but I was scared. I feel in my heart that I am Marco, but my head says that perhaps I am kidding myself, taking coincidences and making a fairy tale because I so want to belong.”
“I can understand that.” She paused. He seemed humble and genuine in his belief. “Okay, I still intend to speak with Nik, Sergei and Dimitri, but maybe it would be best if I also arrange for you to meet them, and you can tell them what you’ve told me yourself?”
“I’m happy to do that.”
“Good.” Now she had to present him with the deciding factor and his reaction would be key. “You should know we’ve had a few false dawns in our search for Marco. Are you prepared to take a DNA test?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Sure. Does that mean you have samples from when I, I mean Marco, was a baby?”
“We have Arcadius, and the police hold a few other items that have traces. It will be they who do the testing.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “Please introduce me and I will do whatever is necessary, with whomever, to prove who I am.”
“Great!” Sally replied, feeling relief that he’d embraced the prospect of police involvement, “Leave it with me.” She curled her fingers around the edge of her seat. Could it really be that this twenty-five-year-old mystery was about to have a happy ending?
Chapter Thirty-Four
“I knew it!” Hannah’s cheeks were pinker than ever, while Frankie sat in silence, having turned a shade of white.
After she’d left Alessandro, Sally had hurried to the office to report back to the girls. “God, it was the strangest experience I’ve ever had. I’m fairly certain he is the real
deal, but I could be kidding myself wanting to believe—”
“I’m ninety-nine per cent,” Hannah chimed in. “You need to see him in the flesh for yourself, Frankie. His eyes. They’re uncanny.”
Frankie roused herself out of her reverie. “Actually, when I had the video call with him, I kept on asking myself where I’d seen him before. So, what do we do next?”
“I told Alessandro I would speak to Nik, Sergei and Dimitri and arrange a meeting with them. I also raised taking a DNA test with him,” Sally confirmed. “He was on board with it all which, I guess, is promising. But now I’m not so sure whether that’s the way to do it. If he’s not Marco—”
“Hmm, I share your concern, Sal. It’s tricky. Is the best thing to go straight to our other halves? I mean, they will be devastated if this turns out to be another dead end.” Frankie pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Hang on, how about this? What if we made arrangements ourselves to get the DNA done before we let on to our guys about Alessandro?”
“Who would do the test?” Hannah asked, brow furrowed. “The police?”
“Yes. Han, two years ago, before you came to the island, the remains of a shepherd boy were discovered on the mountain, and Nik went to Captain Iorgas, the local police chief, who arranged the DNA check to rule out Marco,” Frankie explained. “I know Ionnas quite well now.
Why don’t I talk to him about Alessandro? That way, if he’s not Marco, at least we can buy ourselves some time to figure out the best way to break the bad news to our partners.”
“That sounds to me like the best way to go.” Sally exhaled, glad her friend was preaching caution. She wanted to share Hannah’s optimism that Alessandro was the real deal, but if he wasn’t… She knew that, this time, yet another disappointment in the search for Marco would be devastating for Dimitri and his brothers. “And if he isn’t a match, perhaps we should keep it quiet until after Hannah and Sergei’s big day. We don’t want to spoil it.”
“But if Alessandro is Marco, I have an idea,” Hannah announced. “We can invite him to the wedding.”
“What?” Sally and Frankie exclaimed in unison.
“Not to the actual ceremony.” Hannah tilted her head to one side. “That would be too much, and anyway, the chapel is tiny and already full to bursting with family and a few other close friends. I’m thinking of the wedding reception at Iris. If Alessandro agrees, it could be amazing. The best wedding present ever.”
“We’ve got to prove he is Marco first though,” Sally reminded her. “Could we even get the DNA test done in time? There’s only just over a week to go now.”
“But Han’s got a point. It would be amazing if we could get proof and do the big reveal on the big day.” Frankie smiled. “I’ll have a word with Ionnas. He’ll know if there’s a way to fast-track it.”
*
The store was crammed with excited people, all wanting to sample the local delicacies that were being served up along with paper cupfuls of Kathos-produced wine.
Standing outside, Sally took a breather, bursting with pride that her old friend was mended and being welcomed back with such enthusiasm.
“Happy Ochi Day.” Dimitri’s voice rumbled in her ear as his arms went to enfold her. “I think Sally’s is going to be a big hit. The supermarket had better watch out.”
“It’s brilliant,” she replied, relishing the feel of his body against hers. “Gladys and Alison are having to fight them off in there. It was getting so hot, I had to come outside for a bit.”
“Both ladies are more than up to the task, having had plenty of practice keeping control up at the shelter.”
She giggled. “It is a bit like suppertime at KATs.” She swivelled around. “Isn’t it great that Gladys is happy to step in for me and run the shop some days until the baby comes?”
Squeezing her a little tighter, Dimitri replied, “It’s perfect. She’s solid and reliable and glad of the extra income, and I’m glad you will not be there twenty-four seven.” Planting a kiss on her neck, his hands cupped the swell of her belly.
“My dear, it does me good to see this place thriving again,” Mrs. Tsitakis had hobbled over to them and was gesturing at the crowd with her cane.
“Your homemade baklava is certainly going down a treat,” Sally assured her.
“My daughter and I are being kept extremely busy, supplying you, Constantine and Yassos the baker,” the old lady beamed, “but everyone seems to want it. An old family recipe, you know.”
“Mrs. Tsitakis, if you are thinking of going global,” Dimitri put in, “I have a few contacts I can introduce you to.”
“No, thank you, I am making enough money from my baking to give to Alison’s cats and dogs again, which is all I want. Now I must go home and bake some more.” She brandished her stick at him. “You’re a great improvement on Manos, young man.” She tottered off.
Sally burst out laughing. “Young man? Her eyesight must be failing.”
“Hey—”
Wuff! McTavish, who was tethered to his old spot outside the store, scrambled up onto his paws.
“Ah, Theo has come to join the party,” Dimitri observed as the local fire captain’s young son and his dog Até approached. “Good afternoon, Theo, how are you today?”
“I’m good, Uncle Dimitri,” Theo replied. “My dad said you have cake. Can I have some, please?”
“You certainly can. Tie Até up there with McTavish, and then we’ll go inside.”
Sally watched as Dimitri ushered the boy into the store, smiling and nodding as the youngster chatted animatedly, a warm, fuzzy feeling filling her. He was so good and kind; he was going to make a wonderful father—
“Sal!”
“Oh! You gave me a shock.”
Frankie had appeared at her side. “Stop gazing at that gorgeous fiancé of yours and listen up. Ionnas called this morning with the results of Alessandro’s DNA tests.” Her hand sliding around Sally’s and squeezing, she leaned in and whispered, “It’s positive. He’s Marco.”
For seconds, Sally’s head was filled with white noise as her heart pounded and she struggled to breathe. Eyes wide, she turned to face Frankie. “He is Marco?” she echoed. “Oh my God! Oh. My. God.”
Frankie enveloped her in a hug before releasing her. “I know, it’s hard to take in. The police did two tests, and both came back a match.”
“So, what now?”
“I’m just about to go to the Villa Lemoni to pick up Hannah and then we’re off to Paragolis to speak with Vasilis, the manager at Iris, about introducing Alessandro at the wedding reception.” Frankie grinned. “We know Vasilis can keep a secret, and Hannah thinks, if the weather’s okay, it would be good to have Alessandro sit out on the deck and we’ll take our guys there to be reunited. I’ve also called Alessandro and we’ll be calling on him this evening to take him through the arrangements. We’ll catch up again with you tomorrow at the final dress fitting, if that works for you.”
“It’s fine,” Sally replied still a little breathless. “How is Alessandro?”
“Absolutely over the moon but also, unsurprisingly, very shocked. I think it’s happened far more quickly and easily than he imagined. Hey,” Frankie prompted, peering at her, “are you alright?”
“Yes, just a little wobbly. Like you said, it’s a lot to take in.” She took a deep breath and smiled. “But then miracles are.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Now you may kiss the bride.”
As Hannah and Sergei leaned in to seal their vows, everybody clapped.
“That was perfect,” Frankie murmured. “Hannah looks amazing, doesn’t she?”
“Absolutely fabulous,” Sally agreed. Hannah had stuck with her signature, fifties-inspired style and chosen an A-line dress in ivory lace tule with illusion sleeves, her headdress framing her platinum hair with a simple arrangement of cream flowers studded with pearls and veiling. “Sergei looks great too. He got his tie and handkerchief to match the lining of his jacket.”
“And now we have the reception, and the biggest surprise of Nik, Sergei and Dimitri’s lives.” Frankie fiddled with the ribbon of her posy. “I don’t know about you but I’m getting really jittery.”
“Me too,” Sally admitted. “If we can keep it together for just a little while longer—Ah, looks like the happy couple are about to leave.”
As the matrons of honour, they positioned themselves behind Nik and Dimitri, the best men, and Dawn Oliver, Hannah’s mother, who’d given her daughter away. The select handful of people who’d been invited to the ceremony, including Alison and Pavlos, and Hannah’s friend, the jeweller Tasos Konstantinos, and his fiancée, Melina, stood with beaming smiles while the bridal party took the short walk along the chapel’s aisle.
Sally couldn’t help but think back to her wedding to Manos. How things had turned themselves around. She gazed proudly at Dimitri’s broad-shouldered, grey-suited back. Someday, in the not-too-distant future, she would be here again to marry him. They hadn’t yet set a date, thinking they’d leave it until after the baby was born, but, she realized, maybe she didn’t want to wait; she wanted to make that commitment to him as soon as possible.
Emerging into mellow late autumn sunshine, the bride and groom and their guests set about posing for photos outside the picturesque clifftop church, their excited chatter mingling with the sound of waves crash
ing against the rocks far below. When all were satisfied that they’d got the shots they wanted, the bridal party made their way to the cars which were to take them to the reception at Nik’s club, Iris, in the island’s capital city.
“You look stunning, Witch of Honour,” Dimitri said softly as he helped Sally into the saloon they were sharing with Frankie and Nik and climbed in next to her.
She smoothed down the pearl-coloured satin fabric of her dress. She’d worried she might look a bit of a frump in it since her pregnancy was starting to show, but the dressmaker had been skilled with her alterations. “Thank you, Mr Always-the-Best-Man, you don’t look so bad yourself,” she reciprocated with a teasing smile, glad of the opportunity to keep things breezy. Frankie, in the seat opposite, was looking decidedly twitchy.
“Not the best man for much longer.” His dark eyes snagged hers. “Of course, we will be back here for our own wedding quite soon.”
“The sooner the better.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Okay. I thought you wanted to wait until the baby has come?”
“I did, but today has made me realize I want to marry you, like now.”
His lips curving into a smile, he pecked a kiss on the top of her head. “We will see what we can do about that.”
“What are you two muttering about?” Nik demanded, tapping his brother on the leg.
“Better keep a hold of that wedding suit,” Dimitri swiftly returned with a wink, “because your services will be required again shortly.”
*
“Follow me, please.” Vasilis, the club manager, made a gesture towards the glass door that led out onto the club’s balconied deck.
Sliding her hand into Dimitri’s, Sally feigned an easy smile. Just a minute or two more to go before the big reveal. “Coming?”
