‘Or by mistake. I guess we will never know.’
‘But how did I end up with it?’ Grace asked.
‘Ah, that. Mea culpa on my part,’ said Roxy. She explained how she came to rip it up, then went on: ‘Once Shauna was asleep, I fished it out of the wastepaper bin. I knew it wasn’t my place to destroy it, so I mended it with Sellotape and popped it in the envelope by the side of the bed.’
‘That must have been the envelope containing my letter; I posted it the following day. The agency had told me I could write something for them to keep on file to give to you when you turned eighteen. They’d explained that I wouldn’t be allowed to have contact, and you wouldn’t be able to apply for information about your birth mother until you were an adult. I wanted so much for you to have something from me, so that you would know the truth one day.’
‘The postcard and the birthday card were in the same envelope,’ Grace confirmed.
‘So that’s how you ended up with them,’ Demetrios said. ‘But Grace, how did you end up in Ithos if that was all you had to go on?’
‘I wasn’t actually trying to trace my birth mother.’ She looked at Shauna. ‘Don’t be offended, but I love my parents, and I’d never want them to think I’d rather things had been different – because I don’t.’
‘I admire your honesty, Grace, and it does both you and them a great deal of credit. They must be wonderful people.’
‘They are. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the postcard – it was so intriguing. I’ve always wondered about my origins; it’s pretty obvious I’m not typically English.’
‘No, you are a Greek beauty,’ Demetrios said with pride.
Grace laughed. ‘I was hoping I might find a few hints as to my background, but after I’d been here a while, I realized that my dream of finding answers was disappearing. I was on the verge of giving up, but then I met Roxy.’
‘So maybe I was right before: Ithos brought you here, and now you know everything,’ Demetrios said. He hesitated slightly before asking, ‘So, what are your plans now? There will always be a home for you on Ithos, if you want it.’
‘That’s very kind of you. Christian has asked me to stay on too, but I miss my parents. I really need to tell them what’s happened, and I want to do that in person.’
‘Of course,’ Shauna said.
Grace hesitated then looked at them both, but her voice was full of self-assurance and honesty. ‘I’m sorry I made you wait. I wasn’t intending to be rude or mysterious. It’s just, well, I know who I am you see; I wanted to be sure getting to know you both won’t change that.’
Shauna felt a flush of emotion, at her daughter, wise beyond her years. Please let me be good enough. ‘And how do you feel now?’ she asked.
Grace tilted her head to one side. ‘Now I think – I hope – that everything is going to be OK.’
Their eyes met and for a small moment Shauna felt a little connection pass between them. ‘OK’ sounded like music to her ears right now. ‘When will you leave?’
‘Today. Christian has stowed my things on his boat, and he’s going to take me to Rhodes to catch a flight back to England.’
‘No, I will take you to Rhodes on the St Helena,’ Demetrios said. ‘I insist. It is the least I can do.’
Shauna, Roxy and Alex stood on the quay as Christian took Grace’s rucksack on board the St Helena.
‘Are you sure you won’t come with us?’ Demetrios asked Shauna, as he prepared to follow.
‘No, I think one biological parent on the journey is probably enough. You can show her the ropes.’
‘Christian tells me she is quite a good sailor already.’
‘Why doesn’t that surprise me?’
‘You and I created a very beautiful and creative daughter.’
‘Her mum and dad must be wonderful people.’
‘Shauna, there is something I want to say to you before you leave Ithos. When I wrote to you before, I was serious about telling you how I feel.’
‘Demetrios, we’ve said so much already.’
‘Maybe, but let me speak – this may be my last chance and I don’t know when we will see each other again.’
He was standing so close to her now, Shauna could smell the familiar aroma of citrus and sandalwood. ‘I’m listening.’
Demetrios took her hands and held them in his own. ‘I fell in love with you when I hardly knew what the word meant. But after you were gone, I had time to learn. Now, looking back, I can see that you were the one truth in my life. With every woman who has come since, I was only trying to recapture what we had, always destined to fail.’
‘I loved Dan, Demetrios. He meant the world to me and put me back together again.’
‘I am glad to hear it. But please, Shauna, give me one more chance to love you again? To love you as a man, not as a boy.’
Shauna lifted his hand and brought his palm to her cheek, holding it there, feeling his rough skin, the hands that could mould and shape the wood that built his boats. Could she put her heart in these hands again?
‘Give me some time, Demetrios. I don’t know my own mind yet. It’s not just about being sure of you, I need to be sure of myself too.’
He nodded and brushed her lips lightly with his own. ‘I have plenty of time. When and if you are ready, I will be waiting for you.’
They turned at the sound of footsteps. Grace was approaching, accompanied by Níko and Teresa and Elana and Ariana. They came to a halt beside the gangplank and Grace turned to hug Níko and Teresa and thank them for their kindness.
Then it was Ariana’s turn. ‘Perhaps I’ll see you in England,’ she said, breaking off from their embrace to cast a glance at her father. ‘I’ve decided I might take up my place at university in the autumn after all. I miss England a bit – sun, sand and scenery can get a little boring,’ she said.
‘You can come and stay with me and my parents – you might enjoy slumming it with us.’
‘I’ll bring my own butler,’ Ariana answered, and the two girls laughed.
Elana stepped forward. ‘Having another granddaughter has made this old woman very happy.’ She held out her hand and passed something to Grace. It was a blue amulet in the shape of an eye, known as a mati. Grace had seen charms like it all over Greece; it was made from blown glass hanging from a silver chain. ‘This will protect you and keep you safe,’ she said, embracing her.
‘Thank you, it’s beautiful.’ Grace put the amulet around her neck.
‘Are you ready?’ Demetrios asked.
Grace nodded and turned to Roxy and Shauna.
‘Remember, if you ever decide you want to work in fashion, you known where I am,’ Roxy said.
Grace rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t know one end of a needle from another. Give me a reef knot to tie or a tiller to turn.’
‘Sailing must be in your blood,’ Demetrios said proudly.
Grace turned to Shauna, and said, a little shyly, ‘You know, I saw you once.’
Shauna was surprised. ‘Really? When was that?’
‘In Cannes. My father took me, he had some business in Nice and took me with him. It was only a few years ago. I remember seeing you on the red carpet and thinking how beautiful you were. I never could have imagined that I’d meet you one day or that …’ She broke off, shaking her head in bewilderment.
‘It’s going to take a bit of getting used to, Grace, and I don’t expect you to accept me overnight. I know you need to get used to the idea. You have two brilliant parents already. I’ll be happy just to …’ For a moment Shauna felt overwhelmed by the enormity of what was happening, but was determined to hold it together, for Grace’s sake. ‘… Even if you only ever see me as a friend, I’ll be grateful for that.’
Grace’s face broke into a huge smile and for Shauna it was like a million lightbulbs all turning on at the same time. ‘I’m sure I can do a bit better than that,’ Grace told her and with those words she threw her arms around Shauna and held her tight. Shauna stroked her dau
ghter’s hair, drinking in her vanilla scent. For a brief moment it was as if she was holding her tiny baby in her arms again.
Inside her heart, the empty space that had remained since she and Grace were parted was finally filled and Shauna knew that this time it wasn’t a goodbye, but a beginning.
Chapter 36
Ithos, March 2003
Demetrios scratched at his eyes, he was struggling to stay awake, but he hadn’t sat up half the night like a lovesick teenager to watch the woman he loved on TV, just to fall asleep when it mattered.
He had sat through the endless parade of dresses on the red carpet outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, had laughed as Joan Rivers poked fun at the great and the good, all the time desperate to catch a glimpse of Shauna.
He knew that Roxy had designed her dress for her, but when he first caught sight of her posing on the red carpet for photographers, waving to the crowds and good-naturedly answering the hundreds of questions fired at her by the world’s press, it took his breath away. Her dress was floor-length black ruffled chiffon, with a sheer torso embellished with tiny crystal skulls. With her dramatic eye make-up, it was bold departure from her usual timeless elegance. It spoke of a new confidence and acceptance of herself, able to step out of the shadow of her late husband and the tabloid stories of the last few years and stand proud.
And now here it was – the moment that the world was waiting for, the Best Actress category, arguably the toughest category this year. Shauna was up against the best actors in the business, including Nicole Kidman, the front-runner. The camera panned across the nominees’ faces as Denzel Washington read out their names and the screen showed excerpts from their respective films.
When Shauna’s name was read out, the camera lingered on her face, serene and calm, her green eyes composed and cool, but Demetrios knew that her legs would be shaking beneath her ruffled dress.
‘And the winner is …’ There was a horrible pause which seemed to go on forever. ‘… Shauna Jackson in For the Love of Grace.’
The auditorium erupted and Demetrios was surprised to find himself jumping up and down shouting in jubilation.
Shauna took to the stage. Her hands were trembling as she grasped the Oscar, her fingers moulding around the statuette’s legs.
She reached for the microphone and adjusted it, her voice trembling as she spoke. ‘Thank you so much for this … to the Academy … When this script came in, I knew I wanted to do it more than any other part I’ve ever been offered. Grace Kelly was my heroine. My role model. It was when I was watching High Society with my mother that I decided I wanted to act. Playing Grace Kelly, it never felt like work …’
After thanking the rest of the cast and crew, she went on:
‘I want to say thank you to Grace herself. I once had the pleasure of meeting her, a few months before she died. I was only nineteen, I’m not sure I should have been at the party, but she was as gracious and kind as you’d expect. She also had a touch of mischief.
‘She once said, “experience and age bring wonderful insight”. I don’t think I could have played Grace if I hadn’t known both the joys and sorrows of life. This Oscar is for her.’
Demetrios picked up the remote and switched off the TV. After the euphoria of seeing her win, he felt deflated, knowing that she was in Hollywood and he was here on Ithos. Thousands of miles separated them, but it was the emotional distance he was desperate to close.
He only realized that he was sitting in darkness when the light was switched on, making him blink as his mother padded quietly into the room.
‘Goodness, Demetrios, what is all the racket about?’
‘I didn’t mean to wake you, Mother. Shauna has won the Oscar.’
His mother made a prayer gesture, raising her eyes to heaven. ‘Thank God, now you can stop pacing up and down the house day and night. But I am delighted, she is very talented.’
‘I know.’
His mother eyed him shrewdly. ‘You will have to accept that her working life might come first sometimes.’
Demetrios raised his eyebrows. ‘That doesn’t sound like you, Mother – rather modern thinking, wouldn’t you say?’
She shrugged and said airily, ‘Young women now don’t have to choose the way my generation did. We were stuck in the old traditions when I was her age, but I still found ways to do what I wanted.’
Demetrios grinned. ‘And didn’t we all know it!’
She sighed. ‘You look tired, and it isn’t just staying up all night.’ She came and sat next to him. ‘I hear you in your office, calling her and sending flowers and gifts.’
It was true, Demetrios and Shauna spoke often. But despite his efforts to woo her, so far she had been holding back.
‘What can I do, Mother? I don’t want to put pressure on her, but I worry I am losing her all over again.’
Elana patted his hand. ‘Son, you told her that you would give her time. But it isn’t her own time she needs, you must give her some of yours.’
He scratched his chin. ‘And how do I do that?’
‘To win her heart you must go to Shauna and make a place for yourself in her world. Trust me, I may be an old bird, but I have learned a few things over the years. And as a woman myself, I know that Shauna needs to know you are willing to change your life to accommodate her, instead of expecting her to fit in with your world.’
‘But I don’t know anything about Hollywood.’
‘Then you must learn. You have been promising Christian a chance to hold the reins and he has proved himself more than capable. We can all live without you for a while.’
‘I have been thinking about diversifying my portfolio …’ he said thoughtfully.
‘Family is everything, Demi, it always had been. Ours has now expanded and I want to enjoy it before I’m too old.’ Elana reached for the cordless phone and handed it to him. ‘British Airways are open twenty-four hours a day. Call them now.’
He took the phone and moments later found himself saying, ‘I need a one-way ticket to Los Angeles, please. First Class.’
Epilogue
Ithos, Summer 2003
The early morning sun streamed in through the windows as Shauna brushed out her long red hair, the rhythm of the strokes giving her an almost hypnotic feeling of calm.
She was dressed and ready to go, in a pair of light shorts and a loose cotton blouse, perfect for a boat trip. Alex was going to love this fishing trip, he’d been badgering her about going out for days and she’d finally agreed, as long as she was allowed to go too.
She looked at herself in the mirror, examining her face for new lines, but didn’t find any. She didn’t mind them anyway, she liked the way she looked now and was determined not to fall prey to Hollywood’s obsession with plastic surgery. Grace Kelly never had plastic surgery, and if it was good enough for Grace, it was good enough for her.
She’d definitely put on a bit of weight; taking some time out from movies had allowed her to indulge in her love of good food and cooking. Well, so what if her bust was a bit more buxom and her clothes a bit tighter around the middle?
She found herself smiling, Demetrios certainly didn’t seem to mind her extra curves.
Shauna stood and walked out on to the balcony. Beyond the olive groves, she could see the sparkling cerulean blue of the Mediterranean in the distance.
On the terrace below her, Demetrios and Alex were playing football.
‘Are you two ready? I’m coming down!’ she shouted.
By the time she got downstairs, they had picked up their fishing rods, and Demetrios was also juggling the cooler box loaded with drinks and food. Shauna followed behind, enjoying the sound of their excited chatter.
They arrived at the quay and Beauty was there waiting for them with Christian at the helm. The schooner really lived up to her name; fitted out in wood, she gleamed and glistened in the sun and Shauna never tired of looking at it.
‘Your carriage awaits, my lady,’ Demetrios told her.
; ‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ she told him as they clambered aboard. He turned to wave at her and blow her a kiss, and a flood of love washed over Shauna as she glanced over her shoulder at the two most important men in her life. There was just one more thing that would make this day completely perfect.
Grace heard the steps outside as she picked up her rucksack and looked once more at the postcard on the dresser in her room above Níko’s taverna. Such a small, simple thing, but one that had opened up her whole past to her and perhaps her future too.
Coming back to Ithos felt so right, more than she had ever dared to believe it could. Christian had been patient and understanding, knowing that she hadn’t felt able to commit herself to him before now, but this time it was different. Demetrios had invited her to stay up at the Theodosis villa, but Grace liked the independence of staying at Níko’s. Or maybe she still wasn’t quite ready to be taken fully into the family fold.
At least she knew where that piece of the puzzle fitted now. She was a little bit Irish, a little bit Greek and plenty of the sensible English girl with modest parents who adored her.
Now she had her new family, too. Grace knew that there was a world of opportunity waiting for her and it could be here on Ithos if she wanted it to be. Her mum and dad just wanted her to be happy; after their initial shock, they’d been pleased that Grace knew where she had come from and who her birth parents were. They hoped it would help her to work out where she was going.
There was time for all of that, though. Today was a day for fishing and for fun. She heard the knock on the door and the voice of the person she was getting to know a little better every day.
Grace opened the door and Shauna stood there, her face full of anticipation and an excitement that was infectious.
‘Good morning, darling, the boys are getting the boat ready. Have you got everything? Need a hand?’
Grace patted her backpack, put on her sun hat and closed the door, not giving the postcard a second look.
Under a Greek Moon Page 28
