Game of Scones

by Samantha Tonge

  Someone appeared at my side and I glanced across at the caramel skin and mocha eyes – the sturdy frame and caress-able shoulders. We stared out to sea and all the drama must have caused a tear to slide down my cheek. It was nothing to do with the fact that, for a few precious moments, Niko seemed to have lost his hostility towards me.

  ‘I do love Taxos, Niko, believe me,’ I said.

  ‘I know,’ he said. Ooh. This was good. He’d stopped using grunts with me, instead of words. For a while we sat staring at the sea. It was as if time had turned back and we were kids, waiting for something magical to happen, like a Pegasus flying over the waves. Yet as adults, I had only one magical wish – for us to slide our arms around each other and kiss for eternity.

  ‘How is your chest now,’ he said, eventually.

  ‘Okay, thanks.’ For a nanosecond, I tingled from head to toe as I imagined him kissing it better.

  ‘Good. We don’t need another person ill in the taverna,’ he said, gruffly.

  ‘How did Grandma’s final tests go yesterday?’

  A big smile spread across his face and his shoulders relaxed. ‘We only just found out – the hospital rang a couple of hours ago. It is better than we could have ever hoped. She is still clear and must only go back every six months. Apparently the doctors are thrilled with her progress.’

  ‘Wow…’ My eyes tingled. ‘That’s great news. She kept that quiet.’

  ‘You know Grandma – she doesn’t like a fuss.’

  He took my hand and all of a sudden my world lit up. ‘Pippa… did you mean it? About me being stupid? Because if not…. You and Henrik… Me and Leila, we were thinking…’

  Wow. It was as if Grandma’s good prognosis had made him prepared to forgive my horrible comments. ‘If anything happened to you, Pippa…’

  ‘I know. Me too.’

  He looked at me and I could tell that even though that sentence didn’t make sense, somehow it did.

  ‘As I was saying, now that Grandma’s better, me and Leila… I’d like to ask you…’ He faltered and stopped for a second. For the first time, since I’d arrived in Taxos, his face looked like a young boy’s, all the worries of Greek and family life erased. For one moment he looked about to raise my fingers to his lips. What on earth was he going to ask? Did he want us to be witnesses at his wedding? Surely not? He opened his mouth to continue, but instead a different voice shouting his name filled the silence. Cue frantic footsteps on the sand. Cousin Stefan appeared, out of breath.

  ‘Come quickly,’ he gasped and held Niko’s arm. ‘It’s Grandma… she’s collapsed!’

  Chapter Eighteen

  ‘Drink this tea and eat this scone immediately,’ I said to Grandma in a mock stern voice.

  She looked sheepish, out on the patio of the taverna, her cheeks full of colour after a good night’s sleep.

  ‘Little peach, I only fainted. Dehydration. Silly of me after weeks in bed – I should have known to drink more. And yesterday evening was so humid.’

  ‘Plus I saw you enjoy a crafty retsina,’ I said and raised one eyebrow. ‘Don’t get carried away, just because the doctors say you’re in great health.’

  We looked at each other and laughed as the wind got up. It was the perfect day to get an island tan – unless, like me, gales made you burn even more.

  ‘Seriously, though, you had us all worried last night…’ my voice broke. ‘Niko and Leila were in bits. It was such a shock, because everyone says you’ve really picked up over the last few weeks. And after the doctors gave you the all-clear…’

  ‘I still feel better than I have for over a year – but, ach, I’ve always had low blood pressure and even as a girl, people always said I never drank enough.’ Grandma bit into the chocolate orange scone, from the batch I’d made for Theo Dellis. The villagers had just started to arrive for the meeting, some nursing headaches after the action-packed barbecue last night.

  ‘Mmm. Mmmmmm,’ she said.

  I grinned. Nothing on this earth felt better than people enjoying your cooking, (er, okay, perhaps I can think of just one other thing, but scone appreciation came a definite second). ‘Do you like the filling – yogurt infused with fresh orange juice?’

  ‘Don’t make me talk,’ she said, ‘because that means I have to stop eating.’

  I grinned again and went back into the taverna. Demetrios greeted me and avoiding her plate, I gave Pandora a hug.

  ‘Love those shoes,’ I said, staring at her gold-studded sandals.

  ‘Love your scones,’ she said, a moustache of orange yogurt above her top lip. She looked me up and down. ‘Those not Leila’s clothes, after all?’

  I chuckled. ‘I know – too conservative, aren’t they? Hers are more exotic in colour and cut. I did borrow a lovely skirt and blouse this morning, whilst baking – but then I hurried back to the villa to shower and change.’

  I headed back into the kitchen to pile more scones onto plates. Instead of seeing Henrik at the villa, I’d found half of his clothes missing and a hastily scrawled note.

  “Apologies for last night – my behaviour was unconscionable. You know I’m not a frequent nor capable drunk. I have nothing but respect for Grandma. Best that I move out. I shall stay at the Vesteros’ hotel with Stavros, until our flight leaves next Saturday.”

  ‘Need help?’ said a familiar male voice, today back to being gruff. My body stiffened as Niko’s breath wafted against my neck. Now that my heart had officially severed links with Henrik, I found it increasingly difficult to fight my instincts. Every molecule of my body shouted that Niko and I fitted perfectly like two halves of the tastiest scone, filled with the creamiest, most satisfying… I shook myself and turned around.

  ‘Grandma looks great this morning.’ I said.

  His shoulders sagged a little. ‘Yes… but last night was a reminder of how vulnerable she still is.’

  ‘Hmm, guess she’ll need to pace herself a bit over the coming months.’ I passed him a plate. ‘Last night, Niko … on the beach… you were just about to say something before Stefan appeared.’

  His cheeks flushed. ‘No matter, now Pippa,’ and with that he disappeared.

  Weird – but at least we were talking again. I couldn’t face going home if I thought he actually hated me. Walking speedily, I followed him to see if I could find out what was up, but the taverna was full, people talking about drunk Henrik and creepy Stavros. I mingled, handing out scones. The plate emptied just as Georgios clapped for silence. I put it on a table and stood next to him, almost tripping over Apollo the cat who wasn’t too old to scout for crumbs.

  Georgios rubbed his head and began by asking everyone to share any bookings they’d taken for next week. With the help of several coffees and a sugar rush from the scones, the chat became more animated. Villagers put forward new ideas, whilst expressing worries about future costs. The man Stavros had talked to last night, with the ponytail, stood by the wall.

  I jerked my head towards him. ‘Do you recognise that man?’ I asked Sophia.

  She stared for a moment. ‘No. Yes. Not sure…’ She smiled. ‘We may be a small village but it doesn’t mean I know absolutely everyone. Sometimes, of course, friends or relatives of the locals come to stay. Why?’

  I shrugged. ‘No reason. He just seemed quite friendly with Stavros last night.’

  ‘Perhaps he is keen to take the pay-off. Not every single villager is on our side.’

  Mr Dellis piped up and I turned my attention back to the meeting.

  ‘I’ve been thinking all night and have news that might help,’ he said, during a brief moment of hush. ‘Before I had to give up my job as a… a website designer, my last, um, project was with tax department in Kos Town. Um…’

  Even though he was doing a great job in English, Mr Dellis asked if Niko or Georgios could translate for me and carried on in Greek. Impatiently I waited as he continued, the room oohing and aahing, then giving nods and smiles. The thin man at the back listened intently. Finally I poked Ge
orgios in the ribs.

  ‘What’s it all about?’ I said a bit too loudly and everyone chuckled.

  ‘Mr Dellis – he worked closely with a tax man who loved his job and is very, very strict.’ Georgios smiled. ‘He thinks if this tax man finds out about the illegal tax breaks that Stavros has offered, then the mayor will be in big trouble and the deal could be off.’

  ‘Really? That is brilliant!’ I shook Mr Dellis’ hand and glanced around. Hmm, interesting. The thin man at the back was heading out of the front door.

  ‘I’m sure that man with the ponytail was a spy,’ I said to Niko over dinner that night, as twilight fell.

  ‘Spies? Here?’ He snorted. ‘No, this is Taxos with Problems, not Russia with Love.’

  We sat on the beach, sharing a picnic – him, me and Leila. She threw some small chunks of bread at the gulls. Niko snapped at her to stop. Over the course of the day, his anger seemed to have switched from me to her. In fact they’d been sniping at each other for hours, from what I could see. The meeting had dragged on until mid-afternoon and the conclusion had been unanimous. As Grandma said, one day at a time… We would just try to make the next week as successful as possible and collect more signatures on the petition.

  After that Niko and Leila had discussed something out on the patio and he’d stormed off to go sponge-diving. I helped Georgios helped translate some descriptions of birds he needed for his tours. Then I went for a dip in the sea. The Dellis children were there, laughing but clinging tightly to their lilos in the shallows, with their mum. Although even a paddle didn’t last long as the wind made the waves several feet high and I only swam for a short while.

  ‘Perhaps that strange man has heard that franchises might be up for sale soon,’ said Leila, brightly. ‘He could be from another village. Did you see him, Niko?’

  He didn’t reply. Goodness. They must have had a big argument. It was just as well I’d suggested this picnic, to save everyone cooking. Grandma had wanted to come but Georgios and Sophia insisted she rest after fainting the night before. At least this way, the young couple avoided curious eyes – apart from mine.

  ‘I’m glad everyone believed I wasn’t really on ThinkBig’s side,’ I said and finished my last mouthful of feta cheese and salad sandwich.

  ‘Of course they believe you, Pippa,’ said Leila and bit into an apricot. Niko passed her a napkin without shifting his gaze from the tide. ‘You are one of us – there is history. Anyway, everyone knows if they speak badly of you, Niko would punch them in the eye.’

  She laughed and I marvelled at her total lack of jealousy. Not that I’m bigging myself up and saying she had reason to be envious, but I’m not sure how I’d cope with a boyfriend being so close to a female friend.

  I elbowed him. Niko had been quiet all day. ‘What’s up? The meeting went well – and I like the sound of Mr Dellis’ tax man friend.’

  Niko looked first at me – then Leila – and sort of groaned before getting up and walking away. He headed left, towards the fig tree and the strip of beach which led to Tyrionitsa.

  ‘Leila?’ I raised my eyebrows. She wrapped up the apricot stone in her napkin and gave a sigh.

  ‘Follow him, Pippa. I got to go now – Mama and Papa are expecting me. And everyone needs an early night after the excitement of the barbecue. I’ll see you tomorrow, yes?’

  ‘But…’ Huh? What was happening? First Niko was hardly talking to me, now he reluctantly does. And I was the object of his glares and bad temper, but now Leila is. ‘You should go after him. I’ll pack up, don’t worry.’

  ‘Sorry – no, not me. I must leave now, otherwise… I am afraid I might say too much.’ She stood up and eyes all shiny, gave me a wry smile. ‘I like you, Pippa. Sorry things couldn’t be different.’

  Huh, again? Was I going mad? It was as if the two of them spoke in code.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Secrets… they are no good.’

  Well, seeing as she brought it up…‘Tell me Leila…’ I stood up, feeling I had nothing to lose in the suddenly very weird parallel universe. ‘Is it my imagination or are you planning to go abroad?’

  She stepped back on the sand and swallowed hard.

  ‘I saw you in Kos Town, coming out of an international recruitment agency and Postie said you’d been sent a passport. ‘

  ‘He should mind his own business,’ she murmured.

  ‘Then when we handed out the tourist leaflets, you eyed up new luggage.’

  ‘Pippa… no… I mean…’

  ‘I like you Leila, and find it hard to believe you would deceive Niko and his family, but…’

  She shook her head, the thick black hair buffeted by the wind, and hurried away, lugging the picnic basket and muttering something about not lying any more.

  For a few minutes I stood gobsmacked, simply staring out at the sea – until a distant figure caught my attention. It was Niko, skimming stones. Sandals filling with grains of sand, I headed over, the outline of him getting closer as darkness continued to fall. Finally I reached him and stood still for a moment, listening to the cicadas and lapping tide.

  ‘What’s the point of doing that? You can hardly see the water and the strong wind makes it difficult.’ I eventually said.

  ‘Makes me feel better.’ Niko didn’t turn to face me, so I took his arm, prised a pebble out of his hand and lobbed it into the water.

  ‘What’s going on with you and Leila? Neither of you are making sense today. I can tell you’ve had an argument. Is it about me? She said to talk to you.’

  ‘Mind your own business,’ he snapped and walked towards the waves. ‘Please, Pippa, just leave me alone – go and see Henrik at your villa. He’s your boyfriend, after all.’

  I sat on the sand for a while, waiting for him to calm down. Laying back on my elbows, I surveyed the beach and coastline. Taxos truly was beautiful in its simplicity, and reminded me of team-building adventure trips I’d taken with work, to the Peaks, Lakes and Scotland. It took a lot to beat the sky at night, away from the intrusive city glow. Its inky blackness was instead broken up by clear star constellations and an occasional aeroplane. The purity of its darkness made me think of the unpolluted, azure Aegean sea.

  ‘He’s not there. Henrik. At the villa,’ I said when Niko finally returned and sat next to me.

  He fiddled with his leather bracelet. ‘Why…? Did he have to suddenly return to England? Or has our fight against his company torn you apart and you’ve split up?’ He looked me straight in the eye.

  I pursed my lips together, fighting every urge that told me to shout yes and pull his head towards me, to press my lips against that tender, warm mouth. Damn my inclination to try and do the decent thing.

  ‘No… but, um, with everything going on it’s just easier for him to stay with Stavros at the Vesteros’ hotel.’

  Niko’s mocha eyes drooped at the corners. ‘Then go see him there. You on holiday – should be spending it with the one you love… Drinking cocktails… taking romantic strolls… discussing intellectual stuff.’

  I bit my lip hard, almost drawing blood, millimetres close to screaming into the air that all those horrible things I said about him, I made up. Niko was like a walking encyclopaedia when it came to fishing, sponges and nature. If I died of anything in his company, it wouldn’t be boredom but an excess of love. And as our bodies leant against each other, I hardly dared turn my head. If my face met his at this proximity, I couldn’t trust my actions.

  ‘Shh – what’s that?’ Niko suddenly said. He concentrated for a moment. His face went pale, before he leapt up and held out his hand.

  Instinct told me to grab his fingers and let him pull me up. My stomach knotted as I saw his eyes widen. Without even knowing why, I ran alongside him, our fingers intertwined.

  ‘What is that person shouting?’ I gasped, struggling to keep up.

  Niko’s pace quickened. ‘Fire! Someone shout “Fire!”’

  Chapter Nineteen

  ‘Over
there!’ I said and pointed towards the end of the village, past The Fish House restaurant. Thick smoke salsa-danced with the wind – that meant the woods were on fire; that anyone coming from the villas, along the dusty road, wouldn’t be able to cut through the trees, into Taxos.

  ‘Let me check on my parents and Grandma,’ said Niko and he dashed into the taverna. Irrational yes, but I understood – far or near, a fire was a fearsome thing. People stood in the street in pyjamas, some shaking their heads, others shouting at neighbours to get up.

  Niko soon reappeared. ‘It’s okay. Everyone is all right. Leila, she went straight home?’

  I nodded. Fortunately she lived in a house near the shore, well away from the wooded area at the entrance to the village.

  Grandma came into view, hair uncombed, in a rumpled skirt and untucked blouse.

  ‘Go back inside,’ said Niko. ‘Everything is all right.’

  ‘Don’t baby me, boy,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen fires like this before you were born. Now do as I say…. Wake up everyone in the village and get them onto the beach. Georgios is ringing the fire station, in case no one else has.’ Grandma walked into the street and lifted her head, squinting into the distance. ‘If that fire takes hold the village will be cut off. If this wind helps it spread…’ she sucked in her lips, ‘…the fire crew will not be able to get through.’

  ‘Henrik… He’s staying at the Vesteros’ hotel, right by the woods – do you think he’ll be all right?’ I bit my lip.

  Grandma and Niko looked at each other. ‘He should be…’ she said. ‘They will have smelt it first – although its restaurant is made from log and also has a wooded outside dining area… that could feed the flames.’

  Grandma sniffed the air. I sniffed too – a pungent smoky cedar wood smell wafted our way. ‘It is strange…’ said Grandma, ‘… we haven’t had rain for a long time, so yes the woods will be dry, but…’ She shrugged. ‘Forest fires starting at night is unusual.’