Chapter 38
Akis was perspiring as much from the rushing around he’d been doing since he’d got Cara’s phone call as the humidity. He’d grabbed a backpack, shoved the travel basics inside, then booked flights with Aegean. He didn’t have the money really, but, to him, this wasn’t a choice, it was essential.
‘This is fucking crazy, Aki,’ Anastasia said, taking the motorbike helmet from him as they stood outside the bustling terminal. ‘You know that, right?’
‘I am taking a trip, that is all,’ he responded, keeping his cool as much as he could.
‘To Santorini, only days before Cosmos’s stag party that you are in charge of. Right before the wedding that doesn’t even have a venue yet. And… and you’re bound to miss the blessing of the snakes!’
‘Anastasia, I trust that you have this, OK?’ He put a hand on her shoulder. ‘No one deals with Mama better than you. No one deals with Cosmos better than you.’
‘That’s a total lie. The way I want to deal with Cosmos is to hold him upside down by his ankles and shake him like a salt pot.’
‘And the last time you tried that he was about seven?—’
‘I know, I know, and he peed his pants because he thought his head was going to fall off. OK, I get it. More gently this time.’
‘No shaking him at all,’ Akis ordered.
‘None?’ Anastasia asked, looking disappointed.
‘Come here,’ Akis said, opening up his arms to her.
‘No, do not try to hug me now. I am mad at you.’
He took hold of her anyway and wrapped his arms around tight, squeezing her first, then going for a tickle around her ribs, something she had hated since they were young.
‘Argh! Get off! You are psychotic!’
He laughed, letting her go. And then he checked his watch. He needed to get going.
‘Listen,’ he began, in more serious tones. ‘As well as looking after Cosmos, and making sure Mama does not kill Bampás for his apathy, will you keep an eye on Yiayia?’
‘With how much distance? Because that house has so many things inside it there is almost no room for Pig, let alone me.’
‘Anastasia,’ Akis said. ‘Now you sound like Mama.’
He watched his sister take a breath. ‘OK. Sorry.’
‘I am concerned about her chest,’ Akis said. ‘She will only take ouzo as a remedy. If it gets any worse you must make sure she sees the doctor.’
‘Oh my God, Aki,’ Anastasia said, stamping a foot. ‘This is not keeping an eye on someone. This is trying to get Yiayia to do something she will not want to do! That is harder than… getting Mama to stop cleaning.’
‘I know,’ Akis agreed. ‘But I have faith in you.’
‘Faith, huh?’ Anastasia said, shaking her head. ‘Is that The Dancing Deacon speaking or Pappa Akis?’
‘OK, I really need to go,’ he said, wanting to avoid the question. ‘Please do not crash my motorbike.’
‘Please be back before the snakes come out.’
He picked his backpack up off the floor but, before he could turn to go, a dark Mercedes taxi screeched to a halt beside them. The back door opened and out jumped Horatio.
‘Hey,’ he greeted, swinging a holdall onto his back and simultaneously slipping on his sunglasses.
‘Horatio, what are you doing here?’
‘The same thing you are,’ he answered. ‘Going to Santorini. Hey, Anastasia.’
‘You are both the craziest people I have ever met! You told me it was a piano thing, and now your stupid best friend is here!’ Anastasia exclaimed, sounding annoyed. ‘This is nothing but a bro trip! Forgetting your responsibilities and leaving me with donkeys and snakes and a wedding maniac.’
‘Horatio, I don’t understand,’ Akis said. ‘You don’t have the cash for this.’
‘What? I do not have the cash for living life? That is one of the saddest things I have ever heard.’ He shrugged then, dropping his holdall to the ground. ‘I sold something I did not need, to pay for something I definitely do.’
‘You sold something in like, an hour?’ Akis asked.
‘I know many people.’
‘And no one is caring about what I say,’ Anastasia shouted.
‘We should go, Aki,’ Horatio stated. ‘I am in Row 1.’
‘You booked business class?’ Akis exclaimed.
‘Bye, Anastasia,’ Horatio said, picking up his holdall again and heading along the pavement towards departures.
Akis turned back to Anastasia. ‘I owe you, OK?’ he said sincerely. ‘And, I promise, I will be back before Cosmos’s big night.’
She hugged him then, throwing her arms around him and holding on tight. ‘You’d better.’
‘I give you my word.’
Anastasia let go of him. ‘OK, go, go before I grab you by your ankles and try to shake some sense into you.’
‘Ya,’ Akis said, waving a hand and heading after Horatio.