Chapter 34
34
OLD PERITHIA
‘This is all such a waste of money!’ Angeliki remarked as she, Magdalena and Christos walked down the steep incline into the very heart of Old Perithia. ‘We have food at home. I have at least twenty portions of sofrito in the freezer that will need to be eaten before the winter or they will have to be thrown away.’
‘Mama, Christos wants to treat us! We should enjoy the moments he offers his money as well as his company,’ Magdalena said, nudging her brother’s arm.
Yes, Christos had lied to get them both here. As soon as he had mentioned Old Perithia his mother had said if this has anything to do with ‘that witch’ she would make him play tavli with Old Theo at the cafeneon for an entire day as punishment. And that was when he told her it was Old Theo’s birthday…
‘I am only here because it is Theo’s birthday. That man is older than time and every one of his special moments should be celebrated,’ Angeliki continued, quickening her pace.
‘It is funny,’ Magdalena said wistfully. ‘I always thought that Old Theo’s birthday was in October.’
‘What?!’ Angeliki said, turning her head to look at her.
‘I am certain that?—’
‘You are thinking of Mrs Galanis. Her eighty-third birthday was at the beginning of October last year. I was here, remember?’ Christos jumped in.
He was hoping Magdalena’s memory was not so strong and that a little misdirection would get him out of this. His sister looked at him and he felt forced to nod at her and add a touch of pleading to his eyes.
‘Yes,’ Magdalena said. ‘I must be getting mixed up.’
And then she grabbed his arm as Angeliki marched onwards.
‘What is going on?’ she hissed.
‘It is 50 per cent your fault,’ Christos told her. ‘For helping our mother lock Maria in the apartment and leaving me to deal with her!’
‘What?! You think I had something to do with that?! Armeena had been sighted at the harbour and Mama was making me get all the tools for catching her!’
‘Tools? She is a cat!’ Christos said.
‘And you have seen her! It is like trying to tame a wild cougar and I know the vet has much experience with those but even he wore goggles when he gave her her injections as he was afraid to lose an eye.’
‘Where is she now?’
‘Do you really care? Or are you only asking because you want to show solidarity for me to join in whatever this fake evening is about?’
And he really should remember how astute his little sister was. She might not have travelled off the island but her mind definitely did not keep still.
‘We are going to Auntie Maria’s,’ Christos admitted as they continued to walk.
‘What?! Are you crazy, Christo? Mama will not stay! And she will make a scene! Earlier she was one drawer away from getting out yiayia’s slipper!’
‘She will have to stay. It is important that they are reconciled before Vaggelis’s service, no?’
‘Do you even know exactly what they are fighting about? More than just village gossip?’ Magdalena asked him, as a stray cat peeped out at them from a stone staircase.
‘Do you?’
‘No,’ she admitted. ‘But I worry it is something much bigger than they are saying. It feels different to their usual bickering.’
‘In what way?’
‘Mama seems very angry. Not just stupid, irrationally mad where she will shout one minute and laugh the next.’
Christos took a deep breath and put a hand on his sister’s shoulder. ‘Did you know Papa was seeing another woman? Before he left Mama?’
Magdalena shook her head. ‘Did you?’
‘No,’ he answered. ‘And I am not sure I believe it, but that is what Mama has told Auntie Maria.’
Magdalena shook her head again. ‘This is Mama not telling Auntie Maria the truth about Papa because she cannot face who he turned out to be.’
‘You think she has told Auntie Maria what she thinks is a better story?’
Magdalena shrugged. ‘She has made Papa seem like a shit but not as big a shit as he actually is.’
‘Magdalena! Christo! What are you doing?!’ Angeliki yelled. ‘Am I to go to Old Theo’s party on my own?’
‘We are coming!’ Magdalena shouted and then turned back to Christos. ‘And how do you think it is going to be when Mama realises this whole thing was a set-up to get her and Maria back on good terms?’
‘I am thinking she will not be able to make such a fuss when she realises that Molly, Janette and Siobhan are here too.’
‘What?!’ Magdalena exclaimed. ‘This is going to be a disaster!’
‘Strength in numbers, Magdalena. Strength in numbers.’
‘I am telling you,’ Magdalena said, walking on. ‘There is no type of mathematics that is going to save you.’
‘Christo!’ Angeliki bellowed.
‘We will have a drink first at The Old Taverna. Wait for our reinforcements,’ he said.
‘You better hope that Old Theo is not at The Old Taverna or the game will be up already,’ Magdalena said. ‘We are coming, Mama!’