Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
I t was time to face the firing squad. Grace had dressed in her smartest outfit, a navy cotton skirt and a white shirt. She knocked at the door so hard her knuckles hurt. She’d hate to sound half-hearted.
‘Come in.’
Grace had to conceal her surprise when she realised that both Giannis and Elena were standing behind the desk. He’d given her the impression that it would be just him.
‘Sit down, Grace.’
Giannis pointed to the chair in front of the desk, which made her want to ask where the hell else did he think she was planning to sit? On the ceiling? Maybe he was nervous too. There probably wasn’t much call for sackings at the language school.
The couple took their seats, and Grace spotted that they were holding hands. What it meant for her; she had no idea.
‘Elena and I have talked everything through…’ Giannis patted his wife’s leg under the table, which made Grace want to gag.
‘And we have decided that we’d like to keep you on until the end of your contract, as planned. You are an excellent teacher, and both the children and their parents seem to love you.’
It was as though Giannis was reading from a preprepared script. Elena sat mute through the performance, but she must have had a hand in what Giannis was saying. He’d been ready to get rid of her two days ago.
Part of her wanted to tell them both to stuff their job, but she kept quiet. There was relief mixed with her anger too. Knowing that she could stay on the island for another month meant she’d be able to find out what happened to the cat she’d rescued with Will. Karen needed them. His smirking face also flitted through her mind. She’d miss him if she left now. They hadn’t done quite enough winding each other up. And it wasn’t as if there was anything she needed to rush home for, which was telling in itself.
‘However…’
‘However’ wasn’t the best start to a sentence. Giannis looked at his wife again, who nodded.
‘We won’t need you to come to the house to teach our children anymore.’
There it was. Giannis didn’t want her appearing in his kitchen any time soon. Grace was a constant reminder of his relationship with Anna, as she was for Elena as well. His wife had obviously agreed to the ban. Maybe it was one of her conditions for them to stay together. Grace found that she really didn’t care. They were welcome to each other.
‘We will make sure you don’t suffer financially.’
Grace was tempted to chuck in the towel again and resign. Surely this man didn’t think it was about money at this point. She’d been keen to teach their children because they seemed like nice kids, rather than seeing them as a pile of euros. But one thing she’d learnt to her cost was that the rich always thought everything was about money. In most cases, that’s why they were rich.
‘Rose will be teaching our children instead, and you will be given her clients during August, so it should all work out fairly.’
There was nothing fair about this arrangement. The only saving grace was that the language school would be shut, and she’d be visiting the students, children and adults, in their own homes. She wouldn’t need to see Giannis and Elena at all if she didn’t want to. And she really didn’t want to.
For one insane second, she considered breaking the news that she was accompanying Anna to an abortion clinic at the weekend, just to take the fake smiles off both their faces, but what would that achieve? Jumping in with both feet hadn’t worked out too brilliantly for her up until now.
‘So, is that acceptable to you, Grace?’
He wasn’t really asking her a question. It was this or nothing, something all three of them understood.
‘Yes, I’d like to stay on. And it will be interesting to teach some new faces.’
She’d also been genuinely keen to have a good old nose around some of the town’s houses as well, so this would give her plenty of opportunity.
‘Excellent news.’
Giannis gave his wife a loving look. Grace wasn’t sure how the woman could bear it.
‘Also, we have some good news of our own. You’re one of the first people to know that we’re expecting a much-wanted fourth child.’
Elena’s pleading eyes met hers. Grace was desperate to tell the man that she’d known before him. But spilling the beans was just a fantasy. She knew she’d never do it. Elena still looked pale and pinched. Having a baby in her mid-forties would be no picnic, even though they could afford all the help they’d ever need. Anastasia would probably go along to the antenatal classes. The thought of Anastasia, in her uniform, sitting behind her mistress telling her when to breathe made Grace smile. She could afford to be generous.
‘Congratulations. I’m sure that your children will love having a baby brother or sister.’
Elena’s face relaxed at last and lost some of its vulnerability. She gazed up at her husband, and Grace had to accept that she looked happy, much as it pained her.
The baby was the important thing here. Grace really did believe that giving a child a happy and settled home, whatever form it came in, was the best thing. All relationships involved compromises. Staying with a cheating husband like Giannis would be a compromise too far for her, but it wasn’t her marriage. She didn’t even have a marriage anymore. It was dead and buried, alongside her husband. Well, cremated if she was being accurate.
‘Thank you, Grace. The children are very excited and already arguing about names.’
Elena nodded her thanks and put her hands together in prayer when Giannis looked away for a moment. Grace acknowledged the gesture with a smile.
Giannis took his wife’s hand and helped her up.
‘Class will begin soon. So, let’s all hope for a rewarding and productive last week.’
‘Yes, let’s.’
Grace had reached the door before she turned back to see the couple in a full-on snog. She closed the door softly and left them to it.
* * *
In her lunch break, Grace was too restless for a siesta. She needed to stretch her legs. At the bakery she bought a slice of nettle pie, which Will had given her a taste for on the picnic, and she picked a bench facing the yachts to eat it.
A text from Will came in just as she was about to take a bite.
On the boat to Antiparos. How did it go this morning?
Escaped by the skin of my teeth. You’ll have to put up with me a while longer.
Good, I think.
You think???
Good then. Any news on Karen?
Going to pop in there once I’ve eaten my pie.
What flavour?
Nettle. But don’t let it go to your head.
Yes!!!
Let me eat it in peace. I’ll send patient condition check later. And remember, I’m paying half the vet fees.
Maybe, but I do get a very special discount.
Grace wondered again if there was something more between Will and Angeliki. Or had been, at any rate. But again, none of her business. He was typing again.
Instead of paying half… when I’m back, you can buy me dinner.
Deal.
The island would definitely seem like a quieter place without him over the next week or so.
Grace waited at reception for Angeliki to finish treating whichever animal was closeted in with her. Luckily, because it was lunchtime, there were very few people about, and only one elderly Greek woman sitting there. Every now and again she would rake her hands over her worry beads on a string. Grace wasn’t sure if the woman could speak English. It certainly wasn’t a given for the older residents, although anyone under forty-five was more or less guaranteed to speak it well. The woman’s breathing was quite laboured, so Grace took the seat next to her.
‘Don’t worry, I’m sure it will be OK.’
The woman just let out a low moan.
Grace started an elaborate mime, pointing inside the surgery, doing a double thumbs-up and smiling like a maniac.
The woman just stared at her.
She was in the middle of repeating it, when the door opened and an ancient dog trotted out on rickety legs, the white hairs around its eyes giving it painted-on spectacles. The woman sank to her knees on the floor, her arms round the dog’s neck.
Angeliki emerged from behind the dog and helped the woman to her feet, speaking to her quietly in Greek, before taking her arm and guiding her to the door.
Grace waited in the corner.
‘Oh, hello. You’re Will’s friend, aren’t you?’
‘That’s right.’
Grace stared at the departing woman.
‘Will that dog be OK?
‘Yes. The stupid thing swallowed a rubber ball on the beach. Managed to get it to pass through with a bit of help.’
‘Oh, good.’
Grace didn’t hugely want the details. Not so soon after her nettle pie.
‘What can I do for you?’
‘Is it possible to see Karen at all?’
‘Karen?’
‘Sorry, the kitten we rescued. Which is called Karen for a reason too boring to go into.’
Angeliki waved her arm around the waiting room.
‘As you can see, I’m not exactly rushed off my feet, so come through. My receptionist’s at lunch, so I really should close the shop, but I can’t bear the thought that I might miss an animal in need. They’re so much nicer than humans, you know.’
On the whole, Grace agreed with her, especially after this morning. She could warm to this woman with her wild curly hair and practical bedside manner.
Karen was sitting calmly in her cage. As Angeliki approached her, she put her front paws up to the bars, and the vet stroked the tips through the grid.
‘She’s a real cutie. Would you like to hold her? I’m trying to get her as used to people as possible, so it will be easier for whoever adopts her. Most wild cats don’t really want people touching them.’
‘I’d love to.’
Grace sat on a stool that Angeliki placed in front of the cage and waited for the kitten to be put on her lap.
Karen was light as a feather and Grace barely dared breathe while the kitten pawed at the fabric of her shorts.
‘Go on, it’s fine to stroke her. She won’t break. She’s tiny but tough, like me.’
Grace hadn’t held anything this delicate in her arms for a very long time. She moved her hand over Karen’s back, making sure she went with the direction of her fur, and was rewarded with a tiny sound.
‘She’s purring!’
Angeliki smiled.
‘She is indeed. Tell you what– shall I make us a coffee and you can tell me all about this rescue?’
‘That would be lovely, thank you.’
Grace had a few minutes on her own with Karen before Angeliki came back. The kitten’s eyes were green, as far as she could tell. She was such a pretty cat. Once she’d had her injections, she’d be snapped up by someone in no time. The thought didn’t fill her with joy the way she thought it would.
Angeliki returned with two mugs.
‘Pop her back in the cage then, and you can wash your hands at the sink.’
Grace gave the kitten an extra stroke before saying goodbye.
‘Can I come and see her again?’
‘If there’s no one else in, then sure. Lunchtimes are always good. Pull up a stool.’
‘Thank you. Your English is excellent, by the way.’
‘I trained in Britain, in Liverpool, and I worked at a practice there for ten years, so I can even do a Scouse accent.’
‘Crikey, I don’t think we need to go that far.’
There were the inevitable handmade cookies to go with the strong coffee, which Angeliki consumed at a rapid rate. Grace wondered if the woman ate properly. She repeated the story of the dramatic rescue and the hazardous journey home on the bike.
‘You did a good thing. And how do you know Will?’
There was more than casual interest in the woman’s query. Angeliki’s eyes were alive with interest.
‘I don’t really. Not that well. We bumped into each other the day I arrived on the island. He screamed at me for taking a shortcut across the garden of the villa where he works.’
‘Ah yes, Will takes his job very seriously.’
‘And how about you? Have you known each other long?’
Grace kept her voice light but she was curious to know the truth as well. Angeliki laughed into her coffee.
‘Around eight years. It’s no secret around here. We had a thing going for a couple of years, but it would never have worked out. I’m a workaholic, and Will’s not big on commitment.’
‘Ah. I really don’t know him that well.’
But she’d been right that there was more to his relationship with Angeliki than met the eye.
‘We managed that awkward transition to friendship, thank goodness. I adore Will, as a friend, and we look out for each other. We really weren’t meant to be. But the person who eventually ends up with him will be a lucky woman.’
Grace put her hands up. ‘It won’t be me, honest.’
Angeliki subjected her to a long stare. ‘Well, we all need friends.’
At the ring of a bell, Angeliki leapt up. ‘I’m on. Got to go.’ She gathered the coffee cups with one hand and chucked them into the sink. ‘Please come again. I’ve enjoyed our chat. And come and see Karen whenever you like.’
‘Thank you, I will.’
As Grace emerged onto the street, a man carrying a small dog with its leg bent at an unnatural angle brushed past her and disappeared inside.
Angeliki was the sort of woman she could imagine being friends with. She had a touch of Sofia about her with her fearless attitude. She wasn’t sure how Will would feel about her taking up with his ex-girlfriend. Not that it really mattered, as she’d be leaving in a month’s time anyway. She quickly updated him on Karen by text, before returning to the school for her next lesson.
An afternoon with her adult students talking about the history of the island, asking them to describe artefacts and equipment she’d taken photos of in the town museum, passed quickly. Many could remember their own parents and grandparents using the kitchen and farm implements on display and were eager to join in the discussion.
Now there were only a few days left until August, the town was busier than ever, and when Grace finally got to sit on her balcony, she could hear French, German and Scandinavian voices floating up from the street. She’d go out later and get something to eat, when things had calmed down a bit. It made her long for the peace of the cove, but she was too tired to attempt the forty-minute walk.
The ping of her computer reminded her that she had an online meet with her youngest daughter anyway. They’d missed their usual Sunday slot, as Flo and Jilly had gone away for the weekend. Flo’s face appeared on screen, wreathed in smiles.
‘Hi, darling.’
‘Hi, Mum.’
‘No Jilly?’
‘No, she’s out in the kayak. It’s a beautiful evening here.’
‘Here too.’
Flo hadn’t stopped grinning, which was slightly unusual in itself. Her daughter was more often than not a glass-half-empty person, like her father.
‘What are you looking so happy about?’
Flo left it a beat.
‘We’ve decided that we’re going to have a baby!’
Grace sat in stunned silence. So many thoughts were racing through her mind.
‘I’ll be the one giving birth, and Jilly will go back to work. I’ll get a whole year off, so we can time it with the university schedule.’ Her daughter’s words were all running into one.
‘Wow.’
‘Is that all you can say, Mum? You were all over Lottie when she announced that she was pregnant. Why is it so different for us?’
Her youngest child had always been the more sensitive of the two. Grace was just trying to get her head round how it would all work. Where would they find the sperm donor? Would it be someone they knew? Would he have any involvement with the baby’s life? She’d better not rush in with too many questions.
‘I’m thrilled for you both. It’s really exciting. But take it slow, and remember, you’re not actually pregnant yet, darling.’
As soon as she’d said it, Grace knew she’d made a mistake.
‘That’s right. Pour cold water over the whole thing. Just dismiss our dream.’
‘No, no, it’s a lovely idea. You’ll make a great mother.’
But the screen had gone blank.
Grace pressed the redial button twice, but there was no answer.
She knew from experience that she’d be better off leaving her daughter alone for a while. She took a bottle of white wine from the fridge and poured herself a large glass. What a day! She’d almost been sacked this morning because she’d felt the need to rush in and tell Elena what she really felt. Now she was getting grief from her daughter for not being enthusiastic enough about her plan to have a baby. Was she ever going to get it right?