Page 130 of Villa of Secrets

‘You never can tell how people will react when it comes to anything based on religion,’ he said. ‘And you know how it is – everybody has cousins on the islands. It’d be just my luck for someone in personnel to have Greek relatives owning property in Rhodes Old Town. I would never work on a cruiser again. Have you any idea how many people want my job? I guess at least two hundred just on this ship. I’m so sorry, love. I really am. I would love to be at your side. I understand how important it is to you, darling.’

‘But the case isn’t about religion, it’s about injustice, Costa. It’s about our family.’

‘Don’t be naive, Naomi. Of course it’s about religion,’ he said softly. ‘I really do want to support you, but the risk is too high. If I lost my job, we’d have to pull our sons out of university. How would you feel about that? They’ve got their entire lives depending on these qualifications, and we would put an end to their plans and dreams. They would end up as hotel waiters in the summer, and olive pickers in the winter.’

‘Costa, the boys are back from Cyprus and Rebecca’s arrived from London. We’d be a united force in court, the whole family together. Please try again. It’s so important to me, to us all.’

He sighed into the phone. ‘I’ll see what I can do, but don’t depend on me being there, okay? I love you, Naomi, and I can’t wait for the end of the season.’

*

Naomi opened the kitchen cupboard and studied the itinerary. The Royal Sapphire had arrived in Mykonos at sunrise. After disembarkation, Costa would take the Blue Star Ferry that berthed in Rhodes that evening, in time for the court case the following day. The Royal Sapphire would continue to Santorini without him, and Costa could catch up with his ship at its next port of call.

She longed to have his arms around her. With Costa by her side she could deal with anything, but right now, on her own, Naomi’s nerves were shot to hell. So much depended on the impending judgement.

Nobody sat on the fence. She only had to look into people’s eyes to see what they thought. She had been sneered at, and recognised looks of disdain, but no one actually had the courage to stand up and state their opinion, or even discuss the imminent trial.

A swastika had been drawn on the Spartili street sign, and another under the bridge into the next village. She had heard that similar graffiti had defaced the Jewish Martyrs’ Monument in Rhodes Old Town. She didn’t doubt it was the cowardly behaviour of new Nazi Greeks who had big boots and even bigger mouths. Naomi thought too many Rhodians forgot their past, or didn’t know their own history.

However, many people were kind beyond words, stopping to shake her hand in the street. ‘Good luck, Naomi. You’re a brave woman,’ they said.

Naomi understood her fellow Rhodians, after all she was one herself. Their incredible generosity and freedom of spirit, which came from being Greek, was counterbalanced by other traits, born through many centuries of occupation and oppression.

She glanced at the clock. Her husband would be off duty in an hour. She waited for his call.

*

‘I’m so sorry, Naomi,’ Costa said. ‘There’s no way I can leave the ship. As I said, I’m not risking my job when the court case doesn’t even involve me.’ He sighed. ‘Can’t you see, we can barely afford the university fees and accommodation for the boys as it is? I didn’t want to tell you this but I had to take a loan out to pay for their costs. It puts me in a terrible position and I feel I can’t push my luck here by asking them again. I understand how much you want me there and I’m terribly sorry. I did try to explain.’ He sighed again. ‘I know you’ll be disappointed, darling. I’ve dreaded having to tell you, but it’s impossible . . .’

His voice was determined and Naomi realised she had no chance of changing his mind. Tired, exasperated, and stressed, all her worries seemed insurmountable at that moment. The pressure of the emails, the swastika under the bridge, setting the president for so many people who had been wronged, all these things exploded in her mind in one great rush of anger.

‘You’re afraid to ask, you mean!’ she shouted. ‘You always were a coward when it came to facing up to authority! Well, damn you, Costa. If your job’s more important than your family, you can go to hell!’ She slammed the phone down, her whole body shaking. Then, instantly regretting it, she burst into tears.

Bubba shuffled into the room clutching her Zimmer. ‘What’s the matter?’ she said. ‘Why were you shouting? Why are you crying?’

Naomi turned away and dried her eyes. ‘Costa can’t make it to the court. I lost my temper, sorry.’ She clenched her fists.

‘Relax, Naomi. It’s not a problem. He has other priorities. Don’t worry about things you can’t change, Naomi.’ Bubba limped over to the table and sat. ‘Why don’t you light one of your nice candles? Come into my room and watch the TV with me for a while.’

Naomi tried to smooth the furrows from her forehead and let the tension go. ‘Sorry,’ she said again. ‘I’m all het up; I can’t get my mind off the case. I wish I hadn’t been so horrible. Poor Costa.’ She took Bubba’s advice and lit a vanilla and cinnamon candle.

Bubba closed her eyes and inhaled. ‘Mmmm, my favourite,’ she whispered.

Naomi helped her grandmother back into the bedroom where they settled in front of the TV. ‘I can’t believe how well you’ve improved lately, Bubba.’

‘Once I manage the stairs, you can have the living room back. I realise how hard it’s been, only having the kitchen to live in for all this time.’

*

Sitting next to Bubba’s bed, Naomi lost herself in the antics of a long-running TV soap, glad to have her mind taken off the court case. Her boys were at the local café-bar with friends. Costa, she had to accept, was not coming home; and Rebecca, who always made excuses for an early night, was sleeping at Rent Rooms in Paradise with Fritz.

Why had she yelled at Costa like that? She had hurt him, and he didn’t deserve it. The moment he called again, she would tell him how sorry she was.

Naomi dozed vaguely aware of Bubba’s snores and a National Geographic documentary on TV. Too tired to move, she flicked the TV remote off and allowed herself to drift into a light sleep.

Pandemonium exploded through the half-open kitchen door, waking her with a start.

‘Mama! Mama!’ Angelos and Konstantinos sounded breathless.