Page 134 of Villa of Secrets

Naomi’s phone fell to the floor, bouncing down the steps between people’s feet. She lunged, desperate to rescue the device before somebody stepped on it. Breathless, she snatched it up, sat on the bottom step, and returned the call. A well-wisher congratulated her, grinning, the gleeful face only inches from hers. She turned her back.

‘I’m replying to your call,’ she said shakily. ‘My husband works on The Royal Sapphire.’ She pressed her free hand over her other ear so she could hear over the tumultuous throng. Her heart hammered. The spin of vertigo dragged her away from the building and everything solid. She recalled her dream, holding Costa as he slipped into the dark depths of Santorini’s caldera. Reality took a step back. Naomi was alone with the voice in her ear.

Chapter 56

‘Thank you,’ Naomi uttered, ending the call. The air of celebration and jollity morphed into a monotonous buzz in her ears like a high-volt battery, or a pylon on a damp day. Darkness hovered at the corners of her eyes, then spread rapidly. She tried to stand, but her knees buckled and the real world shrank away.

Angelos and Konstantinos were at her side. ‘Mama!’ They lifted her off the pavement. Someone brought a chair. Someone else wafted a document folder over her face, and yet another person tried to give her a glass of water.

Naomi pulled back and dropped her head into her hands. ‘Costa is safe,’ she sobbed. ‘Your father, they found him. He was knocked unconscious, taken to hospital, but he’s fine now. He’s in the airport, arriving home in a couple of hours.’

‘What a relief, Mama!’ Angelos said, spreading his arms and enfolding his mother. ‘How is he?’

Naomi, trembling, couldn’t speak. Angelos was as tall as Costa. She pressed her head against her son’s chest and felt the strength of him around her. ‘He’s fine,’ she whispered.

‘Thank goodness. We’ve all been out of our minds with worry. I’ve been desperate to speak to him. What happened to his phone?’

‘I don’t know. Are you all right now?’

Angelos nodded. ‘Konstantinos is refusing to accept anything bad could have happened. He kept saying there must be a simple explanation. It’s his way of dealing with it, that’s all.’

‘It’s such a relief, I can’t tell you,’ Naomi said.

Rebecca joined them and hugged her sister tightly. ‘It’s been an awful strain, hasn’t it? Bubba’s stroke, me, the court case, and Costa going missing. I just don’t understand how you’ve coped.’

Naomi struggled to keep it together. Their eyes met and she nodded.

Rebecca gently coaxed her sister. ‘Come on, the time has come to step away for an hour, walk around the city, and let everyone look after themselves.’

‘I can’t do that. Costa will be home soon. The boy’s laundry needs to go in the machine, so it’s dry for Cyprus. There’s Bubba to settle. I haven’t even organised the food for this evening.’

‘Come on, relax Naomi. They’re adults. They’ll be fine without you for an hour, trust me. Your absence won’t make much difference in the big scheme of things, but if it does, you’ll be appreciated all the more when we get back,’ she said softly. ‘I’m so proud to be your sister, Naomi.’

‘Give me a hug, will you?’ After a few moments, Naomi straightened. ‘Sorry about that.’ She escaped Rebecca’s arms, sniffed, and scrabbled around her handbag for a tissue.

‘Not a problem at all. Now, when was the last time you were in Town?’

‘I don’t know, six, maybe nine, months back.’

‘Well, come on then. Let’s get an ice cream and walk for a while.’ She turned to their group of supporters. ‘Look at your friends and neighbours. They are all fine people, and as for Angelos and Konstantinos, they’re your sons, I’m sure they’ll take control of everything.’

‘We certainly will, Aunty Rebecca. Go on, Mama, have a break,’ Angelos said. ‘You deserve it.’ He kissed Naomi’s cheeks and gave her another hug. ‘You’re amazing. We’re very proud of you.’

Konstantinos peered at his mother as if seeing her for the first time. ‘Sure, relax, Mama. I’ll book a table for supper, and we’ll take care of Bubba and Papa. If there’s a problem, we’ll text you, so go, and don’t worry.’

*

Rebecca linked arms with Naomi and they walked across from the courthouse to the seafront. Colourful boats bobbed side-by-side in Mandraki harbour. To their left stood the gothic cathedral of the Annunciation, and to their right, the causeway to St Nicholas lighthouse. On the pavement, under giant ficus-ficus trees with their smooth wide trunks and shiny leather leaves, handsome young men and women sold boat-trip tickets.

The sisters bought one-euro ice creams from a small promenade stall, and then sat on a bench to people-watch.

‘It was good of Fritz to come to the court. It can’t have been easy for him to sit there, knowing that his grandfather was responsible for so many deaths. Even though all this is nothing to do with him, he must have felt awkward.’

Rebecca nodded. ‘I can’t imagine how I’d feel in his situation, but I was pleased that he came to support us.’

The glass-bottom boat came in. Tourists in sundresses and shorts, with sun-burnt shoulders and wide smiles, queued to get off. ‘I’ve always wanted to do that,’ Naomi said.

Rebecca grinned, ‘Then before I go back, we shall go on a boat, Cinderella!’ They laughed together. ‘Come on, let’s walk into the old town. I should buy something nice for Fritz. And you know what, I’d like to see where our great-grandpa had his tailor’s shop.’