Page 40 of Villa of Secrets

‘Giovanni’s taken it to fill with things for us.’

We ate until stuffed and, as we lay on the bed, we listened to our stomachs gurgling from all the fruit.

I decided to wait until Evangelisa was asleep before I told Irini what had happened. Poor Mama and Papa. I wondered where they were right at that moment.

The candle flickered and shadows danced around the room before the flame gutted. Plunged into darkness, we snuggled up together under an old woollen blanket on the big bed.

Evangelisa squeezed my hand. ‘I’m scared, Dora. I can hear strange noises. Perhaps there’s a wild animal outside, or really bad people.’

‘Don’t be silly. It’s your imagination playing tricks,’ I said calmly. ‘Now go to sleep. I’ll be right beside you all night.’

Irini had her back to me. When Evangelisa was asleep, I turned over, rested my broken wrist on her waist and whispered, ‘Did Giovanni try to kiss you, Irini?’

‘Yes, but he asked me not to tell. But we’ll never have secrets, will we, Dora?’

I told her about him kissing me, and how I hated it when our teeth clashed together. ‘I’ve decided I don’t want to kiss another boy. I found it quite horrible.’

She turned over and gently stroked my face. ‘You’re doing it wrong, Dora. Be soft and gentle, like this.’

Irini kissed me delicately on the lips. Her breath like a hundred butterflies dancing over my face. I found her mouth much more pleasurable than anything else I had experienced. Then she kissed me a little longer and held me against her.

Before a minute had passed, I was kissing her back and I sensed she enjoyed the practice as much as I did. Comfortable in Irini’s embrace, with my body pressed against hers, I relaxed and allowed my mind to drift over all that had happened that day.

I thought about Papa, and my brothers, and poor Mama and her bad legs. Proud Granny with her mischevious smile. Grandpa and his painful lumbago, and Aunt Martha with her perfect makeup and her fine hairnet. Misery and despair filled every part of my body and I found myself crying for all those that I loved so much.

‘I’m afraid, Irini.’

She held me tightly while I sobbed into the crook of her neck.

‘It will be all right,’ she whispered. ‘I promise. Don’t fret now.’

In the darkness of that awful night, I wondered if the shepherd boy was correct, and my loving family were in for a horrible time. Were they really gone from my life forever? I refused to accept they’d be killed. Giovanni was a liar. Oh, Papa, what shall I do? My tears rose again and I sobbed in Irini’s arms.

‘What’s the matter? Is your arm hurting a lot?’ she asked gently.

I whispered my worst thoughts, that our families might be put to death in a Nazi prison. She started crying for her parents and her sister, Eva, too. She pleaded with me to tell her everything I’d experienced, and all about her family as I’d seen them in L’Aeronautica. She even made me describe what they wore, right down to her mother’s shoes.

I woke in the night with my arms around Irini. We fit together like two spoons. I felt I was holding my entire family and I recalled each in turn, the unique things about them, individual qualities, and special moments we had shared. How could I get used to the idea that I’d never see them again? Giovanni was wrong. I kissed Irini between her shoulder blades and pressed my cheek against her back. My loved ones would return – they had to.

*

This night seems endless. I clung to my friend and stared into the dark for a long time, afraid of all that the dawn might bring for those I loved. Unable to go back to sleep, I slipped out of bed, lit the oil lamp, and finished writing the events of this terrible day. I have to find a way to help my family. I don’t know how, but there must be something I can do.

Chapter 19

‘Yoo-hoo!’ Heleny hurried down the street.

Naomi stood and shoved the diary under her seat cushion.

‘Is anyone here yet? Am I late?’

‘No, you’re fine. I’ve put paper and pencils on the table. I’ve made iced tea and plated your lovely shortbreads for refreshments; have I forgotten anything?’ A Shiver of excitement raced through her. Where would this lead? Then the futility of it all took over. ‘Heleny, I’m wasting everyone’s time. The truth is I haven’t the money to start a business.’

‘Well, in that case, you’ll just have to go after that job in the sex shop.’

They looked at each other and laughed.

‘Poor Georgia, I simply can’t help winding her up,’ Naomi said.