Page 73 of Villa of Secrets

Bubba peered at the priest, her eyes saying thank you. ‘What are you waiting for, Papas? Tell us this good news,’ she said.

‘The court sitting has returned to its original date, and secondly, the Jewish Society has funded a lawyer for the Cohen family to help with the legalities.’

‘Great to have some people on our side,’ Naomi said, glancing at Bubba and thinking of poor Dora and her friends. She dreaded the court case but it was nothing compared to what her grandmother had faced. The first moment she had, Naomi returned to diary.

Chapter 32

Friday, 4 August 1944

I am waiting for Giovanni and try to fill the time by thinking about my family. I’m disturbed that their faces seem slightly out of focus today, as if they’re drifting away. A curly feather in a draught, spiralling out of reach whenever I get close.

Mama! Papa!

The feeling that they can hear my thoughts is also fading, and their apparent distance depresses me. What if I wake one morning and the image of my father has disappeared like yesterday’s dreams? It would be as if he never existed.

I am trying to strengthen my mind, to shout louder in my head. I squeeze my eyes tightly closed and visualise my family and relations as they were when they got on the ship. Papa with his fingers over his ears, looking around for me.

Papa! It’s Dora, at the sheep hut in Rhodes. I’m praying for you.

This sense of panic continues to build until I fear it will give me a migraine. I’m going back to bed for half an hour and plan to record the events of the day later this evening.

*

In the big bed, I drifted in and out of sleep as the pain in my head gathered strength. I rubbed my forehead and whispered, ‘Papa! You’re in my thoughts . . . I love you so much.’ Irini turned over and wrapped her arm around me. I guessed she was thinking about her family too because in a moment we were in an embrace, quietly crying together.

Why were they taken from us?!

I held Irini close. With her body against mine the feelings I had for Giovanni rose, confusing me. Dear, sweet Irini. I’d abandoned her and she didn’t deserve such treatment. I kissed her tenderly. She hooked her legs around mine and pressed herself against me. The warmth of her body seemed to flow through me, and small ripples of pleasure raced down my spine. We hardly moved, cautious of waking Evangelisa and Xanthi, yet the restraint only heightened a desire that neither of us quite understood.

‘I wish we were alone together,’ Irini said quietly before kissing me again and slowly sliding her hands over my body.

Overwhelmed by these new sensations, my breath came in gasps. My world was spinning, I floated, drowned, and climbed the heights of new-found pleasure. ‘I love you, Irini,’ I whispered. ‘And I believe that one day we will be alone together.’ I placed my hand on her cheek and realised she was smiling through her tears.

‘Promise me,’ she said.

My feelings for Irini were so intense I could not express them in words. My heart and mind were overwhelmed by emotions that transcended any whispered endearments. I guessed she experienced the same. We shared our love, sadness, and worry just by holding each other. It was as if her body soaked up part of my anguish. It was still there but, in an odd sort of way, lifted from me.

Minutes later, I caught a tap on the door and knew Giovanni had arrived with our instructions.

‘Come on, Irini. We have to go.’

We slid out of the bed, gulped water, then joined Giovanni outside.

‘You ready?’ he asked quietly. ‘Where did you hide the crate and the gun?’

They were concealed under some scrub near the horse, but I was alarmed to find the dried grass and twigs were now scattered.

‘Animals foraging,’ Giovanni sounded irritable. ‘Don’t worry.’ He had brought Irini’s mule, which her father hired to Giovanni’s father at shearing time. The shepherd boy proceeded to tie the wooden crate onto its back.

Evangelisa and Xanthi joined us. Evangelisa was clingy, upset that I was leaving.

‘I’m scared you won’t return, Dora, like everyone else. What if I never see you again? What will I do?’

‘Stop being silly. It’s only for a couple of days. We’ll all be together again soon.’

‘I wish I was as brave as you.’ She was so earnest it made me smile.

‘I can imagine Mama, right now,’ I said. ‘Longing to give you a hug. She’ll be really proud when I tell her how you’ve grown up. Just think, with your new cooking skills you’ll be able to make us all a nice meal when they return.’