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‘I believe so, yes.’
‘Were they taken too?’
Lili thought of Alena. Sadly, she already knew the answer to that question.
‘There was a rumour …’ the guide began.
Lili had been staring at the table, imagining Alena and her family and friends seated around it, enjoying their meal, oblivious to the events that would soon unfold and change all their lives in ways they could never imagine.
Lili looked up when she heard the guide mention a rumour.
The young woman said, ‘There was talk of a German who rescued some children from the island.’
‘Are you saying,’ the English lady in the tour group continued, ‘that one of them, a member of the family, might have survived?’
She shrugged. ‘It’s possible. Anything is possible. But I’m afraid we’ll probably never know. They would have been smuggled out of Corfu and taken in by a family on another Greek island. Many Jews then fled to start new lives in the newly created state of Israel after the war, never to return.’
Lili stared at the woman who was asking the questions.
‘You’ll have to excuse my wife,’ said the woman’s husband. ‘She loves history – especially family history and genealogy.’
The woman glanced at her husband. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said to the guide. ‘I’m holding up the tour with all my questions.’
‘There’s nothing to apologise for. I’m just sorry I can’t tell you more about the family.’
Lili was sorry too, although she had enjoyed the tour of the house nonetheless.
The wine-tasting afterwards was a novel experience for Lili. The guide was knowledgeable, and Lili found it fascinating to see the wine-making process at first-hand. She browsed the small museum and the gift shop next door, buying a small gift box of wine, even though she had no one to give it to. Hannah wasn’t into red wine. Lili thought that perhaps she’d keep this one for herself. It was significant to her that the grapes had come from the very trees that had been used to produce wine in Alena’s day.
Lili carried the gift box, wrapped in crepe paper inside a plastic bag with the name of the vineyard emblazoned on it, and re-joined Spiros, who was waiting by the car.
‘That was a wonderful tour. Thank you, Spiros.’
He grinned. ‘I thought you’d enjoy it. Getting inside the house was a bonus – eh?’
Lili returned his smile. ‘I’ll say.’
Before Lili got back into the car, she watched the small tour group disperse, leaving the garden in front of the villa quiet, save for the sounds of birdsong. Lili closed her eyes for a moment and imagined Joseph as a small boy, enjoying his lunch outside, seated at a long trestle table in the sunshine with his parents and their Greek friends, the vineyards stretching into the distance as far as the eye could see.
Lili opened her eyes at the sound of a clunk from the car door as Spiros settled into the driver’s seat. After one last look at the villa, Lili got in beside him and they set off.
After a brief stop at the quaint village of Pelekas, where Lili got out once again and strolled around to enjoy the views, Spiros headed toward the Ambelonas winery, where he’d made a reservation for lunch. The menu was extensive. Lili didn’t know what to choose. She opted for a chicken risotto and a side salad with a lemon tart to follow. Spiros thought Lili had made an excellent choice and ordered the same. Later, he introduced Lili to their host, and she learned more about the two oldest Corfiot grape varieties grown in the area.
Spiros took a circuitous route back to Corfu Old Town so that Lili could get a glimpse of the wonderful scenery and take in the views of the coastline. He stopped the car outside the hotel and walked around to open the passenger door for her to alight. Lili reached for her purse, anticipating that he would refuse any payment for the tour. Spiros was already shaking his head at the sight of her purse. Reluctantly, Lili put it away.
‘It has been my pleasure, Lili, to show you my beautiful island. I hope you take back some fond memories of your time spent here when you return to England.’
Lili stood on the pavement as Spiros added, ‘I wish you all the best with the search for your relatives. You have my card – please get in touch. I would love to hear how your story ends.’
Lili had tears in her eyes as he leaned forward and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘Until next time.’
Lili watched him get back into his car and drive down the street until the car swung around the corner and disappeared.
‘Until next time,’ said Lili, sad to see him go. She turned for the hotel, aware that this was it. Her holiday was over. The next day, she was catching her flight home.
