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Carter Ellis seemed nice enough. Even if his friends were huge partiers. Was Tamryn his girlfriend? Not that it mattered. Sienna wasn’t interested in a holiday fling, even if he had pretty blue eyes. But she would enjoy the party boat.
A noise on the stairs leading up from the cobblestone road announced her mother’s return, and her short curly hair appeared. The cut suited her, making her look at least five years younger. She wasn’t even winded as she opened the gate, pulling the wheelie basket behind her, smile radiant as if she was happy for the first time in years.
Obviously, Santorini was good for her.
“You should’ve come with me. I went totally crazy.” Mother held up her hand, palm out, sounding like a teenager. “We’ve got champagne and ice cream and—” She paused when she saw the margarita on the table beside Sienna, along with the appetizers Carter Ellis had brought.
Sienna felt completely magnanimous. “I’ve got some appetizers too. And a margarita. We can share.”
The offer seemed to delight her mother, her smile growing. “Wonderful. I’m famished after the walk. Let me just put the perishables in the fridge.” She wheeled away, not the least embarrassed about looking like an old lady with a wheelie cart. Not that her mother actually looked old. She seemed almost young right now, with a bounce in her step.
Sienna gulped the margarita and gave herself another brain freeze. She plowed down a fritter to counteract the sensation. There were still plenty for her mother, who was back in less than five minutes.
Sienna fluttered her fingers at the plate. “You absolutely have to try these tomato fritters. They have an unpronounceable Greek name. But they’re delicious.”
Her mother sat down on the lounger, the table between them. “Where did you get all this?”
Sienna pointed to the terrace above. “Someone doused me with a margarita, and the host brought this down as an apology.”
“He can throw a margarita on me anytime if that’s what we get.” Her mother bit into the fritter, chewing, her eyes closed, a beatific smile on her lips. “I haven’t had tomatokeftedes since before you were born.” The Greek name rolled off her tongue.
“Why didn’t you ever make them at home?”
Her mother’s expression shifted subtly, as if a wistful memory had crossed her mind.
“It was too difficult. And you really need Santorini tomatoes. There’s something in the volcanic soil they grow in that makes them extra special.”
Her mother was an amazing cook. They’d had money for a maid, a cook, and a nanny. But Angela Walker had always made their meals, most of them gourmet, and never had help around the house, certainly not a nanny.
“Maybe I’ll try again when we get home,” she said, the reminiscent look fading.
“I have another surprise.” Sienna pointed once again up to the neighbor’s terrace. “Our benefactor has offered to take us on a cruise this afternoon. He’s got a party boat.”
Frowning, her mother put a finger to her lips. “I’m sure it’s a young person’s party. They don’t want an old lady hanging around.”
A twinge of guilt twisted Sienna’s stomach. She’d said exactly the same thing, and it was Carter who’d said he’d loved to have her mother. “His name is Carter Ellis. He sounds American, and he said he’d adore having you along.” She leaned forward to tap her mother’s knee. “It’ll be fun.”
She didn’t know why she was pushing. Her mother’s presence might make her feel inhibited. And yet it was rude not to ask her. “Come on. You haven’t sailed on the Aegean in thirty years.”
Her mother laughed with her hand over her mouth, covering the bite of spanakopita she’d just taken. “All right. You’re on.”
“And you have to bring a bathing suit,” Sienna told her. “I don’t want you hanging around in capri pants.”
“You know me so well.”
She didn’t know her mother at all. Her smiles always seemed a bit forced and her laughter a second too late, as if she wasn’t sure she should laugh. Her mom always let her dominate their conversations. Sienna hadn’t even known she was a hiker, for God’s sake.
This vacation was a chance for them to become closer than mere acquaintances.
