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19
Making the rounds faster than the rest of them, Reed, Jamal, and Tamryn were talking and laughing amongst themselves on the opposite side. Sienna had the odd sensation they were laughing at her. Or maybe she was imagining things, and her suspicion stemmed only from Tamryn’s antipathy.
Carter caught up with Xandros and peppered him with questions. “What other artifacts did they find?”
“In recent digs, they’ve uncovered bits of clothing, even burned fruit, bronze objects, beads from necklaces, as well as a lot of black and white pottery shards they believe were part of a Minoan burial site. And of course, they discovered wine casks.” He spread his arms. “So we know the people of Santorini have been making and enjoying wine for thousands of years.”
Carter listened, fascinated. He seemed more mature, even though he was only a year younger than Sienna. He was the grown up versus his friends’ college-age ways.
“Due to the eruption, the frescoes are among the most well-preserved examples from the period,” Xandros told them. “A thick layer of pumice and ash kept them virtually intact. We can visit the museum in Fira where you can see many of the artifacts that have been found.”
They spent another half hour wandering through the exhibits, reading all the signs. Alyssa, Irene, and Bill remained with them, attentive to Xandros’s comments.
He looked at Sienna often, smiling with their eyes met. She wondered if he was trying to ingratiate himself with her, hoping she’d put in a good word with Mom.
Once the tour was over, her mother took that same seat behind Xandros, as if she couldn’t bear to be too far away from him. Sienna could have sat with her and learned more tidbits about the island, but she headed to the last seat, crossing fingers Carter would sit with her.
She had to laugh at herself, because who was acting college-age now, or even high school? A grown up would simply have taken the seat beside him. But she was playing silly games, waiting to see if Carter sought her out.
And he did.
Once the bus was rolling, he leaned close to say, “He’s actually pretty cool.” He jutted his chin at Xandros at the front of the bus. “They make a good couple.”
“They certainly seem to have eyes for each other.” She prodded him in the ribs.
He nodded, still looking ahead. “Does it bother you?”
They’d discussed her parents’ marriage, and she’d admitted her mother deserved something better. And yet she said, “I’m not sure. I mean, we were supposed to take this vacation together.”
Carter looked at her, and she felt forced to return his gaze. “Yet you’re spending most of your time with us.”
She nodded, turning to her mother again. “Maybe it’s okay. I think we’re both having a good time.”
Carter nudged her. “You think?”
She bumped his shoulder, glad they were at the back of the bus so Tamryn couldn’t send her dirty looks. “I know I’m having a fabulous time.”
They trundled along a winding, dusty road when Xandros called out, “How about a late lunch?” He didn’t use the microphone, as if he didn’t want them to feel like they were on a tour. “I know a great place near Thera. And afterwards we can mosey around the ancient ruins there. Our tickets for Akrotiri will get us in there as well.”
Mosey? It wasn’t a Greek word. It wasn’t even a modern word. He was dating himself. Or maybe it said something about the time he’d known her mother way back when. And how close they’d been.
Everyone called out agreement, punched the air, the guys getting in a rounding huzzah.
Thirty minutes later found them all seated around a large table, a trellis above them threaded with blooming bougainvillea that shaded them from the afternoon sun. Xandros obviously knew the proprietor as they slapped each other’s back in big man hugs, laughing boisterously.
He ordered a feast of Greek delicacies, starting with deep-fried calamari and Greek salad, followed by traditional foods from dolmades, the stuffed grape leaves, to souvlaki, skewers of lamb and beef, to moussaka, the spicy eggplant lasagna. Tzatziki with toasted pitas accompanied the meal. To drink, he ordered retsina wine, because it was very Greek, he said, and Greek beer.
“What about ouzo?” Bill asked.
Xandros guffawed. “You do not want ouzo during the day unless you’re very used to drinking it.”
He made sure to seat her mother on his left, with Sienna on his right and Carter next to her. Between breaks in the courses served, he asked her questions as if he was really interested. “Your mother tells me you’re a financial advisor.”
She wondered when the two of them had talked about it. “I’ve actually got an interview at a new firm when I get back, and if I get the job, I’d like to think that my clients will come with me. They’re more geriatric,” she explained, hoping he didn’t think that was a dig at his age. “Many of my clients aren’t tech savvy, especially the widows, and I like helping them.” She grinned. “I’ve also come across those who are far more knowledgeable than I am, and they teach me a few computer tricks.”
Carter put his hand on her leg, sending a shiver through her. Xandros asked him questions as well, and the lunch was lively with talk and shared histories. By the end, she liked the older man. If her mother wanted a flirtation on this vacation, Sienna was fine with that. It gave her time for her own flirtation.
A bill for the meal never arrived, Xandros once again taking care of it. When Carter protested, he said, “The proprietor is an old friend of mine. I send many tour groups here. He is charging us only what it cost him, and it is my pleasure to treat all of you.”
