The Olive Tree (6 page)

‘I’m sure they have. It’s such a perfect spot.’

‘Yes. And don’t imagine that everyone in our village will resist the temptation, especially the young. They want their fast cars and their satellite dishes and the American way of
life they see on their televisions. And why shouldn’t they? We too wanted more, Helena. So, let us move on and stop sounding like our parents,’ he chuckled.

‘We
are
our parents, Alexis.’

‘Then let us be the children we were, just for now.’ He reached for her hand, just as Alex emerged onto the terrace.

Helena drew her hand away, but knew her son had seen it.

‘Where’s Immy?’ he demanded rudely.

‘In the kitchen, I think. Alex, you’ve met Alexis already.’

‘We have the same name. It means “defender and protector of the people”,’ smiled Alexis congenially.

‘I know. Mum, I hope Immy hasn’t wandered off while you weren’t looking. You know what she’s like.’

‘I’m sure she hasn’t. Why don’t you go and find her, and bring her out to meet Alexis? And put the kettle on, please. I’m desperate for a cup of tea.’ Helena
sank into a chair, feeling emotionally drained.

Alex eyed her defiantly, then turned to walk away inside.

‘He is a good-looking boy,’ remarked Alexis. ‘Well built.’

Helena sighed. ‘He is . . . unusual, that’s for sure. And brilliant, and exasperating, and difficult and . . . oh, I love him to bits,’ she said with a weary smile.
‘Perhaps one day I’ll tell you about him.’

‘Perhaps, one day, we will tell each other about many things,’ Alexis said quietly.

‘Here she is.’ Alex led a tear-stained Immy onto the terrace. ‘She was being chased around the kitchen by a large stripy hornet thing. With a killer sting, probably,’ he
added.

‘Oh darling, why didn’t you call me?’ Helena opened her arms and Immy ran to her.

‘I did, but you didn’t come. Alex saved me. A bit.’

‘She is so like you, Helena. She is, how do you say . . . your double,’ Alexis smiled.

‘I call her MiniMum. Get it, Alexis?’ Alex barked. ‘No, probably not. Never mind.’

‘Would you like some tea, Alexis? I’ll go and make it,’ Helena butted in to defuse the situation.

‘Yes, please. Why not share the English passion for a hot drink in hot weather?’ he smiled.

‘It’s a well-known fact that a hot cup of tea cools you down. That’s why they drink it in India,’ remarked Alex.

‘Nothing to do with the fact they all lived on tea plantations, then,’ murmured Helena, with a grimace at her son. ‘Come on, Immy, you can help me. I’ll be back in a
minute.’

Alex sat down in his mother’s vacant chair, folded his arms across his chest and glared at Alexis. ‘So, how do you know my mother?’

‘We met, many years ago, when she was last here, staying with Colonel McCladden.’

‘You mean Angus, her godfather? And you haven’t seen her since?’

‘Oh yes, I have, actually,’ he said with a smile, ‘but that is another story. So Alex, you like Cyprus?’

‘I don’t know yet. It was dark when we got here and I’ve been in bed all day due to possible malaria. It’s very hot, with mosquitoes and stripy hornets everywhere. And I
don’t like those.’

‘And the house?’

‘It’s cool. I mean, it’s not at all cool, it’s boiling, but I love history and this place has got lots,’ Alex conceded.

‘This is a very historical area. If you like history, you may know of the Greek myths. According to them, Aphrodite was born in Paphos, and spent her life with Adonis on the island. You
can go and see his bath, only a few miles from here.’

‘Let’s hope he’s taken the plug out or the water will be very stale by now,’ Alex muttered under his breath.

‘It is a beautiful waterfall in the middle of the mountains,’ Alexis continued. ‘You can jump from the high rocks into the water, which is clear and pure and very refreshing in
the heat. I will take you there if you wish.’

‘Thanks, but extreme sports aren’t really my thing. So’ – Alex eyed him – ‘what do you do around here?’

‘My family has run the local vineyard for hundreds of years. We make wine. It provides a good living for our family. And we are starting to export more and more abroad. Ah, here is your
mother.’

Helena emerged onto the terrace and put the tray down on the table. ‘I’ve settled Immy upstairs for a rest. She’s exhausted from the heat and the hornet. Alex, do you want some
tea?’

‘Yes.’ He stood up. ‘You sit down, Mum, I’ll pour. I’ve just been hearing about Adonis’ Bidet.’

‘You mean the waterfall? Oh, it’s so beautiful, isn’t it, Alexis?’ Helena smiled at him as they both shared a memory.

‘Perhaps Dad will take us all when he arrives,’ Alex announced loudly. ‘When is Dad arriving, by the way?’

‘Friday, as you know perfectly well, Alex. Milk, Alexis?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘But it might be sooner, mightn’t it, Mum? I mean, Dad might surprise us and just turn up here any time.’

‘I doubt it, Alex, he’s got work to do.’

‘But look how he misses you. He’s always calling you on the mobile. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did arrive earlier, you know.’

Helena raised an eyebrow as she passed Alexis his tea. ‘Well, I hope he doesn’t. I’d like to get the house looking a little more welcoming before he does.’

‘Do you need any help with it, Helena?’ questioned Alexis. ‘It has been empty for a long time.’

‘Actually, I’d love it if you knew someone who could sort out the pool. It needs cleaning and filling.’

‘What pool?’ asked Alex, suddenly animated.

‘There’s a gorgeous swimming pool just through that gate and down the steps,’ Helena indicated the location with her hand. ‘Unfortunately, most of the olives seem to have
fallen into it and there are a few broken tiles that probably need replacing.’

‘Then I will send Georgios up to look at it,’ said Alexis. ‘He is the cousin of my wife, and a builder.’

‘You’re married?’ asked Alex, suddenly animated.

‘Sadly, no longer, Alex; my wife died many years ago. I will call Georgios now.’ Alexis produced a mobile from his pocket, dialled and spoke in fast Greek. He put the mobile down and
smiled. ‘He will come here tonight, and maybe you will have a pool to swim in by the time your husband arrives.’

‘That would be wonderful,’ Helena said gratefully. ‘I was also wondering where I go in Paphos to buy a new fridge-freezer, an oven, a microwave . . . in fact, the whole nine
yards, kitchen-wise. We have a heap of people arriving next week. Though I’m worried everything might take time to be delivered.’

‘No need for delivery. I have a transit van for transporting my wine to the hotels and restaurants in the area. I can take you, and we can bring the items back here ourselves.’

‘Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?’

‘Not at all. It will be my pleasure, Helena.’

‘And would you know anyone in the village who could help me with the housekeeping? Perhaps do a little cooking?’

‘Of course. Angelina, who left you the keys, worked for the colonel in his last year here. She is available, I am sure, and she loves children. I will contact her for you. She will come to
see you.’

‘Thank you, Alexis, you are a saviour,’ said Helena gratefully, sipping her tea. ‘Maybe I’ll ask her whether she’d like to do a little babysitting, too, so we can
go out in the evenings sometimes.’

‘I can babysit, Mum,’ put in Alex.

‘Yes, I know you can, darling, thank you.’

‘And what about the structure of the house?’ enquired Alexis.

‘It looks all right to me.’ Helena shrugged. ‘But then, I’m hardly an expert.’

‘I will ask Georgios to look at it when he comes to see the pool. For example, the plumbing and the wiring . . . these things have not been touched for many years, and we must make sure
they are safe.’

‘I know.’ Helena sighed. ‘It really is a Pandora’s Box. I hardly dare open it.’

‘You know of the legend at this house?’ Alexis directed the question to Alex.

‘No,’ he replied sulkily.

‘It is a good legend, not a bad one. It is said that anyone who comes to stay at Pandora for the first time will fall in love while he or she is staying under its roof.’

‘Really?’ Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘Does that apply to five-year-olds too? I noticed Immy looking rather dreamily at her toy lamb earlier today.’

‘Alex! Don’t be rude!’ Helena reprimanded him, her patience finally snapping.

‘Ah, he is a boy and afraid of love,’ Alexis said with an indulgent smile. ‘But when it comes, he will welcome it, as we all do. Now, I must go.’ He stood up, and Helena
followed suit.

‘It is wonderful to see you, Helena,’ he said, kissing her warmly on both cheeks.

‘And you, Alexis.’

‘I will be here tomorrow morning at nine to go to Paphos, yes?
Adio
, Alex. Look after your mother.’

‘I always do,’ Alex grunted.

‘Goodbye.’ Alexis nodded at him and strode across the terrace and out of sight.

‘Really, Alex,’ Helena sighed at him in frustration, ‘do you have to be so obnoxious?’

‘I wasn’t, was I?’

‘Yes, you were, and you know it! Why didn’t you like him?’

‘How do you know I didn’t?’

‘Oh come on, Alex, you went out of your way to be contrary.’

‘Sorry, but I just don’t trust him. I’m going down to see the pool, if that’s okay with you.’

‘Fine.’

Helena watched her son amble off across the terrace, glad he had left her in peace for a while . . . that they had
both
left, these two males who had the same name and held court in her
heart. As the shock of Alexis appearing began to subside, she thought how he had been little more than a boy back then, only a few years older than her son. Now he was a middle-aged man, but his
essence remained unchanged.

Helena rubbed her nose thoughtfully. No one forgot their first love – everyone believing their own experience was unique, unrivalled in its power, passion and beauty. And of course, that
first summer here with Alexis had stayed in her memory for twenty-four years, like a butterfly caught forever in amber.

They’d been
so
young . . . she almost sixteen, he almost eighteen, and still, he knew nothing of the aftermath of their relationship, or of her life since then. And how their love
had changed her life.

A sudden lurch of fear clutched at Helena’s heart and she wondered again if coming back here was the worst possible thing she could have done. William would arrive in a matter of days, and
she’d told him nothing about Alexis. What had been the point of him knowing about someone who was little more than a shadow from her past?

But Alexis was no longer a shadow. He was very much alive and real. And there was no escaping the fact that her past and present were about to collide.

Helena’s mobile rang just as she was placing supper in front of Alex and Immy.

‘Answer it, will you, Alex?’ she said as she lowered the precariously packed tray onto the terrace table.

‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Yeah, hi Dad. We’re all fine. Apart from the fact Mum is about to make me and Immy eat some pickled goats’ testicles in a fish-poo sauce, from the
look of things. Enjoy your pizza while you can, that’s my advice. Yeah, I’ll pass you to Mum. Bye.’

Helena raised her eyebrows with a weary sigh as Alex passed the mobile to her. ‘Hi, darling. Everything okay? No, I’m not poisoning them. They’re trying feta cheese, hummus and
taramasalata. How’s Fred?’ Helena balanced the mobile between shoulder and chin as she unloaded the tray. ‘Good. Have a word with Immy, and we’ll speak later. Okay, bye.
It’s Daddy.’ Helena passed the mobile to her daughter and Immy took it.

‘Hi, Daddy . . . yes, I’m fine. Alex was dying this morning and Mummy and me saw a prince in a field while we were picking grapes but the police might have arrested us so we had to
leave them behind but then we got them again on the way back and the prince’s daddy came to see us here and had a cup of tea and was really nice. And I had ketchup and chips for lunch and
it’s very hot here and . . .’ Immy paused for breath and listened. ‘Yes, I love you too and miss you a bit. Okay, Daddy, see you soon.’ She made sucking noises down the line
to indicate kisses and expertly pressed the right button to end the call. She looked down at her plate. ‘Alex is right. This looks yucky.’

Helena was still cringing at Immy’s conversation with her father. She put two pieces of pitta bread on her plate and spooned on some hummus. ‘Try it,’ she encouraged.

‘Can I please have ketchup with it, Mummy?’

‘No, you can’t.’ Helena fed a small piece of bread and hummus into Immy’s mouth. She waited whilst her daughter’s taste buds whirred into action and eventually, the
food received a small nod of approval. ‘Good. I knew you’d like it.’

‘What’s the gloopy stuff made from?’ Immy enquired.

‘Chickpeas.’

‘Chick’s pees? Oooh,’ Immy said with a shudder. ‘You mean their wee-wee?’

‘Don’t be silly, Immy,’ countered Alex, who was yet to put anything in his own mouth. ‘Chickpeas are a kind of pea, they’re just not green. Sorry, Mum’
– Alex raised his hands in defeat – ‘I haven’t got my appetite back yet after this morning.’

‘Okay.’ Helena wasn’t in the mood for a battle. ‘So, it’s good news about the swimming pool, isn’t it? It should be filled by the time Daddy arrives. Here,
have some taramasalata, Immy. And tomorrow in Paphos we can buy some sun-loungers and—’

‘YUCK-EE!’ Immy inelegantly spat the contents of her mouth out onto her plate.

‘Immy!’

‘I’m sorree, but that is wank!’

‘
Rank
, Immy. And don’t copy what I say, please,’ reprimanded Alex, trying to remain straight-faced. ‘You’re only five.’

‘Yes, you are, and princesses do not use words like “rank”. Do they, Alex?’ Helena was also stifling laughter. ‘Now, while I call Daddy back, why doesn’t Alex
take you upstairs and get you ready for bed? Then I’ll come and tell you one of your favourite stories?’

‘Okay. I want the one about when you were ballet-dancing in Vienna and a prince took you to his palace for a ball.’

‘It’s a deal,’ Helena agreed. ‘Go on, off you go.’