Wish You Were Here (10 page)

My smile couldn’t possibly get any bigger
, Alice thought, as they tore around the island roads on Milo’s moped. Sitting on the back of a moped with a handsome man on a glorious island was so
un
-Alice-like. Something like that was far more likely to happen to Stella.
But this is happening to me
, she said to herself, clinging on to Milo as they took a sharp bend round a mountain and then descended towards a sea the colour of bluebells.

‘That’s Kintos,’ Milo shouted back a moment later and Alice spotted a tiny town, its coloured buildings all jostling together, seemingly tumbling towards the blue water. She was instantly in love. There was a tiny white church with a blue domed roof and the road they followed dipped and curved, passing houses with shutters wide open to drink in the sunshine.

Milo took the bike down into the centre of the town and parked it outside a little row of shops. They were more modest-looking than the ones in Kethos but Alice adored them.

‘This is one of my favourite little towns,’ Milo said. ‘If you can’t bear the bustle of Kethos Town then you come here. Not many tourists make it to this side of the island, which is its blessing and its curse.’

‘Why is it a curse?’ Alice asked.

‘Well, it’s quiet which is nice but the shops struggle to stay open.’

‘I guess it’s hard to make a living on an island.’

Milo nodded. ‘So many people leave each year. It’s a shame when you have to leave a home that you love just to make a living.’

‘Well, let’s make sure that I’m a very well-behaved tourist,’ Alice said.

Milo watched as Alice proceeded to go from shop to shop, buying postcards and guidebooks. She even bought a little stone statue of Aphrodite. Alice had noticed that Aphrodite’s image was everywhere – her beautiful face gracing a thousand postcards and picture frames.

Ever since she’d found out she was going to Kethos, she’d wanted to read all about Aphrodite and the legends that tied her to the island and now she bought as many different trinkets as she could find depicting the goddess of love, from a keyring to a pendant.

Milo laughed at her. ‘You are Aphrodite-crazy!’ he said. ‘I’ll have to take you to see her temple in the south of the island.’

‘I’d love that,’ Alice said.

There was one last shop in the little row which was selling exquisite rugs and blankets.

‘All from the local sheep,’ Milo said. ‘It’s the softest wool in the world.’

Alice smiled. She was sure it was just Milo’s island pride speaking but, when she reached out and touched it, she realised he was right and she soon spotted a beautiful woollen blanket with a great red rose at its centre. Her fingers danced over its softness and she knew she had to have it.

‘Let me buy it for you,’ Milo said.

‘Oh, I couldn’t.’

‘Please,’ he said. ‘It is my gift to you so you will always remember Kethos.’

She watched as he took the blanket to the shop assistant and it was neatly folded and wrapped and placed in a secure bag so its journey back to England would be as comfortable as possible.

‘Thank you so much, Milo,’ she said as he handed her the bag. ‘I don’t deserve such kindness.’

He shook his head. ‘Of course you do and it is my way of thanking you for coming to my island.’

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek and then blushed at her forwardness. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.

‘Don’t be sorry,’ he whispered to her and then they left the shop together. ‘The rose is the flower of Aphrodite, you know? Perhaps that was why you liked it.’

‘The rose is a symbol of love in our country too,’ she said and then felt her cheeks flood with colour again. He’d bought her something with the emblem of a rose on it. A blanket might not be as romantic a gesture as a bunch of roses but it would last forever and Alice would treasure it always.

‘Now,’ Milo said, clapping his hands together, ‘I show you something very special. He’s why a few of the tourists visit us here.’

‘He?’

‘Come with me,’ he said, leading the way down to the far side of the seafront, past a row of fishing boats. There was a taverna and Alice could see a little crowd of people and could hear the sound of laughter. What was going on? Perhaps it was a street performer. But no, it wasn’t. It was a pelican.

‘His name’s Pelagios,’ Milo said. ‘It means
from the sea
and he’s a bit of a celebrity around here.’

Alice had never met a pelican before and marvelled at its happy white squatness and its enormous yellow beak which she was quite sure could devour a dozen tourists. He strutted up and down the harbour as if he owned the place, his great bulk giving him the appearance of a portly gentleman.

One of the shops was selling fish and Pelagios was getting his fill of them, his flat upper mandible opening wide, allowing the throat pouch, which was baggy and flabby, to be filled with fish. He then seemed to pause before tipping his great head back whilst the food found its way down his throat.

‘He knows where he’s looked after,’ Milo said. ‘We often come here and feed him.’

‘We?’ Alice said.

‘I mean, when I was growing up. My family,’ he said.

‘He’s amazing!’ Alice said. ‘We don’t have anything like him in Norfolk. Just a few ducks on the village pond.’

Pelagios seemed to know that he was being talked about and turned his round yellow eyes on Alice, staring at her as if trying to ascertain if she had anything to donate to the beak fund.

‘Is he quite safe?’ Alice asked as the big bird waddled towards her.

‘He’s very friendly,’ Milo said and then his eyes widened as the pelican walked right up to Alice and stretched his long neck up towards her before sitting down at her feet and then something bizarre happened. His great throat pouch started to vibrate.

‘Oh!’ Alice cried as she watched the strange scene before her. ‘What’s he doing?’

‘I don’t know,’ Milo said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it in my life but I think he likes you!’

The locals were all laughing but Alice didn’t dare move for fear of scaring the bird. A little old lady pointed at Alice and said something in Greek before cackling like a witch, her eyes streaming with tears.

‘What did she say?’ Alice asked Milo.

‘She said Pelagios has chosen you as his mate.’

‘Oh my God! What shall I do?’ Alice was rigid now and quite unable to move.

Milo leaned forward and took her hand. ‘Don’t move too quickly,’ he said.

Alice walked slowly away with him but the pelican got up and waddled after her, his throat pouch still vibrating alarmingly fast. ‘He’s following us,’ Alice whispered in alarm.

‘He’s following
you!
’ Milo said. ‘You have an admirer!’

‘It’s not funny!’ she said.

‘Just keep moving,’ Milo said.

Luckily for Alice, the pelican soon got distracted by a child who had bought a helping of fish and they made their escape.

‘Are you okay?’ Milo asked once they were at a safe distance from the amorous pelican.

‘I think so!’ Alice said, taking a deep breath.

‘I think we need a drink,’ Milo said with a laugh.

They were just walking along the old harbour wall when a dark-eyed man stepped out of a shop in front of them and grabbed hold of Alice’s arm. He stared at her and then he started talking to her in Greek.

‘I’m sorry but I’m English,’ Alice said. ‘I don’t understand you.’

Milo – whose face had darkened with anger – stepped in and his tone of voice was unlike anything Alice had heard before.

‘It’s all right,’ he said a moment later when the man walked away. ‘He’s got the message.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He wanted to know if you’d marry him.’

‘
Marry
him?’ Alice said in surprise. These Greek men certainly didn’t waste any time. ‘And what did you say to him?’

‘I told him you were my sister and that you were married with six children.’

‘Right,’ Alice said, watching as the dark-eyed man turned back and gave her a pleading look, his hands open in a gesture which seemed to ask whether the husband and six children really mattered.

‘What is it about you?’ Milo asked once the dark-eyed man decided to give up.

‘What do you mean?’ Alice asked.

‘I mean with the pelican and then that man?’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘I mean, you seem to attract all this attention –
all
the time.’

‘Oh, rubbish!’ Alice said.

‘No, it’s not rubbish. I’ve been watching you. Wherever we go, the men just seem to want to look at you.
Be
with you.’

Alice shook her head. ‘You’re imagining things.’

‘No, I’m not,’ Milo said and his tone was more serious now.

‘I’m not the kind of woman to attract attention like that. You’ve got it all wrong.’

Milo stopped for a moment and Alice turned back to look at him. ‘There’s something amazing about you,’ he said.

‘There isn’t. There really isn’t.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘I feel uncomfortable when you talk like this. Do you mind if we change the subject?’

Milo looked at her and then nodded. ‘Come on,’ he said, placing a protective arm around her shoulder. ‘Let’s get something to eat. I know the perfect place.’

He led them to a little taverna where they ate a mountain of fresh salad followed by
spanakopitta
which was spinach, feta cheese, spring onion and dill sandwiched between filo pastry and baked in the oven. It was the loveliest thing Alice had ever eaten.

After lunch, they got back on the moped and Milo drove up into the mountains to the south of the island, following a little road that gradually narrowed into almost nothing at all. The landscape was rocky and barren and the drop at the side of the road was precipitous.

Milo stopped the bike when the road ran out and Alice got off, taking her helmet off and luxuriating in the feel of the cool mountain air against her face.

‘This way,’ Milo said, leading her down a dusty track. There was a sudden dip and then the landscape opened out to reveal the ruins of an old temple. There were a few rickety columns, a crumbling wall and some kind of altar but it was the view that was really startling because you could see the whole of the island.

‘You can see the whole heart!’ Alice said, tracing the island’s outline with her finger.

‘We can’t compete with the Parthenon but it’s pretty amazing,’ Milo said.

‘What is this place?’

‘It’s the temple of Aphrodite,’ he said. ‘It’s over two thousand years old.’

‘What a shame it’s not used any more,’ Alice said, trailing her fingers across one of the fluted columns.

‘Who says it isn’t used anymore?’

‘But it’s all in ruins,’ she said.

‘The islanders still come here to worship Aphrodite,’ Milo said in a voice which was low and reverential.

‘They do?’

‘Oh, yes,’ he said. ‘It’s a sacred place.’ He took her hand in his and led her towards the altar. ‘They say that if you make love here, you will be bound together for all eternity.’

Alice’s heart started racing and she felt as if she was being heated up by a great internal furnace. ‘They really say that?’

Milo nodded and took a step towards her so that their bodies met. ‘Bound together forever.’

Alice closed her eyes and, when she felt Milo’s lips upon hers, she didn’t protest but kissed him right back and she was quite sure that the spirit of Aphrodite was smiling down over them.

The lights were on in the villa by the time Alice got back.

‘Hello!’ she called as she closed the door behind her.

‘You’ve been gone for
hours!
’ Stella said, emerging from the living room.

‘I did say I was going out.’

‘I bring you on this holiday and I hardly see you!’ Stella cried.

‘But you never seem to enjoy my company when we are together,’ Alice pointed out as kindly as she could.

‘That’s not the point. I’d rather have
your
company than be totally bored out of my head.’

Alice winced, knowing that that wasn’t a compliment.

‘Anyway,’ Stella continued, ‘it’s not fair that you’re running around with some man and I’m stuck here on my own. Just what do you know about this man, anyway? He could be anybody.’

‘He isn’t just anybody. He’s Milo Galani and he’s lived on Kethos all his life.’

‘And that’s
all
you know?’

‘At the moment, that’s all I need to know,’ Alice said, taking off her shoes and putting her carrier bag down on the floor.

‘What’s that?’ Stella asked.

‘Just a blanket.’

‘Did he buy it for you?’

‘It was a gift, yes.’

‘God, Alice, you’re so naïve. He’s just some cheap holiday lothario. How do you know he doesn’t charm every single tourist who crosses his path?’

‘Does it matter if he does?’ Alice said.

‘Don’t
you
think it does?’

‘Look,’ Alice said with a sigh, ‘I hardly ever get to have fun – you know that – you’re always pointing it out to me. But Milo is a really sweet guy and I know this can’t go any further than a holiday romance so can’t you just let me enjoy it whilst it lasts?’

She left Stella standing in the hallway, charging up the stairs to the privacy of her bedroom and closing the door behind her. That hadn’t been true, had it? The bit about not going any further than a holiday romance. Alice knew in her heart of hearts that she didn’t want it to end. It was so much more than a holiday romance to her and she couldn’t bear the thought of going back to her old life in England at the end of the week.

Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes and thought of Milo. They’d made love at the temple of Aphrodite and it had been wonderful. Milo had been both tender and passionate with her and they’d slept in a warm embrace together afterwards.

But, as much as Alice hated to admit it, Stella did have a point. Just how much did she know about Milo? What if he was just some guy who seduced every tourist who came his way? She hadn’t let it worry her until now but today had got pretty intense between them with the looks they’d exchanged and the moments they’d shared. She was really beginning to develop feelings for him. But just who was he?

As soon as Milo had dropped Alice off, he reached inside his jacket pocket for his phone and discovered that it had gone flat. He cursed. He wanted to let Hanna know that he was running late but that he was on his way for Tiana. Hanna was pretty easygoing and Tiana always loved being there and he was sure it would be okay but, all the same, he hated being late. He’d just have to make up as much time as he could on the way there.

He knew he should have charged his phone up before he left home but he’d been so anxious to find out if Alice was all right that he hadn’t had the time. He smiled as he thought about their day together. He’d been so relieved to have found her and she’d seemed happy to see him too, hadn’t she? He hadn’t been imagining it this time, he felt that for certain. And then, at the temple…

He gave a long, low whistle. He mustn’t think about such things when he was on his moped – it was far too dangerous. Yet, he couldn’t get the image of Alice out of his mind. Her deep blue eyes, the softness of her skin and the way the breeze had caught her hair. She had been so beautiful and yet she was always denying the fact that she was. Did she not see it herself? When she smiled, the whole world seemed to light up. He wasn’t the only one to notice it either, he thought, as he remembered the outspoken dark-eyed man in Kintos.

‘And the pelican,’ he said, laughing to himself at the memory. No, Alice was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen because she made him feel the sort of happiness he had only ever imagined was possible.

When he arrived at Hanna’s, a young woman answered the door.

‘Is Hanna there?’ he asked, surprised to see a stranger in the house.

The young woman shook her head. ‘Are you Milo?’

‘Yes,’ Milo said, immediately on alert.

‘Hanna is sick. She’s in bed. I’m looking after her.’

‘And Tiana? Where’s Tiana?’ He was trying to keep his voice under control.

‘My husband took her home.’

‘What?
When?
’

The woman shrugged and Milo wanted to shake her by the shoulders at her casualness. ‘Two hours ago? Maybe three. I don’t know. We tried to ring you but there was no answer.’

‘My phone was flat,’ he said. ‘Look, I’ve got to get home. Give Hanna my love, okay? Tell her I’ll call tomorrow, won’t you?’

Milo leapt onto his moped and drove at almost twice the speed he normally did, taking the corners way too fast, but he had to get home as quickly as possible. Tiana had been left alone, he thought. She’d been taken home by a strange man and left in the house on her own.

Common sense told him that she would be all right. She was a sensible, mature girl, but what if something had gone wrong? She was still a child, after all, and accidents happened. What if she’d tried to cook something and had burnt herself? What if she’d gone swimming alone and had drowned? Or what if she’d fallen over and knocked herself out? The image of Tiana in a thousand different positions of danger assaulted Milo’s mind as he rode home and, even though he was going much faster than usual, time seemed to be slowing down and the journey seemed never-ending.

Finally, he was home but there was something else to worry about because there, outside their house, was his brother’s car.

He cursed to himself.

‘Tiana?’ he cried as he ran into the house but he was immediately stopped by the bulk of his brother, Georgio, who filled the doorframe of the kitchen and glared at Milo.

‘So, you’re back at last.’

‘Where’s Tiana?’ Milo cried.

‘In her bedroom with Sonya,’ Georgio said, his face dark and thunderous.

‘Is she okay?’

‘Yes, no thanks to you.’

Milo raked a hand through his hair. Of all the times for his brother to show up.

‘My phone went flat and Hanna fell ill and somebody brought Tiana home before I got a chance to find out,’ Milo explained, knowing it was going to do him no good at all.

‘Hanna’s an old woman,’ his brother said with a glare. ‘She shouldn’t be looking after a young girl.’

‘Hanna is a perfectly capable woman who’s raised more children than anyone else on Kethos.’

‘Well, she shouldn’t be looking after them now,’ Georgio said.

‘Milo!’ Tiana’s voice suddenly screamed and she ran into the kitchen to hug her brother. ‘Hanna got sick and this man brought me home in his old van that made a funny chugging noise every time we went round a corner.’

Milo’s eyes widened in horror at the expression on his brother’s face. It was like pouring petrol onto an already roaring fire.

‘Imagine what we thought, finding her here on her own,’ Georgio said. ‘Anything could have happened to her!’

‘I was okay, Milo. I didn’t break anything,’ Tiana said just as Sonya appeared at the door.

‘Milo,’ Sonya said and he knew that that was the beginning and the ending of the niceties. ‘We were so worried. We got here and Tiana was all on her own!’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘It’s never happened before but my mobile went flat and Hanna–’

‘It’s unforgiveable,’ Sonya said, moving towards Tiana and wrapping her arms around the child’s shoulders. Tiana squirmed in an attempt to get away but the grip was vicelike. ‘I can’t believe how irresponsible you are. Just imagine if something had happened to her.’

‘Nothing happened to her!’ Milo said.

‘Absolutely
nothing
happened to me,’ Tiana echoed.

‘This can’t go on,’ Georgio said. ‘This is
exactly
the sort of thing we’ve been worried about, isn’t it, Sonya?’

Sonya nodded.

‘Tiana,’ Milo said, ‘why don’t you go through to your bedroom and make sure it’s nice and tidy?’

For once, Tiana didn’t argue. It was as good an excuse as any to get away from Sonya and she took it without hesitation.

‘This is just bad timing,’ Milo said, as soon as Tiana was out of earshot. He knew how lame he sounded but it was the only excuse he had.

‘Bad
timing
?’ Georgio snapped. ‘It’s just
bad
.’

Milo tried not to grind his teeth in anger. His brother had always had the ability to make him feel about six years old. ‘Why couldn’t you turn up at any other time when we’re both sat in the kitchen having dinner together – a dinner made from fresh ingredients – put together by us? Or turn up when I’m helping her with her homework or cleaning a cut when she’s fallen out of a tree.’

‘What?’ Sonya all but screamed.

Milo winced. Maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea to mention that. ‘My point is, I’m here for her. I’m here for her when she’s stuck on her homework or if somebody at school has upset her and she’s crying. I’m here for her when she’s got a temperature or a tummy bug or is too tired to walk to bed and needs to be carried. I’m here for her when she wants to go into town for girly things or if she’s outgrown a pair of shoes.’

‘But you weren’t here for her today,’ his brother said.

Milo took a deep breath. That’s all that counted in his brother’s eyes, wasn’t it?

‘Look, this is not the time to talk about it,’ Milo said.

‘Then when is?’ his brother asked.

‘I don’t know what you expect me to say to that,’ Milo said.

‘We
need
to talk about this, Milo. We can’t keep putting it off.’

Milo shook his head. ‘It can wait – if there really is anything to talk about at all.’

‘
If?
’ his brother hissed. ‘This can’t go on. Just look at the life you lead!’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Out till late with God only knows who.’

‘It’s not late and tonight was a bit out of the ordinary, anyway.’

‘A young man like you shouldn’t be raising a girl. It’s just not right,’ Georgio went on.

‘She’s my sister – why isn’t it right? I can’t think of anything
more
right.’

‘Because you’re not settled. What kind of a life can you hope to give her? Your lifestyle, your job, a different woman every week—’

‘That’s not true!’ Milo shouted, his voice fuelled by anger.

‘I just think you should reconsider things,’ Georgio said. ‘I think we all made a mistake when we left Tiana here with you. Everything got so confusing after Mama died and we all thought it was best that she stayed here – in the home that she knew – but she should have been with us – right from the beginning. I think we can all see that now. For a start, Sonya and I have two salaries coming in. We can provide a stable environment for the girl.’

‘But we agreed, Georgio – she’s happiest here. She doesn’t need two salaries – she
needs
to be here.’

‘Well, we don’t see that any more,’ Georgio went on. ‘Sonya and I have been talking.’

‘Talking?’ Milo said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

‘
More
than talking,’ Sonya interjected.

Georgio nodded. ‘Nobody’s saying you haven’t done a great job with Tiana. We all know that you’re far more responsible than many your age.’

Milo gave an affronted laugh.

‘But it’s time, Milo. We all know it.’

‘Do we?’ he said.

‘Yes,’ Georgio said. ‘It’s time to put Tiana first.’