Baklavá
Koula, 64
Perth, 2010
In the morning, after Evan left for work, Koula had her breakfast and unloaded the dishwasher. She thought of Athena, still in London. It had been so many years now. Surely she would come home soon.
Koula had dreamt of her the night before. Athena. A yellow taxi. Snow. Two children. She felt that Athena was going to call and tell her something. She really hoped that Athena would have a baby soon. She knew it was the only thing that would bring her back from London. Chrissie’s daughters had a friend who lived there, and as soon as she got pregnant she flew straight home. Not even Athena in all her infinite nonsense would agree that raising a child in London was a good idea.
Koula had visited Athena there. She liked Harrods and Selfridges and Liberty. They were nice department stores. She had bought some things for her grandchildren – teddy bears and moneyboxes in the shape of miniature red telephone booths. They had afternoon tea at the Ritz once. Koula loved the tiny sandwiches and cream puffs on tiered stands, and the nice white tablecloth and beautiful cups.
The rest of it she could do without.
The Tube was filthy. There were so many people sleeping in doorways. It was wet and cold, grey and rainy for days and days and days. She did not see a single person smile the entire time. They were all wrapped in their scarves, looking at the wet pavement in front of them.
Perth was a paradise compared to London. Koula had always privately wondered why so many British people left their lives to come live in Australia, particularly Perth. This confirmed her suspicions: that Australia was a wholly better country to live in. And, honestly, how did people raise children in those cramped apartments? It was ludicrous.
Koula’s telephone rang and she picked it up as she stacked away the last of the plates from the dishwasher.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi, Mum,’ said Athena. ‘I have some news. Some major news, actually.’
‘I thought you would call today. What’s your news?’
‘I’m pregnant,’ said Athena.
‘Oh, Athena!’ Koula said, heart fluttering. ‘That is the best news I’ve ever heard. Is it a boy or a girl?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Well, when are you finding out?’
‘I don’t think we will find out. I mean, it was enough to find out that I’m pregnant.’
‘You’re not finding out?’ Koula asked. ‘Athena, how am I supposed to get ready for the baby?’
‘Well, Mum. The other news is that we’re going to come home to Perth now,’ Athena said.
‘Yes, that’s wonderful, of course you will,’ said Koula. ‘You can live with us.’
There was silence on the other end and Koula thought that perhaps the line wasn’t working properly.
‘Athena? Are you there?’
‘Yes, I’m here. Mum, we can’t live with you.’
‘Not forever. Just until you get your own house.’
‘Okay. Thanks, Mum,’ Athena said.
‘So, when are you coming back? You better come back soon before you’re too pregnant to fly,’ said Koula.
‘Oh yes, I know,’ Athena said. ‘Richard has asked his work to relocate him to Perth, so we’re just waiting on that confirmation.’
‘Confirmation, right,’ Koula said. And then: ‘Athena, wear your máti. All the time.’
‘Okay,’ Athena said and Koula knew that she was rolling her eyes.
‘I know you think it’s silly, but you need to protect the baby,’ Koula said. ‘The evil eye is everywhere, especially when you’re pregnant. Babies are so precious in this world.’
‘Yes, okay,’ Athena said.
‘So, how far along are you? Six weeks?’
‘Six? No, it’s twelve weeks now.’
‘And you waited this long to tell me?’
‘I just wanted to make sure,’ Athena said.
Koula knew that Athena had kept it a secret from her on purpose. Athena was very good at secrets. Koula was hurt, a little hurt, that Athena had not called her the moment she knew. But maybe it was better this way.
‘I knew that you would want to tell everyone so now you don’t have to keep it a secret,’ Athena said.
‘You think I can’t keep secrets?’
‘Sorry, Mum. That’s not what I meant.’
‘Okay, okay,’ Koula said. ‘Well, I really hope you’re eating properly. And I hope that Richard is looking after you. Stop eating that butter chicken. It won’t be good for the baby. You need to eat red meat, fresh fish, nuts, lots of yoghurt. Are you still getting our yoghurt deliveries?’
‘Yes, Mum,’ Athena said, sounding a little deflated.
‘I’m so excited Athena! I’ll call you tomorrow,’ said Koula.
Koula knew what it was like to be an excellent grandmother. But it was different when it was your daughter who was pregnant. Koula would be able to help more. She would have to cook for Athena and her grandchild, as Athena could not cook to save her life. Koula would need to be on call to help. She would be the favourite grandparent. Koula would make sure of that. She knew exactly which toys children liked at different ages. She knew how to make the best Greek biscuits and desserts. Koula knew how to win children over. Her grandchildren all adored her the most. Their other grandparents were no competition.
Koula called Evan at the factory. Athena was pregnant and coming home! Koula called her mother. Sia was delighted. This was the best news she’d ever heard. Koula called Chrissie. But Koula remembered she should not get too excited too soon. When Chrissie’s daughter was pregnant for the first time, Koula and Chrissie went out and bought all the little baby things but then she had a miscarriage in the second trimester.
‘Let’s not make the same mistake we made last time,’ Koula said to Chrissie.
‘Oh no, we learned our lesson,’ Chrissie said. ‘But closer to the time we can buy a few things. We can wait until she gets back. We can decorate the baby’s room!’
‘But Chrissie, she’s not finding out if it’s a boy or a girl. How are we meant to buy anything?’
‘What? She’s not finding out? Are you serious?’
‘She says she doesn’t want to know in advance,’ Koula said.
‘But how is she going to know what to buy? How are we going to know what to buy in advance? Are we meant to go out shopping as soon as the baby arrives at the hospital?’
Good point.
Koula called and left Athena a message on her voicemail.
‘Athena, I was talking to Chrissie and you need to find out what you’re having so we know what to buy. Otherwise, it’s too hard. You don’t want to be the only mother on the maternity ward without clothes for their baby. And the baby clothes they have at the hospital are not nice at all. So, find out please and let me know.’
Athena did not find out.
_____
The day that Athena was due to arrive home from London Koula was up early, making Athena’s favourite dishes. She made spanakópita and manéstra. She made a tray of baklavá. She bought the best quality nuts and spices from the European grocer and added extra sugar to the syrup. She let it soak into the nuts and the pastry. Koula smiled. It was an important day. The only problem was that she had to wait until midnight for the flight to arrive! She had all day to get things ready, but when she looked at her wristwatch only ten minutes had passed. She made the food, she pruned the roses and tidied the garden, she vacuumed and changed the linen. She put a vase of roses in the guest room for Athena and Richard. She put a separate vase with roses in the guest ensuite.
All international flights to Perth always seemed to arrive at midnight. They were flying via Singapore. At 11 pm, Koula and Evan drove to the airport. Athena tried to tell them that she and Richard would take a taxi, but Koula wouldn’t hear of it.
‘We will pick you up,’ said Koula. ‘If you order a car, I will tell them to leave before you get out of the gate.’
Koula looked out the window at the dark freeway, the lights, past the city with its tall buildings. Evan yawned the whole way.
‘Wake up, Evan!’ Koula said, nudging him. ‘You should have had a coffee.’
Evan parked as close to the terminal as he could manage. Evan and Koula sat in front of the arrivals gate. Athena and Richard would need to go through immigration and customs before they were allowed through. Then Evan could help them with their luggage.
Koula’s stomach was alive with nerves. She couldn’t stay sitting down so she got up and paced for a while. Then she sat back down again.
‘Do you think that vanilla bean deluxe or vanilla swirl is a better name?’ asked Evan.
‘What?’
‘Vanilla yoghurt is all the rage. We need more vanilla. But we need to make it different from our original Greek vanilla.’
‘Ask Athena, she’s the one who is good with words,’ Koula said. ‘Just call it vanilla yoghurt, Evan. That’s what it is. I thought we paid people to come up with this sort of thing. Not leave it up to you to decide.’
‘Yes, but they said that we need a new type of vanilla. That would increase sales. Vanilla is where the money is at.’
Greek Vanilla, Vanilla Vanilla. It was all the same.
Koula glanced around the airport. The pale-green plastic seats and dirty grey floor. The echo of the reminder not to leave any bags unattended.
‘Thank God she’s coming home for good,’ said Koula. ‘I could not bear it any longer. I’m glad she’s got it out of her system, and now she can get on with having her family and staying here with us.’
‘Just take it easy on her,’ said Evan.
‘What? What do you mean? I’ve been too easy on her. That’s her problem. I was too easy. I said yes to everything. I was too liberal with the little ‘l’. I should have been stricter, like Chrissie. Chrissie was stricter than me and now her daughters live next door to her and help her with everything. I was too nice. And look what happened.’
‘Well, what happened?’
‘She married that vlákas, and they’ve been in London for ten years, that’s what happened.’
‘Well, they’ll be home now,’ Evan said. ‘Just go easy on them.’
‘Hmmmmm,’ said Koula. Ten years had passed. That was a long time of not living in the same hemisphere as her daughter. But they were back now. Once the young ones got their travelling out of their system, they stayed in Perth, close to their family. Chrissie assured her that they always stayed once they had children.
‘And they’re having a baby,’ said Evan. ‘That will keep you busy.’
‘Athena will need a lot of help,’ said Koula. ‘More than most mothers. Good thing she’ll be here, not in that tiny cell of an apartment.’
Koula watched a Chinese family reunite. An older woman, her children, her grandchildren. It was a bit late for those young children to be up. It was after midnight. Maybe they didn’t care in their culture. Koula knew that Greek children always stayed up late, but she had always put her children to bed early. Sleep was good for their brains, everyone knew that.
She almost missed the moment they stepped through the gate. Athena! It was her Athena, but bigger and softer, wider. Oh, she looked so different, pregnant, waddling along. Koula ran up to Athena and hugged her. She was back! She was back!
‘Hi, Mum,’ Athena said, returning her embrace.
‘Athena! You’re so big! Look at you! Wonderful,’ said Koula. Athena was here and pregnant and so lovely!
‘We’re having twins,’ said Athena, smiling. ‘It’s twins.’
‘Oh, Athena!’ Koula’s heart had never been so full of love. Twins! Twins! She hugged Athena again. ‘Ftoú ftoú ftoú.’
Athena laughed.
‘Twins will be a lot of work, Athena,’ Koula said, simmering in excitement. Twins! Twins! This was the best thing to ever happen.
‘Hi, Koula,’ said Richard.
‘Hello, Richard,’ Koula said. ‘Thank you for bringing me my daughter home safely. Congratulations.’
Richard leaned over to give Koula a hug. She accepted the hug, but pulling back and looking in his face she realised there was still something about him that she didn’t like. It hadn’t evaporated in the years they had lived in London.
But there was Athena! Athena with her bulging belly, carrying twins and smiley, happy face. This was going to be a good time.
_____
On the drive home from the airport Athena was quiet, looking out the window.
‘How were your flights?’ Evan asked Richard. Evan was driving and Richard was in the front seat. Athena was in the back next to Koula.
‘Oh, it was so long, you know,’ said Richard. ‘The second flight from Singapore was okay, but the longer one was quite uncomfortable.’
Uncomfortable for you, thought Koula. You’re not the one carrying twins, just yourself.
‘I made the guest room up for you,’ said Koula. ‘You can stay as long as you like though. Don’t rush finding a house and moving out. You can even stay and have the babies with us if you want to.’
‘That’s okay, Mum,’ said Athena. ‘We’ve already put an offer on a house. The offer’s been accepted.’
‘What? You bought a house without looking at it?’
‘It’s fine, Koula. I know the real estate agent,’ said Richard. ‘We looked at the photos online and I trust him.’
‘Your father or I could have looked at it for you. We could have—’
‘It’s okay, Mum,’ said Athena. ‘It’s all sorted. Don’t worry. We can stay with you for a week or so until we get sorted.’
‘Only one week!’ Koula said.
‘It’s alright, Athena,’ Evan said. ‘Your mother is just excited. She is so excited to have you home. And for the babies. We’re both excited.’
‘How’s the yoghurt business, Evan?’ Richard asked.
‘Oh yes, still going. Lots of work. Still going,’ Evan said.
Koula stared at the back of Richard from the back seat. As if Richard knew anything about yoghurt, or business for that matter. Koula wasn’t exactly sure what he did. She didn’t like the way he asked. She didn’t like him at all. She wondered if she would like him once he was the father of her grandchildren. Maybe. Probably not.
Koula turned her head and watched Athena look out the window.
‘You must be so pleased to be home,’ said Koula.
‘Oh, yes,’ said Athena, smiling. ‘And there’s the city. It looks so small.’
Koula watched Athena look at the Perth skyline as they approached. The rectangular blocks lit up with their neon signs reflecting on the river. Why would you need more buildings than that? They would just bring more people and pollution. London was too big, too grey and dirty.
And now, Athena was back!
Athena was back forever.
_____
Evan helped Richard with the bags and they walked to the house. It was still pitch-black outside, the early hours of the morning. Athena couldn’t appreciate the garden in this light. They had spent a lot of time working on it before Athena came home.
‘What are you going to have to eat before you go to bed? I have píta, manéstra, baklavá, everything you like,’ said Koula.
Athena rubbed her eyes.
‘Maybe we should just go to bed,’ said Richard.
‘Yes,’ said Athena. ‘Actually, Mum, I’m just really tired. Can we eat it tomorrow?’
‘I think you should eat something. It’s such a long way and you need to be strong for the babies,’ Koula said. ‘Maybe just soup?’
‘Koula, she’s tired,’ Richard said, putting her arm around Athena and leading her to the stairs.
‘Sure, okay,’ Koula said.
‘Goodnight, Mum!’ Athena called out.
‘Goodnight,’ said Koula. ‘Welcome home.’
_____
Koula surveyed the pots and pans and hours of industry from earlier in the day.
‘She was tired,’ Evan said.
‘I know she was tired.’
‘We can put it all in the fridge?’ Evan said.
‘Okay,’ Koula said, sighing. She poured the soup into a large Tupperware container. Evan scooped the manéstra into a ceramic dish with a lid. The baklavá would keep in the tray.
As Koula wiped down the bench, her bracelet caught on the edge of the chopping board, snapped, and the máti bounced off her wrist and rolled under the dishwasher. Her gold bracelet slipped off her wrist, a golden snake diving to the floor.
‘Oh no! Evan!’ Koula cried out.
‘What?’
‘My bracelet broke. My máti!’
‘Can we get it in the morning?’
‘Evan, it’s very important.’
‘It’s nearly 2 am,’ he said. ‘Please, can it wait?’
‘Fine,’ Koula said. Her bones ached. She set the alarm on her phone.
Koula couldn’t help but think it was an omen. She had to get it back. She thought of Mary.
Mary, Mary, Mary.
_____
In the morning, Koula woke with her alarm before the sun to retrieve the máti. She was lying uncomfortably on her kitchen tiles, trying to get it from under the very small gap between the dishwasher and the floor. She tried knives and then a beaten-up old wooden ruler. Nothing would reach far enough.
‘Evan!’ she yelled at him, when he walked through the door. ‘You need to disconnect the dishwasher and move it out so I can get the máti.’
‘Can I make some coffee first?’
‘I’ll make the coffee, you do this.’
‘Alright, alright,’ he said. ‘It’s pretty heavy, I might need Richard or one of the boys to help me move it.’
‘Go and get Richard then,’ Koula said. ‘The boys won’t be here for another few hours.’
‘I think we should let Richard and Athena sleep in,’ Evan said.
Koula heard someone falling down the stairs, a couple of thuds and a shout.
Koula and Evan scrambled up the stairs and saw Athena sitting further up them.
‘Oh, I fell down. I think I’m okay. I just lost my balance,’ she said.
‘Athena! You must be careful,’ Koula said, grabbing her wrist. ‘Where is your máti?’
‘Relax, Mum,’ Athena said, holding up her other hand. Her máti was there; it stared at Koula.
‘You need to wear it all the time,’ Koula said in a low voice.
‘Okay, I do, relax,’ she said. ‘Can you help me up now? Thanks, Dad.’ Evan pulled Athena to her feet.
‘Do the babies feel okay? Maybe you should see a doctor today and tell him about the fall,’ Koula said.
‘Mum, I’m fine.’
The three of them walked back down the stairs, into the kitchen.
‘What happened to the dishwasher?’
‘My máti fell off last night and rolled underneath it,’ said Koula.
‘You seriously need to relax about the whole máti thing, Mum,’ Athena said, sitting herself at the table.
But Koula was convinced there was a link between her máti falling off and Athena tripping down the stairs. Oh, Athena would need to be so careful now she was pregnant. The evil eye would be everywhere.
‘You don’t look well, Mum,’ Athena said. ‘Are you alright?’
‘We haven’t had our coffee yet,’ said Evan. ‘We are very happy that you’re home.’
Koula sat down while Evan unloaded the food from the fridge. Athena scooped out some soup into a bowl and put it in the microwave.
Poor Mary. She had never been allowed to live, to get married, to have children. She was so young, that girl, so young.
Koula watched Athena eat. Athena had probably wanted to eat last night and Richard was the one who didn’t want her to. She would need to watch out for him.
Finally, when Richard emerged from his sleep, he helped Evan pull the dishwasher out. And there, coated in a layer of dust as if it had been hiding there for years, was Koula’s máti.
Koula undid the clasp that held her gold cross around her neck and slipped the máti onto it. Jesus wouldn’t mind.
‘So, when are you finding out whether they’re boys or girls?’ Koula asked.
Richard coughed and Athena looked at him.
‘You already know,’ Koula said.
‘No,’ said Athena. ‘Well, I don’t want to know. Richard knows.’
Koula looked over at Richard, smug and unshaven, drinking coffee.
‘He knows. I cannot believe you are not going to tell me,’ Koula said. ‘Richard, you have to tell me.’
‘Koula, just relax. Let them be. They just arrived,’ Evan said in a quieter than normal voice.
So Koula busied herself in the kitchen. Athena was home! Athena was pregnant! Everything was going to be okay. Koula watched Athena eat a little soup, manéstra, baklavá, but not as much as Koula would have liked. And she was carrying twins. Twins! She couldn’t wait to tell her mother and Chrissie. And the whole world!
But as she watched Athena eat, Koula had a feeling that it wouldn’t be okay. She thought of Mary’s almond eyes. Mary’s grandchildren that would never exist.
‘What’s wrong, Mum? You’ve turned very pale,’ Athena said.
‘Oh, just thinking about something from long ago,’ Koula said quickly. ‘Let’s call your grandmother and get her over here. She’ll be awake already. She can’t wait to see you. And wait until we tell her your news!’