Thursday morning, the sun was a blazing yellow orb high in the mighty sky overhead, warming everything with all its glorious power. The storms had scattered leaves, branches, and debris everywhere. After cleaning up, Jack and Ravenna sat on the glistening, whitewashed patio enjoying the silence, each other, and the gorgeous view that lay at their feet. They both thought of their conversations from the day before. What were they going to do?
Jack started to say something when he noticed a young man, barely twenty, swing open the gates of the old hotel.
“Kalimera,” Jack greeted him in his newfound Greek. “Good morning.”
“Kalimera,” the young man responded, latching the double gates together.
“Yeiá sas,” Jack said to him. “How are you? Pos se lene?”
“Yeia sas. Me lene Demetri,” he responded to them, amazed at Jack’s command of the Greek language. “My name is Demitri.”
“Jack and Ravenna,” he told the young visitor, pointing to himself and Ravenna.
“May I try the English to practice?” he asked.
“Neh,” Jack said.
“Nicolai, Poppa, me uncle, send me here with words for you,” he said proudly, as he held out a slip of paper to Ravenna.
Ravenna, my great red haired one, my many thanks to you
and your good friend Jack for saving my life.
I not thank you good enough that night.
Please accept this gift to both of you as a small token of esteem.
Demetri is good sailor and will sail you both on me boat for a day to the island of Ita.
Enjoy. Much thanks again.
Nicolai Popamaronis
…
“Yes?” Demitri smiled and asked them. Ravenna gave him a hug.
He blushed and stood there like a young schoolboy before saying, “I get boat at dock and wait for you. Bring no food, please, everything on board. We leave soon?”
She glanced at Jack. “Well…sure, Demitri. Give us a half an hour and we will be ready. Right, Jack?”
“Gee, Ravenna, the waters are probably still rough from the storms. Maybe we better not. And besides, this is our last day together. I thought maybe we would just spend it here. What do you say?”
Ravenna turned to Demitri and told him something in Greek that Jack did not understand. The dark-haired young Greek turned and ran toward the gates, saying, “Yeia sas,” his hand waving goodbye at them.
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him we would meet him at the dock in thirty minutes. Now what is the real reason you don’t want to go on a boat ride? I love boat rides.”
“I know, but I hate them.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know why, I just always have. I…”
“Jack, it’s me, Ravenna. You can tell me.”
He stopped for moment before proceeding to tell her, “I don’t know how to swim. There, I said it. I have always been afraid that I will fall overboard and drown. That’s why I don’t like boats or the water.” He shrugged. “I don’t mind going in if I can stand, and there’s land a few feet away, but there’s something different about being out at sea.”
Ravenna flung her arms around his shoulders and hugged him. She took a deep breath and stood back. “I will teach you how to swim and you will never be afraid of the water again. And I’ll get some life jackets. Okay?” She said it with such confidence and sincerity, as was her way, Jack could do nothing but nod his head in agreement. “Okay. You got a deal.”
“Well, let’s get packing. You will love the island of Ita. It is a tiny, out-of-the way, uninhabited island with the prettiest beach in the whole of Greece. It is even prettier than God’s Beach. It won’t take long to get there, maybe an hour, but trust me, you will love it. There is a small cove we can anchor at and have a picnic and enjoy each other.”
Jack grinned, feeling a little relieved. He took in a deep breath and followed her inside.
The boat was well over forty feet long, with tall sails hung on the huge wooden masts that stretched high into the sky. The boat looked almost new, all of the brass shiny and bright, the white sides gleaming, and the polished, brown teak floors without a blemish. Demitri was there to greet them, along with a young helper.
“Welcome to Poppa’s boat,” he said with a smile, extending his hand to Ravenna to help her aboard.
Once they were settled in the front of the boat, the young helper brought them two glasses of chilled champagne, along with delicious Caspian caviar and crackers. Demitri navigated the tricky exit from the harbor using the small motor that was aboard for just such purposes.
As they passed the breakwater of the port, his young helper unfurled the towering sails and the ship came to life, leaping ahead in the water as the sails filled with gusts of wind. It was exhilarating. Ravenna squeezed Jack’s hand and kissed him on the cheek. She was clearly enjoying this new adventure.
“Nice?” she asked him.
“Yes, very nice,” he said, only half lying. The rush of the boat in the water was the greatest thrill Jack had ever had, and to be sharing it with Ravenna was like being in heaven. For a short while, he even forgot his fear of the water and was engrossed in the sailing experience.
Demitri’s helper, Adamos, brought them more platters of cheese, bread, and wine. After nearly an hour under sail, a small speck of land appeared on the horizon. It grew larger and larger as they sailed nearer.
Ravenna stood at the front of the boat and mused, “They say Greece is the cradle of modern civilization, but the island of Ita is said to be the soul of all Greece. Mythology regards it as the original garden of Eden, so to speak, with mythical powers to heal all that ails you.” She turned to Jack, extending her hand. “Do you think it can help us?”
“Anything is possible,” he said, taking in a deep breath of salty ocean air in the warmth of the morning sun. He stood next to her, feeling closer than ever before. The dot of land on the horizon grew larger and larger, and soon they could make out the contours of the distant unpopulated island.
A huge jagged rock, over forty feet tall, jutted into the sky. The mountainous rock was surrounded by large trees and vines interspersed with flowering red and bright yellow flowers.
Demitri and Adamos lowered the sails and slowly motored into the small cove at the mouth of the tiny island. Jack marveled at the color of the water as the sleek sailboat cut through the coral blue water.
The deepest water was the same dark blue color that the islanders used to paint the doors, windows, and everything else. The color and shade of blue changed, growing lighter, as they made their way closer to shallower water. They brought the soul of Greece home, Jack marveled; they brought it home with them simply by using the colors found here at Ita. Now he understood this small, proud country’s love of this shade of blue. It started here, on the island of Ita, the soul of Greece.
Jack glanced down, seeing the ocean floor some fifty feet below him. It was so clean and pure, and he marveled at the multicolored fish darting about beneath him.
The young captain dropped anchor and walked to the front of the boat to confer in Greek with Ravenna.
“Demitri is going to let us off here. This as close as he can get with his boat. He is going to load up the rubber dingy for us to use, and we will go in on our own. Then they will set sail and pull out to sea and come back later for us.”
“That thing?” Jack asked in amazement and horror, pointing to the red-and-orange motorized rubber boat, which appeared to Jack to be no larger than a bar of soap.
“Yes. That thing. Now behave yourself. You are going to have a great time,” she said with a certain twinkle in her eye. Jack knew that twinkle and said nothing more. She had a way about her, a positive way of assurance that everything would be all right.
The ride in the tiny dingy rocked them both from left to right; the rough seas splashed everywhere. It was rougher than it appeared from the larger boat. Even his life jacket brought Jack little comfort or security. He thought for sure the dingy would sink until he felt a thud underneath him telling him they had hit land.
The cool water splashed their legs as they stepped from the small dingy into the gentle waves lapping the sandy shore. The soft sand felt good as it squished between their toes. The gentle breeze was refreshing as Jack unloaded the small boat, his hands full with everything they brought from Nicolai.
“We back later,” shouted Demitri in his broken English and waved goodbye from the departing sailboat.
The beach at the cove was covered with the purest white sand, almost powder-like in feel, warm and soft on their feet. Ravenna walked to a secluded, shaded area and threw out the large cotton blanket under a nearby tree. Jack watched her move before setting down the picnic basket. They lay back on the blanket and saw the boat retreat into the distance and around the cove. Way off the beaten track, they were now alone in paradise.
“One more day,” he sighed to her.
“Yes, I know. I’m trying not to think about it.”
“Ravenna, I had a thought.” Jack was determined to change her mind. “Gabi’s publisher has been bugging me to write a book on architecture. What do you say, you come to Sydney with me. We could get married. Then, when I’m done in Australia, we return to Petros and I write my book here. What do you think? Huh? Good idea? Say yes, please.”
Ravenna looked into his pleading eyes. She wanted to be with him more than anything in the world, but her conscience rose up every time to tell her the right thing. But this time was different; she decided she was going to do what made her happy. To hell with the consequences. She deserved to be happy, and being with Jack made her happier than anything she’d ever experienced.
“Yes! Yes, I will go with you, and yes, I will marry you… again,” she told him.
He could not believe his ears. She said yes! He was thrilled for the new start they would have together. Nothing and no one would keep them apart ever again.
“Ravenna, you complete me, more than you can ever imagine.”
She kissed him. “Come on, let’s go,” she interrupted him. “It is hotter than a stove here with that sun. How about a swim, and then we can come back and enjoy our picnic?” She stood and stripped off her oversized t-shirt, throwing it on the blanket, then running to the water. “Come on,” she encouraged him.
Jack watched her run toward the cool blue water, wearing a skimpy white bikini, perfect in every regard. He was on his feet in an instant and ran after her. The sand felt hotter now, but the cool water was refreshing as he splashed into the rolling waves. He walked further into the water, feeling the soft, wet sand give way beneath his feet, filling the space between his toes. He stopped when the water was just to his chest. Ravenna stood just beyond reach. She encouraged him on.
“Come on, Jack. Walk slow. Then pretend you are on a bicycle, and pedal your feet beneath you. Slow but steady. You’ll be fine. Trust me.”
“I’ll wait here, Mrs. Branigan, if you don’t mind.”
She smiled. “I like the sound of that: Mrs. Ravenna Branigan.” She put her finger to her chin, thinking. “It does have a certain ring to it. But I promised to teach you to swim remember? Now walk toward me.”
“I’ll stay here, thank you very much.”
She untied her swimsuit, then, holding her bikini top high and twirling it above her head she said teasingly, “Are you sure?” She had a sparkle in her eye.
Jack surged forward, remembering what she had told him. The water grew deeper and deeper, rising higher. He was beginning to panic as the water lapped his lips.
“Trust me Jack,” she said calmly. She came closer to him, held his hands and looked down to see what he was doing. “That’s it, Jack. Hold on to my hands and just keep doing what you are doing. Yes, that’s it!”
Jack was amazed. He was swimming for the first time in his life. He liked it. Then his head sank beneath a wave and he came back up sputtering, spitting out sea water.
“You have to keep doing it, but do it very slow, and it will keep you afloat. Yes, like that.”
As he slowed his rhythm, his head rose higher in the water. He was beginning to like this. Jack swam a couple of strokes before returning to Ravenna. This is great, he thought.
They kissed in the water, while Jack had to remind himself to keep treading water. After a while it became second nature.
They moved back to shallower water. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to the large blanket on shore. They made love like it was for the very last time. He was tender and caring.
Ravenna trusted him as she had no one else before. Her emotions were torn over her decision to abandon her commitment on the island. She needed to do something for herself. She pushed her thoughts aside, only to have them return to haunt her once more. I deserve my happiness. I know Jack and I will be happy.
They fell asleep on the blanket beneath the balmy sun. The island wrapped its loving, protective arms around them, binding them together, holding them in that special place, touching their souls. It was a place and time that was theirs alone, a time to treasure.
Ravenna was the first to wake. She kissed Jack’s lips and neck before she opened the large wicker picnic basket that Poppa had given them.
“Look, Jack,” she said as he stirred. She retrieved a jar of dark kalamata olives, some caviar, and capers, and continued to find other delicacies. “This goat cheese is so fresh it is still oozing milk.” She also found other cheeses, napkins, a loaf of homemade Greek bread, a bottle of French red wine, fresh sausage, and other delectable treats.
“I’m starved,” Jack murmured as he sat up.
“Then let’s eat,” she told him, and he set up the luncheon on the large picnic blanket. They ate and drank the rich red wine and soon lay in each other’s arms again under the lush afternoon sunshine. They lay together in silence, neither of them wanting to break the mood.
The sailboat arrived just off shore an hour later, and they made their way back on the small rubber dingy to meet Demitri and the reality that awaited them.
“Welcome,” said a grinning Demitri. “Have very good time, I hope? Ita is good for soul, yes?”
“Yes, it was wonderful,” she told him. “I must thank Poppa for this wonderful trip, and I want to thank you, too, Demitri. You both have been very kind.”
The young Greek beamed from ear to ear and turned the beautiful sailboat back to their island, back home to Hotel Petros.
Tomorrow is Friday, Ravenna remembered. They would be leaving her island home together.
They lay next to one another, legs intertwined, at the front of the boat, as they rocked in sync with the rhythm of the waves. Ravenna rested her head on his chest and caressed his arm. She watched the big sails unfurl and billow above them, as the big boat surged forward in the churning water. Ravenna, lost in thought, stared at the bow of the sleek sailboat as it sliced through the frothy blue-green waters parting the waves.
What about tomorrow? Is this the right thing to do? Am I running away from my commitments again? What about my commitment to Trevor? No, it’s time for me to be happy. I deserve some happiness. I don’t want him to slip away again. It’s my time. Tomorrow, it is time to go.
She smiled to herself, more comfortable now with her decision.
But what will I tell Trevor? He’ll laugh and say he doesn’t need me. He’ll say that he can get along without me. He’ll say he never expected me to stay. Yeah, that’s what he’ll say. Good ole Trevor, he’ll understand.
That night back at the hotel on Petros, they held each other close, watching the moon rise high over the dark Aegean waters. They lay next to one another in silence, lost in their own thoughts of what tomorrow would bring.
Jack wondered to himself. I love her more than anything. But I want her to be happy. Maybe I pushed her too soon to come with me? Will she be happy leaving now? Did I force her to come? The last thing I want is for her to regret her decision. But I love her and I will do anything to make her happy. Even if it means leaving her here?
The ferryboat would arrive at the island early tomorrow. They would leave together, and then after Jack finished in Australia, they would return to Petros. Jack could write his book and everything would be fine. Simple…yet complicated.Yes. He loved this magical place.