Mel watched Sammia bent over the sink, diligently scrubbing the pans. Irini was feeling sick and tired and had agreed Mel could bring in extra help again for the sewing-group meeting tonight.
‘Take care where the girls are seated. Maria must not sit by Toula. They haven’t spoken since Maria’s goats went over the fence and ate Toula’s best beanstalks. Katarina must sit by old Praxilla, as she is very deaf and will miss any news. Tonight we make pastitsio and I will supervise later.’
Mel had orders for the day, but she was distracted, hoping the delivery of toys would arrive before the big day. Times were hard, but the boys must have their presents. There had been another ferry strike and the seas were rougher than normal. Spiro was helping to repair Ariadne’s villa, lending his pickup truck to transport Gary’s pool kitchen for the refit. She had underestimated Gary Partridge. This was a generous act, but it had to be hushed up until Christmas.
Sammia was silent. She couldn’t be far off her time and Mel worried about her. ‘You’ll go to the clinic to see Dr Makaris?’ Mel said.
Sammia smiled, shaking her head. ‘I am okay. It is not our custom to be seen by a man doctor,’ she replied, in halting English.
‘But Caliope, his wife, is a midwife, a nurse. She’ll help you to deliver.’
‘No, my sister will help.’ She turned away, not wanting to discuss the matter further
‘Where are you staying now?’ Mel was curious.
Sammia smiled. ‘We have shelter.’ Most of the refugee families were given rooms in empty holiday lettings. Youssef and Sammia had a stone cottage belonging to Yannis, the farmer outside the village. At the end of her shift Youssef would call to escort his wife home. Mel hoped the cottage was warm enough for a new baby. She looked out some old Babygros, kept in case there would be another child. Lately Spiro had suggested that two boys to educate would be sufficient. His heir and spare, as the royals had it. Mel would love to have a little girl but, as things were, they needed every penny to keep the taverna in business.
It didn’t feel as if Christmas was just two weeks away. After the fire, without rehearsals, the choir had melted away. Della came in for a coffee, full of ideas about a huge street party, with dancing and singing.
Mel had put a dampener on her enthusiasm. ‘Nice idea, but Greek families stay home with their families at Christmas and the Brits invite round neighbours and friends. It’s a private time.’
‘Tell me about it. Everyone hopes the Bartletts will open their house for their cronies. Not sure if I’ll be welcome, after that spat with Dorrie Thorner.’
‘That’s not fair. Chloë and Simon are very hospitable but they’re going to England to see their daughter.’
‘No, they’re not,’ Della said. ‘I gather Alexa has other plans. Chloë’s upset. I think she tried to go to London to see her, but the storm came and then the strike. Alexa is her daughter by her first marriage, not Simon’s child.’
‘You seem to know everyone here,’ Mel commented. Della could gossip with the best of them.
‘So I should. I’ve been in St Nick’s long enough. In my classes I get to hear all sorts of titbits. At least we don’t have the Thorners breathing fire and brimstone on us. Why they couldn’t let Ariadne have their villa…’
‘You know why. There are plenty of people who are prejudiced. It’s never talked about in Greek families, so many gays have to go to Athens to be their real selves. I do wish Ariadne would carry on as usual, but I hear Hebe’s unwell. The fire has shaken them both.’
‘They say she set fire to the kitchen,’ Della muttered. ‘It was an accident, though.’
‘They’ll get insurance surely,’ Mel said.
‘Who knows? Kelly tells me they’re giving them a kitchen – even she’s come down from her perch to help out.’
‘Spiro’s on with it now but mum’s the word. They want it to be a surprise. Another coffee?’
‘Nope. Off to give Julia a hand with some dog walking. The vet’s due on the ferry to neuter the latest arrivals No one wants pets unless they’re working dogs. So many just get dumped. I’m trying to persuade Natalie to have one. See you…Yass.’
Youssef arrived for his wife, his overalls covered with white paint. ‘You’ve been busy,’ Mel commented.
He nodded. ‘Much to do.’
Sammia had prepared all the vegetables and potatoes for the pastitsio, but Mel could see she was tired. ‘Your wife needs to rest,’ she said. ‘But she is such a help to us. Her time is near?’
Youssef smiled. ‘Soon, Kyria.’
She watched them walking together, not as they usual did, up the hill to Yannis’s cottage, but in the opposite direction, towards the coastal path. How strange to be going for a walk after a long shift.
Irini rose from her sick bed in a foul mood. Nothing was right. The tables were set wrongly, the pastitsio was not to her exact recipe. ‘I leave you and everything is not as we do it, Melodia, but at least the kitchen is clean.’
Then you sort it out, Mel thought, but bit her tongue once more.
Later the village ladies were seated as directed, all chattering away, complaining about the wet weather, the prices in the minimarket, the threat of more strikes and the loss of jobs.
‘Yannis’s son and his family have come back from the mainland. He has no work, so he’s back on the farm in the cottage,’ Toula said.
‘But the refugees are living there,’ Mel said.
‘They had to leave. Family first,’ Toula replied.
‘So where are they living now?’ Mel was shocked at this news.
‘Who knows?’
That was why they were heading in a different direction, but where to? Everything was shut up around the harbour. Perhaps Youssef’s brother was settled somewhere. That must be it, but why had Sammia not said anything?
Youssef and Sammia were proud and must find living here so different from Damascus, but all Sammia had said was, ‘We are safe here from bombings and soldiers. It is better than in the camp.’
Spiro brought the boys in for a late supper, but Mel didn’t feel up to making another meal, so she had set aside a dish for the family. ‘How’s it going?’ she asked him.
‘Etzi-getzi, so-so, but we will get it done in time. Their garden is in ruins.’
‘That can wait,’ Mel said. ‘Will the kitchen fit?’
‘We can make it fit. The floor is okay and the units are good, very expensive. Youssef will finish the decorating soon.’
‘Did you know Yannis has had to let them go? Ari is back from Athens.’
‘I had heard.’
‘Where’s Youssef living now?’
‘Don’t know, he never said.’
‘Please find out for me.’ Mel added, ‘Sammia needs to rest, not work, but work is money. With a baby coming, I’m worried for them.’
‘You look tired yourself. Go home and put your feet up. I’ll bring the boys back later.’
Mel smiled. ‘Thanks, I’m ready for a bath. My ears ache with all that jabbering in the dining room. Please, God, no power cuts this evening. There’s a DVD I want to watch if I can stay awake.’