Page 101 of Villa of Secrets

‘Naomi, you really should take it easy. Now, I’ll sit with Bubba and watch TV with her for a bit. Could you set the table ready for lunch? That would be great!’

She’s pregnant; her head’s in the clouds, Naomi thought. Breathe in and count to ten.

Papas Yiannis and Heleny arrived just before the food. Rebecca made a fuss of the delivery boy, but then asked Naomi for help when he wouldn’t accept Rebecca’s credit card. Fifty-three euros, almost all the money Naomi had in the house – what was left of Bubba’s pension and all Naomi’s money from Pandora’s Box.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and said how lovely it was of Rebecca to do this. Naomi caught a look from Bubba and sat by her side.

‘Remember: she’ll be gone soon, and then you’ll be sad,’ Bubba said quietly, understanding and patting the back of Naomi’s hand.

Papas Yiannis was leaving. He turned in the doorway. ‘Thank you, Rebecca. That’s the best food I’ve had for a long time.’

‘Me too,’ Heleny agreed.

Bubba patted the back of Naomi’s hand again. ‘They’re just being nice.’

‘Yes, it was lovely, Rebecca,’ Naomi said, heartbroken that all the money she’d made from the products had gone.

Rebecca beamed. ‘My pleasure.’ She turned to her grandmother. ‘Come on, Bubba, let’s watch some TV and de-stress.’

Naomi gathered the dishes, avoiding the urge to make a clatter or throw something. The room emptied. She heard Rebecca and Bubba giggling at the TV with a backdrop of canned laughter. Alone with the chores once more, Naomi experienced a wave of exhaustion.

‘Could you stick the kettle on, Sis? We’re parched,’ Rebecca called from behind the rug that hung over the archway.

Clamping her mouth shut, Naomi pulled her hands out of the dishwater, wiped them down her skirt and marched out of the front door. Suddenly finding herself without direction or purpose, she headed for the beach. When did her sister become so thoughtless? She told herself to calm down, that Rebecca meant no harm, that she was simply too happy to think straight. Still, nobody liked being taken for granted.

Five hundred steps and she would turn around. She paced, hard and fast, wishing with all her heart Costa was home. He’d be serving afternoon tea to guests right now, the cruiser moored at Mykonos.

Naomi sat on a rock and gazed out to sea. She recalled her honeymoon on that island and wondered if it had changed much. In each other’s arms, they’d watched from the top ferry deck as it approached the harbour.

The small island had shone, a jewel in the turquoise Aegean. Square white houses clustered around the port, like sugar cubes thrown at the landscape. They visited blue-domed churches and expensive gift shops, drank coffee on a Juliet balcony that hung over the sea, and walked up to the pristine, thatched windmills which stood to attention in a row.

That week was filled with love and happiness. Both thrilled to have a baby on the way. With that memory, her heart went out to her sister. She must have suffered terribly. To miscarry, to have her dreams shattered over and over again. Slightly ashamed to have got in a tizzy about Rebecca’s thoughtlessness, she abandoned the walk and returned home.

The problem was that since Rebecca’s return, Naomi had felt strangely invisible, and as lonely as she’d ever been. She loved Rebecca very much, yet somehow her sister seemed to sap Naomi’s lifeblood. She should get back and produce some candles and cream, as that always lifted her mood, but there were so many other jobs to be done first.

She arrived home refreshed, telling herself not to be so silly.

Rebecca was making a drink. ‘Ah, there you are. I wondered where you’d gone,’ she said.

‘I need a hug.’ Naomi wrapped her arms around her sister. ‘It was kind of you to get food for everyone, Rebecca. Thanks.’

‘I’ll give you the money back tomorrow, Naomi. Sorry about that. How embarrassing!’ She handed a mug of tea over.

‘Thanks. It wouldn’t matter but I am a bit short this month. Big phone bill. You know how it is?’

Rebecca shrugged and blinked, bewildered. ‘Do you need some help?’

‘No, no. I’m fine really. Costa’s wages will go in the bank next week,’ Naomi said quickly.

‘Tell me what you want to cook tomorrow and I’ll do the shopping,’ Rebecca offered.

‘Great, that would free up an hour. I have some orders to take care of.’

‘I hope you don’t mind; I’ve put my laundry in the machine, but I’m not sure how it works. Would you do it for me?’

Naomi took a breath. ‘Yes, of course.’

‘Could you be careful ironing the pink blouse though? It cost a fortune.’