A Song Amongst the Orange Trees (The Greek Village Collection Book 13) by Sara Alexi Page B
Authors: Sara Alexi
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are so kind that he will get a dozen offers of a bed for the night. He would be grateful, of course, but somehow that would seal his role as the son of Costas the crocodile killer and, no matter how nice these people are, how kind and generous their natures, he is just not willing to do that. He has worked too hard to break free and prove himself on his own terms. Not one person has mentioned the competition that he won, not just for himself, but for his country. For all he knows, they may not even recognise him from the television. Maybe they didn't even watch it?
'I am just passing. Thought I would take a look,' he says vaguely. It’s almost true, but an idea is beginning to form in a little corner of his heart. What about doing up the cottage as a little country escape, a place to retreat to if America gets too much? The melody that sifted through his soul earlier plays again in his heart, softer this time, not so aggressive, with a slower beat and the phrase end comes, too. He must play it as soon as he gets back to the hotel, remember the shapes of the chords in the patterns of his fingers.
'You not stopping then?' Dora asks, her eyes moistening as if her emotions live close to the surface. Over on his left, he can feel Jules staring at him.
'Well, it depends on what the inside is like. If it is not too bad, maybe I will stay a night.' There is no need to explain more to these people
'The inside will be fine,' Thanasis assures him. 'The roof developed a leak last winter, but I fixed that. Dora gives the place a sweep out every few months.'
'But there are no mattresses,' Dora interrupts. 'We had to throw them out years ago. I have some of the linen still, though. I hope you don't mind, but we have been using it. After you did not come for first one year and then two, it seemed the best thing to do.' She is fidgeting and her cheeks are red, as if she feels she has done something wrong.
'Good for you.' Sakis puts her at her ease.
'But why not stay with us?' Dora’s face brightens.
'That is so kind,' Sakis says and Jules breaks away from Yorgos and comes to stand by his side. 'But I think I would prefer to revisit my yiayia’s house.'
'I have a mattress you can have,' bird-like Anna offers. 'Then if you come again, it is all waiting for you.' Sakis smiles his thank you; Jules takes a step closer to him. 'Katerina, what happened to that one your brother gave to you? I thought you said it was in your way.'
'It is rolled up and in the apothiki .' She speaks as though irritated. Then her eyebrows raise and her face brightens. 'Ah, but you can come across and get it.' It is clear she would enjoy the process. She looks around the company, nodding and smiling at her own importance.
'Meat’s done,' Yorgos announces, and this prompts everyone to take a plate. There is noise of cutlery and crockery. The patient dog barks and someone tells him to Shh . A child offers the animal a small piece of bread, which it sniffs at disinterestedly.
The more the villagers talk, the less his baba is mentioned, but nor does he get to assert himself and brag about his recent win. There is a moment when Katerina slips up beside him and whispers, 'I think everyone else was watching the Olympiakos match on the other side. You were very good. Well done.'
He turns to thank her and she smiles shyly.
'I think your friend Yorgos is the only person here who speaks English,' Jules interrupts them and Katerina looks down to her empty plate and heads toward the food. Jules has a plate of food piled so high that if he eats it all, he will not be hungry for months. Most of the people have gravitated to the table in the shade by the side of the house to sit and eat. The day is growing hot. The dog has taken refuge under the table and chickens strut from the backyard to clean up as crumbs are dropped. They show no fear.
As bellies fill, the chatter quietens. Thanasis and Yorgos pop over to Anna’s for her mattress and then, to the disappointment of
'I am just passing. Thought I would take a look,' he says vaguely. It’s almost true, but an idea is beginning to form in a little corner of his heart. What about doing up the cottage as a little country escape, a place to retreat to if America gets too much? The melody that sifted through his soul earlier plays again in his heart, softer this time, not so aggressive, with a slower beat and the phrase end comes, too. He must play it as soon as he gets back to the hotel, remember the shapes of the chords in the patterns of his fingers.
'You not stopping then?' Dora asks, her eyes moistening as if her emotions live close to the surface. Over on his left, he can feel Jules staring at him.
'Well, it depends on what the inside is like. If it is not too bad, maybe I will stay a night.' There is no need to explain more to these people
'The inside will be fine,' Thanasis assures him. 'The roof developed a leak last winter, but I fixed that. Dora gives the place a sweep out every few months.'
'But there are no mattresses,' Dora interrupts. 'We had to throw them out years ago. I have some of the linen still, though. I hope you don't mind, but we have been using it. After you did not come for first one year and then two, it seemed the best thing to do.' She is fidgeting and her cheeks are red, as if she feels she has done something wrong.
'Good for you.' Sakis puts her at her ease.
'But why not stay with us?' Dora’s face brightens.
'That is so kind,' Sakis says and Jules breaks away from Yorgos and comes to stand by his side. 'But I think I would prefer to revisit my yiayia’s house.'
'I have a mattress you can have,' bird-like Anna offers. 'Then if you come again, it is all waiting for you.' Sakis smiles his thank you; Jules takes a step closer to him. 'Katerina, what happened to that one your brother gave to you? I thought you said it was in your way.'
'It is rolled up and in the apothiki .' She speaks as though irritated. Then her eyebrows raise and her face brightens. 'Ah, but you can come across and get it.' It is clear she would enjoy the process. She looks around the company, nodding and smiling at her own importance.
'Meat’s done,' Yorgos announces, and this prompts everyone to take a plate. There is noise of cutlery and crockery. The patient dog barks and someone tells him to Shh . A child offers the animal a small piece of bread, which it sniffs at disinterestedly.
The more the villagers talk, the less his baba is mentioned, but nor does he get to assert himself and brag about his recent win. There is a moment when Katerina slips up beside him and whispers, 'I think everyone else was watching the Olympiakos match on the other side. You were very good. Well done.'
He turns to thank her and she smiles shyly.
'I think your friend Yorgos is the only person here who speaks English,' Jules interrupts them and Katerina looks down to her empty plate and heads toward the food. Jules has a plate of food piled so high that if he eats it all, he will not be hungry for months. Most of the people have gravitated to the table in the shade by the side of the house to sit and eat. The day is growing hot. The dog has taken refuge under the table and chickens strut from the backyard to clean up as crumbs are dropped. They show no fear.
As bellies fill, the chatter quietens. Thanasis and Yorgos pop over to Anna’s for her mattress and then, to the disappointment of
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