Memories of Santorini, page 11
Her gaze roamed his face, and finally she said, “I’ll see you again. It won’t be like the last time. I promise.”
They had both promised before and look how that turned out.
She pulled out her phone. “Call me. Then my number will be in your phone and yours will be in mine.”
He laughed softly. “What if you never pick up?”
“I’ll pick up.” She recited her number, he called, and she answered the ring, ending it quickly. He watched as she opened her contacts list and added his name. “I need to see what my daughter has in mind. Then we’ll plan something. I promise.”
He had such plans for her. “How long are you here?”
“Two weeks. We flew in a couple of days ago.”
All those years ago, she’d seduced him in less than a week. And he would seduce her in less than that now.
He wouldn’t let her go without a fight.
12
Angela walked faster the closer she got to the villa, her anxiety rising as she checked over her shoulder to see if Xandros was following. He was nowhere in sight.
He had come back for her on the day they were supposed to meet. But she’d already been married, with his child in the cradle.
Once his divorce was final, he’d come back again, still waiting for her.
It had taken her thirty years.
What horrible thing did that say about her? Maybe just that she was a frightened twenty-two-year-old girl engaged to another man, the wedding only a month away, and her mother’s words ringing in her ears. He won’t want you, he won’t want the child, he’s busy seducing another girl on another tour, and he’s forgotten all about you.
But he hadn’t forgotten. He’d come for her. Even if he’d married the next day.
She raced through the cobblestone streets and up the narrow stairs. She’d been fooling herself, thinking she could tell Sienna on this trip. Maybe all along, even as she was planning the trip details and telling herself she’d finally reveal the truth, it was just an excuse not to do it when Teresa urged her to. But Teresa had never understood how much Sienna hated her. She’d poured out all her secrets to her aunt and kept the truth from her own mother.
Just the way Angela had kept the truth from Sienna.
How could she tell her daughter now? She risked losing all the traction she’d made. Sienna would never forgive her for letting her think her father didn’t love her when the truth was that her mother had lied about who her real father was.
And now she had to add Xandros into the mix.
She dashed up the last set of stairs, tore open the terrace gate, and could only breathe again when she saw the French doors were open. Sienna hadn’t left yet. Rushing in, she stood on the terracotta tile and called her daughter’s name. “Sienna, are you still here?”
Her daughter loped down the stairs, dressed in a tank top, shorts, and sturdy walking shoes. Her bag was hooked over her shoulder, and sunglasses dangled from her fingers. “You’re back. I’m just about to meet Carter and the others, and we’re heading out to breakfast.”
The need came over Angela, so strong she could barely breathe. “I changed my mind. I’d like to come with you, if that’s okay.” She waited once more for Sienna’s disapproval. Her daughter wanted to be with her new young friends. She wouldn’t want her mother there.
But Sienna wrapped her fingers around Angela’s elbow. “That’s great. I wasn’t sure about being with a bunch of people I barely know.”
Angela felt the loss of her daughter’s warmth as her hand fell away. “But you know them. You spent almost the whole day with Carter yesterday.”
Sienna snorted. “I barely got a word in edgewise. That man can talk. And I didn’t say anything to his friends. They were hanging out at the other end of the boat or up top.” She frowned. “I hate making small talk with strangers.”
Angela was suddenly seeing another side of her daughter. She’d always thought Sienna was invincible, in control of any situation. But maybe that was just in a work environment. “Then I’m glad I’ll be there with you.”
Sienna shrugged. “Besides, I have nothing in common with Carter. I mean, really, who takes three weeks off every summer when he’s supposed to be growing a law career?” She rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. “He works for his father, and that says it all.”
Disdain laced her voice, and Angela felt the need to defend him. “I’m sure he works hard the rest of the year. It’s good for him to let off steam.” She smiled. “Just like I’m so happy you’re here letting off steam with me.”
“I probably wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t already planning to leave the company.” She didn’t notice Angela’s wince. “The timing was perfect.” Then she looked at Angela’s shoes. “You’re ready for the stair hike, but where’s your water?”
“I’ll grab my day pack.” Angela took the stairs two at a time, as if Sienna would leave without her. Sunblock and tissues already in her fanny pack, she added some money, a credit card, her ID. Downstairs she grabbed two water bottles out of the fridge and shoved them in the pack’s holders before swiping her sunhat off the chair where she’d tossed it. “I’m ready.”
“We’re meeting at a little taverna, then we’ll walk to the cable car.”
As they closed the terrace gate behind them, Carter’s group was already trooping down their villa’s steps.
“You decided to come with us,” he said with a wide grin, briefly taking Angela’s hand. “Great.” Then he touched Sienna’s arm, turning her slightly and heading her down the stairs. “I’m glad you both wanted to come.”
“It’ll be a lot more fun climbing the stairs with a group,” Angela said.
His entourage passed them by and Carter called out, “Don’t step on the church.”
Two of the girls rolled their eyes, saying, “We can read, Carter.”
Of course, they weren’t girls but somewhere in their late twenties. These days, anyone under the age of thirty-five was a girl to Angela.
The alley was wide, and Carter held out his arms, allowing both Sienna and Angela to loop a hand through his crooked elbows. “It’s nice to escort two beautiful ladies.”
Sienna laughed. “You’re such a schmoozer.”
“It’s not schmoozing if I mean every word.”
Sienna bumped his hip, and he swayed slightly against Angela.
They made a couple of turns, separated to go down a set of steps, and finally arrived at a terrace taverna with a beautiful view of the caldera and the sea. Carter had obviously called ahead as the wait staff had already pushed three tables together for their group of nine, making enough room for Angela too.
She didn’t remember a single name between the three men and three women, having barely talked to any of them yesterday on the catamaran.
The waitress stood by the table, ready for their drink orders. Despite the drinking they’d done on the boat and at dinner, the girls asked for mimosas and the guys ordered Bloody Marys.
“I’ll have a mimosa, too,” Sienna said when it was her turn, Carter ordering the same.
Hadn’t Sienna said she wouldn’t drink before the walk? But Angela was glad she was lightening up. For herself, however, she thought about having to go to the bathroom on the climb if she had alcohol, but when she asked for water, Sienna said, “Come on, Mother, live a little.”
“Yeah, Mom, live a little,” Carter added.
She couldn’t say why it felt good, except that it was almost like having both her daughter and son with her.
“All right, a mimosa too.”
Carter clapped, and Sienna joined him.
She was glad her mother was letting loose, although Sienna had to admit she didn’t know whether or not that was new for her mom.
The breakfast was yummy. Topped with honey and walnuts, the tiganites, Greek pancakes, were thinner and lighter than American pancakes, their edges scalloped. Her mother ordered Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and sprinkled with fresh berries.
“You could have that at home, Mother,” Sienna leaned close to say.
Her mom shook her head. “Real Greek yogurt is to die for. So much better than the stuff at home.” Then she sighed and smiled. “I confess I stopped for a latte and a bougatsa earlier. It’s a delicious pastry with custard on the inside and powdered sugar on the outside.”
Listening in, Carter gasped. “You had bougatsa without us?” He put a hand to his chest. “I’m shocked and dismayed.”
“You have to get up with the sun to have bougatsa with my mom. She’s out walking by six.”
Carter tucked his chin and flat-lined his lips, which might have been his version of a pout. “I’ll have you know I was awake by at least seven.”
“That’s far too late for Mother,” Sienna said, laughing. It felt good to laugh. Carter actually made her want to laugh more.
“The early bird catches the worm,” her mom quipped.
“How many worms did you catch today?” Carter wanted to know.
Her mother’s face flushed as if she had a guilty secret, but she said primly, nose in the air, “A lady doesn’t discuss her worms.”
That was interesting. Maybe she’d met a handsome gentleman on her walk. Wouldn’t that be crazy? And weird.
They didn’t linger over coffee. It was going to be hot enough on those stairs as it was.
When her mother pulled out her wallet to pay for their meals, Carter waved her away. “My treat.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to do that.”
He patted her hand. “I want to.” And he paid for everyone.
Sienna couldn’t figure him out. He brought his friends along on a fabulous trip, but he didn’t drink with them, didn’t party with them, he didn’t even seem to talk to them much. He’d paid far more attention to Sienna’s mother.
Finally out on the path to Fira, Tamryn complained, “Carter, honey, don’t tell me we have to walk all the way to the cable car. Isn’t it enough that we’re climbing up the stairs?”
“It’s only a mile,” Carter told her. “Angela has already walked there and back today.”
Tamryn didn’t acknowledge the achievement. “Come on, sweetie, let’s call a taxi.”
With all the endearments, she acted like Carter’s girlfriend. And yet he’d said she wasn’t.
“Yeah,” one of the guys agreed. “Let’s taxi it.” Sienna couldn’t recall his name. She only remembered Tamryn because yesterday she’d dumped her drink over the side of the terrace.
Carter shrugged. “Sure, go ahead. But I’m walking. What about you, Sienna?” He jutted his chin at her. “I know your mom wants to walk.”
“I’m walking.” She couldn’t let her mother—or Carter—outdo her.
He turned back to his friends. “We’ll meet you at the cable car.”
They began walking while Tamryn and the others veered off the path toward the road.
Watching, Carter smiled. “We’ll probably beat them to the cable car if they can’t flag one down. We should have rented mopeds. We’ve done that several times since we’ve been here.”
“That’s how we got around when I was here in the olden days,” her mom said, poking fun at herself.
“You make yourself sound ancient,” Carter scoffed.
Her mom laughed. “Old enough to be your mother.”
Then, acting like a mother, she got out her sunblock and slathered her neck, shoulders, arms, and the backs of her knees and calves, offering the tube to Carter and Sienna as well.
The path was pleasant, but Sienna was glad for a hat, good walking shoes, and the sunblock.
Acting as the tour guide, her mom pointed to a big rock on the cliff. “That’s Skaros Rock. There’s a few hiking trails around there, and a small church.” A little while later, she added, “And that’s the Three Bells of Fira with the big blue dome you always see in pictures of Santorini. It’s an island icon.”
The path wasn’t completely flat, and sometimes there were steps, but the small towns seemed to run into each other, just like Bay Area suburbs, but on a much smaller scale.
As Carter predicted, they beat the others to the cable car, and it was fifteen minutes before they arrived, all scrambling out of a tiny car. Sienna was sure one of the girls had to sit on a lap. But they were laughing, the mimosas and Bloody Marys having loosened everyone up.
The line for the cable car wasn’t long since most of the crowd was coming up from the cruise ships. At the end of the day, the tourists would gather up top for the downhill trip.
Though the ride was barely five minutes, the view was amazing, the turquoise Aegean, the caldera against the blue of the sky, barely a cloud flitting by, the white buildings accented with the ubiquitous blue shutters, doors, railings, and domes climbing up and down the hill.
There were small restaurants at the bottom, as well as stores, duty-free shops, and kiosks for booking volcano and caldera tours. The cruise ships were out in the sea, and the small dock was teeming with tourists being ferried over in small launches. They lined up for the cable car or donkey rides up the Karavolades Stairs.
“ETA,” her mom read on one of the nearby tour kiosks. “Isn’t that the same company that did your catamaran?”
Carter nodded. “They’re a mainstay on the island. Exotic Travel Adventures. They do boat tours to the island of Nea Kameni, where you can hike around the volcano. Or you can take a helicopter ride and see the caldera from the air. They even have cruises around the Greek islands and tours on the mainland. But anything you want to do on Santorini, they’ve got it. Zip lining, wine tasting, bus tours, moped tours. Or you can just rent mopeds and quad bikes from them and go on your own.”
“We should definitely rent mopeds,” Sienna said to her mother.
A beatific smile creased her face. “I’d love it. It’ll be just like when I visited before.”
She should have known her mother would be up for it. A hiker, she had a lot more get-up-and-go than Sienna had given her credit for. This vacation wouldn’t be a slog, with her always waiting for her mother. It would probably be the other way round.
After slotting her mom away as an older woman, she was now discovering how vital she was. Her mother was the poster child for the saying that sixty was the new forty.
“Touring the island on mopeds is great,” Carter agreed.
Sienna wondered if Carter would keep inviting them on the sojourns he took with his friends. It didn’t bother her. He made things more fun. But she needed to discuss it with her mom. After all, this was supposed to be a mother-daughter trip.
But her mom beat her to it, saying, “Everything’s more fun when you go as a group.”
Tamryn jammed her hands on her hips, either annoyed at the idea of Sienna and her mother horning in on all their excursions or the fact that they were taking too long. “Are we going to stand here all day admiring the port, honey? It’s going to get mighty hot if we don’t start.” With a huff, she asked, “Can I take a donkey?”
Donkeys lined the stairs, wearing colorful blankets and docile expressions.
“Whatever you want, dear,” Carter emphasized. He was easy, adaptable, never upset with a change in plans.
But as Tamryn approached a donkey, she wrinkled her nose, giving an exaggerated, “Ewwe. They stink. All right, I’ll walk.”
Not wanting to offend the Greek donkey minders, Sienna lowered her voice. “It seems cruel to make the donkeys walk all the way in this heat.”
Carter shrugged, shaking his head. “In the olden days—” he glanced at her mom with a smile. “—donkeys were used to cart everything up from the port. That was how their owners earned a living. It’s part of life here on Santorini.”
“I remember being told the same thing when I was here,” her mother added. “Even in the olden days.” They all laughed with her.
Carter raised his voice. “Let’s get this show on the road. Everyone have their water?”
They answered him with, “Yes, Dad,” and “We’re not stupid,” and laughter.
Sienna wondered just how fun this walk would actually be. 588 steps. Good God.
13
Closest to the bottom of the stairs, Sienna’s mom led the way. She didn’t take off in a sprint, but climbed the stairs at a steady pace. The three guys raced past her, as if they couldn’t let an older woman outdo them. Tamryn and one of the girls followed them, but the other walked with her mother, Carter and Sienna right behind them.
The stairs were wide, especially at the switchbacks, with most of the foot traffic going up versus down. At each switchback, there was room to step aside, rest, take a drink, and to get out of the way of any donkeys.
“I’m sorry, but I forgot your name,” the girl said, a frown of embarrassment marring her forehead.
“Angela,” her mom replied. “And you are?”
“Irene.”
Now Sienna remembered.
“Irene.” Her mom smiled. “That’s an unusual name for this day and age, isn’t it?”
Irene’s laugh tinkled in the air. “It was my grandmother’s name. My mom adored her.”
Sienna eavesdropped on their conversation.
“It’s a lovely name. I bet you adored your grandmother too.”
Irene nodded, and Sienna thought that might be the glimmer of tears in her eyes. “She was the best. When I dropped out of law school to become an interior designer, she was the only one who supported me. My dad said I’d never make enough money as a decorator and that I’d probably end up working in some department store measuring people’s blinds. My grandma said I would be the next Dorothy Draper and get my designs into Architectural Digest. They don’t just do the home itself but all the furnishings, you know.”
“I’m sure your grandma was very proud you went after your dream.”
Sienna remembered her mother asking if she really wanted to go into finance, or if there was another career that stirred her heart. Sienna hadn’t even listened, thinking her mom had believed she’d never be as good as her dad. For the first time, Sienna wondered if the concern had been about making sure she loved the path she’d chosen. And she did. She loved talking with her clients, learning about their children, their grandchildren, then helping them reach their goals. Her boss said she wasted time with all the chitchat, but that proved to Sienna that she’d chosen the wrong company, not the wrong career.
