The Millionaire's True Worth(23)
He averted his eyes. “None of it is that exciting.”
“Maybe not to you, but I can’t think of anything I’d rather do more. Unless it brings back painful memories. Does it?” she asked quietly.
“Not at all, but I supposed you wanted to see some of the other islands like Kefallonia.”
“Maybe tomorrow, or another time.”
Akis seemed engrossed in thought. While he finished his coffee, she cleared the table, anxious to get underway. This could be the most important day of her life if all went well.
In a few minutes he announced he was ready to leave. She grabbed her purse and left the house with him. “I love this old truck, Akis.”
“It has seen a lot of wear transporting baskets of olives to town over the years.”
“How did you come by it?”
“I bought it off a farmer who was happy for the money.”
She eyed him intently. “Knowing you I bet you paid him ten times what it was worth.”
A tiny nerve throbbed at the side of his temple. “What makes you think that?”
“You’re a generous person by nature.”
“You don’t know any such thing.”
Why couldn’t he accept a compliment? “The way you treat me tells me the important things about you.”
He lapsed into silence while they drove to the harbor to take out the boat. Maybe she shouldn’t have suggested they travel to Loggos.
Once they reached the dock, she fastened her life jacket and sat across from him. He started the engine and they were on their way. “Akis? We don’t have to go to Paxos if you don’t want to.”
“It’s fine,” he said without looking at her.
No, it wasn’t, but he was determined to take her there. Raina made up her mind to enjoy this journey back in time with him. She ached to know all the private little things about him that made him the marvelous man he was.
The few framed photos in his house showed his parents, a young, attractive man and woman. There were two baby photos of him and Vasso. Adorable. Her heart pained for the circumstances that had taken their mother’s life early. Her eyes filled with tears.
What a great father they’d had. One who’d worked night and day for them and had taught them how to be men. Though she couldn’t meet his parents, she yearned to picture their life together. How proud they would be of their sons.
“Raina? Are you all right?”
“Of course.”
“I can see tears.”
“The sun got in my eyes.”
The trip to Loggos didn’t take long. This part of the famous island looked like a crown of dark green with jewels studding its base. Akis pulled into a slip to moor the cruiser. She discarded the life jacket and got out to help him tie the ropes to the dock.
She looked up at him, trying not to feast her eyes on him dressed in tan chinos and a dusky-blue crew neck. “Where should we start?”
He’d been studying her features through veiled eyes. “The old hut is on this side of the village, but it’s a brief walk by trail. We might as well go there first.”
Excitement built up inside her to be exploring his backyard, so to speak. They walked through the lush grove of olive trees interspersed with cypress trees. He’d grown up here, played here. At least he had to have played here a little until he was put to work at five years of age.
Before long they came to a clearing where a vineyard sprawled on the steep hillside before her eyes. She took a deep breath before following him along a path through the grape vines to the hut made of stone. It was even smaller than she had imagined.
Akis! He’d been born right here!
A man working the vineyard called out to him. Akis said something in Greek and a conversation ensued. He turned to Raina. “The owner says we’re welcome to go inside.”
She was too moved to say words. He opened the wood door and they walked into a stone house with windows and a wood floor. Twenty by thirty feet? There were no partitions, only a lot of vintner equipment and stakes. A counter with a sink was in the other corner.
“This is it, Raina. Our living room was over in that corner, our beds on the other side. That door over there leads to a bathroom of sorts. We had to pump water to fill the old bathtub. The best way for me and Vasso to get clean was to bathe in the sea.”
“Were you able to keep any furniture?”
“It wasn’t worth it. When the owner took over, he must have gotten rid of it.”
A lump lodged in her throat. “Grandpa always said home is where love is. You can’t get rid of that.”
Akis turned to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He squeezed them, but didn’t say anything. They stayed like that until he gave her the sweetest kiss on the mouth. Then he grasped her hand and they went outside.
“We’ll climb up the hillside and along the ridge. The church is perched at the top. Because of the foliage you can’t see it from here.”
He let go of her as they walked through the rest of the vineyard and came to the trail. Pretty soon she saw the glistening white Greek church ahead of them standing alone, small and elegant. Raina looked back to the sea with a sweep of forest-green olive groves running toward it. She’d never seen such scenery.
“What’s that white complex in the distance near the water?”
“The Center Vasso and I had built. It’s a hospital and convalescent center for people with lymphoma who can’t afford that kind of care. All in honor of our father.”
“He raised such wonderful sons, he deserves the recognition. Did you go to church all the time?”
“Papa took us when he could.”
“When was the last time you came here?”
“Vasso and I come every year and visit our parents’ graves on their wedding anniversary in July. They’re buried in the cemetery behind the church.”
“If I’d known I would have brought flowers.”
“We don’t have to worry about that. See all those yellow flowers growing wild beneath the olive trees? The broom is in bloom. We’ll pick an armful.”
Akis left the path. She followed him and within a minute they’d picked a huge bunch. She buried her face in them. “They smell like vanilla.”
He flashed her a white smile. “One of my favorite scents.”
Soon they reached the church and walked around to the back. He stopped in front of his parents’ headstone filled with Greek writing and dates. There was an empty can left in the center. Akis reached for her flowers and put them with his before lowering their stems into the can. “There’s no water, but they’ll stay beautiful until tomorrow.”
She stood still while he remained hunkered down for a minute. Then he got up and they walked around to the front of the church. After the dazzling white outside, Raina had to take a minute for her eyes to adjust to the darker interior. It smelled of incense. Akis cupped her elbow and they moved toward the ornate shrine.
“There’s no one here.”
“The priest lives close by on the outskirts of the village. He’ll come toward evening to conduct mass for the workers.”
“This church is so lovely and quiet. While you sit, do you mind if I walk around to look at the wall icons?”
He slanted her a glance. “I’ll come with you.” To her delight he gave her a short history of each one before they walked outside the doors into the sunlight. The rays were so bright, she reached in her purse for her sunglasses.
“Let’s head down to the village and have lunch at my favorite taverna. Elpis, the older woman who owns it, knew my parents before I did.”
Raina chuckled over his little joke. Deep inside she was filled with new excitement to meet someone with whom he had a past connection. “I bet you’re her favorite visitor.”
“When Vasso and I were young, she cooked loukoumades fresh every day and saved half a dozen for us to eat on the way home from work. She knew we couldn’t afford them.”
“I love that woman already. What are they?”
“Donuts soaked in honey and cinnamon. She’ll serve you one. No one on the island makes them like she does.”
Raina was so happy, she was surprised her feet touched the ground as they made their way down to the harbor. He pointed out the school where he and Vasso attended when they could. His life story was incredible.
The second they appeared at the blue-and-white outdoor café she heard a woman call out to Akis and come running. She hugged and kissed him in front of the people sitting at the tables. This woman had done her part for two young boys who’d lost their mother and had to work so hard.
When Akis introduced her to Raina, the older woman with gray in her dark hair eyed her for a minute and spoke in rapid Greek. Raina asked him what she said. His eyes narrowed on her face.
“You are a great beauty.”
“That was kind of her.”
For the next half hour they were plied with wonderful food while several tourists took pictures of them. Raina winked at him. “You’ve been found out. Smile pretty for the camera, Akis.”
“Every eye is on you,” came his deep voice.
Pretty soon Elpis appeared with a sack for Akis. Raina knew what was in it. “Efharisto,” she said to the older woman who kissed her on both cheeks.
“You are his fiancée?”
Raina didn’t have to think twice. “I want to be.”