Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Author:Maeve Binchy
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780451224118
Publisher: NAL Trade
Published: 2004-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

'It was the Mediterranean certainly but I think it was mainly Italy he travelled in, he was mad about Italy. But of course he could have come to Greece as well. This is where I am showing my ignorance.' Elsa looked apologetic.

'What about mine? Until now I never read a word he wrote in any language,' Thomas confessed.

'And why are you reading it now?'

'To impress you,' he said simply.

'You don't have to, I'm impressed already,' Elsa said.

Andreas got a phone call from Ireland.

'Is that a taverna in Aghia Anna?' the voice asked.

'Yes it is, can I help you?'

'Fiona Ryan called her family from your taverna on the day of your terrible tragedy.'

'Yes, yes, I remember.'

'I'm Fiona's best friend at home, Barbara. Fiona gave your number in case she got cut off so I rang because . . . well,'I was wondering, are they still in Aghia Anna?'

'Yes, is there any problem?'

'No, not a problem really . . . excuse me, who am I speaking to?'

'My name is Andreas, this is my taverna.'

'Oh good, and have you seen her since?'

This is a very small place, we see almost everyone every day.'

'And Fiona's all right, is she?'

Andreas paused. All right?

The girl looked wretched, she had been beaten by her boyfriend, who had then abandoned her, and gone to Athens where he was now in jail awaiting trial for drug dealing. Fiona had suffered a miscarriage; she still thought that Shane was coming back to find her.

All right? Hardly.

But even though his instinct was to tell this pleasant woman Barbara all that had happened he knew it wasn't his story to tell.

'They all seem to like it here,' he said lamely.

'All? You mean she's been able to make friends with Shane in tow? Usually people avoid them like the plague.'

'Very nice people. German, American, English,' he said to reassure her.

'Well, that is a surprise. Listen, Andreas, is there anywhere I could send her an e-mail or a fax do you think?'

'Certainly.' He gave her the numbers of the police station.'And we were all very sorry about what happened there. It must have been a nightmare.'

'Thank you. You are very kind and sympathetic,' he said. And she was kind and sympathetic, unlike his cold-hearted son in Chicago.

Andreas wished over and over that he had not written that letter to Adoni.

But he had promised Elsa. And it was too late now, the letter was nearly there.

Fiona had gone to see Dr Leros for an examination and a checkup as she had promised.

'Everything is fine,' he said. 'You are a healthy young woman. Plenty more chances of babies.'

'Oh, I hope so some day,' Fiona said.

'Are you going back to your country?'

'No. I have to wait until Shane comes back here to find me, I was hoping to get a job here. I'm a qualified nurse. Is there anything I could do for you, for example, in your practice here?'

'Well, not really, my dear girl, you see my patients only speak Greek for one thing.'

'Oh, I'm going to learn it,' Fiona promised.

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