The Garden of Healing (A Greek Island Romance Book 6) by Bill Kitson

Author:Bill Kitson [Kitson, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2021-05-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

‘I’m going for a walk,’ Emily announced, ‘do either of you want anything from the little shop?’

One of the small cottages at the lower end of Kipos had been converted into a mini-market, serving the needs of residents and workers unable or unwilling to take the trip into Acropoli or Gamnos. It was much in the style of the British off-licence, only on a far smaller scale. ‘If you get some bread and cheese I could make sandwiches for lunch,’ Tracey suggested.

Paul passed Emily some money and accompanied her to the perimeter fence. Having unfastened the padlock and chain he told her to take care. He watched as she walked away and only turned back into the house when she was out of sight.

Not for the first time, Paul wondered what he would be like if he hadn’t had Emily to support and encourage him. His eyes misted over with tears, as he remembered her mother, and thought how like Rebecca, Emily was. In both cases, their first and overriding thought seemed to be for him, not themselves.

Emily passed the Vranas house, but the door was closed, and she decided to do her shopping before calling on Alexis. When she reached the little shop, however, she encountered a problem. She was in the process of selecting a loaf and pondering over the various cheeses on display when the middle-aged woman behind the counter told her, ‘There is nothing for you here. Please go.’

Emily turned and stared at the woman, whose face was a mask of hatred. Anger rose within her as she stared back, defying the woman to say more. She did, and proved that Alexis’ theory was correct. ‘You are a Grigoris. You should leave Kipos while you can. While you have a whole skin.’

Emily turned and ran from the shop. Her fury took her as far as the Vranas house. Not bothering to knock, she burst in, and saw Alexis standing in the entrance to the kitchen, moodily sipping a mug of coffee.

‘Emily, what’s wrong? Has something happened?’

She listened as Emily explained.

‘Right, that’s soon sorted out. Come with me.’ She took Emily by the hand and walked with her to the shop, where they entered together. ‘Kalimera,’ Alexis greeted the woman, before turning to Emily. ‘Pick out what you want, and choose carefully, because you must ensure you only get the best and freshest produce. Only the finest is good enough for you, for your father and for your grandmother.’

She spoke slowly and clearly, enunciating each word with great care, which Emily guessed was for the benefit of the shopkeeper. The woman spoke, in rapid Greek, and Alexis replied, her tone one of sharp reproof. Although Emily didn’t understand much of what was being said, she gathered that the older woman was protesting, and that Alexis was reprimanding her in no uncertain manner.

When she had chosen what she needed, Emily took them hesitatingly to the counter and produced the money her father had given her. The woman took it, held up the note to check it, and stuffed it into the drawer under the counter.

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