The Stolen Book by Sara Alexi

Author:Sara Alexi [Alexi, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oneiro
Published: 2015-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

September comes more quickly than any of them expected. Suddenly their flight is tomorrow and the boys have made no effort to pack. Niki has been ironing for four hours now.

‘Perhaps you do not need to fuss so my dear,’ Karolos says. ‘They will not have you to iron their shirts once they begin their lessons. They must learn.’

‘Oh, and an ironing board. I have not written that down.’ Putting her own iron down, she picks up from the table a sheet of paper covered in illegible scrawl and adds IRONING BOARD to the list.

‘Did you go to the bank?’ she asks Karolos. Her wages have come in and even though the amount is more than she expected, after doing some sums, she has found that it is only going to be about enough to buy all that the boys need to set up home. The orange money is enough for the first two terms’ tuition fees for them both and with enough left over for a month up front on their rent. It does not cover their accommodation from when they first arrive until they have found a flat, and she hopes Karolos has not done the sums and therefore will not ask.

The list of flats she got the boys to print out at a friend’s house is smoothed flat next to her list of essential purchases. The money she has taken from the account Karolos knows nothing about is safely tucked into a money belt which she has bought, folded up and hidden in her ablutions bag. Not wanting to draw any attention to her stash, she has only taken out enough to stay in a reasonable hotel for the seven days she will be there and have enough left over to eat out, as they will have nowhere to cook.

She has heard that some of the landlords want two whole months’ rent as a deposit, so she has folded up a few large notes and hidden them with her underwear. She is ready for them.

That night, Karolos curls up close, his arm encompassing her.

‘You will come back to me?’ he asks with no hint of humour.

‘Why do you say such things?’ She snuggles back into him.

‘I sense you have gone away from me a little. Sometimes I do not know where you go to.’ His hot breath is on her neck.

‘I don’t go anywhere.’ Niki can feel beads of perspiration forming on her forehead. She wriggles to be free. ‘It’s too warm to be so close.’ She breaks free and throws the sheet off, but it is no cooler with no covers.

‘You will be coming back to me though, won’t you Niki, moro mou?’ He adds the term of endearment he has used since their courtship.

‘I have a return ticket, six days from tomorrow.’

‘That is not what I meant.’ At least, that is what she thinks he says, but his words are muffled into the pillow and slurred with sleep, and then he is snoring.

Niki lies looking at the ceiling, watching the shadows change.

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