Page 18 of Footprints in the Sand
Meghan looked thoughtful, like she wanted to tell Harry he was wrong about that.
The woman beside Meghan introduced herself. “I’m Oriana, Meghan’s sister,” she said. “Meghan was telling me you’re an artist? I’d love to see your work.”
Dimitra hadn’t managed to pull out her paints or sketchpads or pencils since she’d arrived, and she couldn’t say why. Maybe she was too tired, too jet-lagged. Too overwhelmed.
“Oriana’s an art dealer. Most of her clients are in Manhattan,” Meghan said.
Dimitra immediately went on high alert. Although she’d always worked as an artist, she’d never had the kind of high-rolling deals that often came with the New York City art scene.
Was this her big break?
She didn’t want to overthink it.
Chapter Ten
Paros Island - June 2025
Two days after the party at Athena’s place, Aphrodite contacted Eva and asked her to go swimming in the coves. Eva was up early, answering emails and scheduling social media posts, finally finding herself at ease in a schedule seven hours ahead of her normal East Coast American one. Because she decided to slough off the rest of the workday, Eva said she was available a little after noon, and Aphrodite said she’d come pick her up.Eva texted Theo.
EVA: I think I’m befriending a woman named Aphrodite? One of Dimitra’s cousins, lol.
She hadn’t told Theo about Nico because she wasn’t sure what there was to tell. That she’d met a handsome stranger? That she was going to marry a Greek guy and never come home?Give it a rest, Eva.
THEO: Aphrodite? You’re befriending the goddess of love? Can you tell her to give me a call? I have a bone to pick with her.
Eva had only been in Greece for a few days and had already met numerous Greeks who were named after ancient Greek mythology: Artemis and Athena and Eros and Helios and of course Dimitra. It was their culture, and they weren’t afraid to carry the torch for it, even thousands of years later.
Like her mother Athena, Aphrodite drove a little beat-up car that seemed like it was about to fall apart. She beeped the horn, and Eva came out of her house wearing a sundress and a baseball hat with her swimsuit beneath it all. Aphrodite was listening to a CD she’d burned herself back when people still burned CDs, and on it were songs Eva hadn’t heard in what felt like a decade, one of which was Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life.”
It was intense. Eva laughed, but when Aphrodite asked why, she said, “This music brings back old memories, I guess. I don’t know.”
She felt nervous and jittery.
“Tell me,” Aphrodite said as they drove too fast through the mountainous roads, “how are you finding our little island?”
Eva thought for a moment and gazed out the window at the wide, glinting blanket of water. “It’s truly magical. But I have to admit, I miss my parents and my brother. I don’t know if I could be away forever.” She didn’t say how much she missed Finn because she wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to know about him here. She wanted a clean slate.
Aphrodite nodded. “It’s why I came back to the island. I went to university in Athens, but I couldn’t take all the time away from my family. I guess I can’t get this island out of my blood.”
She sped up around a curve, and Eva thought she was going to jump out of her own skin. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get used to this frantic driving.
They reached the coves, which were situated about a half hour’s walk away from the more public and packed beach. It looked like the tourists hadn’t yet discovered the coves, and Aphrodite and Eva had them all to themselves. They swam far out into the soft turquoise water. Eva felt lost in her thoughts, wondering if it was safe to swim this distance from shore, but she was a strong swimmer and didn’t want to be afraid.
Aphrodite called her name. “Eva! It’s the most beautiful day! Isn’t it?”
Eva tried to get caught up in Aphrodite’s euphoria. She tried to remind herself of the last time she’d been in Europe with Finn—two years ago, when they’d gone to Italy, before Finn had stolen so much of her money and lost it. They’d gone swimming and kissed on the beach and drank Aperol spritzes till the sunset blurred in their eyes.
They hadn’t fought about money. They’d talked about the babies they wanted to bring into the world.
When they returned to shore, Aphrodite revealed a large bag of snacks: crackers, cheese, fruits, and a bottle of white wine with two cups.
“I hope you are done with work for the day?” Aphrodite said, wagging her eyebrows.
“They don’t need me,” Eva said.
Aphrodite threw her head back with laughter and poured two glasses. “To taking time for ourselves,” she said, and Eva clinked her glass with hers.
“What is it you do that allows you to come out to the beach at a time like this?” Aphrodite asked.
