Page 21 of Footprints in the Sand
When she turned to find them beside her, Dimitra’s heart cracked open. Harry was looking at her with a mysterious smile that made her thinkhe didn’t know what to make of me. She didn’t know what to make of herself, either.
It was strange to be looked at like that. Dimitra realized she’d been living in a sort of cloud of depression for too long.
“What did you think of the reading?” Harry asked, standing and sipping his wine.
“I thought it was…” Dimitra tried to find the perfect English word for it.
“Romantic?” Harry tried to help.
“Heartbreaking,” Dimitra said.
Harry furrowed his brow. “Explain.”
But Dimitra couldn’t. She shook her head and turned to watch as a line of audience members and Estelle’s readers formed so that she could sign their books. Margorie, the other writer, waited in the wings, preparing to do her reading immediately afterward.
When Dimitra didn’t respond, Harry said, “I have to get back to the boat to feed Cash and get ready for the night.” He sounded vaguely disappointed but also like he wanted to keep his spirits up. It was his first day back on the island, after all. His first “official day” of summer.
“Are you sleeping on the boat?” Dimitra asked.
“Yes. It’s the only home I’ve had for years,” Harry admitted. “I find it hard to sleep on land these days.”
Dimitra laughed. “Coming from Greece, I know plenty of people like you.”
“Is that so? Are we all alike?”
Dimitra didn’t want to tell him what she was really thinking. Men like him never settled down. They were chasing something that could never be found. She didn’t know if they knew what they were searching for. She didn’t want to get tied up in that mess.
Oriana and Meghan met them outside the bookstore.
“What did you think?” Oriana asked.
“She’s a brilliant writer,” Harry said. “I might pick up one of her books.”
Meghan beamed and winked at Dimitra, as though to say,he’s just showing off for you.
Harry explained again that he had to hit the road, but he pulled Dimitra to the side for a moment, saying, “I want to thank you again for all you did for Cash and me. I don’t know what kind of mess I’d be in if it weren’t for you.” He swallowed.
Dimitra had a flashing image of herself in her bra and underwear, leaping into the water like a woman on the brink of insanity. She put her hand on Cash’s head, and he smiled up at her.I may not love the man, but I love the dog, she thought, feeling a rush of tenderness for the creature.
“It was my pleasure,” Dimitra said. “I needed to cool off, anyway.”
Harry laughed. “I wondered if we could see each other again? I’ll be on the island for the next few months, or so, and…” He looked at his shoes.
It was remarkable to see a man of his age so nervous around a woman. Dimitra wondered what his backstory was—whether he’d ever been married before or if he was married now and just pretending not to be. Anything was possible in the big, wide world. Who was ever worthy of your trust?
“I’ll give you my number,” Dimitra said, surprising herself.
She typed her number into Harry’s phone and passed it back to him with a nervous smile. “Have a good night. Sleep well.” And then, in Greek, she said, “Kalinixta,” which meant good night.
Harry’s face transformed. He’d probably never heard Greek before. “That’s beautiful. What does it mean?”
“I’ll tell you next time,” Dimitra said, then turned away.
Oriana and Meghan were watching Dimitra like a hawk.
“He’s finally walking away,” Oriana said of Harry under her breath. “You put a spell on him!”
“I didn’t mean to,” Dimitra said, wringing her hands. “I didn’t come to America to get tied up with a vagabond.”
