Page 52 of The Silent Sister
‘No. Go away! I don’t want to talk about it. And certainly not with you. First thing in the morning, I’m going to find out everything about Kefalonia and I’m going out there as soon as I can. You can’t do a thing to stop me. I’m overage and you won’t ever see me again.’
Cassia could tell from the pitch of Eléni’s voice that she was still very angry and upset. She was at a loss as to how to deal with her daughter when she was in such a state. She turned and retraced her steps downstairs.
Tom waited in the hall. ‘No luck, I presume. I think we’ve just got to let her take it all in and wait for her to want to talk about it when she’s ready.’
Cassia nodded.
As they were standing at the foot of the stairs, Eléni’s bedroom door opened. She stomped down the stairs, barged past them to grab her coat and left the house.
‘Where are you going?’ Tom called after her.
‘Out! Away from you lot,’ came the answer.
‘Oh, Tom. What have I done? She’s never spoken to you like that before. She said she’s going to Kefalonia tomorrow and thatwe can’t stop her. I can’t lose her. After everything we’ve been through, we can’t let her go.’
Chapter Thirty-One
ELÉNI
The slam of the front door echoed in Eléni’s ears. She couldn’t bear to be in the same house as her parents and sister anymore. There was only one person she wanted to see. She made for Gabriella’s house. The two of them had met when they’d shared, and sometimes overlapped, shifts at the Welsh craft shop opposite the large Victorian hotel that faced the main street running through Porth Gwyn. Like Eléni, Gabriella thought of herself as an outsider, too. Her father was also a local man, but her mother was Italian rather than Greek. Steve Collins had been a British prisoner of war who’d been captured in Italy. He’d fallen for her mother, married her when the war ended and brought his Italian bride back to Wales. Gabriella had always felt different but, unlike Eléni, she visited her Italian family every year. The girls had soon become friends and enjoyed spending time together.
Hot tears stung Eléni’s eyes as she broke into a run. Gabriella’s house was in the same avenue as her aunt and uncle’s house, and she hoped she wouldn’t see them as she passed.
She opened the gate and walked the short distance to the house. She hammered on the front door until her knuckles hurt, fearing no one was in.
Eventually, the door opened. Gabriella’s mouth gaped as Eléni burst into tears.
‘Eléni, it’s you. What on earth’s happened?’ It felt good when Gabriella hugged her and invited her in.
‘I’ve left home, Gabbie. I want nothing to do with them. Not after what they’ve done. They’ve been lying to me. Everyone else knows. I bet you do, too. Why didn’t you tell me?’ Eléni’s body was wracked with sobs.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, but slow down and tell me everything. We’ll go upstairs. My mum is in there.’ She pointed to the door at the back of the hallway. As she did so, Isabella Collins opened the door.
‘Who was at the...? Oh, it’s you, Eléni. Are you all right,mia cara?’
‘She’s a bit upset, Mamma. I’m taking her upstairs and she’s going to tell me what’s happened.’
Gabriella and her mother exchanged glances. Nothing more was said.
Gabriella’s bedroom overlooked the swings and children’s playground opposite.
‘Here, you sit on the chair. Now what’s happened to make you like this? What have they done that’s so bad you want to leave home?’
Eléni took a deep breath and related to her friend everything she’d found out.
‘They stole me, Gabbie. Took me away and forged my papers, got me a fake passport. I don’t even know what my real name is.’
Gabriella’s expression was one of shock. ‘But if you were an orphan...’ She leaned over and patted Eléni’s arm. ‘I’m so sorry. What a terrible thing to have happened. But you survived! Perhaps they thought what they were doing was for the best. You’ve had a happy childhood, haven’t you? Your mum and dad worship you.’
‘They keep saying I would have ended up in an orphanage and they were doing it to give me the best chance. But, Gabbie, why didn’t they tell me instead of letting me live a lie? Everyone else knows.’ Eléni wiped her cheeks on her sleeve. ‘Anyway. I want to forget about them now. Do you think your mother will let me stay tonight and then I’ll find a room somewhere tomorrow? Oh, tomorrow’s Sunday. Well, two nights then.’
‘I’m sure she will say yes, but I know she’ll only agree if you let your parents know where you are.’
Eléni shook her head. ‘No, let them stew. I’m going to Kefalonia. With a one-way ticket. I don’t care what they say. I’m over twenty-one, don’t forget?’ She stood and paced the bedroom floor.
‘And acting like a ten-year-old. I’m surprised at you.’ Gabriella frowned.
Eléni knew if she didn’t have her friend’s support, life would be even harder.
