Love Tides | ✓

eleven | a misdirect

το σπίτι είναι αυτό που αγαπάμε

[ home is what we love ]

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Penelope's back sunk into the rocks of Cape Amarandos, the large shadow of the two inclined trees casting onto her.

The small floral journal on her hands fell onto her side as the small wooden pencil on her other hand twitched. She hadn't written since Avery came—she couldn't find herself to write anything but about Avery.

It came across to her as a sort of writer's-block, no inspiration seemed to surge through her. Penelope had tried various techniques all that morning; the techniques that used to persuade her to write—but it seemed none of those were helpful at all.

She had awakened very early only for this matter, walking around Glossa square—an alley-like village filled with locals and family-run taverns, located on the sloped hill of Loutraki—yet, that didn't work either.

Next, Penelope visited the hotel that Cordelia ran, just on the edges of Skopelos Town. Penelope had taken the note that she hadn't taken Avery to Skopelos Town, yet, it was their next destination tomorrow. She always adored the small town—it was not only the largest, but the oldest settlement on Skopelos, the Chora is a mass of whitewashed houses with terracotta roofs, clinging to stiff hills on a sheltered natural harbor.

Occasionally, the street would deposit Penelope to a scenic terrace overlooking the harbor and Mount Palouki, or a clustered little square in the shade of a plane tree.

Still none of those settlements helped her either—a sense of confliction came over Penelope.

Her hand fiddled with the small photograph Avery had given her the day earlier. The scene was a bit blurry due to the intense speed the photo was taken, but the large smiles on both Avery's and Penelope's faces covered it up.

Avery.

Penelope couldn't help but think back on the seashell necklace—it wasn't the most special piece of jewelry, it was just a thin string with small seashells sewn onto the loops of the necklace. But Penelope felt it to be special because Avery gave it to her.

She placed the pencil back on the journal's paper, her eyes squeezing shut as if an idea would just pop out of nowhere.

Involuntarily, her hand moved the pencil around on the paper—Penelope didn't look at what she was writing, she didn't want to. Because it would just be another clue in Avery's direction.

North or South, East or West, you are a mystery.

Was it a misdirect? Penelope didn't know—she wrote something she didn't understand.

Who was she talking about? She didn't know either.

Maybe it was about her? Penelope quickly shook her head at the thought. No, she wouldn't consider herself a mystery, Penelope knew herself well, there wasn't anything to hide.

North or South, East or West, you are a mystery.

***

"Hi, Honey!"

Avery smiled softly at his mother through his Skype call. "Hey, mom."

"How is it there? Any girlfriends? You haven't gotten anybody pregnant, have you?" Michelle stuffed her face in the small camera, looking at her son in suspicion.

"No, mom. No to girlfriends or any babies on the way. Don't get riled up," Avery shook his head, denying all of his mothers questions.

Michelle pursed her lips. "Sure ... anyway, how's Greece? Please tell me it's as good as they describe it! I've been browsing for hours on end and I need to know—Talia's knowledge isn't enough, I need to know."

"It's pretty incredible," Avery prompted, "the food is delicious, the games are confusing and overall, it's been amazing for the first week."

"Now that sounds incredible!" Michelle agreed. "Talia mentioned something about a traditional game there—background was it? Or gumbo?"

Avery shook his head. "None of the two, it's called backgammon."

"Ah, yes, backgammon. Gotcha!" Michelle grinned. "How's photography going? Any incredible pictures you want to show me? Are you trying new techniques? I need to know, you know. Your trip has gotten me so inspired that I've started a new collection—Greek fashion!"

"It's a good idea," Avery nodded, "and about the photos, I, um-"

He hissed, he hadn't told his mother about his camera's condition, much less the fact that he'd been "borrowing" one of Adamos' cameras.

"It's a surprise," Avery managed, "I'm planning a presentation for the finals. Remember?"

"You're right," Michelle agreed with a nod. "And what about the girl you talked about last time? Penelope, was it?"

"Yeah, she's been helping me around. Yesterday she took me around the marketplace and the day before she showed me an abandoned hotel—we helped out there, I met a whole family, it was pretty extraordinary," Avery grinned at the thought.

Michelle shimmied her shoulders, "Well, that's exciting! How were they!"

"Pretty nice," Avery leaned back on the desk chair, "the mother of the family—Cordelia—is the owner of the hotel, it seems it was an inheritance from her father. I also met her husband, Louis, who runs a repair shop back in the market. And their two daughters—Hera and Calla."

"Two daughters?" Michelle smirked. "That's interesting...are they pretty?"

Avery squinted his face in disgust. "Mom, no. Calla is like fourteen and Hera is like thirty or something."

"Age is just a number," Michelle sang.

"Fine, I'll go tell that to Kevin, I'm sure he'll agree," Avery shot back, watching his mother's face fall in horror.

Kevin was a boy—a teenage boy, who was the younger sibling of one of Michelle's models. Apparently, he had the urge to hit on a forty-year old woman—who was, coincidentally, the boss of his older sister.

"I think I'll change my opinion," Michelle said quickly. "I'm pretty sure Kevin would love that opinion—I don't. Well, not anymore."

"Anyway," Michelle coughed, "what did Penelope show you? Anything interesting?"

Avery smiled at the mention of Penelope. "Yeah, yeah. She made me try a bunch of pastries and cookies yesterday—some even had honey! She also told me that her grandmother owns a bakery near Skopelos Town—she was planning on taking me tomorrow or so."

"That's really interesting, tell me when you get back tomorrow."

"I will," Avery confirmed, "she's taught me a lot around this place—now, Skopelos feels like a home. It intrigues me, you know. It's a shame I have to leave in a few weeks."

Michelle scoffed. "Remember when I told you that I always thought my life belonged in England?"

The space between Avery's eyebrows, creased in confusion. "Yeah."

"But I was wrong," Michelle sighed in remembrance, "it was so incredible when I arrived in New York—in an instant I knew it was my home. I created a family here."

"Skopelos? My home?" Avery asked, quickly shaking my head. "I don't think so, I have duties in New York."

Michelle tutted in disapproval.

"Home isn't where our duties live—it's where we belong. If you feel Skopelos is your home then pursue it. Forget about New York for a second, let loose. Have fun. Experiment, go to a party, explore, fall in love, maybe. It's your decision, it's your life."

author's note

how is everybody this week?

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