Winter Hearts

In Which Siana Reaches Home

Itea was a young town, only a hundred or so years old, established by the French and named after the local willow trees. Unlike its neighbours, towns which jumbled across their terrain organically, Itea was an ordered, wide and airy sort of town, with long wide avenues and boulevards set in a grid, and boasting a huge boardwalk and jetty that stretched out into the bay.

Ships often docked on their way to or from the Corinth Canal, and would enjoy perfectly still waters on their journey. Itea was a port town, and the boardwalk - which was really a splendid marble and stone-paved esplanade on the waterfront - boasted cafes, customs and supplies outlets, eateries and family-owned hotels.

Although the neighbouring towns were in the olive and other agrarian businesses, Itea was about the sea and visitors and the sun.

Siana loved it so much.

Finally they were driving through the flatlands and olive groves, on a small highway that cut through on an almost direct route to Itea. From being high above the land, as if soaring like birds, they were suddenly buried deep in trees, which swayed in the small breeze. The trees made a surprisingly loud noise, like spraying water, and their tiny sage and silver leaves turned and swirled, looking like schools of anchovy in the sea.

She felt like she was underwater, and the emptiness of the road made it all feel so surreal and dreamy.

They reached the outskirts of the town and began a series of turns towards their home. A system of one-way streets made a direct approach impossible, so they twisted and turned through the street grid, past cousins' houses, churches and bakeries until they came out at one end of the esplanade near the end of the town.

She caught a glimpse of the still sea on her right as they turned left to go to the end of the road. There, her father's apartment building stood nestled among other older and newer buildings.

They pulled up and parked right outside. She got out into the cool air and brought her bag out. Mikhalis unloaded her case and they walked into the lobby together. The small lift typical of older buildings, was just big enough to accommodate them with her case, and they ascended to the third floor where she would be staying.

Her dad pulled out the key and let them into the studio apartment, which opened straight into the living room space which was wide enough for a narrow sofa bed and tv console, a small kitchenette to the left and beyond a dividing wall, a spacious bedroom with adjoining bathroom.

Although she didn't spend the whole year here, Mikhalis kept it closed to visitors, so it was completely her space, which she had made a home.

He rolled the bag into her bedroom and went to turn on the thermostat for the water heating. He shouted at her to remember to turn off the heater before she got into the shower. She smiled as she opened the living room shutters which opened out into her own narrow balcony overlooking the back yard below.

She didn't have a view of the street in front, but the view at the back of the building was stunning. Whilst the apartment block faced the sea, the back of it faced the olive groves and beyond, the spectacular mountain range which boasted the peak of Mount Parnassos.

Below, she saw the backyard which was paved but had geraniums, roses and an old grapevine growing out of planters around the edges. The grapevine had a few straggly bunches of grapes, and though they were sparse, were fragrant and sweet. Her father's apartment opened out into the yard and she would often see him pottering about or having a drink, seated at the rusting outdoor table by his back door.

She looked beyond the perimeter of their yard to see a small neighbourhood orange tree grove, a scrap metal yard and a smattering of old apartment blocks and even older traditional buildings reaching outwards towards the mountain ranges.

At one point the town turned into dark green olive trees that looked like a murky blanket over the feet of the mountain. The bare mountain face they had just driven down glinted in the sun. In the evening during the sunset, the white snows of Parnassos turned orange and pink until at last darkness covered the land.

She heard her father come into the kitchen and peek out the doors at her.

"You going out?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm meeting Panos. At the school."

"Watch out for bandits."

Siana laughed.

"Okay. When are the guests arriving?"

"Later around midnight. Can you stay up to help me?"

"Sure. What's happening for dinner?"

"Whatever you want."

"If you're gonna work then I will eat out with the boys. I can bring you something."

"No, I'm fine. Don't be too late."

He gave her a warm hug.

"Welcome back, karthoula mou."

"Thanks Dad."