Sisterhood Everlasting - Ann Brashares [70]
“I’m going to try to sell my grandparents’ house finally.”
“Oh.” It was a complicated “oh.” Eudoxia wasn’t going to leave it at that.
“I think my dad was pretty happy that I volunteered.”
“I am sure he was. When do you go?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Dear me. And return?”
“I bought an open ticket for the way back. I don’t know how long it’s going to take.”
“You don’t mind going back there? After what happened?”
Lena didn’t stop to think how to say these things in Greek, she just said them in Greek. “Of course I do. I mind everything after what happened. I mind being here or being there. I mind thinking about it and not thinking about it. I mind walking and I can’t stand still. I need to do something.”
“Oh, my dear one,” Eudoxia cooed sympathetically.
Lena felt her eyes filling with tears. She thought of Tibby’s mother. “It’s hard for everyone,” she said.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
Lena was stunned, but the way Eudoxia said it made Lena know she meant it. Slowly in Lena’s mind a picture evolved of the two of them trundling through the airports and climbing the steep paths of Oia. “Doxie, you are very kind to offer.”
“I have savings, you know. I could keep you company. I could help sell the house. I know something about real estate. Anatole says I could sell a Bible to the Pope.”
Lena pictured the two of them side by side, hand-delivering Tibby’s letter to Kostos in London. She almost smiled at the thought. Imagine if Eudoxia met Kostos. Then Lena would never, never hear the end of it.
“The plane leaves early tomorrow morning,” Lena said.
“I can pack quickly. I am a light traveler. You don’t even know that about me.”
The tears in Lena’s eyes spilled over. “I am touched that you offered. I really am. But I can’t take you from Anatole for so long. What would he do? He might starve. He might die of loneliness. And besides, I will be fine. I don’t mind going by myself at all.”
Eudoxia sighed. She was quiet for a few moments. “All right, then. But if you change your mind you can call me anytime tonight. I will be home.”
“Thank you, Doxie. I will.”
“It will be good practice for your Greek.”
Lena hung up the phone and lay down on her bed and cried a puzzling brew of tears. It was probably good you couldn’t flip the love switch, because sometimes it was what you needed, even if you didn’t want it.
“I had an idea,” Brian said to Bridget on her second strange morning in Bowral.
She looked up from the kitchen computer, where she was trying to find a flight back to the States and ruefully facing up to the fact that she had come on a one-way ticket, had made no provision for the future, and had not one single plan for what happened next.
“Well, more like a favor,” he said.
“Okay,” Bridget said. She was in penance mode. She was ready to do a favor.
“You know that software project I told you about.”
“Right.”
“Well, I was wondering if you could give me some help.”
She turned to him. “I don’t really know anything about software,” she began, “but—”
“No.” He sort of smiled. “I was wondering if you could look after Bailey for a few days. So I could work.”
“Oh.” Now she felt embarrassed. She was unused to the feeling. “Right. Well.” There was no way she was going to come right out and say no to him. “I don’t actually know anything about taking care of kids either. I’m worried I would mess it up.”
“Bee, it’s not like there’s any science to it. Figure she’s like you but wears a diaper and needs to sleep and eat a bit more often.”
Bridget nodded hesitantly, wondering if this statement was strictly informative or if there was an insult in it.
“But if you don’t want to, I understand.”
“No, I will. I’ll do it. I’ll try.” She heard herself agreeing before she’d quite talked herself into it.
“Thanks. It would make a