. I want to finish the house for us, for you and me. I’ll even build you a little darkroom if you want . . .’ He seemed to be running out of breath but continued, ‘. . . and we can make a life together, you and me, if you will agree?’
Then he paused to take a breath and waited for her to respond.
‘Yes!’ she said without hesitation, without even knowing if she meant yes, I love you, or yes, I want to stay, or yes, I want to make a life with you and stay in Crete for ever. It was only after she had said it that she realized her yes was to all of those things and more.
‘I’m coming now to fetch you. Are you up?’ he asked in the same urgent voice as before.
‘I am now!’ she laughed and leapt out of bed. She pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and with pounding heart ran to the garden gate. She found him already there by the roadside, leaning on his motorbike, evidently from where he had just made the call, smoking a cigarette.
‘I couldn’t sleep all night thinking about you,’ he said, stubbing out the cigarette, and reached to pull her close. He held her tight and the goosebumps returned. They kissed and she could feel the bristles on his unshaven face.
‘I didn’t know you smoked!’ she exclaimed.
‘I don’t,’ he replied and smiled. ‘I was nervous, I thought it might help. I had to see you.’ He helped her to climb up behind him on the saddle and she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. She pressed her face hard against his back and breathed in his scent that smelled of the sea. They sped towards the beach where they had made love under the eucalyptus trees; the light was still dim and without colour as dawn was just breaking. He parked the bike and they made for the beach. The sun was rapidly rising now. Holding hands, they stood spellbound, watching the burning globe climb towards the heavens, setting the dawn sky on fire. Silently they stripped naked and hand in hand waded into the water. They stood in the beam of orange light and in turn cupped seawater in their palms and poured it over each other’s head as if in an ancient purifying bathing ritual. Once they were both wet, they immersed themselves in the sea and swam towards the sun: all without words, until at last they emerged from the water to nestle side by side under the trees.
‘I couldn’t stop thinking about what you told us last night, about your aunt Froso . . .’ He turned on his side to look at her. ‘I kept thinking how life is so strange . . . so brief, so fleeting . . . what are we all waiting for?’
‘I think I have been waiting for you,’ she said and reached out to touch his face.
‘I know this happens all the time to people, I know it happens the world over, but it has never happened to me.’ He turned and kissed her palm as it cupped his face. ‘I know that I have been waiting for you, too . . . all my life.’ She shifted closer and they held on to each other.
‘I want to have a child with you,’ he whispered. ‘A child that we can love and cherish together.’ He emphasized the last word, and kissed her.
She felt her heart swell with love and soar to the sky to join those angels that spread their wings above the Aegean sea in the song. ‘Thank you, Raphael,’ she murmured and her eyes filled with tears.
They stayed on the beach, limbs entwined, making love as the sun rose higher. Feeling its warm rays filtering through the leaves, Calli’s thoughts turned with a pang of sadness to Michalis. She felt so lucky and blessed at that moment – she and Nicos were making plans for a life together yet her dear friend had chosen to live without the joys of love.
‘Do you think Michalis will ever find someone?’ She turned to Nicos. ‘It’s so sad to think that he will go through life alone, he has so much to offer, so much love in him.’
‘Don’t imagine that I don’t think about that too,’ Nicos replied, turning on his back and folding his arms behind his head. ‘I discuss it with him from time to time, but in