Page 27 of Love Among the Ruins
CHAPTEREIGHT
ELENI
The job offer letter came through two days after the interview.
A man in HR had called her to discuss accommodation.
Accommodation?
Eleni had been prepared to make the long journey to Athens and back each day, but the man at the other end had laughed and told her that the company were putting her up in a hotel nearby, for the duration of the summer.
She’d been at home, doing warmups before her run, and at this news, she’d hit the floor, lying spreadeagled, staring at her ceiling.
A hotel room, for her, in Athens? She could scarcely believe her luck.
Breaking the news to her mother hadn’t been easy and she’d waited until she had the letter in her hand.
“A job in Athens? I didn’t even know you were looking for work in the city.”
Eleni hadn’t told her mother, but even if she had, she doubted that her mother would have cared. “I need more money. Cassia doesn’t want me back for a month—”
“And you want to climb the mountain. For Jonas.” Her mother shrugged.
“Yes, for Jonas.”
“And what about you, Eleni? What do you want?”
She wished her mother could be more empathetic. Be kinder, softer, gentler with her. It was as if she resented that Eleni had found love, had been happy, that she’d found someone who had cared for her. “I want him to come back. I miss him.” Her lower lip wavered just saying the words. Memories of Jonas came flooding back as tears welled in her eyes. “Aren’t you happy for me?Can’tyou be happy for me, ever?”
“Be careful. You’ve never worked in the city before.”
“It’s good money Mama, and they’re letting me stay there. They’ve got me a hotel room.”
“A hotel room?” Her mother’s tone was hard to gauge. Eleni wasn’t sure if she was jealous or excited for her.
“Don’t you want to know what I’ll be doing, or who I’m working for?” Eleni cried, feeling as if she had to prompt her mother all the time.
“You’re old enough to take care of yourself now, Eleni.”
“That’s not what I asked you. You’re my mother. Don’t you care about anything?” This woman frustrated the hell out of her. Not waiting for an answer Eleni marched into her room, and quickly got changed out of her clothes, slipping into a pair of denim shorts and a loose top. Then she rushed out.
“When do you start?” Her mother called but she was already out of the door and on her way to the taverna. Stefanos had finished his shift and she hooked her arm in his and led him away, breaking her good news.
“You’re leaving?” Stefanos’ face fell and he sounded resigned. It wasn’t quite the reaction she’d been hoping for.
“Only for a few months, but I’ll come back at the weekends sometimes, and you can come and visit.” She told him about the hotel room, which was the highlight for her, having her own space and place, away from her mother.
“I’ll be sure to do that.”
“I can do something new. Something that I’ve never done before.”
“Climbing the mountain?”
“Working in an office.”
“When do you start?” Stefanos asked.
“On Monday.” It was so different and exciting. Up until a few days ago she would never have imagined such a thing happening to her.
