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‘Don’t tease, it’s the same moon for everyone.’
‘Ah, but ours is special. In fact, this bay is named after it – Fengari means moon.’
‘What is so special about your moon, then?’
‘Can’t you see, just by looking at it?’
Grace had to agree, it did seem to her to be unlike any other moonlit night.
‘Selene is the goddess of the moon,’ he told her. ‘Her spirit is strong here in Ithos, and here on Fengari Bay I think she is stronger still.’
Grace nudged him with her shoulder. ‘The moon can send you mad if you stare at it too long.’
‘Here on Ithos, the moon stands for love and the passing of time. As it gets bigger and smaller, so time passes, the cycle starts again over and over.’
Grace noticed that their shoulders were still touching; neither of them had moved away from the other.
‘I know very little about you, Grace,’ he said. ‘You are very good at listening but not so much at talking?’
‘Perhaps it’s all those dark secrets I’ve been keeping.’ She hooded her eyes and attempted to look mysterious.
He moved and threw himself on the ground in front of her so he could look directly into her face. ‘OK, three questions. I ask and you have to answer.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘OK, unless it’s something rude.’
He looked at her in mock outrage. ‘As a gentleman, I am insulted. First question: Have you ever been in love?’
Grace gave a sigh. ‘That’s not fair.’
‘You must answer.’
‘All right … I thought I was, but it wasn’t the real thing.’
‘Who was it?’
‘A boy at school. He dumped me for my best friend, but my heart wasn’t broken.’
‘Good. Next question – what is your middle name?’
‘I don’t have one.’
‘Really?’ He looked surprised. ‘In Greece everyone has a least two names. I have four.’
Grace shrugged. ‘Don’t blame me.’
‘OK, I won’t. Last question … what is your heart’s desire?’
Grace rolled her eyes again, ‘What does that even mean.’
‘You don’t have dreams?’
‘Of course I do …’ She looked down. ‘Everyone does. What’s your heart’s desire?’
‘Me … I want to run a business one day, be successful.’
‘For Demetrios?’
‘He is the boss now, but I want to be my own boss. Don’t misunderstand me, he has been like a second father to me, but it’s not the same as when you do it for yourself.’
