When the Cypress Whispers Read Free Page A

Heatherton. Daphne prayed that the nightmares and tears would finally be behind them.
    “We got rid of all of the pirates long, long ago,” Popi told Evie as Daphne left her reverie behind. “Now we only have giant sea monsters to worry about.” Popi laughed, but Evie whimpered again.
    “Popi, stop!” Daphne pleaded. “It’s not funny.” The hint of desperation in her voice made it clear that Daphne wasn’t joking.
    “Evie, mou ,” Popi began, “Thea Popi was only joking. There are no sea monsters here, I promise.” Popi looked at Evie in the rearview mirror before turning to face Daphne.
    “ Daphne mou, ti eheis? ”—What’s wrong?—Popi asked in Greek, knowing Evie could not understand.
    Daphne knew there was no way Popi could grasp what she had been through and how much things had changed, how much she had changed. When Alex died, there was no more laughter in Daphne’s world, only a demanding, inconsolable baby, a growing stack of bills, and a persistent fear that she wouldn’t be able to manage it all herself.
    Daphne put her hand on her cousin’s leg. “ I’m sorry, Popi. I’m just nervous about everything,” was all she told Popi now. Perhaps there would be another time to tell her more, or perhaps it was better to leave all the heartache in the past.
    Popi took her hand from the wheel and waved the misunderstanding away. “Darling, it’s all right. But I am starting to wonder what you’ve done with my cousin. In our family we always find a way to laugh, even through our tears.”
    The two women locked fingers, just as they had as children skipping down island paths. Daphne turned her face away and leaned out the window, as if the island air could cleanse away the misunderstanding and the all-too-familiar sadness.
    Soon they were at Popi’s.
    “Just like you remember it, eh, Daphne?” Popi said as they parked and got out of the car. “Come on, Evie. Let me take you inside.” Popi opened the back door, grabbed Evie’s bag, and once again tucked the garment bag under her arm before taking Evie’s hand. “This is where your mother used to come when she visited. We had so much fun together. We really do have to find me a husband so I can give you cousins to play with, like your mother and I did. Maybe Mr. Stephen will bring some handsome Amerikanos to the wedding. What do you think?”
    Evie smiled, giggling softly as they stepped up the white marble staircase and into the cool dimness of the lobby.
    “If you meet a boy, you might have to kiss him.”
    “You think so?” Popi leaned in, happy to take the delicious bait Evie had just dangled before her.
    “Does your mommy kiss Stephen?”
    “No! Ewwwwwwww!” Evie shrieked as she ran up the curved stairs, her laughter reverberating around the marble lobby.
    Daphne rode the creaky elevator to the second floor and wheeled the suitcases into the sunlit foyer of the apartment.
    When everything had been brought inside, Popi led everyone into the living room. She smiled at the little girl and said, “ Ella , Evie. Your mother and I could use a nice cup of kafe and I’m too tired to make it. Will you make a nice cup of kafe for us? I bet you are a great chef like your mama.”
    “I don’t even know what that is,” Evie replied as she shrugged her shoulders.
    “Come on, Evie.” Popi placed her hands on her hips. “Every Greek must know how to make kafes , even the little ones like you.”
    “But I’m not Greek. I’m from New York,” Evie replied.
    Popi put her hands together as if in prayer. A soft moan escaped her lips. “Evie, promise me you will never let Yia-yia hear you say that.” She turned to Daphne. “Cousin, Yia-yia is going to kill you if she hears this.” Popi made the sign of the cross and muttered just loud enough for Daphne to hear, “No Greek at all, this child. Nothing.”
    Daphne twirled her engagement ring round and round on her finger. She had never imagined that Evie would grow up like this. She had