The Lady of Tarpon Springs Page 13

  “Sounds like all the cleanin’ is done before they return.” The comment came from one of the men in the back row.

  Zanna interpreted, and Nico acknowledged the man. “You are right, but once the sponges are returned to the dock, they must be off-loaded and brought here to the warehouse. You will examine the sponges to make certain they have been well cleaned. Then they must be trimmed with these shears.” He held up a pair of heavy metal shears, much like those used in sheep shearing. “Your hands will become sore, but you must continue working. Each sponge must be free of any dark spots and trimmed to look like the ones you use when taking a bath. After the trimming is done, the sponges are then sorted by size and strung on couleurs.”

  A man waved his hand. “You say colors? What’s that?”

  “Couleurs.” Nico pronounced each syllable slowly. “A couleur is a thin cord that is fifty-eight inches in length. It can hold twenty to sixty sponges, depending on the size of the sponges you are stringing.”

  After demonstrating the trimming and sorting process with a crate of sponges he’d placed nearby, Nico described the packing process. “Every man I hire will be trained to perform each of these jobs.” He hesitated a moment. “And to do it well.” He glanced around the crowd. “So, who is interested in becoming a sponge worker?”

  Zanna arched her brows and gestured toward the table as she completed translating Nico’s final comments. “You can come up here and give your name. Training will begin immediately.”

  Chair legs scraped against the wooden floor as the men stood. A number of them scurried out the door, but several stepped forward to apply. The interview meetings took longer than Zanna had anticipated, but by three o’clock, Nico had hired the men he believed would be reliable. He and Zanna introduced the men to the Bahamian workers before she departed. Now she needed to get back to the office and figure out how they were going to pay for their new employees.

  Nico called after her when she neared the front door. “Don’t forget you promised to go to tea at Eufemia’s house tomorrow.”

  She turned on her heel. “Eugenia. Her name is Eugenia, not Eufemia. And you are the one who was invited to tea, not me. I never promised to go along.”

  “But you know you can’t bear to be away from this handsome face for more than a day.” He cupped his chin in his palm and grinned. “I’ll come by the office for you.”

  Heat crawled up her neck and colored her cheeks. She wanted to tell him she could stay away from him for much longer than twenty-four hours. And she would have, if it had been true. Instead, she turned and rushed out the door.

  CHAPTER

  14

  When she had finished her lunch the following day, Zanna hurried to her room and changed from her dark skirt and jacket to a lavender-and-white-striped chambray dress with lavender trim. She performed a quick pirouette in front of the mirror. Yes, this was much more appropriate for tea with the Rochester sisters. She pinned her hat trimmed with a small lavender flower atop her dark curls and then wriggled her fingers into a pair of white gloves.

  Zanna listened at the open bedroom door, thankful to hear the voices of her mother and Yayá coming from the kitchen. She tiptoed around the corner, down a short hallway, and through the living room to make an unobserved departure out the front door. If either of them caught sight of her in different clothes, there would be far too many questions.

  She’d seen little of Nico today. He’d left a note at the warehouse saying he was going to purchase the supplies needed in camp, the ones he’d been unable to purchase yesterday. When she’d completed her tasks at the dock, she returned to her office to pick up a file and then had gone home for lunch. Shortly before two, she glanced at the clock. Had he forgotten? Eugenia would be in a dither if he didn’t appear. Perhaps he’d gotten busy working at the camp and tea had slipped his mind.

  She went to retrieve her bag. The bell jangled over the front door, and she wheeled back around. “Nico! I thought you weren’t coming, so I decided I should go without you.”

  He gave her an appraising look, then pointed at her dress and grinned. “I see you changed your clothes so you would look your prettiest for me.”

  She gasped and pressed a palm down the skirt of her dress. “I . . . I didn’t change for you, I—”

  He waggled his finger back and forth. “I know this dress is not what you were wearing this morning. I saw you going into your office when I was leaving the store. You were wearing one of those dark skirts and . . .” Using a brushing gesture, he moved his hand down his chest, then curled his lip.

  “Jacket?”

  He nodded. “Yes. Not nearly so pretty as this dress you are wearing.” His dark eyes sparkled. “It pleases me that you wanted to look so pretty for me.”

  “Quit saying that. I didn’t change clothes to look pretty for you. I thought a dress would be more appropriate for tea, that’s all.” He tipped his head back and laughed. “I don’t know what you find so funny!”

  “You should not get angry because a man tells you that you look pretty. I’ve never known a woman who did not like to hear such words.”

  Zanna furrowed her brow. “You didn’t say I looked pretty. You said I changed clothes so I could look my prettiest for you.” She took a step toward him. “First of all, you don’t know if this is the prettiest I could ever look. And secondly, I’m not wearing this dress to make you happy. I’m wearing it because I’m going to tea.”

  He bobbed his head like a chicken pecking at feed. “So you said. Are you ready to go?”

  She sighed. “I’ve been ready. You’re the one who’s late.”

  He held up a small net bag. “I had to return to camp. I forgot my gifts for the ladies.”

  “Gifts?” She eyed the net.

  He opened the top of the bag and pulled out a sponge. “I’m giving each of them one of the sponges I brought from Greece. They’re very soft.” He traced it down her cheek. “Don’t you think?”

  She could feel his breath on her neck, and her skin tingled at his touch. “Yes, they’re very soft.” She swallowed. “But I think we should go or Eugenia will be worried. She won’t want to serve cold tea.”

  He tucked the sponge back into the bag and followed her out the door. The moment she reached the boardwalk, he matched her step. “I think the sponges we are harvesting from the Gulf are as soft as these, but I thought the ladies would be pleased I brought these from Greece.” He hesitated a moment. “Do you think it is a bad gift?”

  “No, it’s fine. I’m sure they’ll be delighted.” She didn’t know what type of response he expected, but it seemed one day he was unhappy when she expressed her opinion, and the next day he wanted it. And what was she supposed to think about a man who would stroke her cheeks with a sponge? Was it common in Greece for a man to touch a woman in such an intimate way?

  Her thoughts cascaded like a river rushing over a waterfall. She simply didn’t know what to make of him. He wasn’t like any other Greek man she’d ever met. Granted, she hadn’t been around many, but still . . . he simply defied her suppositions.

  For the remainder of the walk, he hummed a Greek tune she’d heard her mother sing, though she couldn’t recall the words. Once they’d stepped onto the porch, Nico knocked and they waited, and waited, and waited.

  He arched his brows and looked at her. “I should knock again?”

  “Yes. I can’t imagine where they are.”

  He lifted his hand and knocked with gusto. A few moments passed before the door opened and Eugenia stood in front of them, staring.

  Finally, the older woman drew her gaze away from Nico and looked at Zanna. “Good afternoon. I wasn’t expecting company.” She lifted her fingers and patted her hair. “Were you two out for a walk?” Confusion shone in her eyes.

  Zanna smiled at her. “Yesterday when Nico was leaving the doctor’s office, you made him promise to come by for tea this afternoon, but we can come another time.”

  “No, I’m not going to turn away this
fine-looking man.” She grasped Nico’s sleeve. “You come in here right now and I’ll put the kettle on the stove.” She smiled up at Nico. “I make a fine cup of tea, don’t I, Zanna?”

  Zanna wasn’t certain whether Eugenia had ever brewed her a cup of tea, since Bessie was usually the one who took charge in the sisters’ kitchen, but she didn’t disagree. Instead she glanced about the house. “Where are Viola and Bessie? I thought they’d be joining us for tea.”

  Eugenia tugged on her earlobe. “I’m not sure. They went to town. I think Bessie needed eggs. Maybe she was going to bake cookies to go with our tea. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”

  Zanna didn’t attempt to interpret for Nico. Rather, she merely told him that Bessie and Viola were in town and Eugenia hadn’t yet prepared the tea. She’d barely finished explaining when Eugenia returned to the parlor.

  “Sit down, sit down.” Eugenia waved them toward a pair of fanback wicker chairs. “The tea will be ready soon.” She took a seat next to Nico and smiled at him. “Thank you again for saving my life. Dr. Lucy told me everything you did for me.” She touched her fingers to her lips.

  Nico looked at Zanna and hiked his shoulders.

  “Eugenia is thanking you for saving her.”

  “Ahh.” He smiled at the older woman and reached into the net bag at his side. “I brought you a gift from Greece.”

  She reached for the sponge, but her brow furrowed as she looked at Zanna. “Does he think I need to take a bath?”

  Zanna chuckled and shook her head. “No. That’s a sponge he brought from the Aegean Sea in Greece. He thought you might like it since it’s from his home.”

  “Thank you.” She formed her mouth into exaggerated shapes as she spoke. “I’m the one who should be giving you a gift for saving my life, but I didn’t even remember you were coming for tea. I feel terrible, just terrible.” Zanna had nearly completed interpreting the message for Nico when Eugenia jumped up. “I know! I do have a gift I can give him.” She scurried out of the parlor, leaving the two of them alone.

  Zanna sighed. “We should have left when it was clear she wasn’t expecting us.”

  Nico leaned forward and glanced down the hallway where Eugenia had disappeared. “We can make an excuse and leave when she comes back to the parlor.”

  Zanna looked toward the kitchen. Surely the kettle must be boiling by now. She wanted to check, yet she didn’t want to do anything to cause Eugenia further distress. Thus far this visit had been a disaster. And what on earth was Eugenia doing for so long?

  When she couldn’t bear to wait any longer, Zanna scooted forward on her chair. She was going to go and find Eugenia. She’d pushed to her feet when the front door burst open.

  Bessie stepped inside, lifted her nose in the air, and sniffed. “Something’s burning.” She rushed past Zanna without a word while calling to her sister. “Eugenia! What have you done?”

  Viola, eyes wide, hurried after Bessie. “Did she set the kitchen on fire, Sister?”

  Amid her sisters’ shouts and accusations, Eugenia appeared at the end of the hallway, waving a sock in each hand. “I found them, and I think they’ll fit.”

  While her sisters busied themselves with the smoldering kettle, Eugenia placed one of the socks atop Nico’s shoe and gave a nod. “Perfect.” She shoved them into his hand.

  Zanna stared at the socks and then at Eugenia. “Why do you have a pair of men’s socks, Eugenia?”

  Her chest swelled. “I knitted them myself. You don’t need to tell Nico, but I made them for Bessie’s friend, Mr. Pappas, who lives in New York. He comes to Tarpon Springs on business sometimes. I thought they would be an appropriate gift, but he said wool socks made him itch, so I put them back in my cedar chest.” She frowned. “I hope Nico likes them.” She stood close to his side and smiled at him.

  “Eugenia! Didn’t you hear me shout at you when I came in? You put the kettle on the stove and it boiled dry. You could have burned down the house.” Bessie’s gaze moved from her sister to the socks in Nico’s hands. “And why have you given him those old socks you knitted two years ago?”

  “He gave me a gift, so I gave him one in return.” Eugenia jutted her chin and folded her arms across her waist.

  Zanna’s stomach churned. She and Nico needed to leave before the sisters entered into a melee that would detain them for the remainder of the afternoon. “If everything has been taken care of in the kitchen and we’re not needed to help, I believe we’ll leave now. Eugenia had forgotten she invited Nico for tea this afternoon. I apologize. We should have left earlier.” Zanna forced a smile.

  She gestured to Nico, who appeared thoroughly confused. Instead of making his way to the door, he removed the remaining two sponges from the bag and handed them to Bessie and Viola.

  Eugenia clasped a hand to her chest. “You’re giving them a present, too? That isn’t fair. They didn’t drown.”

  “Neither did you, Eugenia, but I do believe that tumble into the river has damaged your brain.” Bessie scowled at her sister.

  “We’re going to leave, ladies.” Zanna pushed Nico toward the door. “I apologize for disrupting your afternoon. We were attempting to keep the promise Nico made to Eugenia but had no idea it would create so much havoc.”

  They’d made it as far as the front walkway when Eugenia shouted and came scurrying after them. “You forgot your socks, Nico.” She pressed them into his hand. “Thank you for saving me.”

  Nico looked at Zanna. “What did she say?”

  “I’ll explain it all later,” Zanna said before she turned to Eugenia. “Nico said you are very welcome and thank you for the socks.”

  The old woman beamed at him before she turned and walked back to the house.

  “I think you’ve won Miss Eugenia’s heart, Nico.”

  “I think she’s far too old for me, don’t you?” He angled his head and looked down at her. “And it’s not Miss Eugenia’s heart that interests me.”

  Zanna stood on the docks with Nico at her side. She trained her eyes on the horizon, and when the first boat had come into view, she grasped Nico’s arm. “There’s one of our boats.” She turned to him, a smile on her face. “It is one of ours, isn’t it?”

  He returned her smile and nodded. “Yes, it’s one of ours.” Lifting his hand, he pointed to a spot not far from the first boat. “And there come the second and third. Do you see them?”

  “Yes.” She rocked on the balls of her feet. “It’s so exciting. I can hardly wait to see how many sponges they’ve harvested.”

  He turned his attention back to the water, his hand cupped above his eyes and his lips forming a tight line. “Let’s hope they have done well.”

  “And that those men in the warehouse can get them ready for sale within a week to ten days. We need the money to keep things afloat.” She stifled a giggle. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make light of the circumstances.”

  He chuckled. “You’re right. We don’t want the business to sink.”

  She laughed aloud at his witty reply.

  His patience as they awaited the boats impressed her. Unlike her, he remained calm as the three boats sailed closer. “I’m going to see if I can borrow Mr. Francis’s spyglass.” When he didn’t respond or move from his position, she crossed the short distance and entered the warehouse.

  She caught sight of the older man and waved. “May I borrow your spyglass, Mr. Francis? Our boats are returning, and I want to gain a better view.”

  He gestured toward his desk. “Second drawer on the right. Just put it back once you’re finished using it.”

  Zanna called her thanks, retrieved the spyglass, and rushed back to Nico’s side. She lifted the glass to her right eye and stared out over the water. “Oh, look!” She pointed her free hand across the water. “I can see lots of sponges hanging from the masts.” She hesitated a moment. “It looks like the first boat is full to overflowing with sponges.” She extended the spyglass to him.

  He shook his head. “I
can see just fine without it. They’ve done well.”

  The wind caught her hat and threatened to send it sailing. Using her free hand, she held it in place while holding the spyglass aloft. “I’m going to return this to Mr. Francis.” She squinted for one final look before turning toward the warehouse, uncertain how Nico could see the sponges without using the spyglass.

  After stepping out of the sunlight, she hesitated and let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting inside the warehouse.

  “All done?” Mr. Francis was at his desk, with a well-dressed gentleman sitting opposite him.

  “Yes, thank you. From what I could see, it appears the men are bringing in quite a bounty.” She handed the spyglass to Mr. Francis and nodded at the other gentleman. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

  “No interruption. Mr. Pappas and I were just having a friendly chat.” He grinned at the man on the other side of the desk. “It’s been a while since he’s been in town, so he was inquiring about the latest happenings around Tarpon Springs.”

  Zanna swallowed hard. So this was the elusive Mr. Pappas. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but this man wasn’t it. He looked like any other sponge buyer she’d seen on the docks. Dark trousers, white shirt, no tie, and a wide-brimmed linen hat he’d placed on Mr. Francis’s desk.

  Mr. Francis placed the spyglass in his desk drawer, then tipped his head toward his visitor. “Adelfo, have you met Miss Krykos?”

  Mr. Pappas shook his head and stood. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. I think I’ve met your father and perhaps one of your brothers. They’re the Greek boat builders, aren’t they?”

  All thoughts of the arriving sponge boats fled from her mind. “Yes, they are.”

  Mr. Pappas returned to his chair and sat down. “They don’t come down to the docks much, do they?”