A sea of crystal waters that stretched from the bleached white villa set upon the hills was the picturesque view that captivated her and took her breath away. The invitation to spend the better part of 6 months in Greece on her sister's fiancee's dime was well worth it, and you jumped at the opportunity. The event that brought her to Greece in the first place was her sister's wedding to her fiancee, a woman whose wealthy Greek family was going to put the two of them up for 6 months. There would be 6 months of inescapable views of the ancient cities, and as many tours as she could possibly want before the big day.
Calliope, her sister's fiancé, had offered to arrange some people to take care of her while you were here. Calliope didn't necessarily explain who would be Elise's unofficial yet official guide for the next 6 months, only that she would be in very good hands. And with the promise of two people, who Calliope assured Elise would take very good care of her, she'd agreed.
There was little resistance to the idea, and even less to the graciousness of her sister's fiancé's family. The large Greek family had maintained that Elise and her sister Dessa, were part of their family now—technically extended but they considered Elise blood relatives.
It was a nice change from Elise and her sister's own experiences with family falling short which had mostly revolved around Dessa's sexuality. Neither of their parents approved and they made her, and by extension Elise, choose who she would support. The ultimate choice Elise made had made her distanced from her parents while drawing her closer to Dessa.
Elise was only 16 when they made her choose whether to shun Dessa, who was 20 at the time, like her parents wanted. Elise's choice was instant and natural as she cleaved to her sister instead of their parents, and the aftermath of that choice was for them to kick Elise out.
And disinherit Dessa and Elise from whatever family they had.
After Elise chose, the wrong choice by her parent's words, she had moved in with Dessa to her small two-bedroom apartment and helped pay rent. Elise hadn't looked back, she didn't try and reconnect with her parents, and she'd never regretted it. Elise and Dessa were sisters, the bond as sister's was unbreakable and Elise would always support Dessa when she needed it.
Exactly three years after being kicked out of her parents' house Elise had went to college, taking several photography courses. She had always loved the art of photography and the ability to embrace beauty through captured images. Her courses were something she'd found herself reveling in, and there was such a passion for it.
As for Dessa, she had focused on a degree in historical literature, which in itself had given her an opportunity to go to Greece and study some of the oldest texts in the known world at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It was during that trip that she had met Calliope and fell head over heels for the beautiful Greek woman who was, ironically, studying the same materials. Dessa had talked nonstop about this woman that stole her breath and heart in just one word, and it was not soon after that they had begun dating.
Now Dessa was 26 years old, graduated with a degree in historical literature, and busy planning her wedding in 6 months. Calliope and Dessa were the most beautiful and perfect couple Elise had ever known, both of them kindred spirits who found each other's soul flame in the other. The Aetos family had welcomed not just Dessa into their family as if she were always meant to be there, and they had supported Calliope and Dessa's relationship like Elise's family should have.
"Απολαμβάνεις τη θέα, αδελφή?" The question that stirred Elise's attention from the beautiful waters of the sea had directed her attention behind her. Calliope was standing at the edge of the guestroom Elise had been given, carrying a woven basket of fresh baked bread, fruits, nuts, and honey.
While she had not understood Greek, Elise understood the sentiment and fondness in Calliope's voice. Calliope was like a sister to her, caring about Elise just as much as her blood sister had, and Calliope was excited to welcome her to her family.
"A gift from my mother to welcome you to our home," Calliope had stepped forward and set the basket of food, more than Elise could've imagined, on the small circular table near the balcony. After she had set it down, she had walked toward Elise and rest a hand on her left shoulder, squeezing lightly before she leaned in and sighed. "It is beautiful, isn't it? Such old waters yet they never get any less captivating."
"It's like I'm in another world." Elise admitted without hesitation, knowing that Calliope was right about the beauty of the Greece and ever surrounding island that she'd hoped to visit. "Your family is...thank you for allowing me to stay here for the next 6 months."
Calliope had turned her head to look Elise over, studying her with a familial intrigue. Calliope's brown eyes were warm, deep, and rich with a kind of softness that alluded to who she was as a person. Calliope lived and breathed for her family, for Dessa and for Elise as her future sister-in-law, and her beauty was more than just outward.
"You are my sister, our family. You are more than welcome to be here." She placed her other hand on Elise's shoulders and squeezed tenderly, leaning in to give her a side hug that was reciprocated. It had only lasted a moment or two before she pulled away and reached out to brush some of Elise's hair off her forehead and out of her eyes.
"Dessa and I are going to dinner with friends tomorrow, I would like you to come with us. I even have a dress you can wear." Calliope had stepped away from Elise and moved back toward her bed, stopping to sit on the edge. Elise watched Calliope as she had bent down to pick up an embossed paper bag from the floor, setting it down on the mattress.
"These friends, are they the people you arranged to take care of me while I'm here?" Elise questioned Calliope as Elise closed the double French doors that led to the balcony, cutting off her view of the sea. However, even with the doors shut she was blissfully able to hear the waves and smell the salt of the water—both of which Elise was becoming endeared to.
"Maybe," Calliope shrugged and passed her braid from off her shoulder to her back, that single motion coming before she reached into the bag and pulled out the dress, she had for Elise. "I think it would be a good opportunity to get to know them. They're brother and sister you know, and incredibly good friends of my family."
"Brother and sister?" Elise shuffled toward the bed, grasping the dress as Calliope held it out to her and began to unfold it, holding it up in front of Elise.
It was soft with a colour that was reminiscent of a bluebell with the same tapering of the lighter shade of blue near the petals of the flower to the darker shade near the pistil. The straps of the dress were thin and tapered off at the nape of Elise's neck with a v-neckline that would give her coverage while keeping her cool in the Greek heat. The dress fell to her thighs with an airiness that perfectly fit the climate while maintaining the simplicity.
"You'll come with us, yes?" Calliope had gently tugged on the dress, lowering it to the bed once more. As it had been removed from Elise's hands, Calliope had looked at Elise with eager determination and hopefulness as Calliope was on the same kind of mission Elise's sister was—to make the 6 months in Greece absolutely incredible.
"Okay." Her answer was short and simple, as single word that was given as a response to Calliope's question. And despite how simple it was and how quickly it had been given, it had still brought a warm and bright smile to Elise's future sister in laws face. She had risen from the bed and came toward Elise with that bright smile on her face, her brown eyes alight with something she couldn't read. "What?"
Calliope cupped Elise's cheeks in her hands and leaned forward, Calliope's eyes boring into her own as her smile grew. There was a moment of silence as the two looked at each other waiting for something to be said and then she finally leaned in and kissed Elise's cheek in a sisterly manner.
"You're going to have the best time here."
