Rushing through the overcrowded corridors, giving no concern for the wounded soldiers in the Evangelismos Hospital, Melpo barged through, knocking down I.V. tubes, waiting patients and their visitors. With arrogance and using her large purse as a wedge, Melpomeni plowed through the hallway. Without announcing herself, she busted into Dr. Vassili Tsipras' office.
"Where is she? Where is that ungrateful little brat?" Upon seeing Anna, Melpo took a deep breath and hissed like a cobra spewing out venom. "Oh, there you are! How could you do this to me? How could you! Oh my God, I am having a heart attack. Air! I want some air!" She grasped her chest. "I need a doctor! Where is the doctor? I am in a hospital and there is no doctor?!"
Anna watched the whole performance without a word. She had seen such behavior before. It was a familiar scene.
"I am glad to see you too, Mom."
"Are you making fun of me? Are you?
Yes, you are."
The door opened and Dr. Tsipras walked in. "Ah, Mrs. Bouras! You must be the famous Mrs. Melpomeni Bouras! Finally! Finally, I am so happy to meet you!" he said, extending his hand.
"And you, you must be ...," Melpomeni clenched her teeth and gave Anna an evil look, "you must be the kind informer of my daughter's whereabouts." She shot another scathing glance at Anna. "It's so nice of you to do so, Doctor." Melpomeni shook her finger at him. "Yes, Dr. Tsipras!" She extended her hand and the doctor bowed and kissed it.
Anna turned her face in disgust and ran into the bathroom. "Dear Mother of God, help me," she whispered as she leaned over the toilet bowl.
"You and I must ... We have so much to talk about ... We are so much alike ... We must meet away from here," Melpo cooed.
Her husband was safely exiled in Cairo, along with the king and the Greek government, but Melpomeni had no qualms about returning to German-occupied Athens without him. She had more than enough money to live well, just as if there were no war going on, and as long as no one knew about her Jewish ancestry, she got on just fine with the Germans, especially all those attractive German officers around. And now, the doctor had contacted her, and it turned out that her ungrateful bitch of a daughter was here too, right under her nose, and if not for the good doctor, she might never have known it. Now, she could add a useful doctor to the mix, just for variety.
"Yes, Mrs. Bouras, I would like that.