Deciding that life on a small island in the company of four men wasn’t the ideal situation for a smart and heartbroken girl, Yiorgos sent Alexa to an international boarding school in Athens in the care of her posh uncles, successful hoteliers with multiple properties in cities all over Greece. Alexa had spent time in the capital city over the years with her cousins and felt drawn to the culture and vibrancy of Athens life. But her first year without her mother was like going through a meat grinder and coming out the other end a pulverized version of her former, carefree self. She hid her insecurity behind dark sunglasses, black clothing, clove cigarettes, feigned ennui, and the Cure. Throwing herself into school meant not having to think about loss, and her good grades gave her a chance to move to London and enroll in King’s College.

In London, Alexa spent many hours smoking in cafés and drinking in clubs while perfecting her English and a slightly cynical worldview. Every summer she returned home to Patmos, passing along her observations about the Brits to her uncles and father to incorporate into their hotels. Electric teapots in every room. Fresh flowers in the lobby. Books on the shelves. When she returned to school every fall, she went through a period of mourning, grieving the loss of her mother, the sun, and her tan in that order.

After finishing her degree, her plan was to get a job with an international hotel company based in London, but a busted love affair and the endless rain broke her spirit. When a British pal suggested a summer in Los Angeles, surfing in Malibu and working an hourly job, Alexa jumped at the chance. Because of her mother’s American heritage, she was a dual citizen. A breezy summer in California seemed like her birthright.

But a random conversation in the baggage claim area during a very long wait for luggage led to a surprise job offer. The professional-looking couple, who claimed to be in the movie business, had two young sons who needed a nanny. Would she be interested in a summer on the beach taking care of the boys while they worked on their next film?

Yes, she would.