Page 64 of The Greek Café

‘Mum, that’s awful.’ I laugh. ‘I’m glad you are on the mend – and that you and Douglas have been getting along so well.’

It feels reassuring that Mum has met someone, even as a friend, now that my future is here in Greece. For now, at least.

‘Hopefully by next month I will be up for the beginners dance class at the community centre.’

‘No bungee jumping then?’

‘Not for the foreseeable.’ She smiles. ‘And I have always wanted to learn how to dance the Viennese waltz. It’s my favourite dance on Strictly.’

We wind up our chat just as Phoebe heads towards me. She has a smile on her face.

‘I take it went well?’ I ask.

‘Yes. I start tomorrow at the pool bar.’

‘Brilliant, well done. Talking of bar, are you ready for a drink now to celebrate?’ I ask.

‘Lead the way.’

When we are seated at an outside table with our cold beers, she asks, ‘So what have you been up to today?’

‘Buying some equipment for the café. It all seems real now,’ I say, a burst of excitement running through me.

I can’t recall the last time I felt excited by anything back home. Unless you count a bargain bundle of laundry products from the TikTok shop.

‘The kafenion already looks wonderful,’ says Phoebe. ‘I can’t wait to see the inside.’

‘I have been looking at some furniture for the apartment. What do you think of this?’

I show her the stone-coloured sofa that doubles as a sofa bed, and a rather glamorous blue crushed velvet wing-backed chair.

‘Wow. I love it. Especially that chair.’

‘There is a lot of white and taupe so I thought I would give the room a pop of colour. I am getting this rug too.’ I show her a picture of a stripy coloured rug.

Heading across the reception with Phoebe a little later, I notice Takis seated on a bar stool with a stunning brunette and having a drink together. He throws his head back and laughs at something she has just said.

He catches my eye and smiles and I smile back, before he returns his attention to his female companion.

I suddenly think of how the expression on his face changed when he saw Kai hugging me outside of my apartment. Although as he is now sitting with his girlfriend in the bar, I wonder why he would even care. Or why I should either.

THIRTY-THREE

‘I love it.’

A couple of weeks have passed and I am here to see the completed sign for the café. I almost have a tear in my eye when I see it. The yellow sign with the navy writing looks absolutely perfect above the doorway of the blue painted door.

‘I have to say, it all looks very inviting,’ says Jack as he sips a coffee and gives the outside of the café a final once-over. ‘I might even take up some coastal walking so I can pop in here.’

‘You don’t need to be a walker to come and have a coffee.’

‘True enough.’ He smiles. ‘I might take it up anyway though. My wife enjoys a walk with her ladies’ group. I might suggest we take one together. She says I work too much and that I ought to be slowing down a bit at my age.’

His comment reminds me of what Zeta said about Takis’s girlfriend complaining about the same thing.

‘Well, remember that all work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy,’ I say and he laughs.

‘You probably have a point. But I find my work relaxing.’