Page 73 of The Greek Café

‘Yep it is. Google it if you don’t believe me. He survived every strike, although he did sustain burns and hair loss. The locals avoided him like the plague if a thunderstorm was forecast.’

‘I bet they did. And I kind of wish you hadn’t told me that now,’ he says, stroking his lustrous head of hair.

A new flight arrived early this morning, and the kids pool is fairly busy, with very young children lounging in water inflatables that have shades above them and sunhats perched on their heads.

It is mid-morning and the temperature is already showing high twenties and set to hit the thirties later. I can hardly wait to head to the beach in the early evening for a cooling swim.

I take a break and sip an iced tea in a shaded area outside the hotel with my book. When I spot Zeta, I close my book and call her name.

I tell her I would like to take her to dinner. I feel the invitation ought to come from me, even though Takis has suggested a good restaurant.

‘That would be lovely. When are you thinking?’

‘Would Thursday work?’

‘Yes, Thursday is good for me, but are you sure? The flowers are more than enough.’

‘I insist. Takis tells me he knows of a good restaurant. He has kind of invited himself along too,’ I inform her.

‘Ah he probably means Aphrodite’s,’ she says. ‘I have not been there for a while, so it will be good to catch up with the owner.’ She smiles. ‘I have to say it is a good choice, if a little more expensive than some of the tavernas. It seems my nephew has expensive taste.’ She pauses. ‘I know the women who he has dined with there have been impressed.’

‘Women?’ I say in surprise.

‘Sorry, maybe that makes him sound like a womaniser.’ Zeta grins. ‘Female friends mainly, staff who work at the harbour on the boats. A bunch of them dine out together sometimes. Men and women, but Takis says the women always comment on the stylish décor, the first time they go there,’ she explains.

‘Right.’ I smile as I sip my drink.

‘Anyway, it will be lovely if he joins us. We do not get a chance to spend any quality time together. Would you like me to make the reservation?’ she offers. ‘It can get busy, but as I know the owner, I am sure he will fit us in.’ She winks.

‘Of course. Shall we say seven thirty?’ I suggest.

‘Perfect. And thank you, Erin, I shall look forward to it.’

Later, as I grab my things and head off for a beach swim, I ponder Zeta’s comments. Once again she never spoke of his girlfriend but perhaps I can broach the subject over dinner. One thing is for sure though, the more I learn about Takis, the less I understand our relationship. If you can call it that.

THIRTY-SEVEN

I make my way along the beach, away from the stretch near the hotel still busy with swimmers, until I find a quieter area.

It is almost deserted, apart from a man who is throwing a stick into the water for a dog to retrieve and a family who are collecting their things about to head off home.

The old man near the water, wishes me a kalispera as his black dog emerges from the water triumphantly with the stick and shakes itself.

I walk a little further before setting down my towel and striding into the foamy water.

The coolness is glorious, and I float around on my back for a while, staring at the still blue sky above. I think about how my evening would look back home, and it reinforces to me that I am absolutely doing the right thing in being here. An evening at a sunny beach sure beats eating alone and settling down with a box set, very probably with rain hammering on the windows outside.

I flip over and swim along, as the surrounding mountains watch over me. In the distance, I spot a small speedboat bouncing across the water, making the most of the long hours of daylight.

In a few days’ time I will be saying farewell to Kai, who I know I will miss immensely. If he stays in Australia for a while, maybe I could pop over and see him, if things don’t work out here. It could be my next adventure. I scold myself for thinking that way. Perhaps I could go for a holiday, but Greece has fully restored my heavy heart and given me a new venture, that includes a home. I owe it to myself to at least give things here a try.

I arrive home and I answer a FaceTime call from a beautiful princess.

‘Summer! How lovely to hear from you, how’s it going?’

‘Hi, Erin. Better than I could have imagined.’ She beams. ‘I get paid for dressing up like this, but I would do it for free,’ she says with the brightest of smiles.

‘You look wonderful. Are you Cinderella?’ I ask tentatively. Disney princesses have never been my thing. When my friends dressed up as princesses for World Book Day at school, I was either a mermaid or a pirate. Usually a pirate. I guess the love of water has always been in my blood.