Page 40 of The Little Greek Guesthouse

Maria glowered like a belligerent child. Nina was almost enjoying this.

‘At least let me put Milo in for you.’

Nina watched, trying not to grin, as Maria folded her arms. She could see her considering whether to argue, as George waited patiently.

‘All right,’ Maria relented. ‘Only because you bother me. I can do it myself if I want.’

‘I know you can, Yia-Yia,’ he said, leading Milo away. He ignored Nina completely.

‘I only let him to make him feel useful,’ Maria said, leaning in conspiratorially.

‘Of course. Otherwise, what’s the point of him being here?’ Nina smiled, feeling better having witnessed this sweet family interaction, even if it did involve the obnoxious George. It made her want to fix things with Theo even more urgently. ‘I’d better go. I need to talk to Baba.’

Maria nodded and turned towards her door, wobbling a little. ‘Good girl,’ she said.

Nina walked on, imagining the good-natured squabbling that went on between the stubborn old woman and the grandson who was trying to help her.

Seeing him brought back her confusion over the hotel Theo was planning to sell to, and her worries about the turtles. If George was right, then she must persuade Theo to change his mind.

Again, an image of the house decorated and ready to welcome guests, she and Theo running the place together, flitted through her mind.

Perhaps she’d talk to Theo about this tonight, but first she wanted to apologise for her behaviour earlier, to reassure him that she didn’t blame him for what had happened with the bracelet. Eager to see him, she hurried through the door.

But the house was dark and silent. She called, but there was no reply. Theo wasn’t there.

Chapter Eighteen

She searched the house, but nothing. Theo wasn’t there, she could sense the emptiness of the place. Panicked, she called his mobile, and heard it ring, finding it on the kitchen side where he’d left it charging.

Nina sighed at his absentmindedness; he was always forgetting that he’d left his phone charging and going out without it.

Perhaps this wasn’t a disaster – it wasn’t that late and Theo was probably out with Yiannis, wasn’t he, or walking some of his old haunts? Nina tried to hold on to logic and stay calm, but a feeling in her gut told her something was wrong. Grabbing her keys, she hurried back out in search of her dad, panting as she stomped along the road.

She almost didn’t see George as she passed Maria’s house, focused as she was on finding Theo.

‘Hey,’ he called. Where are you going in such a hurry?’ He stared at her from where he was apparently tidying Maria’s garden.

Nina skidded to a halt. ‘I’m just – my dad’s not at home and I don’t know where he is. He’s gone out without his phone.’

His expression softened. ‘Oh. Annoying when they do that, isn’t it?’ He smiled. She tried to, but couldn’t quite manage it. He glanced around. ‘But I’m pretty much done here, want some company while you look? I wouldn’t mind a walk anyway.’

She hesitated. Who was this man, who had caused so much trouble since they’d arrived in Kefalonia, who had made unfounded accusations and upset Theo? So up on his high horse one minute, and genuinely kind the next.

‘Thank you.’ She found herself nodding. And feeling, she reluctantly admitted to herself, glad of his company as he fell into step beside her.

‘Where to first?’ he asked.

‘The café, maybe. He and Yiannis are old friends.’

‘Yeah, I’ve heard all about what they got up to as kids.’

Nina tried to smile. She wished she could shake this feeling of unease. She wished Theo was there, laughing as he told her stories of his childhood antics.

‘You’re worried, aren’t you?’

She shrugged, watching her feet as she walked, trying not to slip on the loose stones. ‘Kind of. Stupid really, I’m sure he’s fine.’

He touched her arm gently. ‘Not stupid at all.’