Page 6 of The Little Greek Guesthouse

Heather placed the swimsuit back onto the rail and pulled a face. ‘Auntie Who?’

‘Mabel, you know, from the old kids – never mind. Pink or black?’

Heather had turned away and was holding a pair of giant flesh-coloured pants up to herself. ‘Black,’ she said, without looking. Nina chose the pink. ‘What do you think about these?’

‘Ugly.’

‘Comfy.’

‘Rosie will divorce you if you take those home.’

‘She’d have to marry me first.’ Heather sighed and sagged at the knees. ‘Can we get a coffee now? I’m bored.’

‘Yep, just let me pay. And pick up a couple of other bits.’

Forty-five minutes later, with sun cream, travel toiletries, hat and flip-flops purchased, they were sitting in the café.

‘Ugh,’ Heather groaned. ‘That was exhausting; please tell me you’re done.’

Nina shook her head. ‘Hardly started, haven’t even begun with sundresses and sandals and waterproof makeup. I’ll need to get my nails done and maybe a fake tan so I don’t look too – what?’ Heather rolled her eyes and slumped down her chair. ‘I’ll buy you lunch,’ Nina said sheepishly.

‘You’re not staying in a five-star hotel you know. You’re helping your sixty-five-year-old dad renovate a tumbledown house.’

‘Well, I’m just keeping him company,’ Nina said, her mind filled again with the images of beaches and cocktails.

Heather raised her eyebrows, but was too busy sipping her Americano to argue.

She and Theo booked the flights together. It was a while since he’d travelled and she wanted to check everything. He huffed and rolled his eyes. ‘I’m not some doddery old man, you know. I’m in my prime! I’m an accountant, trained and clever man, not some stupid old fool needs his daughter to help him.’

‘Retired accountant,’ she couldn’t help pointing out. Which did nothing to improve his mood. He glowered at her.

Nina cleared her throat and stared at the laptop screen. ‘We need hold luggage.’

Theo sighed. ‘All these extra costs, it used to be you just booked your ticket and off you fly. Now they squeeze you for every little extra, they’ll be charging for using the toilet next.’

Nina grinned. ‘Spoken like a true accountant.’

‘No need for hold luggage, few clothes and a toothbrush is all you need.’

Nina turned to face him, her expression serious. ‘Baba, no. We’re going for weeks, we’ll need clothes and different types of shoes, and do you know what that climate does to my hair? Straighteners, and oh, must get a plug adaptor. What?’

He was staring at her as though she’d gone mad. ‘What do you need extra shoes for?’

Nina ticked off on her fingers. ‘Trainers for the flight, obviously, but I’ll be wearing those, flip-flops for the beach and pool, everyday sandals, going out sandals, those sparkly Manolos, just in case, oh and boots, I might want to go hiking at some point so –’

Theo was shaking his head. ‘You crazy, girl. Not going for a party-party.’

Nina was too busy booking the hold luggage to listen. ‘Right, all done. Now, have you researched hotels, Baba?’

Theo widened his eyes and lurched back on his chair, flinging his arms up in horror. ‘Hotel? You think I’m made of money? We’re going to work on the house, we stay in the house.’

‘Oh. I suppose . . .’ Nina had thought the building was in a state of disrepair, unsafe, and that was why the hotel was demanding they fix it up. But perhaps it was just some finicky regulations about window sizes or pipes or something. She imagined again the white-walled house with blue-painted shutters, air-con and a little garden that overlooked the beach.

That would do.

‘Right, then. Better start packing.’

Again, Theo rocked around in his chair, shaking his head in exaggerated disbelief. Nina couldn’t help but laugh. He always used his ‘Mediterranean temperament’ as an excuse for this dramatic flair, but she thought he just behaved this way to entertain her.