The Villa of Secrets

The old woman stopped short and reached for the nearest wall to steady herself. She was carrying a big bag of shopping in a brown canvas bag, which she dropped to the ground. She was only small and the bag looked far too heavy for her.

Her hand fluttered to her brow, which was covered in beads of sweat. Seeing her sway, a young waiter, who’d been standing in the doorway of his café watching the world go by, hurried to assist.

‘Let me help you, Mrs Papadakis,’ he said anxiously, picking up the shopping bag and wrapping an arm round the woman’s thin shoulders. ‘Are you feeling all right? Shall I call a doctor?’

The old woman clicked her tongue impatiently and did her best to straighten up. ‘Certainly not. I’m just a little dizzy. It must be the heat.’