The Greek Villa: A beautiful and utterly addictive summer holiday rom com

Chapter 2

‘As far as I can see, it’s being processed,’ I say to the almost hysterical woman on the phone, who tells me she is going on holiday in four days’ time and her daughter’s passport has not arrived yet and what exactly am I going to do about it? I resist the urge to tell her that maybe she ought to have applied for it a little earlier in the year and not during full-on holiday season.

I finish the call and sigh. I do love my job, despite people thinking we are magicians who can have a passport processed and hand delivered by a fairy who leaves a dusting of fairy dust on their doorstep within twenty-four hours. I understand people’s desire to go on holiday, I love to go myself after all, but I just feel a little flat as it’s so soon after Jack’s death, and maybe I’m not possessing my usual patience with callers.

I’m a supervisor at the Passport Office, and while the days can be a bit samey, I glance out of the window and remind myself that there are far worse places to work. Plus, the pay is decent. The office is housed in a listed building, with views over the Mersey and several other magnificent buildings known as the Three Graces. It is breathtaking. And, of course, I have the joy of working from home a couple of days a week and sitting around in my loungewear.

‘Fancy going for a walk at lunchtime?’ my colleague Suzi asks as she finishes a call.

‘Sure, sounds good,’ I reply as I glance at my watch. We stagger our lunch hours, so today Suzi and I will take a break at one o’clock. The sun is shining brightly, so we will probably grab a sandwich and look for a bench somewhere to eat it. Unless we are lucky enough to find a table at an outdoor café that is.

As expected, we stroll past a few nearby eateries, where empty tables are non-existent, as shoppers and tourists enjoy an al fresco lunch in the unexpected sunshine. Instead, we grab drinks and sandwiches and manage to find an empty bench near the Albert Dock overlooking the water.

‘I can’t wait for next week, this holiday can’t come quick enough,’ says Suzi, before diving into her sandwich of Brie, toasted peppers, and salami on sourdough. Mine is chargrilled Cajun chicken. Sandwiches are so much more interesting than they used to be, and I wonder what became of the humble egg and cress sandwich.

‘I hope you have a great time. I could do with another holiday.’ I sigh, my mind roaming back to Corfu and those long, lazy days basking in the sunshine.

‘You’ve only just come back,’ she replies with a laugh.

‘That was two whole weeks ago,’ I remind her, and she rolls her eyes. ‘Seriously though, Jack’s passing has made me realise we should grab life with both hands. Tomorrow is promised to no one, and I know Jack would approve of my travels.’

I think back once more, with affection, of sitting in his house and leafing through an atlas, Jack telling me that if I worked hard in life, the world could be my oyster.

I do feel a little guilty about jetting off so often though, knowing some people can’t afford to take a single holiday. I know I am fortunate enough to be able to make several trips to Greece a year, but the apartment I rent out there is such a bargain. It’s simple, but clean with that all-important balcony. I prefer the authenticity of Greek apartments to the larger hotels and their modern interior that makes you feel you could be anywhere in the world. Thinking about it, I could probably cut back even further by spending less money at the bakery, which is a little too handy. I close my eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on my face as I look up and imagine for a split second that I am back in Greece, listening to the sound of the sea in the background.

We enjoy our lunchtime outdoors, and just under an hour later, we take the short walk back to the office, feeling refreshed. I nip to the loo and scrape my long chestnut-coloured hair into a ponytail and squirt on some more body spray. Glancing in the mirror, I can see that my holiday tan is fading a little, and I might need a couple of infills on my lashes that frame my quite large green eyes. Maybe I will work outside on the balcony of my apartment tomorrow if this weather keeps up and top up the tan a little. And count down the days until I can return to my favourite place!