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

Chapter 14

‘What do you fancy doing today then, after I’ve met with Dimitri? I was thinking we might go into Sidari, I remember that beach bar you liked.’

‘Sounds good.’ Evie has been chatting to Nick on the phone this morning and seems in a brighter mood.

‘How’s his golf weekend going?’ I ask.

We’re sitting on the balcony, drinking orange juice and eating croissants and some Greek yoghurt.

‘Pretty eventful apparently. One guy got disqualified from the event for cheating, and another ended up in hospital after drunkenly falling down some steps outside the clubhouse and breaking his ankle.’

‘Oh no. Who knew golf could be so dangerous?’

‘I know. At least he called me though, which is a first when he goes away.’ She laughs and I wonder when they became so disconnected, even though I never got that impression when they said goodbye at the airport.

‘Right. I won’t be long.’ I glance at my watch as I finish my breakfast and cross the road to Thea’s. Dimitri is already standing inside in his work gear, chatting to Thea, ready to head off for the day.

‘Kalimera,’ he greets me warmly.

‘Kalimera,’ I say, returning his smile.

He takes his phone from his pocket and shows me some figures that, thankfully, are not as eye-watering as I expected.

‘I can make a start on the roof soon. But I am afraid I will need a little money upfront for materials,’ he tentatively asks. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’

I hesitate for just a split second, having read back home that it is not something that is encouraged.

‘I’m sure my aunt can vouch for me.’ He holds his hands up. ‘It’s just that the price of wood and building materials has increased in price and my supplier I am afraid likes a hefty deposit.’

‘Not a problem.’ I reassure myself that everything will be alright, and, of course, I have come to know Thea well. I tell him I will transfer the money if he gives me his bank details, which he does.

‘I will see you in two weeks. Let me know when you arrive,’ he says. ‘And don’t worry, everything is in good hands.’ As he shakes my hand and heads to the van, I notice Yiannis sitting in the passenger seat, and he waves.

‘Yiannis, I didn’t see you there. How are you?’ I stroll towards the van.

‘I am okay. A little pain in my back, but I am getting older.’ He smiles as Dimitri climbs up beside him into the driver’s seat.

‘You come out of a bakery empty-handed?’ I can’t help remarking to this Greek god, and Dimitri laughs.

‘I like to look after myself, although I do indulge occasionally. No one can resist temptation the whole time.’ He holds my gaze with his dark-brown eyes, and I feel the heat rise in my cheeks.

‘Have a safe journey home,’ he says as he starts up the engine. ‘Actually…’ He hesitates for a moment, before adding, ‘It does not matter, I will be in touch with you soon.’ I can’t help wondering what he was about to say.

Back at the apartment Evie is ready and we set off to head into Sidari. The sky is blue, and it feels like it is shaping up to be a beautiful day.

‘Actually,’ I say, noticing a place that hires quad bikes and mopeds. ‘Do you fancy leaving the car here and hiring a moped? Maybe after Sidari we can take a little ride out somewhere.’

‘I thought you said there would be no sightseeing on this trip?’

‘I said no walking. It might be fun, but not if you don’t fancy it. We can have a pool day if you like?’

‘I’m joking. Hiring quads does sound like fun.’ Evie smiles.

There is a small pool at the apartments, although thinking about it I wonder if maybe I ought to be at the villa, at least trying to have a go at tidying the garden a little and pulling up some weeds. But then again, I don’t want to ruin Evie’s weekend. I will get properly stuck in in a couple of weeks, along with Dimitri and Yiannis, and maybe a couple more workers, who he mentioned he employs on a casual basis. Fingers crossed my employer will let me have the time off. I’m pretty certain no one else has holidays booked, and I can work from here for a few days if I need to.

As neither of us particularly like riding pillion we decide to hire a moped each and are soon scooting along the main road towards Sidari. Driving out of the main street in Roda, we pass a tourist office offering trips into Corfu Town and boat trips across the water. Shops display football shirts of every country on rails outside on the street, alongside vibrant beach towels and floaty summer dresses. It’s still a little quiet as the shop owners slowly open up their stores ready for the summer onslaught of visitors to the island.

We drive on past half-built hotels and buildings with graffitied walls, before the landscape changes to roadside villas painted in various pastel shades with elevated pools looking down across the valley. Gardens are filled with lush green plants, some with palm trees. In the distance, cypress trees can be spotted perched high on hills alongside tiny white churches. When a car driver rounds a bend rather quickly though and almost in the middle of the road, it reminds me to keep my eyes firmly on the road ahead.

Presently, we approach the main strip of Sidari, and slow down as a trickle of early season tourists walk along a road that has no significant path, walking inside a yellow painted line.

Recalling our favourite bar, we park in the car park at the rear of the restaurant that has views over the beach. After being shown to a seat, we order a drink just as Evie receives a message on her phone and smiles.

‘Is that from Nick?’ I ask, sipping a strawberry mocktail through a straw.

‘No, it’s from the girls actually.’ She turns the phone towards me to show a photo of them in a restaurant having Sunday lunch with their grandparents, pulling funny faces for the camera. I’m not sure why I’m so fixated on Evie being content with Nick and staying married. Maybe it’s because my own parents have been married for so long. Or maybe it’s because I can’t stand cheats, and the thought of Evie being tempted fills me with dread.

I push away the memory of the guy who I thought just might have been the one, after discovering he didn’t believe in dating someone exclusively. A fact he failed to mention to me.

We enjoy lunch, a huge Greek salad, and some calamari, drizzled with lemon juice, before taking a stroll along the beach front. It’s busy being the weekend, with local families as well as tourists swimming and enjoying water sports in the lovely weather, warmer than usual I was told by Thea in the bakery.

We sit and watch the world go by for a few minutes, then take a walk along the main strip, passing bars with people sitting outside drinking and chatting. I stop and linger for a moment at my favourite jewellery shop as their selection of silver rings and bracelets displayed outside on a stand catches my eye.

‘Why don’t you treat yourself?’ says Evie as my eye falls on a stunning bracelet with an amethyst stone at its centre, which just happens to be my birthstone. ‘You have just come into an inheritance after all.’

‘I have, haven’t I? You’ve convinced me,’ I say, trying it on for size.

It’s such a reasonable price for silver that when Evie goes to explore the inside of the shop, I purchase one with her birthstone on it too. Perusing lots of shops, selling all the usual touristy souvenirs, but with hidden gems amongst them – I buy a gorgeous olive wood bowl for my new house – we eventually stop for a cold drink at another restaurant that overlooks a section of the beach.

‘Fancy driving back to Acharavi Beach? It’s on the way back to Roda. We could spend a couple of hours there if you like?’ I suggest.

‘It’s a shingle beach though, isn’t it?’ Evie points out. ‘I prefer the beach at Roda, if I’m honest.’

I wonder if that also includes a stroll along the main street to catch a glimpse of Kostas.

‘That’s fine. I just thought it would make a change, that’s all.’

‘Okay, sure.’ She smiles. ‘Let’s make the most of the time we have here.’

We head along the road once more, and a couple of blokes on quad bikes toot their horns at us near a junction, before turning around and heading our way. When we pull up at the beach, the two very confident guys ask if they can buy us a drink. I’m flattered, of course, as I think Evie is, but don’t think we can be bothered. I glance at Evie to make sure.

‘Thanks, but we’re meeting someone here,’ I say, and the guys shrug and head for the beach bar and immediately get chatting to a couple of young women sitting on bar stools sipping a drink.

‘Look at those abs though.’ Evie lowers her sunglasses and glances over at one of them, as he lifts his T-shirt over his head, and I shove her on the arm and laugh.

We find a couple of sunbeds and order some soft drinks from a passing waiter.

I’m stretched out beneath the glorious blue sky, feeling the delicious warmth of the sun on my skin, when Evie suddenly reaches over for my hand and takes it in hers. ‘I’m glad you’re my friend,’ she says. ‘You always watch out for me, don’t you?’

‘I’m glad you’re my friend too.’ I give her hand a little squeeze. ‘And you look out for me too, it’s what friends do, isn’t it?’

‘Yeah, but when I think of how anxious I used to be, you always made me feel grounded, talked common sense to me. I must have been a right pain in the backside, a bit of a hypochondriac even, according to some and maybe they were right. Not to mention a clean freak.’

I don’t mention the time she brought disinfectant to a B and B that was already squeaky clean and proceeded to clean it from top to bottom. Or the fact that she brought a sleeping bag to sleep on top of the covers.

‘You were not a pain,’ I reassure her. ‘Anxiety is a real thing. You couldn’t help that. But I believe we should all try and find something that shifts the focus, relaxes us a little. In your case, it was swimming. I like to make stuff.’

I bought a craft book from a market stall a few years ago, and have made some pretty items, such as keyrings and cushions that I have given as gifts. ‘And eat too much cake probably,’ I say, adjusting my black bikini top that just about holds my ample boobs.

‘You’ve got a gorgeous figure; I love your waist. I look like a boy.’ She laughs looking down at her toned midriff and slender legs that I would kill for.

‘Besides, I can’t take all the credit for helping you, the cognitive behavioural therapy helped. And Nick and the girls,’ I remind her.

‘And the tablets. I was reluctant to take them, but I know they did help in the beginning,’ she recalls. ‘But you’re right, of course, my family and the counselling sessions help, but I just want you to know that I couldn’t have a better friend and I’m grateful.’

‘You don’t need to thank me,’ I tell her, although I am so pleased to hear how much she values our friendship.

‘But I want to. You’re the one who really gets me,’ she says, which makes me feel a bit emotional. ‘And don’t think I haven’t noticed you trying to steer me away from Kostas.’ She raises an eyebrow.

‘Have I?’ I reply, not very convincingly.

‘You have. But you needn’t worry, as I said it’s just nice to be flirted with a little. I like that you care though.’

‘Of course I care. I would hate you to make a mistake that you would live to regret.’

I remind her again that every long-term relationship changes into something more comfortable over time. ‘But that doesn’t mean you stop trying to keep the spark alive. Don’t forget those weekends away, picnics in the sun, whatever it takes to remind each other why you fell in love in the first place,’ I advise. I don’t add that it’s preferable to taking up with a love rat, as she is well aware of the dreadful mistake I made.

‘Maybe you ought to be a marriage guidance counsellor,’ says Evie.

‘No, thanks. It’s different with close friends. I’m not sure I could be telling strangers what to do.’

‘Anyway. I agree me and Nick need to spend some time alone together. You’re a bit of an old romantic deep down, aren’t you, despite what happened with that… that rat you met online,’ she says, angry on my behalf. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring him up.’

‘Maybe I am. I do believe in happy ever after, but I can’t even think about another relationship right now. Anyway, how did we end up talking about me when we were talking about you?’ I laugh.

I think of my cheating ex who was bored with his fiancée, as they had been together since they were teenagers and fancied a little bit of fun before he committed to marriage. But I am determined not to let it sour my opinion of all men, even though they are strictly off the menu for now. I’ve grown to like my own company these past months, and it would take someone very special to change my current happy, single status.

‘I do know what you mean, and I love my family with all my heart and couldn’t imagine a life without them,’ she reassures me. ‘I guess we are both so busy with the business, romance is sometimes put on the back-burner. We’re pretty exhausted most of the time, but you’re right that we really ought to make the time.’

‘You should delegate more, instead of having to work weekends. No wonder you are both exhausted.’

Evie and Nick do work a lot. They built up their haulage business from nothing, and work long hours. ‘And while we’re at it, if you can manage breaks apart, surely you can manage them together once in a while, now that the girls are older.’

‘Duly noted. You always were the voice of reason.’ She smiles. ‘Here’s to our friendship.’ She lifts her juice glass.

‘I’ll drink to that,’ I say and we tap our plastic juice-filled tumblers together before settling down onto our beds to enjoy the sun.

Watching the swimmers and the people on pedaloes, I still can’t believe I will soon be able to regularly experience this type of thing on Roda Beach, just a short distance from my own holiday home. Well, as soon as the refurbishment is finished, that is. I close my eyes and feel the warm sun wash over me, once more feeling grateful to be doing something most people can only dream about.

Back at the apartment in the late afternoon, I receive a text from Dimitri telling me he will be heading to the builders’ merchant for materials on Monday, and wishing me a safe trip home. I deposit some money into his account, batting away any feelings of caution.

‘What’s up?’ asks Evie, maybe noting my look of uncertainty.

‘Oh nothing, just Dimitri wishing us a safe trip home. I’ve just sent some money up front for some building materials for the roof.’

‘Surely you’re not worried about that? He’s Thea’s nephew,’ she reminds me.

‘No, no, of course not, you’re right.’

‘He’s pretty hot though, isn’t he?’ she says.

‘Evie, what are you like! And is he? I never really noticed.’

‘Yeah, right.’

‘Okay, there is absolutely no denying that he is handsome, but I am more interested in his building skills, thank you. I’m spending good money, I need to keep my practical head on.’

She smiles then as a text pings through on her phone. ‘Ooh it’s Nick. And he says he will take me out for breakfast when we get home, before we head off to work. Is that romantic enough for you?’

‘It’s a start. He must be missing you.’ I smile.

‘He must be. He never usually does anything spontaneous like that. In fact, he’s never usually even one for breakfast.’

‘Well, it’s nice that he’s making an effort. Maybe his ears were burning or something when we were chatting.’

The following day we take a drive into a mountain village and stop for lunch in a pretty restaurant in a picturesque village, the outside space bursting with flowers in pots overlooking a deep valley.

Later, we browse the narrow, cobbled streets of the virtually self-sufficient village, taking in the rows of vegetables growing in gardens, and cats lazing on stone doorsteps. We make sure to stock up on some Greek herbs and my favourite honey from a small local shop.

After enjoying a swim at the apartment pool in the late afternoon sunshine, it’s soon time to pack for our flight home.

Whilst Evie is in the shower, I take a walk round to my new house already counting down the days until I return. As I stand staring at it, visualising how it might look after the renovation, I feel thankful I have managed to sort out a builder.

Phoebe appears then, wishing me a safe flight, and reassuring me once more that she will keep an eye on the house.

‘Thanks, Phoebe, I appreciate that. See you soon.’

In the early hours of the morning, we trundle our suitcases out in the driveaway to load into the car.

It’s always a wrench to leave this place but soon enough I will be back and overseeing the start of the renovation project.

We take the familiar route, me really wishing I could stay a little longer, and are soon back at the airport. I don’t know why, but I can’t quell a slight feeling of unease, praying that I haven’t bought a money pit. I know that the price of building supplies has dramatically increased worldwide, but I just feel a responsibility to get everything right, as I am using Jack’s money, and I want him to be proud of me. I take a deep breath and tell myself I am fussing over nothing, as we head to the departure lounge, ready to board the plane.