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

Chapter 25

‘Wow, everything is looking really good.’

Phoebe is inside, taking a tour of the villa, nodding in appreciation, especially at the free-standing bath with the clawed feet.

‘Very nice. You are happy with all of the work?’

‘That should be, “Are you happy with all of the work?”’ I say.

‘Yes. But what does it matter what I think?’ she asks, and I laugh.

‘No, I am sorry, Phoebe, I was correcting your grammar. You tend to say, “You would like” when actually it should be, “Would you like?” As it is a question and not a statement.’

‘I see, I see. “Would you like?”’ She repeats the phrase several times.

‘Oh and I really am pleased with the house. Almost finished is good even for me, at least I literally have a roof over my head. And today I’m going shopping for a sofa, would you like to come with me?’

Phoebe agrees, and a couple of hours later, we have returned from a furniture shop, where I selected a stone-coloured sofa, and a gorgeous blue velvet chair that will look great in the corner. It will arrive at the end of June, during my next visit.

We are sitting on kitchen chairs, borrowed from Phoebe as she has several spare. Dimitri has promised to send me some photos of the newly installed bathroom when I return to the UK, and although there is still a little of the rendering to be completed at the back of the house, the major stuff is out of the way.

‘And now, I have something for you. A housewarming gift.’

Phoebe appears with a bag and I open it to reveal a set of fluffy bathroom towels, two in a stone shade and one sea blue that will perfectly match the bathroom accessories.

‘Thank you, Phoebe, that was thoughtful. They will go perfect with the décor.’ I hug my friend.

‘I cannot believe you leave again tomorrow,’ she says.

‘I will be back at the end of June for a few days.’

The time here has gone so quickly, yet I have become accustomed to the toing and froing, at least for now.

‘I will miss you,’ she tells me. ‘And I know someone else who will miss you too.’

‘Really. Who?’

‘As if you do not know. I see the way Dimitri looks at you.’

‘He has never told me directly that he likes me.’ I shrug, although feeling secretly delighted by her remark. There is also the matter of him being five years younger than me, which I know isn’t huge, but even so. He might not have any desire to start a family for years, whilst my own clock is ticking. Gosh, what on earth am I thinking? We haven’t even kissed, and here I am thinking about babies. Time to literally give my head a wobble.

Dimitri and the team have worked hard today and Yiannis seems to be getting stronger every day. Today, he has been barking orders at everyone, and even Dimitri rolls his eyes once or twice and mutters something under his breath.

‘My father was sorry he could not come today,’ Dimitri tells me. ‘He says he is a little sore in places he has not been sore in for a long time.’ He smiles. ‘He thinks maybe he has gone a little soft since his retirement, and maybe he ought to do a day’s work here and there.’

‘Maybe so. Use it or lose it, hey.’

‘Also, I think having my father and Yiannis in the same room was perhaps not the best idea.’

‘Perhaps not. Anyway, I am grateful for all his hard work yesterday. I hope you paid him,’ I joke.

‘I offered, but he would not take a penny.’

‘In that case, what does he drink? I would like to buy him a bottle of something to show my gratitude.’

‘Metaxa brandy. But I don’t think it is necessary.’

‘It would be my pleasure,’ I insist.

I sweep up the last of the debris whilst the workers finish a little early to go and freshen up before they return for a bit of a party. The garden is neat and tidy, and I admire the brightly painted gate.

The front of the house looks like a picture too. I can’t wait to bring some bits and pieces on my next visit, and to order some nice cushions to place on the sofa.

Yesterday, with the help of Phoebe, I wrote notes and pushed them through the doors of the neighbours to invite them for a drink and a little celebration, so I have been to Thea’s for some treats and Phoebe has made a cheese pie, along with some Greek dips and flatbreads. We set it all up on a table in the garden, along with a platter of pineapple, grapes and watermelon.

Later, we are all gathered in the rear garden, and I raise a toast to my neighbours. Thinking about how far everything has come along since the sorry, grey building that first greeted me, I feel a little emotional as I address the assembled group.

‘I would like to thank you all for being such understanding neighbours. Well, once you stopped waking to the sound of a drill so early in the morning,’ I say, and they laugh. ‘And I know the tourist season will be in full swing anytime soon, so I really appreciate the extra push from you guys.’ I turn to Dimitri. ‘Efcharisto to you all, and please join me in a drink. Yamas!’

Everyone raises their shot of ouzo, before many of them step forward and present me with gifts. Ria hands me a stylish vase, and an elderly couple present me with a lavender bush in a pot.

‘Place it on your windowsill, spiders, they do not like the smell,’ says the smiling woman, glancing at Dimitri.

‘So you have told the whole neighbourhood about my spider phobia?’ I ask him.

‘I think they may have heard the screams,’ he says.

I laugh when I think of the evening I stood on the bench in the garden, and Dimitri rescued me. I receive a fruit cake from Eliza across the road and a bottle of Metaxa from a couple I have nodded to but never spoken to before. I am completely overwhelmed by their kindness, and have to hold back tears.

The neighbours eat some food and chat amongst themselves. Eliza talks to her immediate neighbours, but does not make eye contact with Phoebe.

Dimitri strolls over to me then, as I help myself to some of Phoebe’s delicious cheese pie.

‘It will seem strange you not being here,’ he says, hands in his pockets, looking at the floor.

‘Will it?’ I dive into the pie.

‘Yes. I’ve kind of got used to you being around.’ He lifts his head and his eyes meet mine and the way he looks at me makes my stomach do a little flip.

‘You have?’ My heart is beating so loudly, I am sure he must be able to hear it.

‘I really have.’ He takes my hand in his. ‘I will be counting down the days until you are back,’ he whispers in my ear, and I almost drop my plate.

I steady my breathing and feel thankful that we are standing in a garden filled with people, or who knows what might have happened.

Just then, Phoebe appears.

‘Would you like some cheese pie?’ she offers Dimitri, and nods proudly at me as she gets the phrasing right. I give her a thumbs up.

‘How can I resist?’ He smiles, accepting a slice.

The rest of the builders head off, and I thank them once more, before I take a seat on the bench and Dimitri comes and sits beside me.

‘Just think, next time you are here, you will be sitting here looking up at your balcony,’ he reminds me.

‘Oh, I can’t wait.’ I sigh.

‘Can you imagine climbing out of bed in the morning, and gazing out at the sea view from up there?’

I have to check myself as I imagine him climbing out of my bed, and stretching, before drinking coffee.

‘I can. I’m so lucky.’

The thought of it makes me sigh inwardly with pleasure.

‘So, what do you have planned for your last evening here?’ Dimitri asks.

‘Not an awful lot. A little more work here, I guess, putting some finishing touches to the kitchen. Planting the lavender bush out here.’

Phoebe is tidying up, clearing away paper plates when people have finished eating.

‘She will miss you, I think.’ Dimitri nods in her direction.

‘Do you think so? I know she has some friends here, and the people at church. It’s a shame she doesn’t have a best friend though,’ I say, thinking of her estrangement with Eliza.

I think of her kind gift then, that will look nice in the bathroom. I’ve gone for exposed brick on one wall and blue wall panels dotted with silver flecks that remind me of sunshine glinting on the sea. I know it will look just perfect and will take far less time than tiling the walls.

‘What time is your flight tomorrow?’ asks Dimitri.

‘Not until ten in the evening. I imagine I will leave around seven,’ I tell him, dearly wishing I could be here for longer.

‘Then I insist on taking you to the airport. I can take some time off tomorrow before you leave. Have you ever visited the Byzantine castle?’ he asks.

‘No, I haven’t. Phoebe told me about that actually, she reminded me about the beauty of the mountains, away from the seaside.’

‘She is right. There is so much more to discover than beaches and tavernas. There is a monastery not far from there too, with a café that looks down across the mountains. You did mention you like the forest surroundings.’

‘I do, that sounds lovely.’

I’ve spotted a couple of planes flying overhead today, reminding me that the busy season is approaching, bringing hordes of holidaymakers here. The young labourers are needed in their parents’ restaurant this evening, no doubt to host the arrival of some tourists.

When Dimitri leaves, I shower then take an evening walk along the beach in Roda, letting the wind sweep through my hair and allowing myself the last feeling of relaxation that being here always guarantees me.

I slip my shoes off and walk barefoot, thinking of Dimitri and his comments in the garden. He has got used to me being around, but maybe that is foolish to do so. He knows that it is a holiday home after all, so my visits here will always be intermittent. I’m almost at the end of the beach, about to turn back, when I notice Dimitri walking towards me from the opposite direction, with Prudence, and I catch my breath. It’s quiet here, so he lets her off the lead and she comes dashing over to me.

‘Hey there. How are you?’ I stroke the top of her head, and she licks the back of my hand.

‘Kalispera, this is an unexpected pleasure.’

‘I thought you might be sick of the sight of me today.’

‘I could never be sick of the sight of you,’ he says sincerely.

We fall into step as he throws a ball towards the water for Prudence to chase after, and she leaps after it, as an incoming wave half engulfs her and she shakes herself briskly.

‘When is your aunt back?’ I ask, getting the subject away from me.

‘The day after tomorrow. It is a shame you will not be here to meet her. I am sure you would like her and her husband. I am certain she would like you too.’

‘Well, I look forward to meeting her next time I come over.’

We walk side by side and the chemistry between us almost has me reaching for his hand.

I try to distract myself by thinking about the neighbours a little, who seem interested in seeing the work on the house, and often come and watch the progress. There is always a cheery kalimera from everyone now, even those who complained about the noise originally. And, of course, I have already become good friends with Phoebe and Ria with the young children, who always stops and chats when she passes by, asking how things are going.

It’s almost nine o’ clock when Dimitri offers to buy us a drink.

‘Sure, but maybe just a milkshake for me though, as we will be going out in the morning.’

‘Good idea. They do the best ones there.’ He nods to a small café with a terrace outside.

‘What time shall I be ready tomorrow?’ I ask.

‘I thought we could leave around nine, maybe stop for some breakfast on the way somewhere.’

‘That sounds good.’

Prudence lies at Dimitri’s feet as we sip our delicious fresh fruit milkshakes, vanilla for Dimitri and strawberry for me. The waves are gently lapping at the beach as the sun begins its descent.

We chat about various things, and I can hardly wait to spend the day with him tomorrow. I think of our day in Corfu, and how we chatted about our shared interests.

Leaving me outside the apartment, he says goodnight, just as my bag slips from my shoulder. We both go to pick it up at the same time and our hands collide. He glances at me and moves in a little closer, before his lips gently brush mine. I whip the bag from him and turn towards the door.

‘See you tomorrow then, nine o’clock sharp,’ I mutter as I fumble with the key, my heart hammering in my chest.

Inside, I steady my breathing, as I wonder what on earth is going on here. Maybe I am going home at the right time tomorrow, because one thing is for sure, I think I need to put a little distance between us both. Even the slightest brushing of lips gave me a thousand jolts of electricity shooting through me. This cannot be happening. I think of Dimitri, his handsome looks, and hair blowing gently in the wind as we strolled along the beach, and find it almost unfathomable that he is single. But then, ten months is not a long time to be out of a two-year relationship I suppose. After all, I still feel bruised after being hurt by a cheat whose name I can barely bring myself to utter. Annoyingly, however much I am attracted to Dimitri, I just cannot see how it could work between us.

I’m in bed half watching a film, when I receive a text from Josh.

Safe journey home tomorrow. We will be at Mum’s for a few days, so catch up soon. Oh and I have a surprise for you. Xx

A surprise? I wonder what that’s all about. Could Zoe be pregnant again? I certainly got the impression that things were a little better between them now, as he sounded much more upbeat the last time we spoke. I suppose it could be anything really, but coming up to Mum and Dad’s implies something pretty significant. I’m super happy for them both, if they have worked things out, and there is no doubt a little brother or sister would be wonderful for George.

Whatever is in store, I guess I will find out soon enough.