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

Chapter 34

‘Safe journey to you. I will look after your house,’ Phoebe reassures me as Dimitri and I step outside to his car for the journey to the airport.

Phoebe mentioned her granddaughter coming over next weekend, as her husband is working a night shift. She says Sofia is taking her out for a meal, in between Phoebe looking after her old friend.

‘She can stay at my house overnight if she likes,’ I offer.

‘Your house?’ Phoebe looks completely surprised.

‘Just until you sort your guest room out, of course. It is quite a drive home for her after a long day.’

Phoebe’s second bedroom is tiny, and overflowing with furniture, and boxes of old books and personal items that belonged to her husband, that somehow she hasn’t got around to disposing of.

‘You are right. I have been selfish holding on to my husband’s things. I need a guest room for my family.’

‘You do,’ I say gently.

‘But are you sure she can stay?’ she asks again, uncertainly.

‘Honestly, it’s fine. I would rather the villa is not standing empty.’

Phoebe kisses me on the cheeks. ‘When they leave, I will clean the house until it shines. Thank you.’

‘I know you will.’ I smile.

This time, I am going home happy in the knowledge that Phoebe’s friendship with Eliza will soon be back on track. I get the feeling the two women still have a few more adventures in them yet and look forward to hearing all about them in the future.

We drive in silence, Dimitri taking my hand in his when we stop at traffic lights, and I allow myself to feel happy and content. In fact, I could burst with happiness and wish I could stay here for just a short while longer, although I know I will be back soon. The last thing I expected when I embarked on the villa purchase was to fall in love with my builder, but I guess fate had other ideas. It seems you can never deny something that is written in the stars.

At the airport, I am reluctant to be free of his embrace, but eventually it’s time to go through security.

‘Call me when you are home.’ Dimitri kisses me one last time, and even though I am not one for public displays of affection, I don’t care who is watching.

I hear them announce my gate so make my way through the airport, away from Dimitri, fighting back tears as I walk.

I sleep during the flight, and arrive at Manchester Airport feeling miserable for the first time, although I am sure the feeling will pass.

It’s a little cool in contrast to the warm evening in Greece and I pull my jacket tightly around me as I make my way to the car park to retrieve my car. Back home, I realise it’s almost three in the morning in Corfu, so I flop down onto my bed and send Dimitri a message to tell him I have arrived home safely and will call him tomorrow. My phone rings within seconds.

‘Dimitri, hi, I thought you would have been asleep.’ It feels so good to hear his voice.

‘I was sleeping lightly, maybe half-listening for your message. I wanted to hear your voice,’ he says sleepily, and I imagine him in his huge bed, wishing I was there beside him.

It seems unbelievable that just hours earlier I was in Corfu saying goodbye to the most wonderful man. I am certain of that now. I accept that maybe this could lead to something more lasting, maybe not. But I think I owe it to myself to at least give things a try.

‘I have a calendar on my wall. I will cross the days off until you return,’ he says and I laugh.

‘No way, I thought I was the only one who still does that.’ I tell him about my desk calendar at work.

‘That is it. We are kindred spirits.’

‘Maybe we are.’

I hear him yawn a minute later, so wish him goodnight, even though I hate putting the phone down.