32. Chapter 32
Chapter thirty-two
“CALLA!”
Sophia squeals excitedly as I enter the bakery, rushing around the counter to give me a hug. As promised, I make sure to stop by before I head to the airport. Her mega-watt smile is a much-needed sight after my teary ferry ride over.
“I missed you!” she gushes excitedly. “How long do you have? Can you stay a bit?”
“I have an hour until I need to head to the airport,” I tell her. “Think you can take a break?”
She nods, then calls over to the others behind the counter in Greek. I have no idea what she says but they seem to agree.
“They will call me back inside if they need me,” she clarifies. “I’ll make coffees? And what would you like before you go? My treat.”
Five minutes later she meets me outside at a table with a freddo cappuccino and bougatsa pastry.
“So!” she plunks down in the chair across from me. “Tell me, how was Symi? You stayed much longer than I expected!”
“Well.” I stir my freddo cappuccino with my straw. “I met someone.”
“WHAT! Tell me everything.”
So I do.
I tell her about how I got lost on arrival and met Arthur, who later introduced me to all of his friends and how they have been coming to the island for decades. I tell her about the scenic boat ride around the island with Spyros and, of course, Dimitri. How at first, I thought he didn’t like me. I was someone new in the circle of people he had known for years. But then how he took me to see the sunset by the windmills, and how I got to know him a little better. That he started as a friend but became so much more.
I tell her about grumpy Vera and how hard it was to win over Angela; to convince her I wasn’t just using him. And finally, I tell her that neither of us was ready to say goodbye. To give up what we had with each other and that we would be trying long distance.
Sophia stares at me in complete disbelief as I finish up my story.
“It’s a little crazy,” I laugh nervously.
“No,” Sophia shakes her head, “it’s amazing. But how is it going to work? The distance?”
“I’m not sure,” I tell her honestly. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet, I’m hoping we can discuss it tonight when I get to Athens. Otherwise, it will have to wait until I’m back to Vancouver and it’s a ten-hour time difference.”
She makes a face.
“I know,” I sigh.
“Well, good for you. I’m sure it will all work out,” she assures me. “Come on holiday, leave with a boyfriend. Who would have thought?”
“Definitely not me,” I admit, picking off a piece of the flaky bougatsa. “Now tell me, what’s new here with you?”
Her cheeks grow pink as I turn the conversation to her and I gasp.
“Sophia! Did you meet someone too?”
She smiles and nods her head.
“He’s not new. You met him. It’s Alexander, from the restaurant I took you to? Well, he asked me out and we’ve been seeing each other and it’s going well.”
I think back to our first dinner together and of the young waiter who couldn’t keep his eyes off her. I grab Sophia’s hands and give them a squeeze. “I’m so happy for you,” I tell her honestly.
“Thanks, Calla.” She squeezes my hands back. “Me too.”
My time with Sophia is a whirlwind and disappears all too quickly; a common theme over the past few days. With a hug goodbye and promise to stay in touch, I drag my suitcase over the cobblestones of the streets and exit the gates of Old Town Rhodes one last time.
The bus ride from Old Town to the airport is about an hour. I text Dimitri when I arrive to let him know I’m checked into my flight. However, when it comes time to leave and we’re told to switch our phones onto airplane mode, I still haven’t heard back from him. Knowing he’s busy getting organized for his own departure back to Athens, I don’t think much of it and settle in for the short flight.
By the time I’ve landed and collected my luggage in Athens, there’s still no word from Dimitri. I frown slightly at the empty screen before tucking my phone away and follow the signs to the airport hotel I booked for the night. After hearing Dimitri tell me of Athens, I wish I had time to explore some of the city. However, it’s over an hour bus ride from the airport and since I need to be back here at three o’clock in the morning for my early flight, it didn’t make sense to go all the way into the city. Instead, I pre-booked an airport hotel, planning to repack and organize my luggage, grab an early dinner, and get as much sleep as possible before my long journey home.
Check-in is quick and easy; the receptionist welcomes me with a cold bottle of water and asks if I would like a wake-up call. I politely decline, knowing my own alarm will do the job just fine. There are multiple restaurants on site but after a hot shower, I opt for room service. The food, Greek of course, is mediocre at best compared to what I had in the islands. But I eat it anyway, knowing it will be a million times better than what I am served on the plane tomorrow.
As I repack and organize my suitcase, I glance at my phone repeatedly. It’s been hours and still no word from Dimitri. Reaching over, I click through to his contact information and press the call button. It goes immediately to his voicemail. As if his phone is shut off completely.
Odd.
Instead, I text Arthur, who responds right away.
Calla: Made it safely to Athens. Checked in at the airport hotel and ready for my early flight tomorrow morning.
Arthur: Glad to hear it, Calla. Thanks for letting me know. I’m getting sunset drinks with some of the group. Margaret wants me to tell you that you are very missed already.
I smile at that.
Calla: I miss you guys too. Wish I was there. Is Dimitri with you? I haven’t heard from him. I tried to call but it went straight to voicemail, I think his phone might be dead?
Arthur: He’s not, sorry. He was getting organized for his own departure last I saw him.
Calla: No worries. I’ll try again. Thanks again for everything, Arthur. I’m so glad I met you.
Arthur: Me too, Calla. We’ll be in touch. Please let me know when you arrive back home. Safe travels.
His message is followed by a slightly blurry but adorable attempt at a selfie featuring Arthur and the group in the background. A mix of cocktail glasses and beer bottles raised in a toast towards the camera, wide smiles on all of their faces. I spend a moment looking at the photo, wishing I were back there on Symi raising a glass with them. Instead, I save the photo to my own album, a keepsake memory to add to the collection of pictures from my time on the island.
Finishing up with my suitcase, I attempt to call Dimitri one more time before I call it a day and try to get some sleep. Straight to voicemail. Again. I tap out a quick message letting him know I’m in Athens, ready for my flight tomorrow and will hopefully talk to him soon. Switching on my alarm, I flick off the lights and snuggle into the hotel bed.
I try to tell myself that it’s fine that I didn’t get a chance to talk to Dimitri tonight like I had planned. Reminding myself that he’s busy with his own travel arrangements. That maybe his phone battery died and he just didn’t notice. But as much as I try to convince myself that it’s ok, I’m hurt.
Hurt that he didn’t check in with me. Hurt that he didn’t reply to my messages. I would have thought that after all the time we spent together, our conversations, the decision to make this work…well, I thought that I was important enough for him to at least make sure I arrived in Athens safely. That at the very least, he would wish me goodnight and a safe flight home.
Anything really.
I think back to him on the dock today, silent as he held me. The way he looked at me as if drinking me in for the last time. What if he was? What if he was second-guessing our decision to do long distance? What if he decided it was too hard, the distance too far, and it wasn’t going to work?
My overthinking brain spirals and as much as I try, I can’t seem to shut it off. Instead of sleeping, I end up tossing and turning for the few hours I have before my flight. By the time my alarm goes off, I’m still awake, staring at the hotel ceiling above me. Reaching for my phone, I switch off the noise and check for any missed messages. Still nothing from Dimitri.
My heart falls.