Chapter 16
The thumping head that greeted me the next morning was most unpleasant. I wasn’t a huge drinker. Friday night cocktails with the girls was probably when I drank the most, but I was always careful. Until the night Demetri left and then again last night.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the gap under my bedroom door, and I wrapped my silky kimono around me, tying it carefully, and headed towards the kitchen.
Even though my brain knew it wasn’t Demetri, the sight of his lookalike in my kitchen took my breath away.
Dressed in a pair of long lounge shorts and a T-shirt, his tousled hair sticking up wildly, he looked relaxed and at home in my house.
It was quite confusing because he looked like he belonged there.
I knew it was my mind playing tricks on me and I tried to ignore all thoughts of Demetri and how much I missed him.
‘Coffee? I hope you don’t mind. I needed a drink and hope I didn’t wake you.’ He passed me a mug, steam rising.
I shook my head, took the mug from him and stifled a yawn. ‘No, I don’t think so. Thank you. Hope this is strong.’
I opened the back door to let in some fresh air and leant against the door frame, gazing out at the shimmering sea in the morning sunlight.
I breathed in the salty air and even though the squawking seagulls were noisy as they swooped and soared, all of this sensory delight filled my heart with joy.
Lucky wasn’t ever a word I’d used to describe myself, but since moving to Sandpiper Shore, it was how I felt every single day.
I never wanted to take my good fortune for granted.
How could I have left it all behind when I’d only just realised this was the happiest I’d been for years?
Makis’s words broke into my moment of serenity.
‘So, now you’re not tipsy, we could probably talk more about what we started last night.’
My brows lifted and I was trying to put my brain into gear. We had covered many subjects last night. Hopefully there wasn’t anything that I wasn’t too drunk to remember. God, I hope I didn’t disgrace myself.
Makis laughed out loud.
‘You’re looking puzzled there, Michelle. All OK?’
I slowly answered.
‘I think so…’
‘Well, you did have a lot to drink. Even your friends said that they’d not seen you like that before. I fear they’ll think I’m a bad influence.’
‘I’m sure they’re just looking out for me. It’s been a tricky few weeks with all the Demetri upset. They’re very protective.’
He nodded. ‘That’s quite understandable. It’s also what good friends do.’
Still confused, I decided to just ask what he meant to put me out of my quandary. I hoped I hadn’t been that inebriated that I’d made an inappropriate pass at him thinking it was his brother.
‘So, what in particular were you referring to?’ I asked.
‘Well, the fact that you said that you’d like to expand your business.’
It was almost a relief to hear him say those words. In my current fragile state, I honestly had no idea what the topic he was referring to might have been.
‘Ah, that. Let my coffee take effect and I’ll go and grab a shower and then, yes, it would be good to talk about it again.
Although we may have to do a recap first. My memory is a bit foggy.
I’m not sure it’s the wine or my age.’ I pulled a goofy face for some unknown reason and shook my head at myself, wondering just what the hell I was doing.
‘No rush, Michelle. I’m not going anywhere.’ He drawled the words and winked, and a little shiver ran up my spine.
Colouring slightly, I pointed to my room. ‘I’ll, erm… I’ll be back soon.’
As I stood in the shower, letting the hot water cascade over my skin, I gave myself a good talking to.
Makis was not Demetri. He was not the man that I had been in love with.
He was someone I hadn’t even met until yesterday, so should absolutely not be someone I felt like I was getting myself in a flap over, for any reason.
I wondered how long he was planning on staying. It felt a little rude to ask but it would have been nice to know. Just for practical reasons – I was due to do a weekly shop, and I wasn’t sure how much food for two I’d need. I also wondered why he would want to stop if his brother wasn’t here.
Much as he clearly didn’t have to, I had to work, so he’d have to find something to do with himself.
And Sandpiper Shore wasn’t really the place for a high-flying entrepreneur to explore.
Apart from a wonderful community and a small but picturesque main street which ran alongside the beach, there were just the normal amenities that a small town had.
A cosy village pub which overlooked the beach; a small supermarket which stocked everything locals needed; an artisan café; several craft and gift shops which were always a favourite with the tourists, and other businesses such as a butchers, patisserie, delicatessen.
Nothing that I could imagine a businessman would find inspiring.
The nearest slightly smaller town was around fifteen minutes away with the nearest large city around an hour’s drive.
I couldn’t think of anything he would want to be here for, especially when his mother was apparently so ill that Demetri had upheaved his whole life to be there in her final stages of life.
Feeling much refreshed after coffee, two headache tablets and a shower, I ventured back out into the kitchen where Makis was whipping up what looked like an omelette.
I noticed that my small kitchen table had been set for two.
Once more taken aback by the fact this stranger was making himself so at home, I was also confused that it also felt quite natural, and that someone was actually doing something for me after so long.
It was messing with my head a little. With Demetri working so much, he rarely got the chance to cook and it was normally me doing most of the practical things in our relationship.
Not his fault at all, just how circumstances dictated, so it did feel nice that someone was thinking of doing something for me.
He glanced across at me and shrugged.
‘I hope you don’t mind me doing this. It felt like the least I can do when you’ve been so kind to put me up.’
I smiled as I watched him cook. There were probably many ways that the two brothers were different and one was definitely in the kitchen. Where Demetri measured ingredients to the nth degree, Makis just guessed. Demetri cut in an orderly, precise manner. Makis just chopped haphazardly.
While he was cooking, I felt that this was a good opportunity to ask him about his plans.
‘It’s very kind of you to cook. I’m due to do a food shop today. My fridge was quite bare so you did well to find something.’
‘Ah, my brother always used to say I was good at making something out of nothing.’ His words seemed to be tinged with bitterness but he quickly laughed and I wondered whether I had imagined the change of tone.
I decided to take a deep breath and apply to my private life what I always found easy in my work: asking a direct question.
‘So, have you had a chance to think about what your plans are, Makis?’
‘Funnily enough, I’ve just spoken with Demetri.
’ My heart gave a little leap again at the sound of his name.
I wondered at what point this would stop.
‘He said that he doesn’t feel like there’s any urgent need for me to be there right now.
He suggested that I ask if it might be OK if I stayed for a few more days here. ’
‘Oh, OK.’ I wasn’t sure how I felt about any of what he had said.
I was still reeling from the fact that he’d spoken to Demetri, and also that Demetri had made this massive change to his life, and asked me to do the same, for someone who didn’t seem to now be that ill.
Maybe everything that I thought we had wasn’t true?
Had he only asked me because he knew I’d say no?
Was that what was behind everything that had been going on?
My heart felt so fragile. Every mouthful of omelette was hard to swallow, but I didn’t want to offend Makis so forced it down me.
‘So are you happy that while I’m here we can discuss your business and in exchange for your hospitality, I can help you with my insight? What do you think, Michelle? I think we could make a formidable team.’
What I felt was that everything seemed a little overwhelming at that moment and I needed to escape.
Your home should be your place of sanctuary.
Where you can relax and feel safe, but I couldn’t do that when I had someone who looked just like Demetri staying with me.
Not when I was missing him with all of my heart. I felt perpetually confused.
I pushed my plate away and grabbed my car keys from the hooks by the back door.
‘I’m going to go and do some shopping.’
Makis grabbed his hoody from the back of the kitchen chair.
‘I’ll come with you,’ he offered.
I gulped. I wanted to be alone.
‘It’s fine, I won’t be long.’
He grinned.
‘I’d really like to come.’
I didn’t want to be rude but I really wanted to be alone.
‘Go on. I’ll buy the food. My donation so you don’t think I’m taking advantage. I can carry the bags too.’
Pleading puppy dog eyes stared back at me.
Before I lost myself in them again, I nodded. There wasn’t really any way that I could refuse his kind gesture so we headed towards my car and then into the next town over.