Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
The plainer rooms were echoed by a simpler breakfast, which was no bad thing thought Maddie. Too much choice always threw her; she preferred fewer options but good ones in everything from food to clothes.
The hotel owners were a husband-and-wife combo, Theo and Thea, who smiled a lot and looked just like each other.
They were roughly the same height as Sofia, but much more rounded.
Had they always looked like each other, she wondered, or was it something couples did subconsciously over the years?
Did they actively choose similar haircuts, clothes and a way of smiling? Or was it all just coincidence?
Thea was waving her arms around in the large wooden-beamed room they’d been directed to and pointing to plates laden with food.
‘Please, help yourselves. There is fresh bread, home-made jam, honey from our hives, hard-boiled eggs, pastries, a different home-made cake every day, cheese from our dairy, and plenty of fruit from the trees in the orchard. We like to serve only what is in season. There is no need to fly fruit around the world, when we have so much here.’
Their host pointed to a huge bowl of deep red glossy miniature globes.
‘The cherries are wonderfully sweet this year. Here, try, please.’
They all took a cherry, and as the sweet juice flooded Maddie’s mouth and stroked her throat, she moaned out loud, and knew she’d never look at a cellophaned packet of the stuff in a British supermarket in the same way again.
Thea took such pleasure and even pride in their reactions, a pattern that Maddie had noticed ever since she’d arrived in Greece, with everyone from ice cream vendors to restaurant owners. She couldn’t imagine Barry from her local greengrocers getting quite so excited at people tasting his wares.
Thea turned to her husband, who took the conversational baton in a move Maddie could see was well-rehearsed.
She must stop studying couples, torturing herself by watching how they slotted together and complimented each other.
She needed to get used to being on her own and believing that just her was enough.
‘I will make any drinks you desire. We have everything from fresh orange juice, made with our own oranges of course, to any coffee you like from the big machine.’
Theo pointed over to a gleaming chrome monster in the corner, obviously his pride and joy. Maddie already knew she’d feel mean if she asked for a tea.
‘Do I have any takers?’
‘I’d love both if that’s OK, Theo. An orange juice with ice and a cappuccino.’
Sofia looked at Charlotte, who nodded back.
‘Three of those please, or rather six.’
‘Of course. Please, choose your food, find a seat on the terrace and I will bring them to you.’
The big wooden wraparound terrace had views in all directions, and Maddie was pleased to see the comfortable wicker chairs with padded olive-green cushions and low coffee tables, tailor made for long lazy breakfasts.
There were people at a table further on, talking and laughing in what Maddie now recognised as Greek.
The view towards the town below appealed the most, so they could watch people going about their business as they ate.
Maddie flopped down on the first chair, her plate piled high with food.
‘Let’s sit here.’
‘Fine.’
Sofia followed, took the chair opposite and lowered her voice to a whisper.
‘It’s a little bit … rustic here, isn’t it?’
They were all tired after travelling between the islands yesterday, but Sofia’s comment had her on edge immediately.
‘Just because everything isn’t high end and in taupe doesn’t mean it’s not charming. I absolutely love it up here on the hill. We’re surrounded by nature and wildlife. You can hear birdsong and see butterflies. For me that’s way better than superyachts and disco bars.’
‘Not sure what disco bars are when they’re at home.’
Maddie stuck out her tongue at her friend.
Charlotte joined the group, and Sofia leaned in towards the two of them.
‘I’m really sorry I didn’t check properly, I was in a bit of a flap after all the work stuff, but the hotel doesn’t have a swimming pool.’
Maddie shrugged her shoulders.
‘So what? We’ve got the sea just down there.’
Theo appeared from behind Charlotte carrying a full tray of coffees and orange juices.
‘I’m sorry to listen to your conversation, but your friend is right. Why would you need a swimming pool when you have the sea so close? It is nature’s gift, and we Greeks believe that bathing in the sea is good both for your body and your mind.’
Maddie made a face at Sofia while Theo’s attention was taken up with serving Charlotte.
‘See! He agrees with me.’
‘Mmmm.’ Sofia’s tight smile didn’t convince her.
‘And I hope I’m not speaking out of turn here’—Theo put the now empty tray under his arm—‘but a swimming pool uses up so much water, which is a precious resource here on the island. We chose not to have one, and as our customers are mainly Greeks, they understand our philosophy. I hope it doesn’t spoil your enjoyment of the hotel. Thank you.’
Sofia’s face was like thunder when he walked away.
‘I didn’t realise I’d booked us in with some eco-warriors.’
‘Sof! Don’t be a bitch. They’re lovely people. And I happen to agree with them.’
Maddie used her fingers to put a large piece of the cake of the day in her mouth.
‘I’m sure this has walnuts in it. It’s delicious.’
Charlotte typed something into her phone and put the picture next to Sofia’s uneaten piece.
‘Here it is! It’s called karydópita, a spiced cake with lots of crushed walnuts added.’
‘It’s yummy. You must try it. Sof, aren’t you eating yours?’
Sofia had turned her face to the view down the hill.
‘No, you have it.’
‘You’re not sulking, are you?’
‘Of course not. Just to let you know, the hotel on the next island has a socking great swimming pool, I’m pleased to say.’
‘So, you are sulking.’
Sofia turned to face her.
‘Will you be boycotting the pool at the next hotel? Or popping down to see if there’s anyone left on Greenham Common when you get back? Or even bunking up with that guy … Swampy, isn’t it?’
‘Now you’re just being ridiculous. All I said was that I can see why the Greeks aren’t fussed about swimming pools in the main. I much prefer being in the sea to being bathed in chlorine. I am entitled to my opinion. Someone’s got out of bed on the wrong side.’
‘Now, now, children.’ Charlotte had her phone in her hand again. ‘I’ve been looking at my travel guides, and there are some amazing things to do on the island. We should make a list straightaway.’
Maddie managed to catch Sofia’s eye and was rewarded with a tiny smile before her friend turned away, nose in the air.
‘My number one suggestion for today is going for a hike in the hills and trying to find “the stunning waterfall at the end of a little gorge” where we can also swim. After last night’s meal and sitting on the ferry for three hours, I’m quite keen to stretch my legs.
Anyone else? We can get a taxi to the car park. ’
Sofia picked up her own phone.
‘Taxi be damned. We’re not going to be relaxing by a pool anytime soon, that’s for sure. So, if we’re forced to commune with nature, we might as well do it properly and hire a car for the week.’
This time, it was Charlotte and Maddie’s turn to exchange glances.
Sofia was what Charlotte’s dad had described as ‘an accelerate and brake merchant’ when he was alive.
Their friend’s driving was notoriously bad, and her road rage was something to behold.
They usually avoided being in a car with her behind the wheel at all costs.
‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ Charlotte asked in a voice that to Maddie held more than a tinge of fear. ‘With driving on the wrong side of the road and all that?’
Sofia waved away her question.
‘Yes, it’s fine. I always drive in Spain whenever I visit my mother, and that’s on twisty mountain roads, so I’m quite used to it.’
A vision of Sofia hurtling along mountain tracks like a maniac, her elderly mother bumping up and down in the seat alongside her, was too much for Maddie.
‘Poor woman,’ she murmured under her breath.
‘What was that?’
‘Nothing, just saying that it will save us a lot of money on taxis.’
‘It’s not about the money…’
‘Not for you, maybe, but a tank of petrol is a darn sight cheaper than taxis.’
‘It’s only a few euros difference.’
‘A few euros are a few euros.’
Charlotte spoke again in a register far higher than the one she normally used.
‘So that’s settled. Meet down here in an hour. Swimsuits under your clothes as there’ll be nowhere to change. And don’t forget a towel and sensible walking shoes.’
‘Yes, boss.’ Sofia banged her fist on her chest several times in what they’d been told was a Greek gesture of love. ‘What would we do without you?’
‘Fall apart, probably.’ Charlotte smiled to take the sting out of her words as she looked between the two of them.
She couldn’t cope with much more of them behaving like children.
It reminded her of the last few weeks trapped with Doug after she’d found out his sordid little secret.
A cloud hanging over the house, flare-ups over the most stupid things and sitting in front of a blank canvas hour after hour. She had to say something.
‘But please, stop the bickering. It’s doing my head in. If I’d wanted stress and tension all day long, I’d have stayed at home.’
Both Sofia and Maddie stared open-mouthed at Charlotte’s departing back.
The hire car was already parked on the other side of the courtyard when the three of them finally finished breakfast and walked out via reception.
‘Oh good, it’s a Suzuki Swift.’ said Sofia, ‘I’ve driven one of those before.’