Chapter 1 #2
‘I’m not. You know the phrase, marry in haste, repent at leisure. It could have been written to describe me. He’s a nice bloke, Greek, as you’ve probably guessed by the surname, but we had very little in common once the initial attraction had worn off, other than our two lovely sons.’
Vicky nodded several times.
‘Happily, we’re still friends.’
‘That’s a real achievement. I’m not sure Ian and I were ever friends, not really.’
It was like she’d taken some truth drug. She was never normally this open with strangers. Maybe the ouzo shots earlier had something to do with it.
Suzie clocked the other woman’s stricken look at her own outburst. A change of subject was definitely needed. There was obviously a lot more to unravel about her marriage, but now wasn’t the time or place.
‘Do you have children?’
Suzie had a gut feeling the woman’s answer would be a yes. It wasn’t a given, and you had to be careful even asking the question, but the way Vicky had nodded and smiled when she’d mentioned her own sons gave her the encouragement to ask.
The light came back into Vicky’s eyes, turning the dull hazel into a bright green.
‘Yes, one daughter, Tasha. She’s a vet.’
The last few words tumbled out in a rush. Suzie waited for more.
‘She was completely inspired by her Greek godmother…’ Vicky pointed at one of the dancing couples. ‘Our mutual friend Angeliki. They’re like two peas in a pod, even though they’re not related.’
‘Aw, lovely. Angeliki can be pretty passionate about all things animal. Will Tasha be coming over to visit?’
The light dimmed again.
‘Sadly not. She’s taken a two-year posting in New Zealand with her Kiwi boyfriend, Rob, also a vet. It’s a fabulous opportunity…’
Vicky seemed unable to say more.
‘But a hell of a long way away.’ Suzie finished off the sentence for the woman she’d known for all of five minutes, and Vicky nodded with her eyes closed.
The sadness oozed out of her. Suzie really hoped that Greece could start to heal this woman’s broken heart, however many ways it had been shattered.
She guessed they were a similar age, after her comment about her brother.
Hitting sixty a few months ago had freaked her out way more than she’d thought it would.
It was only a number, but it had forced her to think about the future.
It was like she was standing at a crossroads, looking for a sign about which road to take.
It was a fanciful notion and not something she usually indulged in, but she couldn’t stop the image coming into her head whenever she had a quiet moment.
Glancing up at Vicky, she realised they were also a ready-made comedy sketch. The small dark one and the tall blonde one. They’d certainly attract different types of men. Not that she was looking for a man, and Vicky had made it abundantly clear that men were off the menu completely for her.
But they were both single, unlike nearly all her friends here.
The new arrival was potentially someone she could spend time with on her precious days off from the bar.
Her grown-up sons had their own lives to lead, and she’d hate anyone to know that sometimes she was lonely.
Her ex-husband was now happily coupled up with another woman, running a farm in the hills.
Not that it hurt her heart, but it was one less person to spend time with.
It was early days, but she liked the look of Vicky.
Acting on instinct had always been her thing.
Sometimes it had led her into terrible trouble, but most times it had been worth it.
Coming to Greece as a twenty-two-year-old with the weight of the world on her shoulders had been an impulse she would never regret.
A big ginger cat had strolled up to Vicky while she’d been lost in her thoughts and brushed itself against her legs. She watched the woman bend down and stroke the cat behind the ears, breaking into a smile at the loud purr which burst out of its body.
‘It looks like you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got plenty of those.’
Vicky came back from somewhere far away and straightened up.
‘I hope so. I absolutely adore all animals, particularly cats and … dogs.’
Suzie noted the slight turn of the head and the smile disappear from Vicky’s face at the word dogs. There was definitely something going on there too.
‘I just find that animals are so much nicer than humans on the whole.’
‘Agreed.’
Suzie waved at their mutual friend Angeliki, who had finally broken apart from her boyfriend, Nick, now the smoochy music had stopped.
‘Ange, over here!’
Suzie leant over and whispered to Vicky.
‘I like to call her Ange and tell her she reminds me of the Ange who ran the Queen Vic, just to wind her up.’
Vicky laughed her rare laugh again, and Suzie saw how it transformed the woman’s angular face. She decided she was going to make it her mission to cheer up the new arrival.
Angeliki’s wild curly hair was flattened on one side where she’d had her head on Nick’s shoulder.
‘Don’t call me that! I’ve told you so many times.’
Angeliki gathered both women in a group hug.
‘Two of my favourite girls together in one place.’
Suzie leant in and sniffed at her friend’s clothes.
‘You smell of aftershave and man. We’re off the male species for good in this corner.’
Vicky caught Angeliki’s worried glance at Suzie’s jokey delivery.
Her old friend knew Vicky’s marriage hadn’t been a happy one, but Vicky had always hidden the unvarnished truth from her.
This was a new start, and she was determined that no one should feel sorry for her because of Ian. He wasn’t worth it.
‘Yeah! Who needs men? I’m sixty, single and proud of it!’
Vicky wasn’t quite sure why she’d punched the air as she’d shouted into the night, but she wanted to reassure Angeliki she was coping just fine. Putting on a brave face for other people had been hardwired into her DNA for so long, it had become automatic. Both women smiled.
‘We don’t need men’—Angeliki stole a look back at Nick, standing talking with a group of people—‘but they are quite nice to have around sometimes.’
Suzie put her arm around her friend’s shoulder.
‘It’s OK. You don’t need to pretend to be anything but madly in love with Nick. We’re pleased for you, honest.’
Vicky nodded furiously in agreement even though she’d only met the man this afternoon.
‘You’ve waited a long time for the right one, and he’s just what you need.’
Angeliki fixed her eyes on Nick.
‘You have to admit, he is quite cute.’
Suzie looked over at the ordinary-looking, solidly built, middle-aged Greek man, whose gaze had sought out his girlfriend at the same moment. It was sweet how in tune they were with each other. She’d never had that with anyone.
That wasn’t strictly true. She had had it, once, many years ago, but she couldn’t go there.
That way madness lay. She was perfectly happy on her own, just a little bored and restless.
It wasn’t a man she needed but a focus. Throwing herself into old age, like some people she knew, was her worst nightmare.
It was like they hit their sixties and gave up on many of the things they used to love.
No one was going to accuse her of slowing down.
‘Another drink, anyone?’
Vicky shook her head.
‘I’ve got to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow and do some work. They’ve given me an easy ride so far. I’ve just been cuddling kittens and patting the odd dog. But that can’t last.’
‘Fair enough. Ange?’
Angeliki wagged her finger at her friend.
‘Stop it! And no, Nick and I…’
Suzie couldn’t stop herself putting on a silly voice. ‘Nick and I…’
‘And stop that too. Nick and I both have an early start, and we’ve got to go home and feed our own animals now anyway. They’ll be starving.’
‘Spoilsports. Both of you.’
Suzie turned to Vicky again.
‘So great to meet you. And it’s lovely that you’ll be here for Easter. Greek Easter really is something to behold. It goes on all week, and it’s bigger than Christmas.’
‘So Angeliki tells me. I’m looking forward to it.’
‘I’ll have you calling her Ange before you can say Dirty Den.’
Vicky felt warm hands take hers in the darkness.
‘Please come to the bar as soon as you can. Us single girls have to stick together.’
‘I will do.’
‘Kalinychta, kids. The night is still young.’
Suzie walked towards the mixed group at the water’s edge. There’d be someone to talk to without a doubt. She wasn’t about to head back to her own bar, as she’d just get roped into serving. And there was zero point going back to her flat to stare at the sea until it got dark.