Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
W hen she woke, her mouth was like sandpaper and her eyes so sore she could barely open them. A glance at her phone and the light pouring through the open shutters told her it was six o’clock on a sunny Saturday evening in Greece. She should be celebrating the fact that her daughter was pregnant, not worrying about how much involvement she’d have with her grandchild. A cold shower should help.
Grace dressed carefully in one of her leopard-print dresses, choosing the pink and grey version to go with the new suede espadrilles she’d bought with Sofia. A little eyeliner and mascara helped to make her eyes look less piggy, and the sun cream she wore anytime she was outside smoothed out her skin a little where it had been patterned by the cushion she’d laid against.
A generous spray of perfume and she was ready to go for a walk in the town and maybe a bite to eat. She’d got used to being on her own most of the time– she’d had to– and going out alone didn’t hold any fear.
In the lobby, she was surprised to bump into Thanassis, who emerged from a room across the hall as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Lessons had finished hours ago, so he must have been doing some planning work. His usual cheery persona seemed to be having a day off too if first impressions were anything to go by; even his navy linen shirt was crumpled.
‘Grace, hello.’
Grace inclined her head.
‘Thanassis.’
‘You are looking very festive. Have you got somewhere nice to go?’
‘Not really, but I need to go out and get some fresh air.’
She wasn’t about to divulge the contents of her phone call to him. She’d made sure none of the staff knew very much about her. If anyone asked her a direct question, she wouldn’t lie, but jumping straight in wasn’t her style. She’d already discovered that most Greeks loved a good gossip, including the men, and while she wasn’t averse to it herself sometimes, she didn’t want to be the subject.
Thanassis sighed heavily.
‘I know what you mean. It’s been a tough day. I need to go out too.’
Grace smiled politely as Thanassis took a step towards her.
‘How would you feel about us going out together? For a drink?’
Her face must have given away her shock as he put up both hands in a gesture of surrender.
‘Just as colleagues, of course. We never have time to talk when we’re teaching.’
Her first instinct was to come up with an excuse, but Grace stopped herself in time. He’d made it clear that it was only a friendly chat, almost a work commitment if you thought of it like that. It wasn’t a hardship to go for an innocent drink with an attractive man. Sofia had begged her to take more chances. And the poor guy really did look like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. As Phil used to say, she’d always been a sucker for a sob story.
‘Yes, why not.’
Thanassis’s blue eyes brightened up considerably, and creased into lines as he smiled.
‘ Kataplictiko. ’
From her limited, but gradually expanding knowledge of Greek, Grace knew the word meant amazing. She hoped she wouldn’t regret it.
‘I know a place right at the top of the town with fantastic views all round the island. It’s a bit of a walk though, are you up for that?’
Her espadrilles had a wedge heel which Grace deemed solid enough for walking.
‘Sounds fun.’
After twenty minutes of climbing up and away from the town, during which time they’d chatted mainly about the pupils and their progress, Grace was finally sat in a tiny bar with bright blue metal tables and chairs.
The bar itself was inside a ruined stone tower, open to the elements and strewn with strings of fairy lights across the missing roof, jazz playing softly somewhere in the background. It did indeed boast fantastic views on all sides.
The calm turquoise sea was in front of her, but to her right she could see all the way up into the hills, where goats scampered over rocky ground far away. It wasn’t anywhere near dark yet, and there were very few people around. Grace could actually hear the tinkling of the animals’ bells as they followed the goatherd luring them back to base with the promise of food.
It was an incredibly peaceful spot. Her colleague had chosen well, and her initial glass of Mythos, the dry Greek beer she was fast getting a taste for, was almost empty.
Thanassis lit his second cigarette of the evening and leant back in his chair. The man hadn’t said very much at all since they’d reached the bar; he seemed lost in his own thoughts, which suited Grace. But it looked like he was about to change that.
‘Is the language school what you imagined when you joined up?’
Grace drank the last mouthful of beer before replying.
‘It’s better than I hoped, to be honest. I love the variety of ages that we get to teach, the weather’s fabulous, and everyone has been so friendly.’
‘Good, I’m glad.’ Thanassis put up his hand for the waiter and pointed at her glass. ‘Another of those?’
‘Unless there’s something else you think I should try?’
‘Have you had ouzo yet?’
Grace shook her head.
‘You can’t be in Greece and not drink ouzo.’
All she knew was that it was a spirit flavoured with aniseed, and she usually steered well clear of spirits, but what the hell.
‘Ouzo it is then.’
Two long thin glasses containing a measure of colourless liquid arrived at their table, plus a jug of water and ice.
Thanassis picked up several ice cubes with the tongs and put them into her glass, topping the whole thing up with water. His hand brushed against hers as he did it.
‘Watch the magic!’
Grace smiled as the liquid inside the glasses turned cloudy.
Thanassis clinked his glass to hers.
‘ Yamas! ’
‘ Yamas! ’
Grace knocked back a mouthful but had to stop drinking as a coughing fit took over. It was strong stuff.
Thanassis was up and patting her on the back in a flash.
‘Sorry, I should have warned you.’
His hand lingered on her back for a little longer than was strictly necessary, but the mini massage wasn’t unpleasant.
‘No, it’s delicious.’
Grace drank a little more to prove she wasn’t a wimp and saw that Thanassis had moved his chair a little nearer. He really did have the most gorgeous eyes, dark blue flecked with gold.
‘Is there someone waiting for you back home in England?’
His question caught her off guard. Her fingers went to touch the familiar ring. But of course it wasn’t there. She’d taken it off on the plane.
‘No, no one, I’m free as a bird.’
‘A bird?’
So, Thanassis might technically be fluent in English, but he wasn’t such an expert on expressions.
‘Sorry, yes, I’m single.’
‘I am surprised. An attractive woman like you.’
Grace waved off his compliment. It was the first time she’d referred to herself as single, rather than widowed. It felt strange, but good.
‘And what about you?’
Thanassis put his head in his hands.
‘Ah, it’s a long and sad story…’
Grace waited. The Greeks she’d met had a tendency to be a trifle dramatic. At first, she’d assumed that shouting and gesticulating meant anger and rows, but she’d come to learn it could just be innocent conversation. What would pass for a disturbance in Oxfordshire was friendly banter here. Grace smiled as her younger daughter’s face flashed into her mind. Flo hated her using the word ‘banter’ and always put her hands over her ears and yelled, ‘Stop it!’ She seemed convinced it was only for the young.
Thanassis had stalled mid-sentence.
‘Come on, you can tell me. What’s said in the bar stays in the bar.’
Why was she putting on a sinister Italian accent?
Thanassis waved the waiter over and ordered more ouzo.
‘My wife and I are… separated. It’s all over between us. There’s no going back.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’
‘It is her decision…’ Thanassis filled up her glass again. ‘And I have come to accept it. So, yes, like you, I am officially single too.’
Grace wasn’t sure you could call it official unless you were divorced, but Thanassis seemed convinced.
‘I have been living at the language school recently. They keep a spare room for me there, in case I have to work late.’
‘That must feel a bit lonely after what you’re used to.’
‘You’re right, Grace. I am lonely. Which is why it is so lovely to be out with you tonight.’
The bedraggled puppy look was growing on her. They were just a couple out for an evening drink in a beautiful setting. He may be a few years younger than her, but age was just a number.
Several drinks later, Grace had lost count exactly how many, she knew all about Thanassis’s parents and brother back in Athens, his university days and his love of teaching. The content of some of the conversation was hard to recall, but she was mesmerised by her companion’s mouth. His lips looked like they’d be soft to kiss. She let Thanassis talk on as she imagined reaching over and putting her mouth to his.
He’d moved even closer so that their shoulders were virtually touching, and the spicy smell coming off his body was aftershave overlaid with a tinge of sweat. Male sweat was something she hadn’t smelt for a while. It wasn’t that she craved it, that would be weird, but it was something that had disappeared out of her life when Phil went.
Thanassis topped up her drink with the large bottle of ouzo that had been left on their table by the waiter, now busy with other customers. Thanassis’s hand was resting on top of her fingers on the table, causing her heart to flutter wildly. She wasn’t so out of touch that she didn’t know when a man wanted her.
Maybe she should just throw caution to the wind, as Sofia advised, and sleep with him. It would be a gentle introduction back into the world of sex. There was no danger of her falling in love with him, but they could definitely have some fun. He had his own room to go back to, and they could make a pact not to let anyone else at the language school know what they’d been up to. Did that make her sound like some calculating floozy? Did she even care what anyone thought? It was her body and her life.
She turned to face Thanassis, their hands still entwined. But before she could think about kissing him, a figure loomed up behind her companion, tall and bulky. Grace recognised that crooked smile immediately. No! Not him, not now.