The Greek Café

Chapter 1

ONE

‘Oh, Erin, that’s rubbish.’

I’m in our local pub with my friend Mel and nursing a gin and tonic.

‘I know.’ I sigh as I sip my drink.

I have learned that I am soon to be made redundant from the leisure centre I’ve worked at since leaving school and I feel as if a rug has been pulled from under my feet.

‘So what will you do next?’ Mel asks.

‘I really have no idea. I enjoy teaching aerobics, especially to the older ladies who are a lot of fun,’ I tell her. ‘They tell me they loved getting rid of their bingo wings.’

The thought of not seeing the aerobics ladies again gives me a sudden jolt of sadness. I’ll miss the children too. There is no greater satisfaction than seeing a child discard their arm bands and swim confidently in the adult pool.

Mel laughs. ‘I should have come to one of your classes and firmed up my jelly thighs.’

‘Nonsense.’ I roll my eyes.

Mel has a lovely hourglass figure, although she is on a permanent diet.

‘The older ladies seemed to really enjoy my classes. I’m sure the manager invented those complaints,’ I sigh.

‘Complaints?’ Mel frowns. ‘What complaints?’

‘Well, not complaints exactly. Although he did suggest I was known in the pool as GI Jane.’

Mel almost spits her drink out.

‘That’s hilarious. Sorry.’ She pulls a face.

Admittedly there was an incident with a woman needing a check-up after a vigorous session in the pool, but she had failed to mention that she suffered from angina. She was a lovely lady, who, thank goodness, was absolutely fine. And I did remove some punishing squats from the routine after that.

‘You will find another job, try not to worry.’ Mel tries for a reassuring tone. ‘Anyone would be mad not to hire you,’ she says, being as supportive as ever.

‘I hope so.’ I take another sip of my drink. ‘I did think about applying for a job as a lifeguard on a beach in Cornwall, but we’ve had such rubbish summers of late, I don’t know if I fancy that.’

I enjoyed that first job in Cornwall though, after passing my lifeguard exams straight out of school.

I spent the most glorious summer attending beach parties, trying surfing for the first time, and generally having fun.

In between saving people from tricky situations, of course, when they had swum out further than they thought.

It is shocking to think that was probably my one and only adventure, and that was over twenty years ago.

After settling into the leisure centre, I led a safe and predictable life, which probably sounds sad for someone of my age. I certainly seemed to lose my sense of adventure, imagining a cosy life with my (now ex) boyfriend James. But that was not to be.

‘I don’t blame you. The water in England is freezing.’ Mel gives a little shiver.

It’s early June but there have been no real signs of summer, apart from the odd day of warm sunshine, swiftly followed by overcast skies and frequent showers.

The in-between weather meant I dressed in layers earlier, and I am removing the cardigan I had thrown over my T-shirt as the pub feels very warm.

South Side Leisure Centre has been struggling with footfall for a while now.

Council run, investment in the centre has been non-existent in recent years, and with the closure of the indoor football courts and small gym, redundancies were inevitable.

Even so, working there is all I have ever known, and after learning I’m to lose my job, my anxiety levels have gone through the roof.

‘Have you ever thought about working on a cruise ship? My cousin did that for a while,’ Mel suggests as she picks at some cheese and onion crisps. ‘They have a full entertainment programme, featuring aqua aerobics and the like.’

‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’ I joke, despite being intrigued by the idea.

‘As if.’ She shakes her head and laughs. ‘I’m just suggesting some possibilities. I wish I would have worked away before the kids were born, seen something of the world,’ she says wistfully. ‘And if you are desperate, there are always jobs for pizza delivery drivers around here.’

‘No thanks.’

Mel has been my best friend since high school and knows me like no one else.

Our lives could not have followed a more different pattern, her married at twenty-three, and a mum at twenty-five and now happily ensconced in a cute new-build house with the love of her life and two children.

I, on the other hand, have never met someone I was prepared to settle with.

Three years ago, I thought I finally had, but after two years together, James told me he wasn’t ready to commit, so that was that.

In the year since, I have thrown myself into my work and friendships.

Oh, there have been a few dates, of course, but no one I have wanted to settle with and I’m fine with that.

I am reluctant to put myself through the hurt I am just about getting over.

A lot of my friends work at the leisure centre, and it pains me to think I won’t see them every day. Will I still be included in their nights out, or will they forget about me? I have seen it happen with other ex-employees. I try not to think about it.

I think of all those school children I have taught to swim over the years and allow myself a feeling of pride.

If I close my eyes, I can smell the chlorine and hear the sound of the children’s excited chatter coming from the changing rooms. I always felt such a thrill when the children mastered their fear of the water, delighting in watching them progress from the kid pool to the adult pool.

Pity I never possessed such confidence outside of the pool.

‘Or how about a hotel complex? Maybe somewhere abroad?’ Mel pushes her bag of crisps towards me.

‘That’s a thought, I suppose.’ I take a crisp and munch it thoughtfully.

I idly think of my last holiday to Greece and the gorgeous poolside lifeguard who kept all the ladies happy, especially when he led the water aerobics class, which, funnily enough, always had double the number.

There are at least a good few months left of the season in Greece, I guess.

It would be amazing to work somewhere like that, I think dreamily.

And try not to dwell on what I would do after the season ended.

It also happens to be the place I visited with my ex, James.

I thought he was going to propose, when nothing could have been further from the truth.

I don’t want that experience to sully my memories of such a beautiful place though.

Maybe going back and reminding myself of just how stunning it is isn’t such a bad idea.

I had always longed to go to Greece and was thrilled when my James suggested Rhodes.

It was every bit as pretty as I’d imagined it would be.

‘I’d be off like a shot if I were you – it’s not as if you have any ties here,’ says Mel.

Her comment is meant kindly, I know, but it’s a reminder that no one would really miss me too much if I went away for a few months.

We are enjoying a good catch-up on a rare midweek night out for Mel, as her husband is at home watching a football match with a couple of friends.

‘Fancy another?’ I ask, gesturing to her empty wine glass.

‘Maybe just a small one,’ she says. ‘I’m in the mood now, but I still have packed lunches to make and the school run in the morning.’

‘So, no chance of going on to Pop World?’ I tease.

‘Oh gosh, Pop World. Remember those mad days.’ She giggles.

We used to dance and laugh the night away at that club when we were younger.

I have a vague recollection of being pushed home in an abandoned supermarket trolley, which somehow veered into a road.

Thank goodness the road was quiet; we got a good ticking-off from a passing police officer, but no charge of being drunk and disorderly, which was a relief.

We were given a ride home in the police car, both of us trying to suppress giggles.

And now here I am in my late thirties, alone, and soon to be jobless, while everyone around me seems to have it all sorted. I’d been struggling to wrap my head around how much my life has imploded in this last year, and now this, which really feels like the cherry on top.

What on Earth am I going to do?