Chapter 12
TWELVE
I bump into Kai as he is heading for the hotel breakfast room.
‘Morning,’ I say breezily. ‘How are things?’
‘Couldn’t be better.’ He pulls a face. ‘My ex has just messaged again.’
‘Well, you could block her if you are finding it a nuisance, I suppose.’
‘I think I will. I didn’t want to be unkind at first, but maybe it’s time to do just that.’
‘And you are absolutely sure she knows where she stands?’
We take our food and sit together at our regular corner table.
‘I am. We went out for six months, we broke up, it’s as simple as that. I don’t know why she took the break-up so badly.’
‘Because six months is quite a long time, so maybe she thought there was a future?’ I suggest.
‘Maybe. But I am not ready to settle down and do the whole domestic thing.’ He shrugs. His comment irritates me, as I think of my ex.
‘Well, maybe you ought to have been a bit more upfront about that,’ I say firmly. ‘Nobody wants to invest time in a relationship that is going nowhere.’
He has the decency to at least look a little embarrassed. ‘I hear you, but there won’t be a next time, at least for a while,’ he tells me. ‘I am going to take a vow of celibacy. That way I can’t give someone the wrong impression.’
An attractive young woman with waist-length dark hair enters the breakfast room; her bikini-clad body can be seen through her long, crocheted dress, and Kai can’t help staring at her.
‘Yeah, right,’ I say with a knowing look.
Just as well I don’t fancy him. Charming as he is, I could never fully trust a guy with such a wandering eye.
‘Hopefully. Anyway, enough about me. Are you ready for your Abba evening?’ He grins.
‘Just about.’
After the morning aerobics session, with a young woman wearing the tiniest bikini and throwing Kai flirty looks throughout, it’s time for a quick break before I take my position at the adult pool.
After grabbing a drink, I spot Summer sitting in the gorgeous sunshine, her face turned up to the sky and sipping a coffee. Above is a cloudless blue sky and the strong rays of the sun beating down.
‘Catching a few rays on your break?’ I take a seat beside her.
‘Hi, Erin, yes, it’s so gorgeous, isn’t it? I could sit here all afternoon. I’m working the pool bar for an hour shortly though,’ she tells me. ‘And I am so looking forward to the Abba night after the kiddies disco,’ she says with enthusiasm.
‘Glad someone is.’ I try to ignore the fluttering of nerves in my chest.
‘Oops, I forgot, sorry, it’s not your thing, is it?’
‘Nope. But I am trying to learn how not to hide away, face my fears and all that,’ I tell her, as I take a sip of my freshly squeezed orange juice.
‘Ah good for you.’ Summer places her hand over mine. ‘And sometimes the things we worry about are never quite as bad as they seem, are they,’ she says positively.
‘That’s true.’
‘So what’s the deal with Kai?’ she asks. ‘I heard him in the lobby, chatting on the phone last night. It sounded pretty heated.’
I tell her all about his ex, who he says is stalking him.
‘I think she is still smitten, but Kai says it was never anything serious.’
‘Maybe he should have told her that,’ says Summer.
‘That’s exactly what I said.’
‘Honestly, I don’t know. Some men think women are mind readers.’ She shakes her head.
‘I know, which is precisely why I am happily single,’ I say.
There is no way I am getting hurt like I did last time, even though I can appreciate the qualities of a certain local Greek.
‘I will drink to that,’ says Summer, tapping her glass against mine.
‘Although I have never really been in a serious relationship,’ she confides.
‘But given the stories some friends have told me, I am quite happy to wait until the right one comes along. Maybe my gran was right when she told me that we often meet the right person when we stop looking.’
‘She might well be. Someone in my old job met their husband at the train station. She literally dropped her book near him, hoping he might pick it up. He did. They chatted and a year later got engaged,’ I tell her.
‘That is the modern-day version of dropping a hankie,’ she laughs. ‘Very Jane Austen.’
The afternoon passes quietly, and soon enough we are preparing for the Abba evening. Maybe I was worrying over nothing, as it seems all I have to do is sway along, whilst the resident singer takes the lead.
I make the mistake of peeping out at the bar area, that is already packed out with guests. I steady my breathing as I can feel my heart rate accelerate. So much for worrying over nothing. I can do this.
‘I can’t do this,’ I say to Summer as blind panic overtakes me.
‘What?’ The resident singer frowns at me. ‘This is no time to get stage fright; we are on in two minutes.’
‘But all those people.’ I suddenly feel overwhelmed. Why did I agree to this? Surely Zeta couldn’t force me to do this. I signed up as a lifeguard.
‘Erin, it will all be fine.’ Summer looks me squarely in the eyes. ‘And think of how you will feel when it’s over.’
‘I know, I know. I need to step out of my comfort zone blah blah but really, I don’t want to put myself through this.’
I can feel my palms sweating.
‘Less than half an hour out there,’ she says. ‘And think of the sense of achievement afterwards.’
I’m still not convinced.
‘Here, maybe this will help.’
Summer takes a miniature vodka from her bag and offers it to me. I knock it back.
‘I’ve had one too.’ She winks. ‘And if it’s so terrible out there then don’t do it again. I’m sure you could swap a shift with someone. Zeta doesn’t really mind who does it, as long as it is covered.’
Why didn’t I think of that before now?
I have no time to dwell on my nerves, as just then I hear the strains of a well-known tune strike up. I adjust my long white wig and shiny blue dress just as we are introduced to the stage.
Somehow, I manage to remember my basic steps, sing along a bit and the whole thing seems to pass in a blur as we launch into one crowd-pleasing song after another. There are whoops of approval at the end and a standing ovation from the audience.
‘You did it!’ Summer embraces me.
‘I did, didn’t I!’ I say proudly.
I notice Takis as we approach the bar for a drink and he raises his drink and smiles at me.
‘We meet again.’
‘Um, hi.’ I return his smile whilst pulling down the hem of my short dress that has ridden up as I sit on a bar stool.
He picks up his drink and strolls over to sit on a vacant seat beside me, as Summer chats to another member of the animation team.
He is even better looking than he was last time I saw him, if that were possible. And he smells wonderful.
‘I never asked you last night, how long are you working here?’ he asks as he sips his drink.
‘Until September. I am a lifeguard, although I am learning to be very versatile.’ I raise an eyebrow.
‘So I see.’ He smiles. ‘You were very entertaining.’
I am about to order a drink when he intercepts.
‘Please, allow me. What can I get you?’
We are at the quieter bar that is not part of the all-inclusive deal.
‘White wine please.’
He leans over to tap his card on the reader, and his closeness seems to be having such an effect on me, I am almost relieved when Summer joins us. Almost.
‘Can I get you a drink too?’ Takis asks Summer but she raises her half-full glass and politely declines.
The three of us chat for a while, until Summer, suppressing a yawn, decides to head off to her room.
‘Can I get you another?’ offers Takis.
I can already feel the effect of the large wine I have just consumed.
‘I would love to,’ I say. ‘But I have quite an early start in the morning.’
‘Perhaps we can have that drink when you are not working then?’ he suggests and I feel a little jolt of something inside. ‘Unless, of course, you don’t think it is a good idea?’
As it is the second time I have refused a drink from him, it is hardly surprising he thinks I am giving him the brush-off.
‘No, really it’s a great idea. I would like that,’ I say enthusiastically.
What was I thinking? I could have accepted a soft drink. Too late now, as he is on his feet having drained the last of his beer.
‘I will see you around then, after you have checked your rota.’ He winks, before walking off without a backward glance.
The following morning, I wake early once more and head down to the beach for an early morning swim before my shift.
Takis vanished after I declined a drink, which was slightly disappointing, until I remind myself that I am sworn off men, at least whilst I am here. For some reason, though, my mum’s comments about her Greek romance pop into my mind before I push them away.
The gloriously long beach stretches out ahead and, at seven o’clock, there is already bright-blue sky above with just a few wispy clouds.
I sigh with pleasure as I remove my sarong and head into the waves.
It’s cool and bracing, but I soon warm up as I push through the water.
It’s freeing and wonderful and I savour every moment as I think of all those endorphins.
After my swim, I decide to hang around for an hour, spreading my towel onto the sand and, for a few minutes, I enjoy feeling the burn of the sun wash over my body despite the early hour. I am in the throes of a delicious daydream when I hear the slow thrum of a boat engine.
Pushing myself up onto one elbow, I spy Takis walking along. His slightly curly hair sits on his shoulders, and he is wearing fashionable sunglasses. He walks with the confidence of someone who is very comfortable in their own skin.
‘Kalimera.’ He smiles politely.
‘Kalimera.’ I lower my sunglasses, giving him my brightest smile.
‘I almost didn’t recognise you without the wig,’ he says in his strong Greek accent, which I could listen to all day. ‘How are you this morning?’
‘Good, thanks.’
‘What are we this evening then, Cher? Tina Turner?’ he teases.
‘Nothing but bar work thankfully. Another member of the team is more than keen to take my place,’ I tell him.
‘That’s a shame, I rather enjoyed your show last night.’
‘You did?’ I ask, surprised.
‘I did. I needed a laugh after a long and slightly stressful day.’ He grins.
‘Thanks. Although I wasn’t aware it was a comedy act.’
‘I apologise. Maybe I chose the wrong word. I should have said I wanted something light-hearted.’ He smiles. A truly gorgeous smile.
‘Apology accepted.’
‘Well, I must be off. I need to see Zeta and check on some details for a boat tour.’
‘You take them out on that?’ I ask doubtfully, glancing at the small speedboat on the edge of the sand.
‘Of course not.’ He laughs. ‘I just call in to the hotel to take any bookings. I collect people from their hotel, and we take a larger boat from Mandraki harbour.’
I wonder why he doesn’t take online bookings, rather than calling in each day, but perhaps he likes to do things the old-fashioned way. Or maybe he likes to call in, as I recall Zeta being touchy-feely with him in reception. Some guys like the older woman. Not that it is any of my business.
‘Have a good day, Erin.’ He strides off before calling over his shoulder, ‘And if you fancy a boat trip maybe you could, you know, take a chance on me.’
‘Haha, good one.’
I glance after him as he strides towards the hotel, admiring his broad shoulders as he walks.
I realise this is the first time that I’ve looked at a man like this since James, and I shake myself a little.
I’m only here for three months, and life is complicated enough at the moment without adding in more opportunities for hurt.
As I enjoy my morning relaxation before work, I find myself once more thinking of the little café nestled in the lemon grove.
In my mind’s eye I picture the little café taking shape, slowly being restored to the way it once was.
Maybe even nicer. I imagine walkers and travellers enjoying walks through the forest or the adjoining beach and stopping for refreshments.
Serving cooling frappes and ice-cold soft drinks in my own little diner sounds like the kind of life I could get used to.
I listen to the sound of the rolling waves and smile to myself.
What on Earth am I even thinking? I’m sure lots of people have daydreams when they visit somewhere as beautiful as Greece.
All the same, it does no harm to dream, does it?
I have little else at home, other than my mum and dear friend Mel, of course, but I know they would be the first to tell me to follow my dreams.
Gathering up my things, I head back towards the hotel to change into my uniform for my shift at the adult pool.
I am already counting my blessings that I was able to come here and earning a wage means that my redundancy payout is still intact.
Even though I have an idea of how it could be spent. Or maybe it is just a silly daydream.