Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
Two days later, after my glorious morning swim, I head to the little café to meet Jack, and a small crowd of locals are watching a digger with interest as it lifts soil and bricks from the ground.
As I walk closer, two ladies mutter something in Greek. Just then, Ireta joins them.
‘Kalimera, Erin.’
She turns to the two women; one of them nods politely, the other eyes me suspiciously.
‘Kalimera, Ireta. I see there is quite the local interest here.’ I note the small crowd, as Ireta speaks to them in Greek.
Just then a woman of around my age appears and introduces herself as Athena, Ireta’s daughter. She is petite and pretty and shakes my hand warmly.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ says the dark-haired lady. ‘I am so happy you are in the process of buying the café. It will mean everything to my mother to see it up and running again. And of course, the locals. Many of them were hoping the café would be open once more.’
‘I can hardly wait to open,’ I tell her. ‘I have my job at the hotel, but I am close enough to keep an eye on the building work here.’
‘Of course – and any help you need with translation, let me know,’ she says kindly.
‘Thank you so much,’ I tell her gratefully. ‘Your English is very good.’
‘Thanks. I studied at university in the UK,’ she explains. ‘As a lawyer. I came back here after my marriage ended and my father died. I like to look after Mum. It works for both of us. I work at a practice in Rhodes town.’
‘Sounds like you have had quite a time of it,’ I tell her sympathetically.
‘Two years ago was the worst time ever,’ she admits. ‘But you get through it, don’t you? And being back here is healing.’ She smiles.
‘I can see how it could be healing.’ I glance around. ‘It is really nice to meet you.’
‘You too,’ she tells me. ‘I cannot wait to see what you do with the café – and the apartment upstairs. I imagine it will all look quite different. It was never really used as an apartment, more storage as we have a house in the village. Although when I turned eighteen, I did stay there for a while,’ she reveals.
‘You must come and have a look around when it’s all done,’ I offer.
‘I would like that,’ she says warmly.
I get the feeling Athena could easily become a good friend.
I chat to Jack, who tells me the ground to the front of the café will be flattened, and the stones laid in a traditional crazy paved pattern, which will make up the patio area.
I at once picture sets of tables and chairs outside.
Wrought iron, white or blue, or a mixture of both.
I will have colourful plants in terracotta pots and place them about.
‘The patio should only take a couple of days. Then it’s on to the work on the inside,’ says Jack positively.
‘The whole thing might only have taken a couple of weeks had I not had other work on, but it’s going to take a little longer.
I tend to dart between several jobs, such is the demand for builders,’ he explains.
‘That’s not a problem,’ I tell him. ‘I have my job at the hotel anyway. As long as it is ready for mid-September. I would like to be up and running then.’
‘No problem with that,’ he assures me.
‘Thanks so much for fitting me in. I realise it is rather last minute.’
‘It’s what I do.’ He smiles. ‘I am lucky to have a good team working with me. We make an early start in the summer, before the sun gets too hot. This project is just far enough away from the houses for them not to complain about the building work early in the morning.’
‘I never thought about that,’ I say, pleased that I won’t be upsetting any local residents.
I take the ten-minute walk back to the hotel ready for my shift that begins at ten o’clock, with a feeling of renewed excitement. Jack seems like the kind of bloke I can trust with the renovation, and I feel relieved that Athena seems so happy about the café being purchased.
I enjoy watching the children in the pool, although my thoughts wander to the little café project. A child’s scream pulls me back to the present, but thankfully it was an excited squeal as the young child, wearing a rubber ring, toppled off an inflatable boat into the water.
By early afternoon, it’s time to swap with another worker and head to the adult pool for aqua aerobics. I am more than ready to stretch my legs and kept the blood pumping.
‘Are we ready?’ I ask the assembled crowd in the pool, as I pump up the volume of the music and they respond with enthusiastic cries of, ‘Yes!’
The guests in the pool this morning include one or two men who have joined the majority of women.
Despite being outnumbered, the men are clearly enjoying themselves and going for it, to the sound of the pulsating music.
‘Clap your hands,’ I instruct as I clap my hands above my head. ‘Now squats. We will soon have those thighs as strong as a stallion’s.’
‘Fat chance,’ says a grey-haired lady. ‘It would take surgery to tone up these legs.’
‘Nonsense. Combine them with leg kicks at the side of the pool,’ I tell her. ‘Strength is key as we get a little older.’
As we continue to pool-side exercises, Grey-Haired Lady does as she’s told, kicking her legs furiously. A little too furiously, as a wave of water cascades over two of her friends nearby.
‘For heaven’s sake, Beryl,’ splutters her friend as she spits out water. ‘You’re not in training for the Olympics; calm it down a bit.’
‘Whoops, sorry,’ she giggles and I wonder whether I am pushing them a little too hard, so we finish with some gentle stretches. And the end of the session everyone gives me a round of applause, and I feel assured that everyone has had a good time.
Heading inside the hotel for a drink, I spot Takis walking across reception and I feel the familiar tingle.
Zeta greets him with a kiss on both cheeks, and they stand chatting. As I walk past I catch his eye.
‘Kalispera.’ He nods, as Zeta looks at something on the computer behind the reception desk.
‘Did you enjoy your food the other night?’ he asks.
‘I did. It was absolutely beautiful. And such a romantic setting.’
‘To go with a work friend?’
‘I’m just saying.’ I shrug, hoping the heat I can feel isn’t showing on my cheeks. Why is he having this effect on me?
‘Anyway, I keep meaning to ask, where do your boat trips go?’ I ask casually.
‘Various places. Across the island to Symi, sometimes a round trip of the area stopping at small coves. Wherever you like. As a private charter, I can satisfy all your needs.’
He makes eye contact and my stomach does a little flip.
‘Ah, a private charter. So, is your boat big?’
‘Size isn’t everything.’ He grins. ‘But it is big enough. And very comfortable.’
‘Right.’ I will myself not to blush. ‘So, if I wanted to go to alone, you could take me? Or do you need a minimum of guests?’
‘No. There is a set price. I can take you alone if you like,’ he offers.
‘Maybe I will look up a few places of interest for when I have my day off,’ I tell him. ‘I will let you know.’
‘Sounds good. And as you always seem to be working, maybe this is the best way to spend some time with you. I would like that,’ he says, with an easy smile.
‘I would too. And I am not always working.’
Did he think I would let him know when I was free? Maybe I am being a little old fashioned but if he thinks I am the type of woman to suggest a date, then he is mistaken.
‘Anyway, just let Zeta know, and she will take a booking,’ he says in a business-like manner, which is a little confusing as he has literally just told me he would like to spend time with me.
He turns his attention back to Zeta, who has finished looking at the computer. I still find this baffling that it is not possible to book with him directly. ‘Oh, and be sure to book a couple of days in advance,’ he tells me as I walk off. ‘I am very popular.’
‘I will do.’
I notice he said that he was very popular, rather than his excursions.
Pfft, he certainly thinks a lot of himself.
He is gorgeous though, and perhaps I took his comment the wrong way.
And he does (annoyingly) give me the tingles when I see him.
Even so, I intend to give men a wide berth and concentrate on my job, and my café refurbishment.
I think that is quite enough to be going on with.
I do a couple of hours at a pool bar in the evening when the kids’ pool has closed, before I finish my shift.
Back in my apartment, I look at various tourist attractions and decide I would like a trip to Traganou Caves in Kalithea.
Only accessible by boat, there are caves alongside the pebble beach, with crystal-clear water making it the perfect spot for swimming.
After looking at photos and imagining myself there relaxing, I will book a trip in the morning.
I glance at my watch and decide to call Mum for a catch-up.
‘I was just about to call you,’ she says, her face smiling across the camera. ‘I was telling my friends at the bowls club all about you. They think it’s marvellous the way you have jetted off to Greece for an adventure.’
‘Well, I am taking a leaf out of your book, Mum.’ I smile. ‘And you were right to remind me that my life was going nowhere.’
‘Oh love, I hope you didn’t think I was being cruel,’ she says gently. ‘But there is so much to do out there. It’s a big world. Have a go at things, whilst you still have the energy. Nothing has to be permanent.’
‘You are so right.’ I nod.
It’s nice to be reminded that nothing has to be permanent. Life is fluid. Greece for now; in twelve months’ time, who knows?
‘So, what have you been up to today then?’ I ask.
‘Oh, just a quiet one today,’ she tells me. ‘A bit of catching up on my TV programmes. It’s raining here. And I baked a banana loaf.’
‘Are you seeing Douglas later?’
‘Yes, I’m cooking dinner here for seven. We are both a bit tired today. I think maybe that bike ride was a bit much yesterday,’ she reveals.
‘Bike ride? Gosh, Mum, when was the last time you went out on a bike?’
‘Twenty years ago, with your father,’ she informs me. ‘We did twenty miles of the coastal path. I managed five yesterday, and I was done. That’s the problem with getting older. Your mind thinks it can do all the things you once did, until your body reminds you that it can’t.’ She laughs.
‘Moderation is the key, I think. Especially at your age, you shouldn’t be overdoing things,’ I caution.
‘I realise that now. Maybe I will stick to bowls. And the occasional adrenalin rush.’ She grins, and I suspect the next time we speak, she will tell me she is planning on abseiling down the Shard.
We chat about the café restoration, which I told her about the last time we spoke.
She is thrilled about it, and she tells me her and Douglas are thinking of coming to Greece for a holiday in early October.
‘When it’s a little cooler,’ she says. ‘I can’t wait to see the café, and you can show us the sights.
We have decided to leave the cruise until next year. ’
‘Brilliant, Mum! I mean about you coming over. I’ll see if I can get you a discount at the Apollo Hotel if you like. Unless you are planning on going wild camping or something.’
‘Not likely. There are snakes in Greece.’ She gives a little shudder. ‘Although more in forest areas.’
‘Great, thanks for telling me that, Mum.’
‘Whoops. Maybe snakes don’t like lemon groves though?’ She laughs. ‘In any case, I believe most of them are harmless.’
‘Anyway, I will send you photo updates of how the café refurb is going, although it isn’t a massive renovation.’
‘Oh yes, I would love that. Right, darling, I had better go. I am just going to pop a little icing on the banana cake.’ Mum’s vanilla frosting takes her banana loaf to a whole new level.
‘Okay. Bye, Mum, talk soon. Enjoy your dinner later, and the cake.’
I settle down to sleep, with a feeling that all is okay with the world. Mum is enjoying her best life in her later years, and I am trying new things. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
So why do I feel a rolling of nerves in my stomach when I think of opening the café once more?