Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
I find Jack and his team plastering the walls of the café downstairs, when I arrive at the site on my lunch break the following day.
By the end of the week, work will start on the replacement windows.
I have it in my plans to have shuttered windows downstairs, painted in the traditional cerulean blue.
‘Morning, guys, I thought you might like come coffee. Frappes, of course.’ Just before noon, the sun is already hot.
I also have a selection of croissants and chocolate cake left over from the breakfast buffet.
‘Perfect timing,’ says Jack, placing his trowel down. His two Greek workers thank me politely.
‘We are literally finishing up here in ten minutes. When the plaster has dried, we can do a blasting of the floor. I take it you won’t want this covering up,’ he says, tapping his foot on the tiled floor.
The large terracotta tiles are perfect for a café, so it will just need a good clean to spruce up the stained areas and discoloured grout.
‘Yes, I think the tiled floor will be very practical,’ I tell Jack. ‘It should be fine after a jet wash.’
I can already picture the café open for business, as the work downstairs is quite minimal. A new customer toilet will be added, along with the windows. Other than that, it will barely need more than a lick of paint. And of course, the kitchen equipment, to include the all-important coffee machine.
I will take my time over my accommodation upstairs. I can’t wait to shop for beautiful things to create my own little sanctuary in the lemon grove.
I walk outside and breathe deeply, and as I listen to the sound of birdsong all around me, I visualise waking up each morning to the same delightful chorus.
‘We will be back in a few days,’ says Jack when I prepare to head back to the hotel. ‘We are finishing up on a villa extension a few miles from here. Cheers for the breakfast, love.’
I watch them leave, walking to their truck parked in a layby just off the forest path. The tyre tracks from the small digger have been smoothed over after the garden work.
A couple of teenagers on bikes cycle past, and one of them points to the building and says ‘kafenion’ to his friend.
I wonder if they are locals and remember the café when Ireta had it?
Perhaps they met up with their friends there.
Maybe I will sell milkshakes and pancakes to appeal to the younger population in the village.
Other than the hotel, which they don’t frequent, there is little else in the area around the village.
I feel proud to maybe add a little something for the locals to enjoy. If everything goes according to plan.
I have an uneventful but busy afternoon at the hotel, and soon enough I am waking up the next morning to the sun once more bathing my bedroom in light. I follow my usual routine of make myself a coffee and taking it outside to enjoy on my balcony.
I shower and dress, ready to head downstairs and meet Takis in the lobby at ten o’clock. I am considering grabbing something from the buffet, when I spot Takis in reception, and I catch my breath. At his side is a cooler bag.
‘A picnic courtesy of the kitchen.’ He smiles. ‘Arranged by my aunt.’
Zeta blows us a kiss and says she hopes we have a pleasant day, before she heads off somewhere.
‘She mentioned a picnic, how lovely.’ I’m surprised when we head outside to the car park, where Takis opens the door for me to step into his smart grey Audi.
‘I thought we would be going to the harbour by speedboat,’ I say in surprise.
‘I thought it would be more comfortable this way,’ he tells me. ‘Besides, it is only a few minutes by car. It would take longer walking down to the beach.’
I had rather fancied travelling in the speedboat, hair blowing in the wind and pretending I am in an action movie, but I don’t tell him that.
We take the short drive down into the town, and Takis parks up. I guess we could have walked, but maybe the cooler box is heavy.
I walk along the harbour, glancing at the many boats with coloured posters displaying various tours on offer. A sunset catamaran cruise is offered, with dinner, drinks and a swim, that sounds very tempting. Another boat is offering a morning cruise to Symi island and St George’s Bay.
An old wooden boat, which reminds me a bit of a pirate ship, offers a one-hour cruise that takes in views of the old and new city of Rhodes. Something I will consider when I have a couple of spare hours.
Presently, we arrive at a sleek cream and blue fibreglass boat, a lot larger than I imagined it would be.
‘Your carriage awaits,’ says Takis. ‘Or should I say, comfortable padded seat.’ He gestures to a cream leather circular seating area on deck.
‘Very nice,’ I say as I step aboard.
He presses a button and an overhead shade covers the seating area. ‘Or maybe you prefer some sunshine first?’
‘Yes, I think I would,’ I tell him. ‘But it will be nice to eat in the shade later.’
He shows me downstairs, which has a tiny kitchen, a toilet and a sofa that pulls out into a bed. It is spotlessly clean and cosy looking with some colourful cushions on the sofa.
‘So that is the guided tour,’ says Takis as he places the cooler bag on the counter. ‘Shall we eat in around an hour? After seeing the caves and having a swim?’
‘Sounds good.’
Even though I am wearing tiny shorts, and a cropped top, I suddenly feel a little exposed at the thought of swimming in my tiny bikini and wish I had worn a swimsuit.
‘Are you going to swim too?’ I ask.
‘If you have no objection.’ He smiles. ‘I think the sea is big enough for both of us.’
Back on deck, he lifts the lid of a box and produces two snorkels. ‘We will need these. The water is so clear, it will be good to see some nature beneath the sea. Some of the fish are beautiful,’ he tells me.
‘I can’t wait.’
After leaving the harbour, we pass the landmark limestone cliffs that plunge down into the sea; the water is sapphire blue. Sitting on my comfortable leather seat, I feel the wind in my hair. I close my eyes and savour every second.
Presently the colours of the sea change from blue to green, leaving white swirls of foam in its wake as the boat cuts through the water.
‘This is something else,’ I say to Takis, who is at the wheel.
I am clutching a chilled glass of Prosecco, feeling even more like a movie star, as I pretend the boat belongs to me.
I imagine I am heading to my villa high up on the rocks, which gives amazing views of the bay.
My private chef will provide smoked salmon for lunch, followed by a home-made dessert.
I say little as we cruise, sometimes stealing glances at Takis, who is wearing a navy short-sleeved T-shirt, smart white shorts and a pair of expensive-looking sunglasses.
The wind has tousled his slightly long hair, making him look even more attractive.
I look away quickly when he turns and catches me checking him out.
I do not want to ruin my time here by getting involved with a local Greek man, even one as hot as Takis.
I don’t need the distraction, or to be the subject of local gossip.
I just want to concentrate on my new business venture.
Despite that, I can feel myself being increasingly drawn to him, so maybe switching off my feelings is easier said than done.
‘I thought you might be wearing a white cap with an anchor on the front,’ I tell him as we glide smoothly through the water.
‘So, you like a man in uniform?’ He casts a glance at me and smiles.
‘Oh yes. Especially a man in a McDonald’s uniform at the end of a night out,’ I joke.
Takis shakes his head and laughs.
Presently, the rock formations of the caves appear up ahead. Surprisingly there isn’t another boat in sight, despite it being a popular tourist spot.
‘Shall I drop anchor here?’ he asks, as the boat nears the caves, the shimmering blue-green sea looking tempting as the sun beats down.
‘Perfect.’
Takis peels his T-shirt over his head, revealing a rather impressive six pack, before stripping to his swim shorts. I follow suit, revealing my tiny white bikini, before I am handed a snorkel and we climb down the ladder of the boat.
The water is not quite as warm as I expected, as it isn’t quite midday, but after a few seconds it feels good.
I follow Takis’s lead, diving below the water and spotting shoals of pretty fish darting amongst rocks.
Far more than I saw at the beach near the hotel, along with colourful sea plants. It feels magical.
After snorkelling for a while, Takis gestures to the caves.
‘Shall we swim inside the cave?’ he asks. ‘The colours of the water are quite amazing there. It is only possible on a day like today, when the sea is calm.’
‘In that case, let’s do it. After you,’ I tell him.
It feels instantly cooler inside, although the sun filtering through the cave openings gives the water the most beautiful shade of turquoise, streaked with emerald. The cave walls are reflecting the light, giving it a soft glow that feels almost like something from another realm.
‘Wow,’ is all I manage to say, as I take in my surroundings.
‘It is quite something, isn’t it?’ His voice echoes around the cave.
‘It’s beautiful.’ I nod. There is a stillness and sense of peace that I find mesmerising. Not a sound can be heard apart from the gentle ebb and flow of the water as it splashes against the walls of the cave.
We enjoy our surroundings for a while longer, chatting and swimming, before we climb the ladder to the boat. I relish the feeling of the warm sun washing over me as I dry off on deck.
‘Do you get in the water with all of your guests?’ I ask Takis as he lays a cloth over a storage box as a makeshift table.
‘No,’ he tells me. ‘But then bookings are usually a small group. People rarely book a lone trip.’
‘So you were keeping me company?’
‘I told you. I want to ensure the customer has a good time. Maybe I am hoping for a five-star review.’
‘You will have to wait and see. The trip isn’t over yet.’