Chapter 23 #2
Dried off and sitting in the sun, we enjoy our delicious picnic.
Slices of spanakopita, stuffed olives and slices of ham and cheese sit alongside fat juicy peaches, slabs of honey cake and strawberries.
There is also a bottle of fizz. It feels so indulgent sitting here in the sun, enjoying the delicious food, that I don’t want to go back to the hotel.
Takis pours us each a drink into a plastic champagne flute.
‘Don’t worry, I will not be drunk and in charge of a boat,’ he says, lifting the bottle. ‘Zero alcohol.’
‘Good to know. And it’s delicious,’ I say, raising my glass. ‘These alcohol-free drinks have come a long way since the early days when they tasted like pond slime.’
‘You have drunk pond slime?’
‘Of course, you mean you haven’t?’ I chuckle wryly.
The food is delicious, and we sit on deck, the gentle sway of the boat almost lulling me to sleep after my lunchtime feast. I can feel my eyes become heavy as I turn my face to the sun.
‘Would you like a siesta?’ Takis offers. ‘There is a bed downstairs.’
‘I’d better not.’ I sit up straight. For a second I imagine Takis sliding in beside me, his hands exploring my body and kissing me deeply. What the heck?
I glance at my watch. ‘Actually, maybe we ought to be heading back.’
‘Of course.’ He smiles. ‘You are the customer.’
I remind myself that is exactly what I am. A paying customer. Takis is charming in his work as he is with all of the customers. I need to get a grip and stop acting like a teenager with a crush.
On the journey back, Takis points out places of interest, including Anthony Quinn Bay, named after a famous actor who fell in love with the island after filming there.
‘So what brought you to Greece?’ he asks as we cross the sparkling blue water.
‘I love Rhodes, as I told you.’ I turn my face up to the sun. ‘I lost my job back home, and being single, I just thought I would widen my job search,’ I tell him. ‘When I saw the job advertised for the hotel, I thought, why not?’
‘How long have you been single?’ he asks.
‘About a year.’
I realise it doesn’t feel like that long, but I had been so busy at the leisure centre, I guess the time flew by. Throwing myself into my work definitely helped.
He is a good listener, taking in every word.
For some reason, I hold off asking him if he has a girlfriend, even though he has asked me about my relationship status. Maybe I am worried he will think I am interested in him.
‘I think it is always good to embrace an adventure,’ he agrees, moving away from subjects of a personal nature. ‘Isn’t that what life should be all about?’
His question hangs in the air, as he takes the wheel of the boat and we continue on our way.
As we approach the bay, Takis says, ‘We can stop for a while if you like?’
I glance across at the narrow horseshoe-shaped bay framed by the forest and cliffs. The beach looks small, with maybe a dozen or so sun loungers. I notice a café perched on the hillside above the beach, which might be a nice place to sip a cocktail and enjoy the stunning views.
‘Thanks, but I think I have had enough sun for today.’
I can feel my skin burning, and tiredness has taken over me, although his offer is hard to resist.
He shrugs. ‘Whenever you like.’
I think of the evening at the hotel bar when I refused a drink from him. I hope he doesn’t think I don’t like spending too much time with him. Especially as nothing could be further from the truth.
Back at the hotel, I thank Takis for the boat trip that I enjoyed immensely. I feel completely relaxed after my day snorkelling and swimming and enjoying the most delicious picnic. Even if I am already overthinking my decision not to stop at the bay with Takis.
‘It was my pleasure.’
‘I might book you for a boat ride over to Kato Petres one day. The long beach there looks amazing,’ I say. ‘Then again, I suppose it is close enough to the hotel to maybe walk there.’
‘I do not go to that beach,’ he says without elaborating, his whole body suddenly closing off to me.
‘Oh right, no worries. I may even hire a quad bike and explore that area.’
Maybe there is an undercurrent in the water so Takis does not like to take the boat there. But instinctively I don’t think I should ask him the reason, as something tells me it is personal.
‘Right, well, have a good evening. Thanks again,’ I tell him.
‘You too,’ he says, the easy smile seemingly having disappeared from his eyes.
It’s late afternoon, and I head to the café and let myself in.
The plaster on the walls has dried nicely.
It already looks bright with the sun streaming through the windows, so I imagine how it will look after the walls have been painted.
I also think about the lovely day I enjoyed today with Takis.
He couldn’t get away quick enough when we arrived back at the hotel though, and I wonder what caused his change in mood?
I guess it isn’t my problem though, and I certainly don’t have the energy to psychoanalyse someone I barely know.
Heading back to the hotel, I spot a few of the teenagers once more. Hanging around on their bikes.
‘Lady,’ a boy with dark curly hair calls to me. ‘Me synchoreite.’ I think he is saying ‘excuse me’. ‘You open the café?’ he asks as his two friends look on.
‘Yes.’ I smile.
‘Po the?’
‘Sorry?
‘He asks when,’ says a boy in a black T-shirt with a picture of a skateboarder on the front.
‘Ah I see.’
Gosh, I really must grasp the basics in Greek.
‘September hopefully,’ I tell him and he nods.
‘Septemvrios,’ he tells his friend.
‘Is it somewhere you would visit?’ I ask as they are about to ride off.
‘Yes, we like to play pool,’ says the boy in the black T-shirt, who seems to have a slightly better grasp of English than his friends.
‘I’m not sure it is big enough to accommodate a pool table,’ I tell him. ‘But who knows?’
There is a large outside area to the rear, with a covered canopy. Maybe it is possible to have a table out there? Perhaps something to think about.
He chats to his friend in Greek, and as they cycle off, I think of how polite they were. I am not sure I would feel as relaxed coming across a group of young boys back home, but maybe the media feeds that fear.
I walk on filled with positivity about the future.
I hope to speak to Zeta later and talk about the bureaucratic hurdles I may have to face, but I feel assured that she will help me with that.
Once more I feel blessed for my Irish passport, which means I am unaffected by Brexit.
I will need a tax reference number and a couple of other legal things but thankfully little else.
I also have Athena, who is a lawyer, so that might also come in useful.
The cicadas and birds serenade me as I walk the now familiar route towards the hotel, delighting me with every step. It surprises me how quickly this place is beginning to feel like home.
I am so tired, I flop onto my bed when I arrive back at my room. I bring up some photos of soft furnishings on my phone, and dream of how my bedroom will look in the apartment.
A shaft of warm sunlight is bathing the room, so I fling open my balcony door, and let a gentle late afternoon breeze drift in. It feels so warm and comfortable here that I can feel my eyes grow heavy.
I find myself dreaming of the caves, swimming in the gorgeous sea, and sitting on the deck of the boat sharing our food as the sun beats down.
As my eyes grow heavy, I imagine Takis moving in for a kiss.
I hug my pillow with a smile on my face.
Just a few minutes here, then I will head downstairs for dinner.
I awake two hours later, and I am shocked to discover it is almost seven thirty. I stumble into a shower, and slather my skin with after-sun, before changing into a long white cotton dress and heading downstairs.
Summer and Kai are nowhere around, so I decide to take a walk down near the harbour and find a restaurant for dinner.
Seated at an outdoor table, at a café in a pretty square, I sip a glass of chilled wine and watch the boats at the harbour.
An early evening cruise is returning, and a man holds the hand of his partner, as he guides her down the steps of a boat.
The couple look elderly, and I can’t help wondering why some relationships can endure, whilst others don’t.
Perhaps being a friend first is the sensible thing to do, rather than hoping there will be something to sustain the relationship, once the initial passion wanes a little.
I have learned that much from any past relationships.
It must be lovely to meet that special person who you would be happy to grow old with though. Maybe one day that will happen for me, but for now I am content in my own company. And doing things I never thought I would do alone. Even though a certain Greek man has the ability to set my pulse racing.
I listen to some music, courtesy of a trio of musicians who have appeared in the restaurant, playing bouzoukis and singing in perfect harmony.
My meal of chicken cooked in an ouzo sauce is beautifully served with giant home-made chips and a salad.
I settle in, listening to the music and savouring the delicious food.
A ginger cat appears beneath my table, looking up at me with eyes full of hope.
‘Lucky, I have a little chicken left over,’ I tell it, and it miaows. ‘I’m not sure if you will like the ouzo flavour though.’
I wipe the piece of chicken with a napkin before tossing it onto the floor in front of the cat, who quickly gobbles it up.
‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘I have nothing left now. Unless you fancy a few lettuce leaves.’
The cat gives another miaow before moving on to the next table.
I pay my bill and decide to have a wander before I grab a taxi, when I hear someone call my name.
‘Erin, hello.’
It takes me a second to realise it is Phoebe, the young woman I met near the café the other day.