Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
My morning swim invigorates me as the cool water awakens all my senses.
It’s a far cry from the occasional river swim I did back home, the crystal-clear water here contrasting with the indeterminate sludge colour of the river.
Not to mention the worry of what might be lurking beneath the water.
I recall a day I screamed in terror, when I mistook some plant life wrapping itself around my leg for some kind of river monster.
There were no more wild swims after that.
I flip onto my back and float in the water, admiring the backdrop of pine forests and pastel-coloured villas high in the hills.
I daydream of spending my days at the café, serving drinks and chatting to customers asking them about their walking routes.
In the summer months, I can take a swim at the end of the day, the evenings balmy and long, the beaches still filled with people soaking up the last of the day’s sunshine before heading home.
Maybe now and then I will treat myself to dinner at the hotel in the evening.
I try not to think too much about the winter months. I have always loved the varying seasons, happily embraced nature and enjoying the changing landscape, which will be more noticeable in a forest setting. Even in the winter months, I am sure it will be a little warmer than back home.
Takis is nowhere to be seen this morning, and when I head into reception, there is no sign of him there either. Perhaps he has a day off. I guess everyone needs a day of rest.
I enjoy my day but find myself mulling over my chat with Takis. He seemed tense when I mentioned taking a trip to Kato Petres. Maybe I will take a long walk there one day. It isn’t too far from the hotel and the long beach looks stunning.
‘Good morning, Erin. Did you have a good day yesterday?’ asks Zeta as she walks past.
‘I did, thanks. Your nephew provided a first-class service, and the picnic was delicious, thank you.’
‘I am glad you had fun.’ She smiles. ‘Takis is enjoying a last minute day off today. Hopefully he is meeting with his long-suffering girlfriend. She complains that he is so busy she never gets to see him these days.’ She laughs.
‘That’s nice,’ I say, despite a feeling of disappointment that I don’t want to acknowledge. ‘And at least business is good for him.’
‘This is what I tell him,’ agrees Zeta. ‘If he wants to settle down, he must save the money. Anyway, see you later.’
So, he is saving money to settle down. Of course he is; why wouldn’t he be?
It’s no surprise that a good-looking guy like Takis would be saving for a future life with his partner.
Maybe even a wedding. He never mentioned a girlfriend on the boat yesterday, but then I suppose there was no need to talk of his personal life to a customer.
Even so, the news that Takis has a girlfriend has made me feel a little flat.
‘Hi, Erin.’
A large blue dog with floppy ears is walking towards me and waving.
‘Hellooo, who goes there?’
‘It’s me. Summer,’ the dog tells me. ‘I can’t remove the head; there’s a couple of kids over there.’
‘Oh gosh, Summer!’ I burst out laughing. ‘You must be hot in that get-up.’
‘Sweltering. Thankfully I can get out of it soon, after I have handed out the last of these leaflets to the parents.’
‘Let’s have a look then,’ I say, taking one of the leaflets from her.
They are advertising a children’s treasure hunt in the rear garden of the hotel tomorrow. There are digging areas and buried bags of sweets. The finder of the golden bone gets a free family pass to Aqualand in Rhodes.
‘I swear it’s revenge for handing my notice in,’ says Summer.
‘So, you’ve told her then?’
‘Yup. She wasn’t that bad really; I would say mildly irritated more than anything. I think she was relieved that I gave her a month’s notice though.’
‘As long as I don’t have to cover the kids’ disco when you’re gone,’ I say, a sudden panic gripping me.
‘Doubtful. We are fully staffed now, including staff at the kids’ club. She needs you poolside.’
‘Thank goodness. Right, I will chat with you later. It feels weird talking to a giant blue dog.’
She is about to head off, when a parent asks if she can take a photo with their excited toddler. Blue dog gives a thumbs up and I walk away giggling to myself.
Kai is scheduled to take the water aerobics session this morning whilst I man the children’s pool. At the breakfast table, he asks me if I would mind swapping.
‘I think I’ve put my back out,’ he tells me as he munches on some toast. ‘I think I overdid things last night.’
‘Too much information,’ I say, holding my hand up.
‘Get your mind out of the gutter. I think I hit the gym a bit too hard. I may have upped my weights a little too much.’
‘I see. You should try a gentle sea swim later; the salt might help ease your muscles.’
‘I might just do that – cheers for the swap.’ He walks away slowly and without the usual bounce in his step.
The things we do to look good. There is no doubt it is working though.
Not that I would ever tell him that. Takis looks really good too, I think to myself, feeling slightly disappointed that he isn’t free.
Perhaps it would be foolish to get involved with the boss’s nephew anyway. Best not to mix business with pleasure.