Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
The afternoon passes quickly. I man the adult pool, where I am tempted to tell a couple locked in an embrace to get a room.
We are in a hotel, after all. Thankfully, their public display of affection is interrupted by a soft ball hitting the guy in the face, with cries of ‘sorry’ from a teenage boy.
I almost thank him. I’m sure their over-amorous snogging was putting off some of the guests in the pool.
Afterwards, I cover for an uneventful hour at the poolside bar and soon enough my shift is over.
I take myself down to the beach and slip off my sandals to walk through the soft sand that has cooled from the hot sun earlier in the day. It feels so good beneath my feet, I sigh with pleasure.
The beach is almost empty now, as the last straggle of day-trippers are drifting off to prepare for their evening. I stand and watch the waves gently roll onto the sand beneath the slowly darkening sky. Time and tide wait for no man, and I cannot help but marvel at nature.
On the horizon I spot a boat, probably an evening cruise heading out from Mandraki harbour.
It will return later, having watched an orange sunset as it sails.
My day out with Takis pops into my head once more and I find myself wondering how his day went with his customers today.
Although I am not sure why I am remotely interested.
I breathe deeply, taking in the salty scent of the sea as I walk. I regret not wearing my swimming costume but will look forward to my early morning swim tomorrow.
I don’t notice the dog behind me. It almost knocks me off my feet, as it chases after a ball.
‘Sorry.’
A lady in hot pursuit shouts apologetically, and when she comes closer, I see that it is Ireta’s daughter.
‘Athena, hi, how are you?’
‘Hello, Erin. Yes, I am tired after a busy week. A Sunday walk with the dog always relaxes me.’ She smiles. ‘How has your day been?’
‘Good thanks. I went to see the progress on the café this afternoon and I bumped into your mother.’
‘She has been watching the renovation with interest,’ she tells me. ‘She is so pleased the café has been sold. And that it has been sold to you.’
‘That’s kind of her to say.’
‘I have a day off next week,’ says Athena. ‘I was wondering, do you fancy a day out somewhere?’
‘I would love that.’ I immediately think of hiring Takis for a day out on the water but decide against it. It would be nice to get to know Athena properly without the distraction of someone else. Especially someone who is saving for a future with his girlfriend.
‘Do you have anywhere in mind?’ I ask.
‘I thought maybe we could take a boat across to Symi,’ she suggests.
‘I went there with my ex.’ I smile ruefully. ‘It is very pretty.’
‘Sorry, if you would prefer to go somewhere else, that is fine.’
‘Not at all. Symi is gorgeous. And it isn’t as if I am pining over him.’ I smile. ‘I am well and truly over him now.’ I realise with a small shiver of delight, that it is actually true.
‘Great.’ We swap numbers and she says she will text me.
We stroll along the beach together, enjoying the gentle breeze until we go our separate ways.
Back at the hotel, I give Mel a call and she fills me in on her news back home.
‘So how is it all going there?’ she asks.
‘Really well. The staff here already feel like family now.’
‘That’s nice. But what about when the season comes to an end and they all disappear home?’ she says, reminding me that things here at the hotel are temporary.
‘Hopefully I will have made new friends locally by then.’ I tell her all about Athena and Phoebe. ‘And I do hope to keep in touch with Kai and Summer. We have grown pretty close.’
‘That’s nice. Gosh, I still can’t believe Rhodes will soon be your new home,’ she tells me. ‘I will most definitely be coming over to see you. Maybe late September though, with my fair skin.’ She laughs.
‘I would love that. And I have been looking through some home furnishings. A huge sofa bed for the lounge has caught my eye. Stylish and functional.’
‘Brilliant.’
We wrap up our call, and I decide to sit and read for a while.
I think over Mel’s comments about how things will change when the holiday season ends.
For a second, I wonder if I have made the right decision, but decide to focus on the positive side of things.
It simply has to work, and there is only me that can determine that.
Whatever it takes, I must make a success of my new venture.