Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
‘Good morning.’
I ignore the flutter in my tummy as Takis approaches.
Sidestepping him, my shoe loses grip and suddenly I am airborne.
Flailing, I grab hold of him to stay upright and somehow end up stumbling into his arms. I look down at the spilled liquid on the floor that caused me to trip and heat rushes up my cheeks.
‘Good morning to you too.’ He smiles.
I straighten myself up and give a little cough, as Takis speaks to a nearby worker in Greek.
‘Are you okay?’ he asks as I take a seat on one of the sofas in reception.
‘Yes. Nothing more than my pride has been hurt.’ I smile. ‘Thanks for breaking my fall; I could have ended up flat on my backside.’
He tries to suppress a smile.
A cleaner appears and mops the liquid before placing down a yellow triangular sign, warning of a wet floor.
‘Probably kids running through here with their drinks or ice lollies,’ I say as I feel a slight twinge in my spine. ‘Anyway, I must get on.’
I stand and the pain shoots through my back.
‘Ouch, I must have tweaked something when I slipped.’ I rub at my lower back.
‘Are you sure you are okay?’ Takis asks, concerned. ‘Where does it hurt?’
He surprises me by placing his hands on my lower back and gently pressing. I almost jump three foot high when he hits a particular spot.
‘I don’t think you are going anywhere.’
Just then, he spots Zeta and calls her over. He quickly explains the situation.
‘Are you alright?’ asks Zeta. ‘I think I need to have a cleaner patrolling this area. Some of the kids are using reception as a shortcut to the rooms. With their wet feet.’ She shakes her head.
‘I’ll be okay. I’m sure I will be fine. I have just jarred my back a little.’
‘Then you must rest,’ insists Zeta. ‘There are plenty of staff to cover you.’
‘I might just do that. I’ll see how I am later though,’ I tell her.
‘I will help you to your room,’ says Takis and he loops his arm through mine.
‘I am on the first floor. No lift.’ I pull a face.
‘Hmm. A small flight of steps. I am sure we will manage,’ he assures me.
I imagine he will. He is so tall and broad-shouldered and… Oh my goodness, what am I like?
A couple of minutes later, we are standing at the foot of stairs to my accommodation.
I feel a twinge as I place one foot onto a step and grab hold of the rail.
‘This may be a bad idea.’ I wince.
Before I have a chance to say anything, Takis has gently scooped me up in his arms and climbed the stairs with me. I feel like a bride about to cross the threshold of the marital home for the first time.
‘Okay?’ he asks as he carefully sets me down and I grab my key from my pocket. I can barely look at him, as I think my face has turned beetroot.
‘Yes. Are you sure you haven’t put your back out now?’ I joke.
‘Hardly. You barely weigh a thing. Are you sure you are okay?’
He looks intently into my eyes and I wish I could jump back into his arms. If he didn’t have a girlfriend, that is.
‘I am. I’ll grab some paracetamol and rest for a while, not for long though as I don’t want to seize up. It is best to get moving as soon as possible.’
‘That’s right.’ Takis nods. ‘Gently.’
‘Do you have some medical knowledge?’ I ask, recalling how he felt my back in the reception area.
‘First aid. Required of a boat captain out on the open water.’
‘Of course, that makes sense.’
‘My brother was also training to be a physiotherapist – I learned quite a bit about back pain from him,’ he tells me. He doesn’t mention that his brother has died. Although he may have another brother.
‘Is there anything else I can get you?’ he asks, as I push my key into the door. I think of my clothes flung over my unmade bed, as I slept in slightly later than I would have liked this morning and dashed out.
‘No, thank you, really.’ I smile. ‘You have done more than enough.’
‘Maybe I will check on you in a couple of hours?’ he suggests.
‘I take it you have no boat trips today then?’
‘Actually, no. There was one, a party of four, but they cancelled,’ he tells me.
‘Right, well, maybe I will see you later,’ I tell him. I pause. ‘Before you go though, I was wondering why you did not tell me that you once considered buying the Lemon Tree Café?’
He does not answer immediately.
‘Because it happened during a bad time in my life,’ he says eventually. ‘I did not feel I could go ahead with it. Maybe one day, I will tell you.’
‘Only if you want to,’ I tell him gently. ‘I will always be ready to listen.’
‘Thank you,’ Takis says quietly.
‘Well, bye, Takis, and thanks again.’
‘No problem.’ He smiles.
I swallow down a couple of painkillers and take myself outside. I grip hold of the balcony and gently stretch out my back as I would do before a long swim. Maybe I will get in bed, just for an hour and try and rest.
In my dream a band are marching along the high street in Rhodes, banging drums. It seems to be coming nearer, when suddenly I hear someone call my name. Another knocking sound makes me realise that someone is banging on my door.
I sit up and twist around carefully, placing my feet on the floor, before standing up to answer the door. Thankfully, the pain in my lower back has subsided a lot.
‘Thank goodness,’ says Kai, who is standing on the doorstep carrying two takeaway frappes.
‘You had me worried there,’ he says. ‘I thought you might have been lying on the floor, unable to move.’
‘I haven’t lost my voice,’ I tell him. ‘Although, in fact, I was asleep. I heard you banging on the door, but I thought it was part of my dream.’
‘Sorry for waking you,’ he says as he plonks himself down onto my bed. ‘So are you okay?’
‘A lot better. I won’t be diving into the swimming pool anytime soon, but I will be fine.’
We head out onto the balcony to enjoy our frappes, and Kai fills me in on his shift at the pool.
‘There’s a woman who has the hots for me.’
‘Naturally.’ I roll my eyes. ‘Is it one of the aqua ladies?’
‘Yes. And no, not one of the seventy-year-olds before you ask.’
‘I thought you had taken a vow of celibacy,’ I remind him.
‘Well, I have. Mainly. It’s nice to know I have still got it though,’ he says with a cheeky smile.
‘Still got it? Of course you have; you are not even thirty yet.’
‘Ah, so you fancy me then?’ he says. ‘I knew it.’
‘You’re incorrigible.’ I laugh. ‘Let’s just say I can see your charms, but accept it, you are not really my type.’
He places his hand over his heart. ‘You have killed me.’
‘You will get over it. Anyway, I’m going to change and shower. Will you tell Zeta I will be down shortly?’
‘No rush. She said to take the rest of the day off.’
‘And you are only just telling me this?’
‘Sorry.’ He pulls a face.
‘Shall I hang about in case you slip in the shower? Or I could rub your back if you like?’ he offers.
‘I’ll pass, thanks.’ I cannot help but smile.
I see him to the door and embrace him. It feels nice to be in a hug, and Kai is a very good hugger. It’s something I miss since I have been single. I miss Mel’s hugs back home too. She is someone else who gives long, comforting squeezes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Takis heading this way. He stops in his tracks when he sees us in an embrace, then turns back towards the hotel.
After my shower, I sit and read for a while when Zeta sends me a message asking how I am and if I am still up for visiting the wholesalers with her tomorrow rather than today.
I tap out a reply telling her I am looking forward to it.
I also think of Mum and how she has also recently had a fall.
Best I don’t tell her about my tumble though.
I don’t want to worry her. It also highlights to me that living alone means I need some friends here I can call upon.
Although I am quickly learning that there is a lovely community feel here; I am thrilled to be slowly becoming a part of it.