Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
‘A heatwave. My goodness as if it isn’t warm enough,’ I say to the worker at the café.
I am glugging down an ice-cold water at a café on the beach, following the most glorious swim in the sea.
I relished the cooler temperature of the water, as even in the early evening, the temperature is still comfortably warm.
After pushing my body through the water, and enjoying a long swim, I feel refreshed and energised, despite the heat.
‘You’re not kidding,’ says a middle-aged lady who is waving a fan in front of her face. ‘I’m not sure I can take much more.’
‘I told you we should have gone to Devon,’ says her partner with a smile on his face.
‘I think I would rather have this than risk rain though. It’s just a bit too hot for hiking.’
‘So you like to hike?’ I ask with interest.
‘It’s a hobby we have taken up recently,’ she tells me. ‘I read that there are some beautiful forest paths in Rhodes, so we thought we would combine it with a holiday.’
‘Well, you have certainly picked a beautiful place to have a holiday,’ I say. ‘Have you walked along the coastal path alongside Kato Petres Beach? Not far from the Apollo Hotel.’
‘Yes, we know that area. It has been a while since we walked there though.’
The lady tells me that she and her partner have rented an apartment for a month.
‘Empty nesters now.’ She smiles. ‘So we are trying to have a few adventures.’
‘Good for you. I guess I am having an adventure too,’ I find myself saying.
‘You are?’
‘I am renovating a café. It’s in a lemon grove set back from the beach I mentioned. It will be open in a couple of weeks,’ I tell her. ‘It would be lovely to see you if you are out walking that way.’
‘Sounds good,’ says the bloke with interest. ‘Last time we did a walk off the beaten track, there was nowhere to stop for refreshments. The water in our bottles had turned warm,’ he recalls.
It makes me think about how much people will appreciate a nice cold drink if they have been on a walk, especially in the height of summer.
‘So how is it all going?’ he asks.
‘Really well. I am working at the Apollo Hotel for the time being, whilst the work is being done.’
‘Well, good luck with everything,’ says the lady as they stand to leave. ‘We will be sure to spread the word,’ she says kindly. ‘Oh, and my name is Rita, and this is John.’
‘Erin. Nice to meet you.’
I find myself thinking of snacks that I can sell at the café, along with some hot food and fillings for the paninis. I am lost in my thoughts, so don’t notice Takis until he appears at the café alone.
‘Kalispera,’ he says when he spots me. ‘May I?’ He gestures to the seat opposite.
‘Of course.’ I smile, once again feeling thrilled to see him, however much I try not to.
‘Would you like another drink?’
I accept his offer, and we are soon seated with ice-cold beers.
‘I can’t believe how warm it is,’ I tell him. ‘I almost feel like diving back into the water.’
‘And it is set to get warmer.’ He sips his drink. ‘So where is your friend this evening?’ He glances about.
‘Do you mean Kai?’
‘Yes. You seem to spend a lot of time together,’ he comments.
‘Have you been spying on me?’ I joke.
‘Of course not,’ he says a little tersely.
‘I’m kidding. Me and Kai spend a lot of our down time together after our shifts.’
‘So I noticed.’
I resist the urge to ask him what he means. Instead, I ask him about how his day has been, trying to ignore the crackling of electricity between us that I’m sure I’m not imagining.
‘Long,’ he says. ‘I have literally just finished, returning a couple from an evening cruise,’ he tells me as he takes a long gulp of his beer. ‘The guy proposed at Kalithea Springs. I had the champagne on ice ready on the boat.’
‘I take it she said yes then.’
‘She did.’ He smiles. ‘I suppose some people still believe in marriage.’
‘And you don’t?’
‘Not especially.’ He shrugs. ‘I have seen too many miserable marriages.’ He takes a sip of his beer.
‘That is rather a cynical view. I have witnessed a lot of happy marriages.’
I think of my parents and how happy they were until the day my dad died. And Mel and Mitch, childhood sweethearts who still adore each other.
Just then, Takis’s phone rings. He mutes the call and a few seconds later he taps out a message.
‘Nothing important?’ I ask.
‘Nothing that cannot wait. I see the café is almost finished. It’s looking good.’
‘Thanks. I still can’t believe that in a few short weeks it will be my home. My furniture is arriving just before the opening, then I will collect the things from the hotel for the café.’
‘I can give you a hand with that if you like?’ he offers.
‘Thanks. Your aunt has been very helpful with everything, from my business tax number to purchasing equipment. I can’t thank her enough, but for now, do you know a good florist?’
‘I do.’ He nods. ‘And maybe we could also take Zeta out for a meal together.’
‘Us?’
‘Sure. It would be my pleasure.’ His dark-brown eyes bore into my mine. ‘Unless you do not think it is a good idea?’
‘No, that sounds lovely,’ I find myself saying.
‘Perfect. I think I know just the place.’
Just then my phone pings.
‘Details of the florist,’ he says as he drains his beer before leaving.
It takes me a few minutes to compose myself after Takis leaves. So he wants to join me when I take Zeta to dinner? A part of me thinks it is simply because he knows of a good restaurant, although he could have simply recommended it as he did with the florist.
Sitting and watching the waves roll onto the sand and shingle beach as the sunset falls, I try to push all thought of Takis from my mind.
I came here to work before I stumbled on the little café and decided to try and bring it back to life.
The last thing I need is a bunch of conflicting emotions around a charming Greek man who already has a girlfriend.
I think it’s time to throw myself wholeheartedly into making a success of the café.