Chapter 40
FORTY
The heat seems to have intensified despite it being past the height of summer and as we return to the café, to open up, a small crowd has already gathered outside, allaying any fears I may have had about nobody turning up.
I suppose I should not have feared really, as Ireta was sure to make sure everyone knew.
I take a deep breath, and open the door, wondering if Takis might be amongst the people outside, but he isn’t and I try not to feel a pang of disappointment.
I welcome everyone inside in Greek, just as Ireta taught me how to.
Two tables have been pushed together and are groaning under the weight of pies, dips and cakes. Another table has a selection of drinks.
Amongst the group are the teenage boys from the village, who look a little shy when I invite them to take a soft drink. I nod at Kostas, the one who plays the guitar.
Ireta speaks in Greek, telling everyone to enjoy the food, before giving a little speech. Everyone smiles and bursts into applause.
‘You didn’t promise them any of that ouzo, did you?’ I tease.
‘Of course not. I just told them to eat. And maybe not to ask for a coffee just yet,’ she says with a twinkle in her eye.
I mingle with the guests, including a handful of staff from the hotel.
I am pleased to learn that some of the villagers speak a little more English than I had imagined.
‘This is the best spanakopita I have tasted, Ireta,’ I tell her as I dig into a tasty slice.
‘I will make some to sell at the café,’ she offers once again.
‘Thank you. I don’t think I could make anything as good as this.’
I notice Phoebe glancing distractedly out of the window, before helping herself to some bread and Greek dips at the table.
‘Everything okay?’ I offer her a glass of Prosecco, which she gratefully accepts.
‘I saw Nicos outside. I think he was going to come inside, before he spotted me,’ she says, before glugging down her drink.
‘Maybe you should have gone out and invited him in?’
‘Perhaps I would have done,’ she tells me, looking a little sad. ‘If he had not had another woman with him.’
‘Someone from the village?’
‘I did not recognise her. Maybe she is someone he works with,’ she says with pain behind her eyes.
Once more, I think of how things can go wrong between two people, due to a misunderstanding or lack of communication.
‘I believe in what will be will be,’ I say to Phoebe. ‘But I don’t think you can keep avoiding each other. Try and talk to Nicos.’
‘I will. Maybe I have been afraid of making a fool of myself, but I know I must talk to him.’
‘Be brave.’ I touch her arm. ‘Sometimes we have to face our fears.’
‘Sorry I am late.’ Zeta breezes through the door, wearing a pale pink dress, and matching lipstick. All eyes are on her, especially those of the village men, whose wives give them steely glares.
‘Zeta, hi, gosh you look pretty in pink,’ I tell her.
‘Thank you. Here, this is for you.’ She hands me a gift bag.
Inside is an expensive-looking hand-painted vase.
‘In the colours you mentioned you would be decorating your room in.’
‘It’s perfect, Zeta. I will show you the finished room upstairs shortly.’ I offer her a glass of Prosecco. ‘Or maybe you would like some contraband ouzo?’ I point over to a few people crowded around the table Ireta is sitting at.
‘No, this is fine,’ she laughs.
‘What’s going on here then?’ I ask as Ireta stuffs something back into her handbag. Two old guys swig back a shot of something, one of them her friend who has made it.
‘Ireta, I told you about the home brew,’ I say, but it is hard to be cross with her as she has done so much to help me.
‘Do not worry. I only have a small bottle. I told you, just for good friends.’ She winks.
We eat and drink, and I speak to Kostas.
‘So do you know any other musicians?’ I ask him.
‘Nai, I mean yes.’ He nods. ‘I am hoping to improve my English.’
‘Would you like to sing here sometime? You know I mentioned a music evening. I was thinking maybe giving it a try this coming Thursday. I could stay open a little later.’
‘Yes,’ he says excitedly. ‘I have guitar and also a microphone.’
‘Great. Would you like to come along this evening around seven? Show me what you have got?’ I smile.
‘Yes. I would like that. Efcharisto, thank you,’ he says warmly.
‘Okay, and spread the word to any other budding musicians.’
I feel happy to give this young man an audience that may build his experience. I will make sure Ireta spreads the word too. Maybe, eventually, he could get gigs in the town bars when he gets more practice. It might even be the beginning of a musical career. I guess we all have to start somewhere.
I tell Phoebe I am nipping upstairs for a moment with Zeta, when the door opens and in walks Takis.
He scans the room and waves when he spots me.
‘Takis, you came.’ I smile broadly.
‘I was determined not to miss the big day.’ He returns my smile.
He kisses me on both cheeks, and I can feel the eyes of the villagers on us.
Mainly the women I notice, which is hardly surprising.
When he walked through that door in his chinos and crumpled white linen shirt, I half expected to hear a choir of angels.
It was as if everyone in the café had paused to look at him.
The sleeves on his shirt are rolled up halfway, showing off his strong forearms. He is a delight to behold.
‘My darling Takis.’
Zeta greets her nephew with a kiss, as Phoebe approaches and offers him a drink.
He accepts a glass of chilled Prosecco.
‘I was about to show Zeta upstairs,’ I tell him. ‘You are welcome to join us.’
‘Lead the way.’
‘You have very good taste,’ says Zeta as I show her and Takis around.
‘Thank you. And your gift will take pride of place here.’
I place the vase on my blonde wooden unit, its shades of stone and blue with a swirl of yellow matching the décor perfectly.
‘I agree,’ says Takis, leaning on a door frame and taking in the king-sized bed in my bedroom. ‘It looks really good.’
Watching him staring at my bed has my face flushing.
‘I will miss you working at the hotel,’ says Zeta kindly after I have shown her around.
‘I will miss it too. Unless I am so busy in the café, I won’t have a chance to think. I can but hope.’
‘Thank you for showing me your apartment, Erin; it looks wonderful – please don’t be a stranger at the hotel.’
‘Of course I won’t.’
We head downstairs and Zeta tells me she will head back to the hotel.
‘I don’t think some of the village women really want me here, judging by some of the looks I received.’
‘You noticed? I was wondering if you might have upset someone.’ I raise an eyebrow.
I had observed some of the women looking Zeta up and down, and whispering to each other behind their hands.
‘Just the usual jealousy,’ she tells me.
‘Maybe because half of the men in the village wanted to marry me when I was younger.’ She laughs.
‘But I had no desire to marry. They still feel threatened, although I can’t think why.
’ She smiles as she passes a mirror and pats her immaculately styled hair, before touching up her lipstick.
She takes the short drive back to the hotel, and I cannot help but smile when I head back inside the café.
‘Thank you for coming today, Takis, I appreciate it. Can I get you something to eat before it disappears?’
I am happy that the food is going down really well.
‘No, thank you. I will be on my way soon. I just wanted to congratulate you on your opening day.’
I walk Takis to the door
‘And I think it is high time I took you out to dinner,’ he says, his eyes locking with mine. ‘Just the two of us.’
‘I would like that.’ I hope he can’t hear the sound of my heart hammering in my chest.
‘I will be in touch,’ he says.
Back inside, Phoebe is piling empty paper plates into a bin liner.
‘You have done enough,’ I say, taking the bag from her. ‘Relax.’
‘It is no trouble,’ she insists. ‘Where is Zeta?’
‘She had to get to the hotel,’ I tell her.
‘She is probably checking on something; she has really high standards, doesn’t she?’ says Phoebe.
‘She does,’ I agree. ‘Although she is always fair.’
‘I realise that already. And that if you work hard you are fine.’
‘Exactly that. I was lucky enough to work with some wonderful people at the hotel,’ I tell her as I think of Summer and Kai. ‘I am still in contact with them. I hope I will be for a long time.’
‘Maybe you will.’ She smiles. ‘They say some people are destined to be in your life forever.’