Chapter 10
Taverna Manoli’s was exactly what Poppy had hoped for.
There was a large bar area with half a dozen stools, a couple of which were occupied, then on the other side of the room were several small tables, all dressed in red-and-white check cloth.
Warm, intimate lighting added to the cosy atmosphere, banishing the darkness outside, while the low murmur of conversation and clink of cutlery was a backdrop to the Greek music playing.
After the shuttered shops and empty streets, the small restaurant felt almost lively, despite there being only a handful of diners.
‘This is nice,’ Keira commented as the waiter showed them to a table and brought over menus.
It was, and Poppy was glad she had found out about the restaurant earlier. With much of the resort closed down for the winter, they could easily have missed this place if she hadn’t been told it was open.
They ordered a carafe of local white wine and then spent several minutes studying the menu, before settling on a meze of shared starters that they could both pick at.
Tzatziki and taramasalata dips, vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, marinated anchovies, calamari, a platter of Greek olives, a traditional Greek salad with huge slices of tomatoes and feta cheese, and a platter of pitta bread.
‘I think we might have over-ordered,’ Poppy said, when the food arrived and they moved things around so the waiter could try to fit all of the dishes on the small table.
‘Who cares? It all looks and smells so good.’
It did, and as they drank wine and nibbled on the food, Poppy realised she was the most relaxed she had been in ages.
As it always did between the two of them, the conversation flowed easily between subjects, never breaking for pause, as they chatted about everything, and Keira – who had a seat facing the door – gave an amusing running commentary on every new diner who entered the taverna.
‘Fellow Brits incoming,’ she said now, as Poppy turned her head. ‘Looks like we’re not the only holidaymakers.’
Poppy heard them before she saw them.
‘Evening, Nikos! You been rushed off your feet?’ The accent was unmistakably Essex – sharp and cheerful, and carrying across the taverna whether anyone wanted it to or not.
Poppy watched as the waiter – Nikos – rushed over to greet the couple, ushering them inside.
They looked to be in their late fifties.
The woman wore cropped white jeans and had a soft pastel knitted cardigan draped over her shoulders, the sleeves knotted loosely at her chest. Chunky gold jewellery on her wrists and fingers caught the light as she moved her hands animatedly and talked with her voice raised, so everyone in the room could hear.
The man beside her was quieter, though carried himself with a relaxed confidence. His thinning hair was neatly combed, and his pale polo shirt was tucked into tailored navy shorts.
‘Please don’t bring them over this way,’ Keira muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Poppy to hear. It was followed by a groan as Nikos led them to the very next table.
‘Are you ladies new?’ the woman asked, as he pulled out the chair for her. ‘I haven’t seen you around here before.’
Poppy realised the woman was addressing her and Keira.
‘Um, yes, we arrived yesterday,’ she explained.
‘Oh, they’re two of ours, Ian. Lovely. I did wonder if you were English. Your ginger hair gives you away. And you’re very pale, of course.’
Poppy prickled a little but managed to keep a smile on her face. Not that there was anything wrong with being a redhead, but she was auburn. Far too dark to be considered ginger. She was afflicted with pale skin, though, so was grateful it wasn’t too hot in Crete. She didn’t want to burn.
‘I’m Sue. And this is Ian,’ the woman continued. ‘Sue and Ian Pritchard. We live just up the road.’
‘So, you’re expats then,’ Keira chipped in, smiling sweetly. ‘I did wonder if you were,’ she added, mimicking Sue. ‘It’s always easy to spot Brits abroad.’
Sue didn’t seem offended by the comment and Poppy wondered if Keira’s sarcastic jibe had gone over her head. On first impressions, she seemed to be the type of person who liked to talk rather than listen.
Up close, Poppy could see that the woman’s tan had the polished look of effort rather than just spending time outside in the sun, and her glossy blonde bob appeared to move with her head, suggesting it had been blow-dried then heavily lacquered into place.
‘I’m Poppy and this is Keira,’ she introduced, not wanting to come across as rude. She didn’t bother giving their surnames as Sue had.
Ian gave a friendly nod, before speaking for the first time. ‘You’ve picked a quiet month to come here.’
‘We prefer it like this,’ Sue added. ‘August was chaos. Couldn’t move for tourists. We always say October onwards is when you actually get Crete.’ She smiled expectantly, waiting for agreement.
‘Have you lived over here long?’ Keira asked.
‘We moved here three years ago,’ Ian told her. ‘But we have holidayed here for years.’
They had yet to pick up the menus Nikos had left them with, but when he returned, they ordered without looking.
‘A carafe of the house white please, Nikos. And we’ll have our usual saganaki starter to share, then I’ll have the lamb kleftiko.’
‘And the sea bass for me,’ Sue said, picking up the menus and handing them back.
Poppy had thought that after they ordered they might all continue with their own conversations, but it wasn’t to be the case.
‘Have you tried the saganaki?’ Sue wanted to know. ‘You’ve got to have it here,’ she urged when Poppy and Keira shook their heads. ‘It’s basically fried Greek cheese. Sounds unhealthy, but it’s gorgeous. You have to try it. They do it properly here.’
‘Sounds fab,’ Keira said, ‘But I’m stuffed. In fact, we’ll probably head back in a bit.’
She shot Poppy a look that told her she was ready to leave whenever Poppy was.
They still had quite a bit of food left on the table, though, and just under half the carafe of wine. They could tolerate the company for a little longer. Besides, Sue and Ian were only being friendly.
She listened politely as the couple went through the story about how they had decided to make the move abroad after Ian took early retirement. They were childless – through choice, Sue was keen to point out – and they both loved the sun, so it made perfect sense.
Sue did the lion’s share of the talking, with Ian chipping in, sometimes finishing her sentences.
‘I’m just going to nip to the loo,’ Poppy excused herself, as soon as there was a dip in the conversation.
They were nice people, but they were a little overbearing.
She took her time, touching up her make-up, knowing she was being a bad friend leaving Keira to deal with Sue and Ian alone. Guilt crept in. She should go back.
As she stepped through the door into the restaurant, a man at the bar glanced in her direction. Their gaze locked, his lips curving into a smile that quickly widened into a grin as he recognised her.
Poppy’s breath hitched. It was him, the guy she had bumped into at the mini-market.
She honestly hadn’t expected to see him again after his lukewarm response.
‘Hi.’
‘Hey, you,’ he greeted back.
‘You decided to check this place out then?’
‘I decided I deserved a beer,’ he told her, as a paper coaster was placed before him and a pint of Mythos placed on top. ‘Can I get you a drink?’
‘I’m actually here with a friend,’ Poppy said, pointing to where Keira was watching, eyes on stalks. ‘You’re very welcome to come over and join us.’
He looked hesitant. And if she wasn’t mistaken, a little disappointed. ‘I don’t want to gatecrash.’
‘You won’t be,’ she said, perhaps a little too quickly, offering her hand. ‘I’m Poppy, by the way.’
‘Jeremiah. Though most people call me Jem.’
His fingers gripped hers, warm and firm.
‘Hello,’ came a voice from behind them, and they both turned to see Keira. She was looking amused, her eyes darting curiously between the two of them. ‘Who’s your friend, Poppy?’ she asked.
‘This is Jem,’ Poppy introduced. ‘Jem, this is my best friend, Keira.’
‘Nice to meet you,’ he said, releasing Poppy’s hand to shake Keira’s.
‘So, how do you two know each other?’ Keira asked.
‘Actually, we don’t,’ Poppy started to explain.
‘Well, we met briefly earlier,’ Jem elaborated. ‘I almost knocked her over as she came out of the shop.’
‘You kept that quiet,’ Keira said with a sly grin. She gave Poppy a not-so-subtle nudge that had Poppy blushing.
‘I invited Jem to come and sit with us… if you’re okay with that,’ she quickly added.
Keira glanced back at Sue and Ian, who were both looking in their direction.
‘Absolutely. I need a break from Barbie’s life story.’
‘Who?’ Jem asked, confused, as he picked up his pint.
‘You’ll see,’ Keira told him, leading the way back to the table.
‘Jeremiah,’ Sue piped up, before they had even sat down. ‘I said to Ian I thought it was you.’
She knew him?
Poppy exchanged a brief glance with Keira.
‘Hi, Sue, Ian.’
‘We’ve been trying to get him to come out to dinner with us ever since he arrived,’ Sue said to Poppy and Keira.
‘Wait, you all know each other?’ Jem asked, looking at the group, a little confused.
‘We only met tonight,’ Sue confirmed. ‘We’ve been getting to know Poppy and Keira over dinner, haven’t we, Ian?’
‘Yes. It’s been fun.’
There was no shaking the older couple now they had established that Jem knew everyone and Sue continued to dominate the conversation, explaining how she and Ian lived next door to the villa Jem had inherited.
‘Have you had any more thoughts, love, about what you’re going to do with the place?’ she asked him. ‘It would be nice if you decide to keep it.’
‘I still haven’t decided.’ He shrugged, seeming at ease in Sue and Ian’s company. ‘I need a little time.’
‘Jeremiah’s dad was a friend of ours,’ Sue explained to Poppy and Keira.
Was? That suggested he was no longer around and probably the owner of the villa. As Jem didn’t comment, seeming eager to change the subject, Poppy didn’t offer her condolences, just in case she was wrong.
‘So, are you out here for long, Jem?’ Keira asked, taking advantage of the moment of silence before Sue could cut in again.
‘Probably for another week or two.’
‘He’s a freelance photographer, you know,’ Sue chipped in, sounding proud. ‘I keep telling him he could get some work taking photos of villas if he decides to move out here permanently.’
Keira ignored her, focusing on Jem. ‘I have to fly home on Saturday, but Poppy’s here for longer. I’m sure she would appreciate some company.’
‘Keira!’ Poppy almost choked on her wine, her face heating in embarrassment. If Keira was going for subtle, she didn’t quite achieve it. ‘Jem’s busy with his own stuff. I’ll be fine.’
Talk about putting him in an awkward position.
He didn’t seem put out, though. Instead, he looked amused at Keira’s cheekiness. ‘I can free up some time to hang out a bit,’ he said. ‘It will be fun.’ He glanced between them, lingering a fraction longer on Poppy. ‘You’re not staying in one of the hotels, are you?’
She shook her head. ‘No, we have a villa. The only hotels we’ve seen are closed.’
Jem nodded. ‘As I said before. It’s a ghost town.’
‘And we’re here too, don’t forget,’ Sue chimed in. ‘You can come to dinner with us, Poppy, or call in to see us any time.’
She was being kind. Still, Poppy wanted to kick Keira under the table.
There was no time alone with Jem, as Ian asked for the bill the same time Keira did and the five of them left Manoli’s together. As they were heading in different directions, Jem suggested he and Poppy swap numbers before they left.
‘Ooh, that’s a good idea,’ Sue agreed, pulling her own phone out of her bag.
‘Twenty euros that woman messages you before we get home,’ Keira teased, after they had said goodnight and she and Poppy were heading back to the villa.
‘You’re not funny,’ Poppy huffed, mock annoyed. ‘She’s going to be a thorn in my side, isn’t she?’
‘Without a shadow of a doubt,’ Keira agreed, before nudging her arm. ‘But look on the bright side. At least the hot guy wanted your number.’
True. Jem seemed nice. And he was definitely hot. It had given her ego a much-needed boost that he had shown up tonight. She hadn’t thought he would, and he had seemed keen to see her again.
Briefly, she thought of Tom, and immediately she felt guilty.
She was here in Crete because of him, and it didn’t seem right, fawning over another man after he had been so good to her.
Tom wasn’t her boyfriend, though. And although Poppy hoped things might develop between them further down the line, for now he was just a friend.
It wasn’t as if she was cheating on him by flirting a little with Jem. And although Keira’s intervention hadn’t been appreciated at the time, Poppy was glad she would have some company after her friend had gone home.
Still, she made a mental note to message Tom when she got back. Just to check in and see how he was. He had been on her mind a lot and she was anxious for news on James too.
On a positive note, one person she had barely thought about since arriving in Crete was Simon Daley, but if she spent too much time alone, she worried she might start overthinking things again. Yes, Jem’s company wouldn’t be a bad thing.
The main road was still lit by streetlamps, but once they turned onto the dirt track leading up to the villa, the darkness closed in. Poppy switched on her phone torch. The incline was steeper now and the gravel crunching beneath their feet seemed too loud in the silence.
Keira slowed. ‘Wait…’
‘What?’
She turned, listening. For a moment, there was nothing, then came the sound of movement. It stopped as soon as they did.
‘Probably just one of my kitty friends,’ Keira said, but she didn’t sound convinced.
They walked again, but Poppy found herself glancing back once more.
She was relieved when they reached the villa gate and stepped inside. Staring back at the darkness, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they had interrupted something.
She told herself she was imagining it.
Still, she closed the gate a little more firmly than necessary.