Page 11 of The Greek Café

‘Seven o’clock for me. I was wondering if you fancied going for a walk down into town afterwards?’

‘That sounds lovely. We could find somewhere nice to eat if you like,’ I suggest.

I had planned a swim, but I think it’s important to form friendships here.

‘That’s what I was thinking.’ She smiles. ‘I mean, the food here is nice enough, but it’s good to have a change from time to time.’

We agree to meet in reception at eight, and I feel a spark of excitement about all the new possibilities ahead this summer – new restaurants, new friends, and a whole new chapter of no longer playing it so safe.

NINE

I meet Summer in reception, both of us dressed in pretty cotton dresses. Mine is white and hits just above the knee; Summer’s is a long emerald green off-the-shoulder number.

‘You look nice,’ we both say at the same time and burst out laughing.

The tall Greek guy I spotted this afternoon in reception smiles at us and wishes us a kalispera, and I feel dizzy as I smile back and nod.

‘Who is THAT?’ says Summer as her gaze follows him.

‘I overheard Zeta call him Takis,’ I tell her, as I also watch him walk away.

Outside, the evening is balmy, and we take the stroll downhill towards the town, enjoying the sound of the crickets in the trees as we go. The sun has not quite set, and the sky is currently a mixture of mauve and orange.

‘I am not sure I fancy the walk back up later.’ Summer pulls a face.

‘I wouldn’t normally mind, but maybe not after a couple of cocktails,’ I agree.

‘Exactly.’ She smiles. ‘And I don’t start work until noon tomorrow, so I am quite up for a night out.’

As we approach the harbour, the twinkling lights and the gentle buzz puts me straight in the holiday mood. The smell of food as we pass an outdoor kitchen fills my nostrils; lamb steaks sizzling on a BBQ, smoke spiralling in the air has my stomach give a little rumble.

We take a seat at a bar near the harbour, and a waiter quickly appears.

‘Fancy a pre-dinner cocktail?’ I ask as I pick up a laminated drinks menu.

‘Ooh why not.’ She grins. She has the widest of smiles and, in a certain light, has the look of a young Julia Roberts.

Over our cocktails, a mojito for me and a piña colada for Summer, we get to know each other a little more.

‘What did you do before coming here?’ I ask.

Gosh, this cocktail is delicious and slipping down far too easily. I had better take it slow. My shift starts at ten tomorrow.

‘I have always worked with children,’ she tells me as we chat. ‘Dressing up as princesses for kids’ parties, that kind of thing. I was an elf in Lapland last Christmas. They had a final dance show that I got to choreograph,’ she tells me proudly.

‘That sounds exciting.’

‘Yes.’ She nods. ‘It was a lot of fun. Seeing the faces of the excited children as they arrived in snowy Lapland to meet Santa almost made up for the sub-zero temperature.’ She laughs.

‘You obviously love what you do.’ Like me, I guess, she has found a passion for something.

‘Oh, I do. I went to musical theatre school, with a dream of maybe getting to the West End. Along with thousands of other young performers.’ She shrugs. ‘I can’t believe that was almost ten years ago. Thankfully, there is lots of work out there, although I don’t suppose I can be a Disney princess forever.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. Bit of Botox in a few years.’ I wink, and she laughs.

‘Dancing is actually my main strength,’ she reveals. ‘My singing and acting aren’t bad, but I am not a triple threat, as they call it in the industry,’ she explains. ‘I was lucky to get into theatre school though, and I learned an awful lot.’

‘Great. Maybe you can give me a few tips before the Abba night.’