Page 91 of The Greek Café

I tap out a text, and she tells me to come down and join them.

Takis and I enter the café to the sight of Phoebe and Nicos huddled around a candle. Phoebe’s face is tear stained, but when she sees us, she breaks into a smile.

‘This is Nicos,’ she says, introducing us, and he stands and shakes our hands.

‘I take it they are happy tears,’ I whisper to Phoebe as Takis speaks to Nicos.

‘Yes.’ Her face radiates happiness.

‘Right then. Time for some food,’ I announce. ‘Cold cuts, and some nice bread will have to suffice.’

Phoebe grins. ‘Sounds wonderful.’

As the storm abates, I check up on Ireta once more, who lets me know she is with her friend Georgios and that she is fine. She tells me Athena stayed in the town until the storm passed but will be home shortly.

‘I have plenty of food. Maybe you would like to join us,’ I offer to Ireta.

She thanks me and tells me she will be over shortly.

‘Georgios wanted to bring his ouzo,’ she tells me. ‘But do not worry, I told him no,’ she adds firmly. ‘I am too old to be getting the headache.’

‘Bring a flashlight too; the power might be down for hours,’ I tell her, praying that it won’t be.

FORTY-SIX

I prepare a supper of salamis, cheeses, and various dips that I lay on a table, along with some olive bread from the bakery. I glance at Phoebe and Nicos, who are holding hands and smiling at each other.

‘I congratulate you.’ Ireta briefly pats Phoebe’s hand. ‘I always thought you two would marry,’ she says as she scoops some bread into some hummus.

‘So did I,’ says Nicos. ‘But Phoebe had other ideas.’

‘I was not ready.’ She turns to Nicos. ‘I know I hurt you. I thought you would never speak to me again.’ I am just thinking about the woman he appeared with at the café on the launch day, when Phoebe explains that it was his cousin who was visiting.

‘When I saw Phoebe in the café, I just lost my nerve,’ he says, honestly.

‘I am glad you have talked things through.’ I smile. ‘People change. The timing may not have been right, but it doesn’t mean you stopped caring for each other.’

When Phoebe and Nicos head off, we talk some more until Ireta and Georgios leave too.

As I clear up in the café, I struggle to keep my eyes open for a minute longer, the events of the day clearly catching up with me.

‘How did you get here?’ I ask Takis, knowing his village is several miles away.

‘I walked,’ he explains. ‘I felt a little restless. In fact, I was going to ask if you wanted to join me for a drink at the hotel.’

‘That would have been nice.’

‘It would. The storm was not expected until tomorrow.’

‘So how are you going to get home? Surely you are not going to walk?’ I ask.

‘I was thinking of calling Zeta to see if there is a bed available at the hotel. She can drive me home in the morning.’

‘That’s a good idea. But your trousers are still soaking wet upstairs,’ I remind him.

‘I don’t mind wearing these.’ He grins. ‘It is dark, after all. Besides, it gives me a reason to come back for my trousers.’

I can hardly believe it when I wake the following morning to sunshine streaming through my bedroom window. It is as if the storm never took place.