Page 92 of The Greek Café

Wrapping my robe around me, I head to the balcony to the sight of the leaves on the trees sparkling like jewels in the morning sun.

I flick the kettle on hopefully, and to my relief the power has been restored. The food in the freezer downstairs will be ruined, but luckily there was not much in there. I will need to head out early and do some shopping as we ate most of the fridge contents last night, so I will open the café at lunchtime today, although I can’t imagine there will too many visitors this morning.

Last night I draped my wet clothes and Takis’s trousers over a dryer on my small, covered balcony. A smile comes to my face when I think of him in my pale-pink lounge pants. And I don’t know how many times I have replayed that kiss in my mind. So much for keeping my distance.

I call Rita at the hospital, and she tells me that John will be discharged later with some crutches.

‘Broken femur, but I suppose it could have been much worse. I don’t know how I can ever thank you,’ she says. ‘All of you.’

‘It is only what anyone would have done,’ I tell her. ‘And if you are able to get him here on Thursday, there will be a singer at the café at six o’clock.’

‘Really? That sounds wonderful. I should imagine John will be crawling the walls by then; he can’t usually stay still for long.’

‘I’m glad he’s okay. See you Thursday hopefully.’

‘Thank you, Erin.’

I quickly shower and I am about to head out when my phone rings.

‘How are you this morning?’ Takis asks.

‘I’m good, thanks. I can’t believe how gorgeous the weather is today.’

‘It is what happens here sometimes, especially after a heatwave,’ he tells me. ‘I was just wondering, are you free right now?’

‘I am going shopping to stock up on some food for the café – we ate a lot of it last night,’ I remind him.

‘Would you like some company?’

‘Are you still wearing the pink lounge pants?’

‘No. I keep some clothes at the hotel, in case I stay over, which I do from time to time.’

‘That’s a shame. I thought you looked rather fetching in them.’

‘I can always change again.’

‘Not if I have to go out with you in public.’

‘Ah, so you like me to dress in pink in private,’ he says, and I can’t help laughing.

Takis collects me from the hotel and we take the coast road to a large supermarket just outside the town. As we drive, he advises me to shop at a cash and carry, rather than a normal store.

‘I will do. I just wanted to get an idea of how much stock I need. I thought I would give things a week or two as I don’t want to be throwing anything away, buying in bulk,’ I explain.

‘Do you have time for coffee first?’ asks Takis as we approach the large supermarket. ‘Maybe breakfast? I am ravenous.’

I smile. ‘That would be nice.’

We park up and head to a café opposite a stretch of quiet beach.

Sitting at an outside café sipping coffee as we wait for our breakfast, I imagine we look like a couple. I take in his handsome face as he glances over the water at the calm sea and think about what he told me yesterday. Going to Kato Petres Beach must have been so difficult for him, but maybe also something he needed to do to move on.

We finish our delicious breakfast, omelette for Takis, Greek yoghurt, honey and a small pastry for me, before we head off.

Crossing the road, we take a walk along alongside the shingle beach, taking in the fresh, salty sea air as we walk. Presently, we come to a small jetty with two empty fishing boats bobbing in the water.

‘I wanted to thank you for yesterday,’ says Takis as he gazes across the water that is flanked by pine forests.