Page 14 of All You Need is Greece

Lars gives us a driving tour on a different route on the way back, passing tiny churches, and a small maritime museum, as well as several shops, bars and restaurants. There’s a sign for Malia as we approach the highway, and I wonder whether I might actually get the chance to visit whilst I’m here. I’m not sure if it’s Hannah’s thing, though, as she seems keener on her suggestion to visit the quiet beach we passed earlier. As we drive, she buries her nose in her new book, saying some of the Greek words out loud.

‘I’m sure I’m not pronouncing these words properly. It’s pretty difficult,’ she says, closing her book with a sigh.

‘I’m sure Panos will help you,’ I remind her.

‘I’m sure he will.’ She smiles at the mention of his name. ‘And I will help him with his English. We can’t have him saying “lovely jubbly” all the time, can we?’ She laughs.

‘Oh, I know. If he keeps watching those old TV programmes, I dread to think what he might come out with. I worry he might say something to upset someone, especially nowadays.’

We go quiet as we admire the views again, before Hannah surprises me and starts chatting to Lars instead of reading.

‘So, when are you getting married then?’ Hannah asks him as we start driving up into the hills again.

‘It was supposed to be next summer. But recently we decided, why wait? Especially at our age.’ He grins. ‘So the wedding is going to take place in a few weeks, before the weather becomes a little unpredictable. Tania and Nicos have offered to have the wedding at their place, as they have a large garden. Everyone in the village is invited.’

I juggle the dates to figure out whether I will be gone before the wedding but it seems it will take place two days before I am due to leave. Despite my mixed feelings over weddings at the moment, already I can’t think of a nicer couple to celebrate a wedding with. Maybe if I can’t face it, I will offer to stay with the animals. That is, if Judith wouldn’t consider it rude of me.

‘I’m so happy for you and Judith. And what a beautiful place. I can’t imagine a better venue to hold a wedding reception than at her niece’s house, especially with the beautiful forest backdrop. I imagine the photographs will look incredible.’

‘I’m sure you are right. And I feel very lucky to have found Judith. I never thought love would happen for me again,’ he tells us honestly. ‘But it seems it can creep up on you when you least expect it. Even for an old guy like me.’

‘I think love can happen at any age, if you are open to it. Although I don’t think of you as an old man,’ I tell him truthfully, as his penchant for early morning hikes and long swims would give a man half his age a run for their money.

I think of my mum then, and how she is always in love and rarely without a man. Then again, some of her relationships could not exactly be described as loving; she just hates being alone. I’m not sure she has ever been really happy in a relationship, and despite everything, I really hope there will come a time when she is. Perhaps she cannot be truly happy until she learns to love herself.

As we continue travelling back, with the car windows open and the sun beaming down from the sky, I’m so thankful to be here. And I realise I haven’t thought about Marco today. Not until talk of weddings came up, at least. It seems I can’t help thinking of what might have been.

NINE

As we pull in back at the farmhouse, Judith is in one of the garden areas talking to an older lady, with black hair piled up on her head, and wearing a blue patterned top and a pair of white trousers. They were laughing at something when we arrived, but as we join them Judith quickly introduces us to her friend Yolanda. She is a striking-looking woman with a familiar look about her that I can’t quite place.

‘Kalispera, it is nice to meet you, but now I go.’ She speaks quickly in a strong Greek accent. She finishes her drink and picks up a bike helmet. ‘I need some honey, so I am driving to the honey farm. I need to get back out on my bike again.’

‘Well, it isn’t far, I suppose, but do be careful,’ says Judith.

‘Nai, nai.’ She waves her hand.

Judith walks her to the gate and Yolanda loops her straw basket over her moped and climbs on and a few minutes later, the sound of a moped can be heard driving off.

‘Gosh, will she be alright on that?’ I ask Judith as we head inside with the shopping. ‘Those hills are pretty steep.’

‘I’m sure she will be fine,’ she assures me. ‘Her house is the green one at the top of the hill, and it’s a bit much walking up and down, especially following her fall. Lars offers to drive her around, but she is fiercely independent. I did worry when she first started driving her moped, but try telling her that,’ she says, raising an eyebrow. ‘Thankfully she didn’t break any bones when she fell, and she is determined to grab life with both hands. She often says to me, “The day I stop going out and about is the day I lie down in my grave.”’

‘She sounds a bit like my gran,’ I tell Judith. ‘She still walks around the less salubrious parts of town with her walking stick, which she doesn’t actually need, but says it’s for protection.’ I can’t help smiling.

Judith laughs, then tells us all about the accident her friend had a few months ago and how she bounced back so quickly. ‘That’s when she decided to get the moped, so she could get about, including coming here to visit. Really, she is as fit as a fiddle. I draw the line at riding pillion, though. Usually she just heads down here, and Lars take us out in the car. We enjoy a little clothes shopping and lunch now and then.’

‘That sounds nice,’ I say, thinking of how I enjoy doing that back home with friends.

After the second animal feed of the day and a chat with Eric the donkey, who is happy to hang out with us for a bit today, we do some general cleaning. Once I’ve finished up, I head inside to take a shower and change into a flowery dress. I tie my long hair back and offer my help in the kitchen, but it seems Lars has everything under control this evening, with the tantalising smell of a casserole on the go. Just then, Hannah, who has been outside sitting beneath a tree with her laptop exchanging an email with Panos, walks into the kitchen.

‘Beth, there is someone here to see you,’ she says, gesturing towards the gate. As I walk closer, I spot the sleek outline of Artemis’s silver BMW. He is leaning on the roof so confidently.

‘So, have you made your mind up then? Would you like to go out with me?’ He smiles that million-dollar smile that surely any girl would find hard to resist.

‘You don’t give up easily, do you?’ I casually reply, although I think my mind is already made up.

‘Did anyone ever achieve anything by giving up easily?’

---