Page 36 of All You Need is Greece

‘Ooh, go on then, I’d love one. Maybe a decaf one, though. Then it’s bed for me. I can’t wait to see what happens next in my book.’

‘Sounds good. I’ve read all of the magazines I bought at the airport now, and a lot of Judith’s books are period dramas or crime thrillers, which are not really my thing. Maybe now is the time to try and take up reading again.’

‘You can borrow mine when I’ve finished, if you like. It isn’t fantasy. It’s a story about a woman who sets up a centre for lonely people.’

‘Sounds a bit depressing.’ I pour some milk and ice into the blender on the coffee machine.

‘Helping people sounds depressing?’ She frowns.

‘Of course not. I mean the thought of people being lonely.’

‘Oh, it is. We have to open our eyes sometimes and see what’s going on around us. The woman in the story sets up the centre after she realised how lonely her own grandmother was. Anyway, I won’t spoil it in case you do decide to give it a go.’

‘Okay. Maybe I will, thanks. And I think you’re right. Especially regarding old people.’

It makes me think of my friend Jess back home, who has mentioned how her gran really looks forward to her visits and of the old people in the shop who call in for a chat, some saying that we might be the only people they speak to all day. It would explain why they shop daily for their things, rather than filling their trolley for the week. And, of course, getting out for a little exercise.

I place a frappé down in front of Hannah, and once we’ve finished our drinks, we head upstairs, where Hannah immerses herself in her book and I listen to a podcast where a well-known couple chat about relationships.

The bloke is talking about how women sometimes find guys off-putting who are ‘too nice’, opting for the blokes who have a bit of an edge about them, which is crazy when you think about it. Surely we all want a secure, solid type of love, with mutual trust and not a sniff of uncertainty. I recall an old school friend once saying that she would never date a boy her parents approved of, as they would be too dull, favouring the bad guys on the motorbikes who were much more fun. Daft when you think about it. Surely the world needs more nice people in it?

I then find myself thinking about Hannah and her empathy for others. And sure, I contribute to the food bank, and we have a trolley at the supermarket for shoppers to drop something into, but maybe I could do a little more. I know, for example, one old woman in particular who visits the shop each day to chat to someone as she doesn’t have any family close by. Maybe I could look for local groups for the old people to meet up? Even have some details of local groups pinned on the display board near the entrance to the supermarket? I will give it some thought when I get home. We could probably all do that little bit more if we really think about it.

When Hannah switches her bedside lamp off, I decide to get some sleep too. I might need my rest if I am to go partying in Malia with Artemis. The very thought of it puts a smile on my face.

NINETEEN

It’s a warm Saturday. In fact, the September sunshine feels warmer than ever today, the only clue to the gentle shift in season being the occasional leaf falling from a tree and twirling to the ground.

I’m just returning with a few of the dogs from a walk, along with Hannah, Doll and Michael, who are each walking several dogs too.

Tania is in the front garden, raking a tiny pile of mustard-coloured leaves into a mound in the middle of the lawn and I slow down as the others wish her a good morning, before they continue on to the rescue.

‘Morning, Beth, how are things?’ She puts down her rake and walks over to the fence.

‘Good, thanks. How are you?’

‘Great, thanks. I thought I’d make a start on the garden, whilst the weather is so pleasant.’

‘Where are the dogs?’ I look around but there is no sign of them.

‘Oh, in the rear garden. They would have scattered all those leaves by now.’ She laughs, pointing to the small pile. ‘Nicos has gone into town today, then he’s taking his son swimming after school. Actually, do you have time for a cuppa?’ she offers.

‘Sure. I’ll get the dogs settled and be back in a minute.’

Inside, Lars and Doll are standing close together, and Lars seems to be whispering something in her ear. When I approach, they drift off in different directions.

I tell Judith I will be just across the road with Tania having a drink and she tells me to take as long as I like, as the morning chores have been done.

Tania invites me into her stylish, spacious kitchen that is simply furnished with white painted walls, wooden units and pots of fresh herbs at the windowsill. A beautiful sideboard dominates one wall, in a soft grey shade; a vibrant-blue glazed fruit bowl sits on the top.

‘I upcycled that,’ says Tania, when she notices me admiring it. ‘It was dark wood originally, and a little project for me. I think it looks pretty good now.’

‘I agree, in fact it looks amazing. You would probably pay a lot of money in a shop for that.’

‘Thank you, and you most certainly would, especially in the city shops. I recently sold something to a shop in Heraklion, actually.’

Then scent of fresh coffee fills the air as she fills a cafetière and places it down alongside two glass mugs. She then fetches a tin, and when she opens it, a hit of zesty lemon fills the air.

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