Page 48 of All You Need is Greece

‘He was very charming,’ she says as she unpacks the last of her shopping.

‘Did this person have a name?’ I ask.

‘Oh goodness, sorry. I thought I had already said it. His name was Marco.’

‘Marco called here?’ I’m almost too stunned to speak.

‘Well, he did say he had tried your mobile several times. I think he just wanted to make sure you were okay. I told him you were fine, and out walking the dogs.’ She closes a kitchen cupboard. ‘Although I didn’t know initially if I should tell him whether or not you were here. You can’t be too careful these days.’

‘Of course, I understand that.’

I wonder what on earth can be so important that he had to phone the rescue? And how did he know I was here?

Judith sits down to have a cup of iced tea with me and I find myself telling her all about Marco.

‘And did it work? Coming here to try and forget about him,’ she asks as she sips her tea.

‘Not really. Well, a little bit, especially the first couple of weeks,’ I admit.

‘In the company of a certain gentleman?’ She smiles knowingly.

‘Yes, and being with the animals really helped too, I adore them. Although it did feel good being in the company of the delightful Artemis, even though there wasn’t really a spark between us,’ I tell her truthfully. ‘I admired his looks, who wouldn’t? Even, dare I say, imagined what it would be like to kiss him.’ I leave out the bit about being at the beach, and briefly picturing him running his hands all over me, giving me a deep massage. ‘And when we did kiss… Nothing. It seems we were meant to be just friends. Maybe we were just helping each other get over our relationship breakdowns,’ I tell her truthfully.

‘Well, no one could blame you for going out with Artemis. If I was twenty years younger.’ She winks. ‘Oh, actually, no, make that forty,’ she says and we both roar with laughter.

‘Oh, Judith, it’s so good to talk to you.’

‘And you too. In the meantime, are you going to call Marco?’

‘Yes, I will,’ I tell her, realising the thought of hearing his voice has given me a fuzzy feeling inside. I should at least find out what he has to say.

But when I ring his number it just goes to voicemail and I don’t leave a message.

TWENTY-FIVE

‘Are you sure the music is sorted? Ooh, I don’t why, but I feel as nervous as if I were dancing for our first world championship,’ says Doll. ‘I wish I still smoked.’

‘No, you don’t,’ says Michael. ‘It’s bad for your health, and I want you to live to be a hundred years old.’

‘Says the man who regularly puffs on a cigar after dinner,’ she points out, but she laughs.

‘Only occasionally, my love. Anyway, what are you nervous about?’ Michael places his arms around his wife and kisses her on the cheek. ‘You look wonderful and your dancing is as good as it has ever been.’

‘I know it’s silly, isn’t it? I’ve been watched by world-class judges, yet I’m worried about dancing in front of some diners in a Greek village square.’

Doll looks sensational in a shimmering pink sequinned gown that she picked up in the town, and Michael handsome in a dark-grey suit, complete with waistcoat and a pale pink shirt beneath. Tonight, we are all heading into the next village for the fundraiser to watch them perform outside the restaurants in the square.

‘Well, I for one can’t wait. Good food and a marvellous dance show, what a combination,’ says Judith.

With the animals settled after their evening feed, we get ready too, and Hannah and I accept a lift from Lars and Judith, whilst Doll and Michael travel in the car that they have hired for the duration of their time here. I thought it might be fun if Tania and Nicos joined us this evening, but when I mentioned it to Tania she told me they already had plans that evening.

‘Your carriage awaits.’ Michael opens the door of the car for Doll and she carefully folds her dress as she steps inside and thanks him.

We chat as we drive, glancing at the outside scenery that still manages to make me gasp at its beauty. Around fifteen minutes later, we pull into the village and drive through some narrow streets until we arrive at the village square, surrounded by several restaurants and a couple of gift shops. The tables outside the restaurants sit beneath lemon trees and I imagine the scene on a fine summer’s day, with the scent of thyme and rosemary from bushes dotted along the village road filling the air.

The square is dominated by one particular sprawling, white restaurant that has indoor and outdoor seating, blue painted chairs, and blue and white checked tablecloths are set on tables with some diners already seated. A stone church overlooks the square at the far side, its bell pealing gently into the evening.

Doll and Michael slip inside the restaurant with us, and people glance around excitedly as they thread through tables and head to a quiet corner table. I notice a board outside announcing the dancing this evening, which may explain why it is already half full. I hope Doll isn’t feeling too nervous.

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