Page 59 of All You Need is Greece

Inside the rescue, the animals have all been fed and most of the chores already done, even though it’s only nine thirty.

I run upstairs to change before I round up some of the dogs to take out for a walk. Back downstairs, I run into Judith in the kitchen.

‘Hi, Beth.’ She gestures to a chair and I sit down, declining some coffee after not long having had one.

‘So are you two getting back together?’ she asks, sounding excited for me.

‘Well, that’s the thing, Judith, I’m really not sure.’

‘Not sure? I thought you said this morning that you had enjoyed a wonderful evening together.’

‘Oh, we did, I can’t deny that. It’s just we haven’t really discussed what happens next. I think we both just enjoyed spending time together again.’

‘Well, there is plenty of time to figure that out, I’m sure, although I am surprised you haven’t come right out and asked him.’

‘Maybe I selfishly needed to find out how I feel about him. But there’s no doubting it, I’m afraid. He still makes my heart thump, every time I see him,’ I tell her.

‘The main thing is he came all the way out here, to see you. Surely that tells you a lot. Maybe after the hen party, you can sit down and discuss what it is you really want.’

‘Hmm, maybe.’

‘I’d love to meet him. Maybe you could invite him for dinner here tomorrow evening?’

‘That sounds lovely, if you’re sure. Thanks, Judith. So, are you looking forward to your hen party later?’

‘I am. Helena is laying on some nibbles and a little music. She called me last night and told me her mother might come, which will be lovely. I never got much of a chance to chat to her at Tania’s BBQ. It’s lovely to see her venturing out again.’

‘It is. And maybe someone else you could go shopping with, along with Yolanda.’

‘You know, that isn’t a bad idea. I might offer to drive us to a market next time there is one nearby. City shopping might still be a bit much for her at the moment. Yolanda could come too, we could grab some lunch somewhere.’

‘That sounds lovely.’

As I walk the dogs with Hannah, I daydream about last night, reliving those intimate moments and long, thrilling kisses.

‘Are we walking past the bar?’

I’m thinking about the shower we took with a huge grin on my face.

‘Beth! Are we walking past the bar?’ asks Hannah, jolting me from my daydream. ‘That’s the second time I’ve asked. I daren’t ask what you are thinking about.’ She grins.

‘Oh, sorry, Hannah. Yes, sure we can walk past the bar. I take it you aren’t avoiding Panos anymore then?’

‘I wasn’t exactly avoiding him. Okay, yes. Well, maybe a little,’ she admits. ‘But I want to ask Helena if there is anything I can do to help with Judith’s get-together this evening.’

‘I’ve already offered, and she told me everything is already sorted. But we can still swing by, if you like.’

Panos is loading a fridge with bottled beer when we arrive, and he smiles politely at us before disappearing behind the bar. His grandmother is busy folding coloured paper, which I realise are paper chains.

‘Kalimera.’ She nods as we approach the bar, bending down to pet one of the smaller dogs. ‘Please. Wait.’

She heads inside, before reappearing with some slices of leftover lamb and feeds titbits to the dogs.

‘Shh, no tell.’ She winks, before wiping her hands on a napkin and continuing with her paper chains.

‘I make for her,’ she says, pointing to the bar, where I imagine the chains draped along for this evening’s gathering.

‘Poly oraia,’ says Hannah, and Panos’s grandmother grins. ‘Efcharisto!’

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