Page 64 of All You Need is Greece

‘Not that we need it. Tonight has been wonderful, without the need to smash plates.’

As the evening winds down, people are milling around and chatting to each other, sharing their life stories. I watch Helena as she proudly witnesses her mother chatting to Yolanda and Judith, laughing with them. I can’t imagine what she must have gone through losing her husband so young, and of course Panos and Helena have lost their father.

We offer to help tidy away, but there’s nothing to do. Helena and her mother have been silently clearing up throughout the evening, her grandmother sweeping in and out of the kitchen, the sound of plates being stacked into a dishwasher. As we are about to leave, Helena tells Judith that there is still almost seventy euros left of the money Lars placed behind the bar.

‘You must keep it,’ Judith insists. ‘Call it a little tip, for all your hard work.’

Helena tries to protest, saying enough money has been spent in the bar this evening and perhaps she should donate it to the animal shelter, but Judith won’t allow it.

‘We made plenty of money at the dance evening. Put it in the till, the season will be winding down soon,’ says Judith and Helena thanks her.

‘What a night.’ Yolanda sighs with satisfaction. ‘But, please, do not tell me I have to walk home up that hill.’ She groans.

Her neighbour who speaks little English talks to her in Greek and Yolanda claps her hands together. ‘Thank goodness, we have the lift.’

A few minutes later, her neighbour’s husband, who I remember from Tania’s BBQ, arrives to collect them, so we wave them off and make our way downhill to the rescue, all of us linking arms as we walk.

‘Did you have a good night?’ I ask Hannah, as I fall into step with her.

‘I did.’ She smiles. ‘And I’m happy that Panos seems to be friends with me again.’

‘I knew that the minute he presented you with some cheesecake. He never offered us any. We had to help ourselves,’ I tease. ‘So what did you chat about? I won’t mind if you tell me to shut up and stop being a nosey cow.’

‘As if I would.’ She turns and smiles at me. ‘You have only ever given me sound advice. And actually, he told me I looked beautiful tonight,’ she says.

‘You always do, although I think the touch of make-up makes you look extra special this evening.’

‘Thank you. Maybe I will wear it for special occasions, such as this evening. I do look good, don’t I?’ She stops then and gives a twirl, her blue dress spinning around her like a silk cape. ‘And it isn’t for Panos. It isn’t for anyone other than me,’ she says and I give her a little clap.

‘You go, girl.’ I link arms with her again and we walk on, a full moon guiding our way as it shines on the dark road beneath us. No need for our phone lights this evening.

Tania, Doll and Judith are laughing as they walk along in front of us.

‘I still can’t believe Yolanda made us do the hokey-cokey. It’s years since I’ve done that.’ Doll laughs.

‘Count yourself lucky they didn’t ask you to do some ballroom dancing,’ says Judith.

‘Oh, I am so glad no one did. It was so nice to just sit and enjoy myself, and watch other people dancing. Especially the Greek dancing, that was wonderful. I was quite happy to sit that out, just watching those young men.’ She laughs again. ‘Oh dear, I sound like a right old lush, don’t I? I think it’s this menopause.’

‘Surely you’re not old enough for that?’ says Tania in surprise.

‘You’d be surprised,’ says Doll, smiling, but she looks tired.

When we reach the bottom of the hill, we can hear the sound of male voices as the men are just returning from their trip.

‘Lars, you are back!’ exclaims Judith. ‘How was the fishing trip?’

‘I don’t think much fishing actually took place.’ He grins, a little unsteady on his feet.

‘I can vouch for that,’ says Michael. ‘It was more a crate of beer on board, and a bottle of whisky. We never actually left the harbour.’ He bursts out into laughter, as do Lars and Nicos. ‘So we took a taxi home. Marco walked back to his Airbnb.’

‘Did you enjoy your night?’ asks Lars, as he places his arm around Judith’s waist and walks with her.

‘Oh, Lars, it was wonderful.’ They drift off together, and Tania walks off with Nicos after wishing us all a goodnight.

Michael kisses Doll on the cheek, and walks inside with me and Hannah, and I suddenly wish Marco was here. I think about having another drink, but decide it’s probably best not to. I am just the right side of merry, and a hangover in the morning would be a mistake. The animals don’t care how we are feeling in the morning.

Hannah heads upstairs to bed and I grab some water from the kitchen. I’m about to switch the lights off when my phone rings.

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