Page 65 of All You Need is Greece

‘Marco, hi.’ I couldn’t be more thrilled to hear from him.

‘I just wanted to hear your voice,’ he says, echoing my very own thoughts. ‘Did you have a nice night?’

‘I did. And, more importantly, so did Judith. It was just wonderful. How was your evening? Although I believe it wasn’t exactly a fishing trip.’

‘I know.’ He laughs. ‘Although, if I’m honest, I was rather pleased. I’ve never really been a fan of fishing. We ended up playing poker on board and sinking a few beers. It was a good night.’

‘I’m glad. And I’m glad you called.’

We talk for another minute, before I make my way to bed.

‘Goodnight, Beth. I will call you tomorrow,’ says Marco as I end the call with a smile on my face. The evening could not have ended any better.

THIRTY-FOUR

I feel surprisingly fresh the next morning, although maybe that is down to the fact that I stayed off the ouzo, apart from the one cocktail we had before leaving. Hannah is already in the shower, and I can hear her singing. A few minutes later she emerges.

‘Someone’s in a good mood,’ I comment as I grab my towel and head for the bathroom myself.

‘I am. And I think I ought to thank you,’ she says, placing her towel over an air drier.

‘Thank me, what for?’

‘For all your sound advice. I’ve seen how you interact with people. You are a natural social butterfly.’

‘Do you think so?’

‘I know so,’ she says firmly.

I shrug off her comment, yet feel flattered all the same. ‘Maybe it comes from me working with the general public.’

‘I remember you saying to me once that you thought you never had a talent for anything,’ says Hannah. ‘Well, you were wrong. You have a talent for listening to people, and being honest with them. Not everyone can do that, no matter how many hobbies they have.’

‘Thank you, Hannah.’ I’m surprised to find I have to stop a tear from trickling down my cheek.

‘You’re welcome.’

After I shower and dress, we head down to the kitchen for some breakfast.

‘So are you seeing Marco later?’ Hannah asks.

‘Hopefully, yes. He called to say goodnight when we returned from the bar last night. I’m sure we will talk again later.’

‘Will he be staying for the wedding?’ asks Hannah, which I realise is three days from now.

‘He will still be here in Crete, although I don’t expect Judith to invite him to the wedding.’

‘Are you talking about Marco?’ asks Judith, having just walked into the room.

‘Yes. I was just telling Hannah that his flight home is a couple of days after the wedding.’

‘Then of course he is invited! It’s hardly a formal affair,’ says Judith. ‘It isn’t as if we have to rearrange a seating plan.’ She smiles. ‘And the wedding cake Tania has baked would feed the whole of this village and the next.’

‘That’s very kind, Judith, if you’re sure,’ I tell her, not even sure that Marco will want to attend a wedding. Aren’t weddings the very things he doesn’t believe in?

Michael is on his own in the donkey area, replacing the hay bales when we stroll over.

‘Morning, Michael, where is Doll?’

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