Page 66 of All You Need is Greece

‘She’s having a lie-in; she isn’t feeling too well. Bit of a hangover, I think,’ he says, although I don’t think Doll drank excessively last night, and walked home in a perfectly straight line. Maybe it’s more a lack of sleep, as she was suffering with hot flashes quite a bit last night.

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ I tell him. Now is not the time to discuss her menopausal symptoms. ‘So how was the stag party?’

He unloads a load of fresh straw and places it into the feeders for the donkeys.

‘It was a lot of fun. I won forty euros from Lars in a poker game, but don’t tell Judith.’ He taps the side of his nose. ‘It’s a shame we have such an early start, as I would have been right up for a trip to a nightclub,’ he says, and I can’t help thinking of Marco’s comments about nightclubs and stag nights.

I study Michael, who is around the same age as Doll, who is currently lying in bed, probably with a menopausal migraine.

‘Ah but don’t forget the animals would still need your attention in the morning. They don’t care if we are feeling rough. Or should that be “ruff”,’ I say, imitating a growling sound, and Michael laughs.

‘Hangovers have never been a problem for me, I’ve always been an early riser. I think I’ll give the whisky a miss next time, though,’ he concedes.

‘I believe you met my fiancé, or should I say ex-fiancé.’ Gosh, it seems so strange saying that. Especially as he is actually here in Crete spending time with me.

‘Marco? Yes, he seems like a nice bloke,’ he says, as he carries on working. ‘He was telling us all about the restaurant back home. We might pay a visit if we are ever over that way. You can’t beat good Italian food.’

‘Don’t let the Greeks hear you say that,’ I warn him and he laughs.

‘I won’t, but I had the best Italian meal down a little backstreet in Rome. It’s best to avoid the tourist areas,’ he advises.

‘Is that all Marco talked about?’ I ask, wondering if he might have mentioned me.

‘What do you think?’ He places the pitchfork he has been using down, and leans on it, a smile on his face. ‘He didn’t say much until he had a few beers in him, but then he was telling us all how wonderful you were, and how he was attracted to you the minute he laid eyes on you in the restaurant.’

‘He said that?’

Marco has never actually said that to me.

‘Oh yes. He said you stood out, head and shoulders over the rest of the group of women you were with.’

I find myself being surprised and thrilled by the news.

‘He talked a bit about marriage and kids then,’ reveals Michael.

‘He did?’ I can barely take it in.

‘Yes. He said he would love to have children one day. After that we just sort of chatted about life in general, before we decided to stay in dock and have a poker game,’ Michael tells me. ‘Lars had brought a pack of cards in case anyone was interested, which we all were. That’s when the whisky came out.’ He rubs the side of his head. ‘Anyway, I must get on. I’ll take a cup of tea to my lovely wife, and see how she is doing.’

‘Ask Judith where the caffeine-free tea bags are, I’m sure she mentioned having some. If Doll has a headache, caffeine won’t help.’

‘Will do, I never thought about that. I might have one of those myself.’

Heading back from walking the dogs with Hannah later in the morning, we walk past Nicos and Tania’s place. Tania is in the garden, deadheading some plants and tidying. She walks over to the fence when she sees us.

‘Morning, ladies. How are the heads?’ She looks as fresh as a daisy.

‘Surprisingly okay, well, at least I am.’ I glance at Hannah, who has been a little quiet this morning.

‘I’m okay.’ She smiles. ‘But maybe I did have a little too much wine with the food, I’m not normally a drinker,’ she admits. ‘It’s definitely an early night for me tonight, I think.’

‘Judith has told us all about the wedding cake you have baked.’

‘Ooh yes, I just have to put the finishing touches to it. When it’s finished, you can come and take a sneak peek if you like.’

‘Sounds good. Make sure the dogs are locked up, though! We don’t want a repeat of Doll’s cheesecake.’ I can’t help smiling.

‘Oh, my goodness! Can you even imagine. Don’t worry, the cake will be hidden out of sight until the wedding.’

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