Page 67 of All You Need is Greece

We say our goodbyes and head inside the rescue, where Doll is sitting at the kitchen table with Judith, sipping a drink.

‘How are you feeling?’ I ask Doll as Hannah nips upstairs to sort out some of her washing.

‘Not too bad now, thanks to Judith’s TLC.’ She points to a box of painkillers on the table and lifts her mug of tea. ‘I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t even think I went over the top with the wine last night.’

‘Maybe it’s hormonal,’ I suggest, thinking about our chat last night.

‘Possibly. Or maybe I am just well and truly burnt out.’ She sighs.

‘Do you think so?’ Judith gestures for me to sit down and pours me some tea from the pot.

‘I do. The touring can be a little punishing, and Michael will dance at every given opportunity, so we never truly switch off. Oh, I don’t mean the show at the restaurant the other night.’ She turns to Judith. ‘That was a lot of fun, and I’m thrilled at the amount it made for the rescue. But Michael thinks he’s half his age sometimes.’

‘I thought you couldn’t bear the thought of retirement?’ I say, thinking about one of her earlier conversations.

‘Maybe I’m in denial.’ She shrugs. ‘No one wants to think they are past it.’

‘Past it at fifty! God help me then.’ Judith laughs.

‘Sorry, I meant in their working life. Dancing is all I’ve ever known.’

‘You’re lucky to possess such a talent, but maybe just scale back a bit? I’m not surprised you’re exhausted from touring Europe. Perhaps it’s time to book a long break in the sun, and just chill. Even though it’s gorgeous here, we still have to work,’ I remind her.

‘Of course, you’re right. I wanted to be in the forest, and as I adore dogs, it seemed perfect coming over here. And I am loving it.’ She reaches over and squeezes Judith’s hand. ‘I’m just tired, I’ll be fine,’ she says, her smile firmly back in place.

‘Today, I insist you have the day off,’ says Judith kindly. ‘We all get sick from time to time, and a ton of volunteers are arriving later this afternoon to walk the rest of the dogs. The other chores are manageable between the rest of us. Go back to bed, read a book if you like. I have some, as does Hannah.’

‘Gosh, I can’t remember the last time I read a book,’ Doll admits. ‘I might just go and have another hour upstairs until this headache really shifts. Thanks, Judith. And you, Beth.’

‘Take your time,’ says Judith kindly.

She heads upstairs then I take our cups to the sink to wash.

‘Three days until the wedding, Judith, are you all set?’ I ask as she dries the cups with a tea towel, before placing them in a cupboard.

‘Oh, I am. I feel so lucky to have found Lars, he is such a wonderful man. And Doll is such a lovely woman. I do wonder why they seem to be spending so much time together. Fancy being jealous at my age.’ She shakes her head.

‘You can be jealous at any age, I suppose, although I am absolutely sure you have nothing to worry about.’

‘I know that, it’s just me being silly. Pre-wedding nerves, maybe.’

‘But not doubts?’

‘No, definitely not doubts.’ She smiles. ‘I am happier than I have been in a long time. I feel so blessed to have found love twice.’

Judith’s comment makes me think about my own feelings. The thrill of seeing Marco and spending the night with him made me feel happier than I have in a long time too. Surely there will never be anyone else who can make me feel like that. I still don’t know where he is at with marriage and future plans, but with what Michael said about last night, it sounds like Marco has given it some thought. And I’m not sure I want marriage to come between us now anyway. We are lucky to have found each other, I realise that now. But I do need to know where we stand.

I’m having a chat with Eric the moody donkey, who seems happy to be fussed over today, and spends a while nudging my hand with his head, and braying contentedly when I stroke him. Just as I start scratching behind his ears, a text arrives on my phone. As I read it, Eric saunters off back towards his stall; clearly, he prefers undivided attention.

Morning, beautiful, are you free later? Marco xx

I tap out a reply, and he tells me he will collect me at six thirty. Already I can’t wait.

THIRTY-FIVE

‘Have you ever been to that mountain village not far from the monastery?’

Marco has collected me just after six, before the sun begins to set.

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