Page 7 of All You Need is Greece

‘Oh, that’s a beautiful-looking house. And gosh, it sounds like this is quite the place for romance, given it is such a small village.’

‘I know! Sometimes, I can hardly believe I actually live here. Romance was the last thing on my mind when I came to visit my aunt,’ she tells me. ‘But I thought Nicos was lovely as soon as I saw him, despite him being very quiet. It turned out he just had things on his mind at the time. There was a lot going on with his ex,’ she reveals.

‘If only relationships weren’t so complicated.’ I sigh.

‘That’s life, though, hey. And Panos is single if you’re interested, although maybe he’s a bit too young for you.’ She giggles as she points out a young man who is walking behind Hannah. They look around the same age.

‘By at least ten years, I’d say. And I’m definitely not looking for romance,’ I insist, looking at the young man. ‘Anyway, the only reason I came here was for the love of dogs,’ I say, thinking of my favourite show back home. ‘Loving animals is far less complicated than humans.’

‘I take your point,’ Tania concedes, before telling me all about the local family bar that Panos runs with his sister, which is owned by their mother, their father having passed away last year. I might not be interested in Panos, but the bar sounds like a perfect place to visit.

‘You should come for dinner one evening,’ says Tania, as we talk about the tasty delights to be found around here. I already feel she could become a good friend whilst I’m here, and I thank her. ‘In fact, I’ll invite a few people over for a BBQ next week,’ she suggests. ‘I have to warn you, though, if you think this lot are lively, I have a rather crazy Hungarian Vizsla. We may have to cage him until dinner is over.’

‘Ah, he sounds like fun.’

‘You might not say that when he sits eyeing your food, or even worse steals it, given half a chance,’ she says and I think of my gran’s boxer dog who was the same.

‘He does sound adorable, though. Is he a red Vizsla?’

‘He is. Smudge lives with us, along with his little friend Annie. They were at the rescue for over a year.’

She takes her phone from her pocket and shows me a photo of the pair.

‘Oh, I love them already. Smudge’s fur is the same colour as my hair, I just know we are going to be friends,’ I say and she smiles.

When we arrive at a small stream, the dogs take a dip and Tania’s handsome partner, Nicos, comes over to her. Hannah stands looking around, then Panos gestures to a seat beside him on a large flat rock. She smiles politely before joining him, then she reaches into her rucksack for a book.

‘Do you enjoy book?’ Panos gestures to the novel. His English is not as fluent as Nicos’s, although maybe he has never really left the village, spending his days working at the family bar.

‘Yes.’ Hannah smiles. ‘It’s a bit heavy at times. But I like it.’

‘Shall I carry it for you?’ He grins.

‘No, I mean heavy going. I…’

‘I joke.’ He smiles, a wide smile that lights up his handsome face, framed by dark curly hair.

‘Oh, I see.’ She smiles and I’m charmed by the scene unfolding in front of me, pleased that there is someone here around Hannah’s own age for her to chat to.

‘I also love to read. Sometimes I try and read English novel, to help with the language, but it is almost impossible.’ He shakes his head.

‘That’s a good idea, though, to read books, and pick out some words. I don’t know enough Greek words to even attempt reading something as short as a pamphlet in Greek.’

‘What is pamphlet?’

‘Pamphlet is a brochure. Or leaflet?’ She reaches into her bag and pulls out a leaflet about a museum.

‘Ah,prospektous,’ he says.

‘That actually makes sense,’ says Hannah. ‘I have learned a new word.’

‘Maybe I could help you. Then also, you could help me with English words,’ he offers.

‘Sure.’ She shrugs, her cheeks colouring a little.

‘Shall we make a move back?’ Tania stands and leads us in a circular walk back towards the rescue.

The sun is beautifully warm, caressing my arms and legs, and by the time we have returned I feel incredibly relaxed. When Tania and Nicos leave, I notice them holding hands as they head back across the road, clearly besotted with each other, and I swallow down a feeling of personal regret.

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