Page 36 of The Greek Villa

‘I completely understand. I will talk to the builders.’

I try not to get too upset about their comments, but I guess they have a point. The builders were already working when I arrived well before eight yesterday.

‘I hope you like pie,’ she says then, placing a huge filo pastry-topped pie down in the middle of the table.

‘I do, but I don’t think that’s like any pie I have ever made, it looks amazing,’ I say, taking in the thin golden layers and the delicious smell.

She cuts into it, and I hear the crunch before chunks of cheese, leeks and red onion ooze out as she spoons it onto a plate. There is a Greek salad and some bread too.

‘It’s as delicious as it looks, Phoebe,’ I tell her as I dive in. ‘It must have taken a while to make. Is there a herb in it?’ I ask, not quite able to place the flavour.

‘I have the time.’

‘Yes, I suppose you do.’

‘It is a good herb to use.’ She pours me a glass of lemonade.

‘Oh, I see, you have thethyme.’ I smile at the misunderstanding. ‘Well, it tastes lovely.’

‘I grow the thyme.’ She points to a terracotta pot on the windowsill, alongside a pot of basil.

‘Thank you for making me so welcome, Phoebe. I hope the other people in the street will be just as nice,’ I say as I polish off more of the delicious food. ‘I don’t want to upset anyone.’

‘Do not worry. The house was a mess and they want to see it fixed up, though they don’t want the noise.’ She rolls her eyes and laughs. ‘A lot of old people live on the street, but they like the young people here. They give the place energy,’ she reassures me.

We chat easily and she asks me about my family back home, and I find myself telling her all about my inheritance from my uncle Jack.

‘Which is how I came to buy the villa. I would never have been able to do that otherwise,’ I tell her as I sit back stuffed, having eaten every last morsel of the pie.

‘Your uncle has left you a great gift. He must have loved you all very much.’ She places her hand over mine.

‘He did. I have nothing but lovely memories of my uncle. Family is so important.’

‘Maybe we raise a glass to your uncle.’

‘That’s nice, we will. To Uncle Jack.’

She crosses herself and says a little something in Greek that she tells me is a prayer to keep Jack and her husband safe in heaven.

I head off later before it gets too dark, and as I turn a corner I run into Dimitri.

‘Kalispera,’ he greets me with that winning smile.

‘Kalispera.How are you?’ I ask.

‘I’m okay. I am glad I have run into you actually.’ He falls into step with me as I head towards my apartment. ‘It would seem we have been making a little too much noise with the building work. I have spoken to the neighbours, the elderly residents mainly, to let them know we will start work at nine o’clock. Is that okay with you?’

‘Oh yes, that’s wonderful. I was going to text you and suggest the very same thing. And are they okay with that?’

‘They are,’ he reassures me. ‘Well, it’s been a long day, I am off home for a beer. Actually, would you like to join me?’ He lifts the carrier bag he is carrying as we arrive outside my apartment.

‘What? Back at your place?’

‘Yours is closer, if you want to invite me in,’ he suggests, with a cheeky grin.’ Maybe you can tell me more of what you would like.’ After a pause, he says, ‘In the house.’

I hesitate for a second, but as the night is quite young, I agree. I have nothing else to do for the rest of the evening other than search for a TV channel that I can understand.

‘Sure. A beer on the balcony sounds good as it’s such a lovely evening.’

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