Page 13 of Take a Chance on Greece
After indulging in a delicious lemon sorbet, so sharp and sweet that it nearly brought tears to my eyes, I insisted on paying the bill, even though Maria looked cross and made it clear that she considered me a guest, another person demonstrating that Greek spirit of hospitality which Alexis had spoken about. I couldn’t imagine strangers turning up back at home and finding such a warm welcome. Jim would probably tell them where to go, if he even bothered acknowledging their presence, of course. I started wondering what he was up to, and then told myself not to go there. What Jim did now was none of my business and it didn’t matter to me one bit. But I couldn’t help thinking that he would be astonished to see me sitting here now, comfortably enjoying a meal by myself and making my own way in the world.
‘What was on the menu today?’ Alexis’s question interrupted my thoughts. I smiled broadly, delighted to see him again. While I had been confident that he’d return, I wasn’t sure it would be with good news, but one look at the happy expression on his face and I knew that things were going to work out just fine.
‘Gigantesandspanakopita,’ I said, going all out on my Greek pronunciation. ‘And they were excellent, the best food I’ve tasted in a long time. Maria is truly talented.’
He smiled. ‘I said that she would look after you.’ He helped himself to a leftover hunk of bread and mopped up the dregs of thegigantessauce. ‘And I think I have found something else which will please you. It is not in your normal line of work. You mentioned that you are an accountant, right? I am afraid that most people around here already have their own accountants or look after their books themselves. Besides, the systems here in Kefalonia might not be what you are used to. But my sister runs a hotel, and she is struggling with the housekeeping as a member of staff is having a difficult pregnancy and needs to rest. If you do not mind making beds and cleaning bathrooms, she is happy to give you a job. The pay will not be big, but enough to get by, and there is staff accommodation which you could stay in, if you like.’
I could have kissed him. ‘Alexis, you must be my guardian angel. How lucky am I to have found you? You have gone above and beyond what anyone could expect. Thank you so much, you’re truly kind.’
He removed his glasses again and seemed to be concentrating on cleaning them, shy in the face of my enthusiasm, but I could tell that he was pleased.
Before we left, Maria bustled out to return my phone and waylaid Alexis for a chat. Judging by the way she frequently glanced across at me, I was definitely the subject of their conversation. I wondered what they were talking about. I hoped he wasn’t telling her everything about my Andreas mission. I wasn’t sure I was ready to share it with everybody I met and although I hoped Alexis would tell it in a way to minimise my impulsiveness, I knew that other people would be bound to find my decision to ditch everything and head out here bizarre. But then again, if I was going to find Awesome Andreas himself, I would have to enlist the support of other people and put myself out there more than I would normally feel comfortable with. I had years of not being brave to make up for.
Maria enveloped me in a hug before we left her taverna, and although I repeated ‘thank you’ in Greek multiple times, it didn’t feel like enough to express the extent of my gratitude. I promised myself that I would work hard to get to a place where I could have an actual conversation in Greek. I had chosen to come here, so it was up to me to learn the language, rather than expecting everyone to be able to speak to me in English, which felt rather arrogant.
‘Alexis, do you have a dictionary in your shop which I could buy? I’m going to have to try to learn more than “good morning” and “thank you” if I’m going to track down the love of my life.’
He stumbled on the uneven pavement and I grabbed his elbow to stop him from falling.
‘Thank you. Yes, of course I can give it to you, and a phrasebook too, if that would be helpful.’ He paused and examined my face. ‘Do you really think that this mysterious Andreas is the love of your life?’
I patted the bandaged tattoo gently while I thought about my answer. ‘It probably sounds stupid, but whoever he is, he clearly had a big impact on me. However drunk I was, I don’t think I would have got the tattoo if it didn’t hold some meaning for me. And awesome is a very positive word. He obviously completely took my breath away and inspired me to do something totally out of character. I’d like to think it was because I’d met my soulmate.’ I laughed. ‘My ex would say I’ve been reading too many stories, but authors must get their inspiration from somewhere. Why shouldn’t happy ever afters be possible in real life as well as in fiction? I’ve got to take a chance and see what happens.’
It was the first time I had referred to Jim out loud as my ‘ex’ and it should probably have felt weird, but actually the words tripped off my tongue without any issue. He would probably be outraged at how quickly I was finding new hope and opportunities. But I had devoted too much of my life to worrying about Jim’s opinions. I consciously decided to try to leave thoughts of him behind in England, where they belonged. Time to move on. I smiled at Alexis and he nodded in understanding.
‘I am a big reader. It would be foolish of me to dismiss the possibility of a happy ever after, as you put it. I promise I will do my best to help you get to know your Mr Right.’
He picked up my suitcase and led me through town. I was still hot, grimy and tired, but I felt far more settled. Everything was falling into place. It must be fate that was dictating my path. I knew I was right to take the leap and come back here. Once I’d met Alexis’s sister and found out more about my new home, I would be able to turn my mind to my mission of finding Awesome Andreas.
Chapter Seven
Inearly changed my mind when we arrived at our destination. Alexis’s sister Yiota was a tiny bundle of energy who seemed to have the uncanny ability to be in about fifty different places at once. She’d obviously been watching for our arrival, because as soon as we approached the driveway of the Helios Hotel, she came rushing towards us, a disapproving expression on her face; I couldn’t decide if it was aimed at me or her brother. She greeted Alexis with a torrent of rapid Greek which to my untrained ears sounded distinctly like a telling-off. Despite being nearly a foot shorter than her brother, she seemed to have the ability to metaphorically tower over him, and I watched with dismay as his expression and replies turned increasingly sheepish. Although I couldn’t understand a word she was saying, I could read the body language and her waving arms told me that she was far from happy.
‘I’m sorry,’ I said, at what I hoped was an appropriate moment, but she flicked her hand in my direction as if she was batting a fly away and carried on berating Alexis. As was her right. Why should she take me in, a complete stranger with a bizarre background story involving a tattoo, and why would she trust me with a job? I had thought everything had fallen into place too easily and now my fears were being proved correct. Just because Alexis had gone out of his way to help, it didn’t mean that everyone else would feel the same way. I certainly didn’t want to repay his kindness by causing conflict between him and his sister.
I hovered uncertainly, not knowing whether to try to interrupt again, or to beat a hasty retreat. A couple of guests walked out of the hotel and sent a bemused look in our direction, wondering what drama was happening on the front step. It was their attention which spurred me into action. I couldn’t allow my stupid situation to become a problem for anybody else. Fighting the urge to back off and disappear into the distance, I instead put my hand up like a child in a classroom and waited until Alexis and Yiota noticed what I had done.
‘Ela,’ said Yiota, gesturing to me to speak. I guessed that the word meant something like ‘get on with it’, or at least, that was the vibe I was getting.
‘I want to apologise for wasting your time. You’re clearly very busy and don’t need a random English woman turning up expecting bed and board. I’m really sorry for intruding. And Alexis, thank you so much for your kindness, but please don’t worry, I can take things from here.’
I briefly reached out to touch his arm to reassure him that I was ok, and then I turned on my heel and started dragging my suitcase back down the drive, wondering where I could go now. The afternoon was turning to evening, and as it was peak holiday season, I couldn’t imagine there would be many places with beds going spare. Maybe I really would have to sleep on the beach after all.
I heard Yiota send a few more rapid-fire phrases in Alexis’s direction, and then she was by my side, grabbing hold of my suitcase handle, practically forcing it out of my grasp and onto the ground.
‘Wait,’ she said. I couldn’t help snapping to attention. Alexis took a step towards me.
‘My brother is, how do you say this, not in my good books.’ She shot an angry glance at Alexis as if to reinforce this. ‘However, I do need help and I will not see you walk away and have nowhere to stay, absolutely not. The Helios Hotel is a place of welcome, and welcome you it will.’
‘Thank you,’ I stammered, still nervous and feeling like I was a massive imposition on this busy woman’s time. I quickly repeated my gratitude in Greek, hoping it might warm her up to me a bit.
‘Let me look at you,’ said Yiota, taking my arms and scrutinising me carefully. Was she assessing whether I looked strong enough to help with the housekeeping? If so, I wasn’t convinced I was going to come out of that particularly well. ‘And this famous tattoo?’ Her voice was studiously neutral, but I caught her sending another pointed glance at Alexis, and figured that she was not a fan of spontaneous skin artwork.
I gestured at my back, glad that the baggy T-shirt was covering the tattoo. I could almost feel her gaze boring into my skin and shivered, despite the warmth of my surroundings.
She made a tutting sound. ‘Why anybody would want to get a tattoo, I do not understand. And Andreas too? Why Andreas?’
Alexis smiled apologetically at me and said a few words to his sister in Greek before he switched to English. ‘Yiota likes to speak her mind.’ He turned back to his sister. ‘As I explained, Lydia got the tattoo because she met the love of her life. She believes his name was Andreas. And now she would like to track down that man of her dreams.’
