Page 31 of Take a Chance on Greece
‘Let’s not get too carried away.’
My happy ever after dreams were a lot more theoretical than that, especially as they kept getting interrupted with images of Alexis, something which I was trying to firmly stamp down on.
‘Ah, but why not? I am looking forward to telling this not-so-little one all about how his father and I met. Unfortunately, our story is not so exciting as finding each other thanks to a tattoo. Our teacher made him sit next to me at school because he was the good kid and I was the class clown. Actually, I might leave that bit out. I don’t want my son getting bad ideas.’ She patted her stomach. ‘I am thankful that you have arrived to help with the work. I cannot remember the last time I saw my feet, so cleaning all the guest rooms is too much for me. I hope you are enjoying it?’
If anyone had asked me a fortnight ago if I’d find cleaning a dozen hotel bedrooms enjoyable, I would probably have laughed at the idea, but now I wasn’t so sure. The job couldn’t be more different from my previous role, but there was something very satisfying about doing it well. As an accountant, I’d always enjoyed balancing out figures to create order from chaos. I guess that was still what I was doing, but perhaps in a more tangible way. And despite Yiota’s slightly brusque nature, she’d made me feel like a valued member of the team, welcoming me into her home and making sure that I was settled and had everything I needed.
‘I am, yes. I think I’m getting the hang of it, and it’s good to feel like I’m making a difference. I still can’t believe my luck. Every time I look out of a window, I feel like pinching myself as a reminder that I’m really here. It’s such a beautiful island, and I’m so excited about exploring it further.’
‘And if you can do that with a handsome man at your side, then even better.’ Eleni smiled.
I grinned back.
‘So, this Andreas,’ she continued, a questioning note in her voice. ‘Are you sure that he was…’
But I didn’t get to find out what she had been going to ask because Alexis arrived. I watched him carefully, wondering if I could read in his expression the reason for his hasty departure from the beach yesterday, but he was acting as if nothing had happened.
‘Yiota tells me you are visiting the hotel a lot these days, Alexis,’ said Eleni. ‘I wonder why that is.’ She patted the seat between us, encouraging him to come and sit down. ‘I was about to tell Lydia all about an Andreas I know.’
Unfortunately, before I could process her words properly, I was distracted as Alexis tripped on the tiled floor and nearly went flying. I leaped to my feet and managed to stop his fall.
‘Are you OK?’ he asked. His expression grew cloudy when he saw the bruise on my wrist.
‘That’s from my Fiskardo trip,’ I said hastily, not wanting him to take the blame on himself. I quickly moved the conversation on. I had no desire to dwell on that episode. ‘Anyway, the question should really be the other way round. That was quite a tumble you nearly took there. Are you sure you’re OK?’
At this point Alexis seemed to suddenly realise he was still holding onto my shoulder and quickly let go. I tried to ignore the stab of sadness this caused me. He ran his fingers through his hair, looking particularly flustered.
‘I am sorry. That was very clumsy of me. I have a new glasses prescription and I am still getting used to the extra sharpness of my surroundings. I hope I did not hurt you?’
‘Not at all.’ I gently patted his arm in reassurance. ‘I’m glad you didn’t end up face-planting, especially with new glasses on. They suit you by the way.’
If I wasn’t much mistaken, Alexis blushed.
Eleni made a clicking sound with her teeth. ‘You are turning clumsy, Alexis. And I was about to tell Lydia all about Andreas Rouvas who used to sing in a band with my brother.’
Alexis sat down in the chair with a sigh. ‘Ah, Andreas Rouvas. Now that is a name I have not heard in many years. How is he?’
‘Very well, or so I understand.’ She clapped her hands together. ‘Now I have an excellent idea. I shall host a dinner party and invite Andreas so you can meet him, Lydia.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ I said. It felt weird to be talking about this in front of Alexis, even though he’d been privy to discussions about my previous dates. I reminded myself that it was only in my mind that things had changed between us. I forced myself to concentrate on Eleni’s invitation. A personal introduction would be a much more promising way of finding my Awesome Andreas. Eleni wouldn’t be offering to set me up with someone horrible, surely? It was like a friend recommending a good plumber who wouldn’t overcharge you for unblocking a drain – not that I was comparing finding the love of my life with getting pipes seen to. ‘But shouldn’t you be taking things easy rather than throwing a party?’ I added quickly. ‘You’ve got a lot to be preparing for, and I really don’t want you to go to any trouble on my account. Perhaps you could pass on my number to Andreas Rouvas instead? If you think he’s a likely candidate, that is. Sorry, person, not candidate. That makes it sound like I’m interviewing people for a job.’
Eleni’s eyes sparkled. ‘I am sure you will find him a very interesting individual. Whether he is your Awesome Andreas, I cannot say, but we will have an enjoyable evening regardless. Alexis, you are of course invited too.’
I cringed inwardly. Meeting another Andreas in front of Alexis had the potential to be super awkward. Even thinking about it felt like a betrayal.
Alexis cleared his throat. ‘That’s very kind of you, Eleni, but I would not wish to be a raspberry. Have I said the right thing?’
‘It’s gooseberry actually,’ I said, smothering a grin. ‘But if you ask me, a raspberry on a date sounds rather fun and it makes no less sense than gooseberry does.’
Eleni smiled. ‘I am sure that Alexis would not be a gooseberry. You will appreciate having him there for moral support, won’t you, Lydia?’
She didn’t give either of us a chance to answer. She heaved herself upright. ‘Now that is arranged, I will go home and start my planning. It was lovely to meet you at last, Lydia. I shall look forward to welcoming you and Alexis to my home very soon. We will have delicious food, and music and dancing, and it will be very romantic.’
‘And I’ll meet this Andreas Rouvas guy,’ I added, because the way Eleni was talking, it sounded very much like she was trying to set up Alexis and me, and I was worried it might make him feel even more uncomfortable.
‘I shall certainly call him up on the phone and invite him along.’ She sent an exaggerated wink in our direction.
Now that Alexis and I were alone, the silence hung between us. It felt strange. Even when I’d first asked for his help in the bookshop, I’d been totally relaxed in his presence. Now it wasn’t that I was uncomfortable, I just felt like there was a weight of something unsaid hanging in the air between us and it made me sad.
