‘You stayed in a hotel?’ I look up in surprise. She hadn’t mentioned that before. ‘Why on earth would you do that?’
‘It was fine, really. And little George would only have trotted into our room at six a.m. otherwise, so at least we had a lie-in.’ She smiles. ‘I’m a right grump if I don’t get enough sleep.’
‘I guess so. Anyway, I’m sure Josh will be back soon. Especially after one of your breakfasts, eh, Dad.’
‘I hope so. That was a bit of a funny business though, Zoe going off home without him, don’t you think?’ says Dad as he sips his tea. ‘She hardly said two bloody words at the funeral.’
‘I’m sensing trouble in paradise,’ says Mum. ‘Did he say anything to you?’ She turns to me.
‘Two seconds, Mum.’
I quickly respond to an email, before taking an incoming call.
When I’ve finished, I continue the conversation. ‘Not really,’ I say, not knowing if it’s my place to say too much, besides I don’t want Mum worrying. ‘I think maybe they are just both working too hard.’
‘That’s the modern world for you,’ says Dad. ‘All you ever hear about is stress, everyone thinking they can do it all, and I don’t just mean women before you say I’m sexist. People chase the wrong things, that’s the trouble, and they want everything now. When me and your mother first started out, we had a second-hand sofa and—’
‘Yes, okay, love,’ Mum says, heading Dad off before he begins one of his monologues about everything that is wrong in today’s society. ‘That’s how things are these days, rightly or wrongly.’
‘I still can’t see Josh in sales though, although his charming manner probably yields more results than from those pushy types,’ I tell Mum.
‘Oh, I agree. There’s nothing worse than a pushy salesperson. I still regret buying that purple dress from Next that does nothing for my colouring, even though the assistant told me I looked beautiful,’ Mum says, and I laugh.
‘It’s funny, I still imagine Josh with his surfboard and tousled hair, hanging out on the beaches in North Wales. On holiday, charming the local females.’
‘I know.’ Mum smiles at the memory. ‘He was always in the sea, wasn’t he? Whilst you were always stretched out basking in the sun as I recall, chatting up the boys.’
I used to take my best friend at the time along to the caravan we frequented every summer, and we got to know some other families that included teenage boys. Mum was right about us chatting with them, or flirting more like: my friend and I would toss our long hair over our shoulders, mine chestnut brown, hers blonde, and hang out with them at the local funfair in the evening. We enjoyed long, heady summer days that are embedded in my memory forever.
I guess I have always loved the seaside, so it’s no surprise that I have such a love of the Greek islands. The rushing of the sea as it caresses the sand, and the hot sun has always been able to soothe away any stresses in my life. The most recent being the end of a disastrous relationship, when I had finally dipped my toe into the dating scene again. It had been the first relationship since I’d split with my ex after six years together, on and off; we had long breaks sometimes, but somehow always ended up back together.
I met my long-term partner at work, when he took the desk opposite me. There was no big drama when we finally split; we had simply outgrown each other. It still hurt like hell at the timethough, knowing it was over and I likely wouldn’t see him again, especially as he changed jobs. We had been such a big part of each other’s families that both our mums sobbed when we broke up.
I’m glad the split was civilised though, and when I looked at his wedding photos on Facebook recently and felt nothing but an affectionate memory of our time together, I knew it was the right decision.
When I did dip my toe into the dating scene again, maybe I was naïve, or maybe I was just unlucky. Either way, that last one was enough for me to consider taking a vow of celibacy.
Before I know it it’s lunchtime, so I grab my laptop and head off to my flat. It’s a nice morning, so I decline the offer of a lift from Dad and walk the two miles across town to my place. Imagining the steps clocking up on my daily steps app.
Passing houses with neatly mown lawns and perfect flowering borders, I close my eyes and imagine the front garden of my house in Corfu. I think of an early evening walk down to the beach, enjoying a cocktail or two at a beachside café. I’m so lucky to have the chance to work remotely, and with good Wi-Fi I might even be able to spend the odd few days working over in Greece. I try not to get ahead of myself as I imagine glancing out of the window at the distant mountains and sipping frappés.
‘I’m just popping over to my villa in Greece to work from home for a few days,’ I will tell my colleagues.Myvilla in Greece! I realise I am jumping the gun once more and feel panicked at the thought of anyone else outbidding me at the auction, even though I am a firm believer that if something is meant to happen, then it will. That house simply must be mine.
Back home, I open my large bag to retrieve my laptop, and laugh as I find a piece of my Mum’s home-made lemon cakewrapped in foil and think of what she could do with all those Greek lemons!
I hope my parents will come and have some lovely holidays while they are both still fit, then shake my head and tell myself to keep a grip on reality. But then, it’s okay to dream, isn’t it?
EIGHT
I log in and take a few deep breaths as I wait for the online auction to begin. I have stuck to my guns and told no one about my plans, apart from my brother, so that nobody could talk me out of it, but I feel utterly compelled to do my utmost to become the owner of this house. I have been gifted this money and I could potentially buy a house in the place I adore, which is beyond my wildest dreams.
Uncle Jack knew about my lust for travel, and how I particularly loved Corfu, so I think he would approve somehow. Actually, he did tell me what a wonderful adventure he had in Mexico, visiting Chichén Itzá and sipping margaritas on a palm-fringed beach watching the sunset. I briefly wonder if I’m tying myself down buying a place, rather than travelling the world, although I guess my money would soon run out if I did that.
‘Bricks and mortar. That’s the thing to invest in.’ Hearing my dad’s voice in my head reassures me a little that I am doing the right thing as excitement rushes through me in anticipation.
The auction is just about to start when my mobile rings. It’s Evie, but I don’t have time to chat so she leaves me a voicemail saying it was nothing too important. I quickly tap out a text and tell her I will call her back shortly. Hopefully with some news.
The bidding starts at thirty-five thousand rather than the forty I expected it to, so I swallow down a little feeling of excitement as I realise it might actually be within my grasp!
