‘Yes. I could use a cold drink. Unless you mean, like out for a drink, as in a date.’ He raises an eyebrow.
‘Absolutely not,’ I almost shout, then feel rude for feeling so appalled by the idea. ‘I mean, I appreciate you coming out today, so I think a drink is in order. Lead the way.’ Did Dimitri really think that I was asking him out?
Dimitri can’t seem to keep the smile from his face as we walk down the road and turn left, rather than right towards the main street of shops and restaurants. Passing several village houses and a small supermarket, we eventually arrive at a whitewashed bar with several dark wooden tables and chairs on a terrace outside. An old wooden rowing boat is filled with flowers and creates a welcoming feel.
Inside, I take in the interior of rough white stone walls, some photos on the wall. It is quite busy with families out relaxing and sharing a drink together.
‘This is our local bar,’ he explains as we take a seat on two bar stools and Dimitri speaks to the barman in Greek and orders usa drink, which I quickly take some euros from my purse and pay for.
‘This is nice,’ I say. Glancing around as we both sip an ice-cold Corfiot beer, I notice black-and-white pictures of the old port are dotted around the walls, along with a ship’s wheel. An old wooden rowing boat is filled with flowers and looks brilliant against the white walls.
‘The people in the village gather here. Maybe it could be your new place, do you call it a local in England?’
’Yes, that’s right.’ The thought that I could visit regularly getting to know people here excites me. ‘Do you have evenings out in the main street too?’
‘Of course.’ He smiles. ‘But most of those shops and bars close when the tourist season ends. This is for the villagers all year round.’
As we chat, several people pass and say hello to Dimitri and nod and smile at me. When Dimitri drains the last of his drink, he stands ready to leave.
‘Well, thank you, Claudia. That was exactly what I needed after a hard morning’s work, but now I must go.’
Feeling mellow with the drink, I could have happily sat here for longer with another beer, chatting to him, but it’s clear Dimitri needs to leave. I order myself another drink and take it outside to sit at a table that gives a side view of the beach in the distance, and the church across the road. I watch Dimitri head back towards the street of my villa, remembering he is staying at his aunt’s house looking after her dog. I suddenly wish that my house was completed. Maybe then I could have strolled home with him, perhaps invited him inside for coffee. I remind myself that he is my builder, and that even if he was single, which I don’t actually know if he is, it would be a total mistake to mix business with pleasure. Not to mention the fact that romance isdefinitely not something I am looking for. Far better to admire him from a distance, I think, a bit like my favourite movie actor.
‘May I join you?’ a man asks, jolting me from my daydream. I can’t help glancing around at the empty tables and wondering why he has chosen to sit opposite me.
‘Sorry, I am just being friendly. I never noticed you here before.’ He holds his hands up and I feel rude for thinking he might be about to hit on me. ‘My name is Eric.’
Eric, an older guy, who is definitely something of a silver fox with warm-brown eyes, shakes me by the hand.
‘Nice to meet you, I’m Claudia,’ I tell him.
‘You have French heritage? Claudia is a French name, I believe?’
‘No, I think my father just liked the name. Mum seems to think he had a thing for an actress called Claudia.’ I smile.
‘So are you here on holiday?’ he asks as he sips his beer.
‘Yes,’ I tell him. ‘But I usually head down to the main strip near the beach.’
I don’t feel it necessary to tell everyone I meet about my half-renovated villa with a cement mixer in the yard.
Eric is so easy to talk to and the time quickly passes by. He tells me about the village and how he has lived here all of his life, and that not many tourists frequent the village bar, even though the beer is better.
‘Well, I can’t disagree with you,’ I say, finishing the last of my delicious local beer. ‘It was good to meet you, Eric, maybe I will see you around.’
‘Maybe you will.’ He smiles. ‘Enjoy the rest of your holiday.’
‘Thanks, bye, Eric.’
That evening in the apartment, I sit and watch the sunset on the balcony and feel blessed to have met some lovely people today. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be full steam ahead with the roof of the house and we will begin to see some realprogress. It’s hard to envisage the finished product, as the villa currently resembles a building site. There are brushes, buckets and lengths of wood everywhere as well as a cement mixer. I think about the blue wooden, crumbling back door with a metal insert that I would like refurbished; thinking about it, I must rescue it from the tip. I recall Dimitri teasing me when he said would I ask him out on a date, and despite everything I close my eyes and imagine how it would feel to be wined and dined by him, at some romantic restaurant overlooking the sea, twinkling lights everywhere. I give my head a shake and flick on the movie channel to an early George Clooney film, where he is in a clinch with an impossibly beautiful lead actress. Far better to have an active imagination when it comes to romance. That way you will never get your heart broken.
EIGHTEEN
Monday morning, after a breakfast on the balcony, I head over to the house and Yiannis has already arrived and is standing on the top of the roof, but there is no sign of Dimitri or the young men.
‘Kalimera, Yiannis,’ I call up. ’Are you okay?’
‘Yes, yes, I am okay.’ He waves down.
