‘I think they may have heard the screams,’ he says.
I laugh when I think of the evening I stood on the bench in the garden, and Dimitri rescued me. I receive a fruit cake from Eliza across the road and a bottle of Metaxa from a couple I have nodded to but never spoken to before. I am completely overwhelmed by their kindness, and have to hold back tears.
The neighbours eat some food and chat amongst themselves. Eliza talks to her immediate neighbours, but does not make eye contact with Phoebe.
Dimitri strolls over to me then, as I help myself to some of Phoebe’s delicious cheese pie.
‘It will seem strange you not being here,’ he says, hands in his pockets, looking at the floor.
‘Will it?’ I dive into the pie.
‘Yes. I’ve kind of got used to you being around.’ He lifts his head and his eyes meet mine and the way he looks at me makes my stomach do a little flip.
‘You have?’ My heart is beating so loudly, I am sure he must be able to hear it.
‘I really have.’ He takes my hand in his. ‘I will be counting down the days until you are back,’ he whispers in my ear, and I almost drop my plate.
I steady my breathing and feel thankful that we are standing in a garden filled with people, or who knows what might have happened.
Just then, Phoebe appears.
‘Would you like some cheese pie?’ she offers Dimitri, and nods proudly at me as she gets the phrasing right. I give her a thumbs up.
‘How can I resist?’ He smiles, accepting a slice.
The rest of the builders head off, and I thank them once more, before I take a seat on the bench and Dimitri comes and sits beside me.
‘Just think, next time you are here, you will be sitting here looking up at your balcony,’ he reminds me.
‘Oh, I can’t wait.’ I sigh.
‘Can you imagine climbing out of bed in the morning, and gazing out at the sea view from up there?’
I have to check myself as I imagine him climbing out of my bed, and stretching, before drinking coffee.
‘I can. I’m so lucky.’
The thought of it makes me sigh inwardly with pleasure.
‘So, what do you have planned for your last evening here?’ Dimitri asks.
‘Not an awful lot. A little more work here, I guess, putting some finishing touches to the kitchen. Planting the lavender bush out here.’
Phoebe is tidying up, clearing away paper plates when people have finished eating.
‘She will miss you, I think.’ Dimitri nods in her direction.
‘Do you think so? I know she has some friends here, and the people at church. It’s a shame she doesn’t have a best friend though,’ I say, thinking of her estrangement with Eliza.
I think of her kind gift then, that will look nice in the bathroom. I’ve gone for exposed brick on one wall and blue wall panels dotted with silver flecks that remind me of sunshine glinting on the sea. I know it will look just perfect and will take far less time than tiling the walls.
‘What time is your flight tomorrow?’ asks Dimitri.
‘Not until ten in the evening. I imagine I will leave around seven,’ I tell him, dearly wishing I could be here for longer.
‘Then I insist on taking you to the airport. I can take some time off tomorrow before you leave. Have you ever visited the Byzantine castle?’ he asks.
‘No, I haven’t. Phoebe told me about that actually, she reminded me about the beauty of the mountains, away from the seaside.’
