I think about my own gran then, and how I also like to look out for her.
‘What a lovely thing to do,’ says Patsy as she sips her coffee. ‘Well, it looks like I will be spending the night here too, if Irene is,’ she says. ‘No sense in going all the way back to theapartment, to be here again at first light. Besides, I wouldn’t settle.’
‘Then let me ask if there is a guest bed. Or at least a more comfortable chair,’ insists Andreas, as he approaches a passing nurse.
‘What a lovely young man,’ says Patsy. ‘And nice thighs,’ she says, noting his strong legs clad in football shorts. I can’t help but laugh as I think of Irene’s comment about the side effects of Patsy’s HRT.
I try to imagine what Patsy would do if anything were to happen to Irene, and dearly hope she will make a full recovery. Patsy never had children, and throughout her life Irene has been a close friend as well as a cousin.
‘Here we are.’ Andreas returns a short while later, carrying a fold-up bed; a nurse behind him has some bedding and pillows. In no time at all, he has set up the bed next to Irene in the spacious room.
‘Oh my goodness, I can’t thank you enough,’ she says to Andreas. ‘Here, at least let me buy you a coffee or something.’ She peels a ten-euro note from her purse, but he holds his hand up in protest.
‘Really, there is no need,’ he insists. ‘I hope Irene gets well soon. I am sure she will,’ he says positively.
Seeing Irene settled, I take Andreas up on a lift back to my apartment.
‘Thank you so much for the help,’ I tell him once more as we head towards the hospital exit. We soon arrive at his Audi.
‘It was no problem. And it has me wondering why we keep running into each other. Perhaps it is written in the stars.’
‘What is?’
‘I’m not sure.’ He cocks his head to one side and regards me as he starts the engine. ‘But I think I quite like being in your company.’
‘You think?’ I laugh, realising that I feel the same way. He is just so funny and easy, and not just on the eye. I feel completely relaxed around him.
‘I am sure.’ He nods. ‘Is that better?’
‘Much better, thank you.’ I can almost feel the heat rising in my cheeks, and hope it doesn’t show.
‘So how much longer will you be here in Santorini?’ he asks as we make our way out of the hospital grounds.
‘For a few more days,’ I tell him, having decided when I booked that I would have just over a week here.
‘And do you have plans?’ he asks me as we join a main road.
‘My friend will be returning from her honeymoon tomorrow, so I will spend the day with her catching up.’
‘But the day after that? Maybe you are free?’ he enquires.
‘I could be,’ I find myself saying.
‘Then perhaps I could take you to the beach where I collect driftwood,’ he suggests. ‘It is my day off the day after tomorrow. Sometimes I find sea glass too.’
‘I like the sound of that,’ I tell him, imagining how lovely it would be to go beachcombing with him.
‘So you will join me?’
‘Yes, why not.’
‘Perfect.’ He smiles.
It’s late as we drive, and I stifle a yawn as I struggle to keep my eyes open, although that may be down to the alcohol I consumed earlier. The roads are quiet at this hour and, in no time at all, Andreas is dropping me outside my apartment.
He takes my phone number, and tells me he will text me. ‘Oh, and I will bring a picnic,’ he says to my surprise.
I head to my room in a daze. Have I just agreed to go on a date with Andreas? I’m not exactly sure how that happened, yet it felt so natural. And no date of mine has ever prepared a picnic.
