Roxy has touched on her mom’s illness before. I didn’t ask her any details then because it felt wrong to pry into a virtual stranger’s life. ‘I’m sorry to hear your mom hasn’t been well. Is she doing better now?’ I kneel to the bottom shelf where there are a couple of books about the best spots to scuba dive in Santorini.
‘Much better. And I’m resolved to stay here for good. Having this scare, the possibility of losing my mom, really put things into perspective, you know? As much as we squabble, I love her to pieces and I feel like my place is here again, even if finding a man to love who isn’t a distant cousin is no small feat. Mom reminds me every day that my baby clock is ticking like a time bomb. Greek mothers – you’ve got no idea.’
I laugh. Roxy’s got a way of lightening the heaviest of subjects. However upbeat she is, it must’ve been a worrying time for the family. ‘I’m glad to hear she’s doing well now. I bet she’s happy you’re staying.’
‘She is. But even she knows the husband prospects around here are dire. You’re OK – you’re not related to any of them. You’ll have the pick of the bunch.’
Do I tell her about Georgios? Isn’t that what girlfriends do – share those intimate details about love and life? But what if he’s a distant cousin of Roxy’s and I accidentally blurt out a secret and she finds out it’s all fake? My name would be mud and Gran’s too. Better to hold off for now. Once again that same guilt creeps up on me. ‘I wish I could but I’m at capacity with book boyfriends right now.’
She lets out a sputtery laugh. ‘You really do have the perfect life.’
This isn’t my real life though, is it? ‘This is sort of an enforced limbo. I was made redundant from my job and sent here to spy on Gran by my interfering family. I’m only staying until I find another book scout job.’
‘What’s a book scout?’
‘I read romance novels that can be developed into film adaptations. I worked for Hollywood Films before they pivoted into superhero movies, making my position untenable.’ Gah. It still hurts.
‘Wow, there’s a job for that?’
‘Right? I was in editorial before that. Book scouting – that is something else. I finally felt like I’d found my place in the world. Feet on my desk, nose pressed in a book, just me and the words on the page as I imagined them being spoken on the big screen. Heady stuff.’
‘You’re my hero.’
‘I’m a redundant book scout though.’
‘It’s only a blip. Soon you’ll be back in La La Land doing what you love …’
I smile at her encouragement.
An idea springs to mind. ‘Roxy why don’t you do some freelance work for us?’ I gulp. What does that sort of thing cost? Surely we’d recoup those fees with the customers she’d bring in? ‘I’m not exactly great with marketing. In fact I’d say I’m terrible at it. I’m not even sure where to begin aside from the obvious, and the Epeolatry launch really needs to be a showstopper for us to make this place a viable business.’
‘I’d love to help! I can get the word out there with magazines, newspapers, digital and hardcopy. Set up radio interviews. I’d be happy to do it gratis; seriously it would give me something to do and fire up those parts of my brain that have gone to sleep since I got back.’
While I’m thrilled with the offer, the thought of being interviewed on radio is enough to send me into a tailspin. I’d freeze, I’d croak, I’d make a mockery of the whole thing by being me. ‘Umm …’
I must look green around the gills because Roxy picks up on it. ‘What is it? Oh. You don’t like the limelight, do you?’
‘It’s not that I don’t like it, more that I actively despise it.’
She lets out a loud snort-laugh. ‘I get it. I can speak for you, if you want? I’d love to dip my hand back in. Perhaps I can build up my own part-time PR and marketing company here in Santorini. I could use the launch as a way of testing my connections and you can have my skills for free. What do you say?’
‘I’d say yes, all your help will be gratefully accepted. But not for free. We can’t allow that.’
‘OK.’ She taps her chin and then snaps her fingers. ‘How about I get lifetime membership to Epeolatry?’
I give her a wide smile. ‘Done. Gran will really appreciate this, Roxy. And we can also sort some form of payment for your help.’
‘Nah, it’s the least I can do if I’m going to mooch around here all summer.’
I take her on a tour of Epeolatry, which she is suitably blown away by.
*
Later that evening there’s a text from Georgios.
Meet at the beach noon tomorrow?
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d become a regular beachgoer. Georgios makes it fun. Fun enough I can get over the lack of clothing, the crowds, the heat and the intensity of being social.
