They finally made it downstairs in time for a late lunch.
‘How are you two lovebirds?’ Carole looked a lot better than she had this time yesterday.
Matt tried not to wince. He desperately wantedthe lovebird description to be right, but it kind of felt like they needed to feel their way to firmer ground with their relationship, if it could be described as a relationship yet, and it didn’t feel like a running commentary from Carole would help. Today, he just wanted to enjoy these moments with Lily.
‘Let’s eat outside,’ Carole said. Yeah, it looked like enjoying these moments was going to include Carole.
When they were sitting at the table on the terrace with way more food than three people could reasonably eat, Carole said, ‘Have you heard from Norm?’ Dammit. Matt should have discussed with Lily what to say to about that, but he’d obviously got sidetracked.
‘Um.’ He cleared his throat. ‘He’s on Naxos. Not too far away.’
‘What’s he doing?’ Carole barked.
‘Playing golf.’ He glanced at Lily, who was frowning and signalling with her eyes. Yeah, he shouldn’t have said that.
‘Nice to know he’s frigging enjoying himself,’ said Carole.
‘I wouldn’t say enjoying himself,’ Matt said, a little desperately.
‘He loves golf.’ Carole speared a tomato viciously. ‘More than me, it seems.’
‘Um.’ Matt took a slice of olive bread. ‘This bread smells delicious.’
Lily said, ‘Carole, if Norm had seen you here last night he’d have thought you were having a fabulous time with your friends.’
‘I actually did have a fabulous time.’ Carole cut a piece of ham even more viciously than the tomato.
‘Exactly,’ Lily said, ‘but some might say you’re missing Norm. I don’t think him playing golf means that he isn’t missing you, I think it probably means that he’s trying to pretend that he did the right thing leaving and is trying to keep himself happy. I reckon he’s actually really upset. I mean, why would he bother texting Matt otherwise?Maybehe was trying to make a point, knowing that Matt would tell you.’
‘There might be something in that.’ Carole helped herself to some salad, less angrily. She pointed at the feta. ‘Try some of that cheese with the bread. Oh, I should have told you immediately: the ferries are back on. Fully operational. You’re more than welcome to stay as long as you like – you know I’d always love to have you here – but I know you have work commitments both of you. I’d maybe sort your Athens-to-London flights before you leave here, but I think you’ll be able to get on a ferry this afternoon and that might be easier than flying from here to Athens. Maybe check the flights from the ferry terminal. They shouldn’t be too booked up on a Tuesday evening. Maybe best to go as soon as possible so that you don’t miss out?’
‘It’s like shewantsus to leave,’ said Lily when Carole had shooed them away from the table and said that she absolutely wouldn’t hear of them helping to clear lunch up. ‘Hopefully because she’s planning to call Norm, not because she wants to wallow. Or have toomuchfun.’
Within only a couple of hours, they were sitting on the deck of a ferry, flights changed to that night, waving off Carole, who’d driven them down to the harbour.
‘She definitely wanted us to leave,’ Lily said.
Matt nodded. ‘She did.’ And no bad thing, because right now he just wanted to be with Lily without his aunt observing them the whole time. ‘So, can we meet up in London? Very soon?’
‘I’d like that.’ Lily tipped her head back to smile at him and then reached up to kiss him on the lips.
They spent the ferry trip laughing, talking about nothing serious, gazing and marvelling at the scenery – islands and the sparkling, almost-navy sea – and, really, just enjoying each other’s company.
The taxi journey from the port at Piraeus to the airport was on paper a lot less scenic and a lot less comfortable but in practice just perfect because they were together. Matt remembered this feeling from the past, that he’d enjoy, or at least be able to deal with, just about anything as long as he was sharing the experience with Lily.
‘Quick.’ They’d got to the airport and were running as fast as they could with their cases to make it to the check-in in time to get the flight they’d both switched to. Lily’s ludicrously full bag kept falling off her shoulder as they ran but she was insistent that Matt shouldn’t carry it.
They stopped in front of the check-in screen and Matt started tapping while Lily rummaged for her passport inside her bag. ‘Aisle?’ In the past she’d always liked to sit in the aisle so that she could pretend she was on a train and not far too many dangerous thousands of feet up above solid ground.
‘Of course.’
They wandered the duty-free shops hand-in-hand and it felt great. It couldn’t have been any better if they’d been shopping on Athens’ fanciest shopping street, because it was just about being together.
‘Which one?’ Lily held up the back of her hand with three lipstick stripes on it.
Matt opened his mouth to say the furthest right one, and then remembered lessons learned the hard way. Most recently yesterday with Carole. Sometimes there was no value in sharing your own opinions fully. ‘Which one doyoulike?’ he asked.
‘I think the middle one.’
