Grace had reached the door before she turned back to see the couple in a full-on snog. She closed the door softly and left them to it.
* * *
In her lunch break, Grace was too restless for a siesta. She needed to stretch her legs. At the bakery she bought a slice of nettle pie, which Will had given her a taste for on the picnic, and she picked a bench facing the yachts to eat it.
A text from Will came in just as she was about to take a bite.
On the boat to Antiparos. How did it go this morning?
Escaped by the skin of my teeth. You’ll have to put up with me a while longer.
Good, I think.
You think???
Good then. Any news on Karen?
Going to pop in there once I’ve eaten my pie.
What flavour?
Nettle. But don’t let it go to your head.
Yes!!!
Let me eat it in peace. I’ll send patient condition check later. And remember, I’m paying half the vet fees.
Maybe, but I do get a very special discount.
Grace wondered again if there was something more between Will and Angeliki. Or had been, at any rate. But again, none of her business. He was typing again.
Instead of paying half… when I’m back, you can buy me dinner.
Deal.
The island would definitely seem like a quieter place without him over the next week or so.
Grace waited at reception for Angeliki to finish treating whichever animal was closeted in with her. Luckily, because it was lunchtime, there were very few people about, and only one elderly Greek woman sitting there. Every now and again she would rake her hands over her worry beads on a string. Grace wasn’t sure if the woman could speak English. It certainly wasn’t a given for the older residents, although anyone under forty-five was more or less guaranteed to speak it well. The woman’s breathing was quite laboured, so Grace took the seat next to her.
‘Don’t worry, I’m sure it will be OK.’
The woman just let out a low moan.
Grace started an elaborate mime, pointing inside the surgery, doing a double thumbs-up and smiling like a maniac.
The woman just stared at her.
She was in the middle of repeating it, when the door opened and an ancient dog trotted out on rickety legs, the white hairs around its eyes giving it painted-on spectacles. The woman sank to her knees on the floor, her arms round the dog’s neck.
Angeliki emerged from behind the dog and helped the woman to her feet, speaking to her quietly in Greek, before taking her arm and guiding her to the door.
Grace waited in the corner.
‘Oh, hello. You’re Will’s friend, aren’t you?’
‘That’s right.’
Grace stared at the departing woman.
