‘In a taxi on my way into the centre of Athens, with a colleague. Official lessons finished today, so before we start the private ones, we’ve nipped over for a night.’
‘Oooh, lovely. I’ll let you go then. Love you.’
‘Love you too. Speak soon.’
Anna had obviously listened to the whole conversation. Or Grace’s side of it at least. There was a puzzled look on her face.
‘If I’m not being rude, can I ask, who was that?’
It was a little bit rude, but Grace could hardly complain– they were sitting so close to each other that it would have been virtually impossible for Anna not to hear her call.
‘My youngest daughter, Flo. Both she and her sister, Lottie, are older than you are.’
‘Wow. I had no idea that you had grown-up daughters. Sorry if I’m being nosy here, but it sounded like you were making up after some sort of row.’
‘Correct.’
Grace wasn’t going to give Anna any more information than that. She was in a surreal situation, accompanying a young woman she barely knew to have an abortion, while encouraging her own daughter to go ahead with a potential pregnancy that could be fraught with problems.
It was time for her to be a little nosy too.
‘Do you get on well with your parents?’
Anna put her head on one side.
‘Yes, as long as I do and say what they want. They are very strict. We would never have a conversation like you’ve just had with your daughter. I know they love me, but they’re a bit… formal.’
‘What do they do for a living?’
‘They’re both in international finance. We have lived all round the world, which sounds glamorous, but often means that you don’t really spend enough time anywhere to put down roots. Hence my lack of friends to come with me now.’ Anna smiled. ‘I sometimes wonder if my parents should even have had children. Their life is all work, travel and expensive dinners.’
Grace patted the young woman’s arm.
‘You mustn’t say that. I’m sure they love you to bits.’
‘Yes, I’m being a bit mean. It’s just a lot of pressure. They’d like me to follow them into their world when I finish my Masters.’
‘What are you studying?’
‘Economics, which of course is perfect… for them.’
‘And what about for you?’
Anna sat back in her seat and closed her eyes against the sun.
‘I’ve realised these last few weeks that I’m falling in love with teaching. Because of my degree and my contacts…’ Anna opened her eyes again. They both knew what contacts, or rather contact, she was talking about. ‘I was given the chance to teach the little ones this summer, which was fun. But I’ve watched the other teachers, including you, Grace, and I’d love to teach different age groups too, all the way up to university level.’
Grace had a little smile to herself at the effect Anna would have on teenage boys. They’d certainly turn up for lessons.
‘Well, your degrees won’t be wasted if you eventually become a teacher.’
‘It’s not that.’ Anna opened her eyes and Grace could see the sadness in them. ‘I don’t think my parents would ever allow it.’
At Anna’s age, Grace had already been working for two years, and was living in a rented flat with her husband. She did worry that young people grew up a lot later these days.
‘Have you tried talking to them about it? You may be surprised. I’m sure they’d want you to be happy.’
‘Mmmm, maybe.’
