Lydia ran inside as if her life depended on it.
Sofia placed the cushions in the appropriate places and watched as Maddie felt the woman’s brow and checked her heart rate.
‘Is she going to be OK?’
‘I think the old dragon’s just fainted, but let’s wait a moment.’
The woman stirred and moaned out loud at the sight of two women she barely knew hovering above her.
‘It’s OK.Eínai entáxei.’
Maddie had her care home voice on, but Sofia was so thankful she was here. When Lydia returned, Maddie instructed her to help sit the woman up and got her to sip the water.
‘I think your mother will be OK, but let’s get her into bed. I think you should call the doctor out to check her over, but my feeling is that she’s fine.’
‘Are you a nurse?’
‘No, I work in a care home, but I see this all the time. When older people get overexcited, they can easily faint.’
‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’
Sofia waited outside while Maddie and Lydia took the old woman into the house. She’d already called for the car. It would only add to the problem if she was in there as well. Itwas a shock to be hated by someone you barely knew; she’d only ever experienced it in court when a ruling went in favour of her client and against their spouse. But it certainly put her relationship with Adonis in a new light. There was no way she could fight that level of animosity.
Maddie appeared outside just as the car was pulling in. They climbed in in silence.
At the end of the road, Maddie slapped the seat in front of her.
‘Bloody hell!’
‘I know. Thank God you were with me.’
‘I thought people were exaggerating about Greek mothers and their sons.’
‘There’s certainly no way I’m planning to get between that particular Greek mother and her son. Do you think she’ll be OK?’
‘Yes, she was fine by the time I came out. She actually smiled and thanked me for helping her.’
‘Well, you’re not the one who’s corrupting her little boy with your mature womanly wiles.’
‘True.’
Sofia’s phone rang, and she fished it out of her bag.
‘Speak of the devil. Sis has obviously updated her big brother.’
Sofia listened for a few moments, nodding vigorously, before blowing a kiss down the phone and ending the call.
‘He says his mother has behaved very badly, and he’ll make it up to me tonight.’
Maddie raised her eyebrows.
‘Stop it!
Sofia smoothed down her skirt.
‘And the old bat seems perfectly fine now.’
After regaling Charlotte with the full horror of their morning, they opted for a casual lunch of calamari and Greek salad in the hotel, sitting out on the terrace.
