‘Dhenbirazi.’ It doesn’t matter. What didn’t matter? Her frankly tiny delicate hand in his, igniting his palm and sending heat everywhere else?
‘I mean,’ Kostas began again, trying to regroup, ‘I should be clear. The purpose of my trip means that I would like to combine seeing the local sites and relaxing and obviously there is a small business element too and?—’
‘No family?’ she asked.
He was thrown by the question but only for a second. ‘No.’ There was no reason to elaborate but she wasn’t saying anything else, seconds elongating until:
‘I will make some time this afternoon. Say three o’clock?’
He nodded. ‘That works. So, where are we going?’
‘Obviously to buy an air fryer.’ She waved a hand. ‘Ta léme. See you.’
10
AVLAKI BEACH, AVLAKI
‘…and this is my paradise!’
Faye’s feet crunched over the stones as she stepped onto the beach and spread her arms wide like she was gathering up the whole cove in the biggest embrace. It was the afternoon now, the sea was sparkling, there were a few boats bobbing to their left at the hire company and there were tourists stretched on loungers or towels, some with parasols fluttering above them in the afternoon breeze. And across the pebbles was the area of Erimitis, paths to hike that took you into the heart of the unique Corfu countryside and all its bountiful glory. As she enjoyed that feeling of deep joy in her belly and across her shoulders as she took in her favourite view, she realised there had been no reply to her declaration. She turned around and saw Kostas, phone out, eyes on the screen – not on all the natural delights Avlaki beach had to offer. It reminded her of one time Matthew had taken a Zoom call when they were meant to be teaching Saffron how to windsurf. Faye had tried to help Saffron; they had laughed and cried, fallen out, made up and promised never to ever do it again and, when they got back to the beach, Matthew had still been talking about growth in pension pots. Now, leftover annoyance from that moment nibbled at her.
‘Hey!’ she called.
She watched him lift his head from his device.
‘The view is here! You need to be on the beach to appreciate it properly!’
And there were many things she could be doing rather than showing someone around who was unappreciative, even though he was the one who had demanded this.
‘Signómi,’ he said. ‘Sorry. An email I needed to read.’
‘Needed to? Or wanted to?’ she asked. It had come out bitter.
‘Well,’ Kostas said. ‘It actually arrived when you were introducing me to the cats. What was the fat cat called again?’
‘He’s not fat. He’s big-boned.’ She paused. ‘He’s called Chungus.’
‘I didn’t want to read the email while Chungus was sniffing my hand as if it was lunch. He looked like he could eat my fingers and my phone.’
‘Do you hate cats?’
‘No. I love cats. Like you do.’
‘I didn’t say I love cats.’
‘Faye, you talk to them like they are your children.’ He put on a voice. ‘Yássou, Chungusmou.Éla,Kyría Doh-Doh, koukla mou.’
‘It’s Mrs Po-Po, not Mrs Doh-Doh.’
‘Don’t tell her I got it wrong when you are rocking her in your arms tonight telling her a bedtime story like she is your baby.’
‘Maláka,’ Faye said on instinct. She regretted it instantly. In its most polite form it meant ‘dumbass’ but it could also be considerably more insulting, and it definitely wasn’t something to be saying to a VIP guest.
‘Wow, OK.’
‘Sorry,’ Faye said. ‘I didn’t mean that. It’s my… very bad Greek and?—’
He laughed hard. ‘You speak very good Greek, Faye. And you very much did mean it. Let’s be honest about that.’
