Page 15 of Old Girls Go Greek
‘That’s a shame. I’m told you know all about the Minoans. Ancient history, that sort of stuff. And I’d love to hear all about it.’
‘I know some of it, yes,’ he said.
We stood looking at each other for a few seconds until the silence became a bit awkward.
‘Do I know you from somewhere? Because you look really familiar.’
He hesitated and then imperceptibly started to close the door.
‘I won’t keep you. Have a good evening. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Well, my female powers of persuasion evidently needed a new battery. I left him to it and hurried to catch up with the others, who were already halfway down the road.
The thought that I knew him from somewhere nagged at the back of my mind. Had he been a neighbour of ours? Had he been in a boy band perhaps, or had he been a child actor or a disgraced politician? Nothing seemed to fit, and I was usually good at remembering faces.
* * *
When we arrived, The Blue Sea restaurant was empty except for us. And we did have a really pleasant evening. The group seemed to be already splitting into two smaller groups – Dennis, June and Susan had cosied up to Jillian at one end of the table and the four of us were down the other. Jillian evidently had not got over her resentment that we had not gone along on her introductory walk and occasionally sent tight-lipped looks down the table towards us.
‘Now, this boat trip to St Joseph’s beach,’ Anita asked at one point. ‘I like the sound of that. Where does that go from, Jillian?’
‘Well, of course, and I hate to repeat myself, butifyou had come on the guided walk this afternoon, you would know,’ she called back with another of her frosty smiles. ‘At the far end of the harbour. There’s a little shed there with a red star painted on the door.’
‘Does that mean it’s also a Russian safe house?’ Beryl chuckled, and Effie roared with laughter and leaned against her.
Jillian paused with a prawn halfway to her mouth and fixed her with a puzzled look.
‘Don’t mind me, Jillian, I’ve watched too many James Bond films.’
Jillian gave a heavy sigh. ‘The Greeks believe red is associated with change, and of course I am hoping this is what you will all find here. Change for the better.’
‘I hope so too,’ Dennis said. ‘I’ve been feeling my work is in need of inspiration.’
‘And this is exactly the place to find that,’ Jillian said with an approving nod in his direction.
‘It’s very beautiful, I must say,’ Susan said. ‘I think it’s going to make all the difference.’
‘As long as you don’t just paint flowers and kittens?’ Dennis said.
Susan pulled a face. ‘There’s nothing wrong with kittens?—’
‘Oooh, there are kittens that sleep on the canopy over my balcony,’ I said.
Susan turned in her chair with a delighted smile and started telling me all about her cat who was nineteen and liked to sleep in the vegetable rack.
‘Oh for pity’s sake,’ Dennis said with a sigh.
* * *
I walked happily back through the warm streets to our hotel later that evening, full from my absolutely delicious meal (chicken souvlaki and tzatziki). I was feeling unbelievably positive and unexpectedly happy about the week ahead. Delighted to be here and excited about the prospects of the following day when apparently we would be treated to some wonderful views, a taste of ancient history and time to relax. It all sounded exactly what I wanted, and I began to wonder why on earth I hadn’t done something like this sooner. I only hoped my limited artistic ability would improve as the days went on.
Some of the group were obviously taking the experience a lot more seriously than we were and had been earnestly discussing the various shades of blue needed to capture the essence of our Mediterranean dream. The benefits of indigo verses phthalocyanine, whether cerulean had any place here or should it be washed cobalt? I just nodded and looked thoughtful as these discussions went on, wondering if I should hide Nicky’s school tin of watercolours from the possibility of scrutiny by Jillian. Perhaps I should have bought something more impressive than an empty Play-Doh pot to hold my water?
Back at Hotel Costas, the four of us decided to go back up to the roof terrace so that we could look at the night sky somewhere without light pollution.
When we got up there, all the lights were on and we couldn’t see the stars at all.
Anita waved towards the wall. ‘There’s a light switch somewhere, over there by the bins. I bet if we turn everything off we will see the sky far better. There aren’t that many streetlights around here.’
