Desperately Seeking Summer

by Mandy Baggot

  ‘Melody’s Melody, Mum. Whatever she says what she’s really going to mean is she’s happy for you.’ Abby smiled again. ‘And I’m happy for you. George is lovely, and he makes the best food.’

  ‘Oi,’ Jackie exclaimed. ‘I put on quite the spread the other morning.’

  Abby laughed, but then her attention was directed to the terrace. She had sensed him, then smelt him – that heavenly combination of olive wood, citrus fruits and Adonis – before she caught sight of him. Theo.

  ‘Mrs Dolan … kalispera,’ he greeted Jackie.

  ‘It’s Jackie, Theo, and kalispera to you too.’ She smiled. I take it you want my daughter and not me.’

  ‘I—’ he began.

  ‘Don’t be stupid. Let me go inside and start shutting the office down. It’s time we went home. After today, I’m absolutely exhausted.’ Jackie headed into the office while Theo came closer to the table.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Abby asked. ‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.’

  ‘Not a ghost,’ Theo said, shifting uneasily. ‘My father.’

  ‘He’s here?’ Abby asked, getting to her feet.

  Theo nodded. ‘He was at the villa when I got back.’

  ‘So, he’s going to want some action on the house, isn’t he?’ Abby stated, whipping herself up into organisation mode. ‘That’s why he’s here. I should tell Mum.’

  ‘Abby, wait,’ Theo said, reaching for her hand. ‘I want to do something for you.’ He swallowed. ‘I want to …’ The breath seemed to be catching in his throat. ‘Erikousa … let me take everyone to Erikousa. On the Pappas boat.’

  Abby looked at him, unsure of what response to give.

  ‘You need to get five people to the island, you don’t have the money …’

  ‘Actually, it’s eight, with me, Mum and Melody.’

  ‘It seats ten, Abby. We can get to the island faster. It will make more time for sightseeing, no?’

  His expression was such a contradiction. There was excitement and enthusiasm but there was also something else, urgency, trepidation …

  ‘Theo, as much as I need a way out of this dilemma …’ Abby wasn’t quite sure what to say.

  ‘Let me help,’ he begged. ‘I really want to help.’ He seemed to need her to agree. Why couldn’t she? What should hold her back? Especially after her talk with her mum about wasted opportunities and missed connections? But what of their unfinished conversation about money and what she thought he was holding in …

  ‘Are you totally sure?’ Abby asked. ‘We must pay you something.., for your time and the fuel and—’

  ‘I do not want anything,’ Theo said, taking her in his arms. ‘Just give me the chance to go somewhere beautiful with you.’

  Abby lay her head on his chest and felt his hot, hard body against her. Corfu was providing her with no end of never-before-tasted stimuli but, a little like her mum back in the seventies, she wasn’t quite sure what came next.

  Fifty-seven

  San Stefanos Harbour

  ‘You do have the proper licences, don’t you?’ Diana asked, looking Theo up and down a few days later as he helped the Desperately Seeking raffle winners board the Pappas boat.

  ‘I do,’ Theo answered, taking her hand and assisting her.

  ‘I mean for boat craft,’ Diana continued. ‘Not cocktail-making.’

  It was the kind of July day made for postcards. No clouds were interfering with the clear blue sky, the sea was a flat calm, not a hint of white caps and it was deliciously hot. Abby couldn’t wait to get to Erikousa, strip off her sundress and dive into the tempting ocean again. She had been reliving that first tip-toe into the water at Logas Beach for the past few days while things had gone crazy with the business, and there hadn’t been any time for finding that holiday vibe she had only touched upon. After the party, people had made contact. She had done viewing after viewing on a three-bedroomed villa in Kalami – borrowing George’s car to get there when Jackie’s had appeared to stroke out – and there had been plenty of interest in the Pappas Villa. She had even met Dinis Pappas – in a purely official capacity, what other capacity was there really? He had been tinkering with a motorbike when she had brought a family round for a viewing and she had found him quite pleasant, businesslike, but not without being personable. He had let the child of the family sit on the bike and pretend to ride it.

  But the one thing she hadn’t had enough time for was Theo. He had been working at The Blue Vine, making up for the shifts he missed to help her out, earning more time off for today, and she really did want to spend time with him, especially as she had a decision to make. An email had reminded her the lease on her flat was up soon. She either needed to sign for another six months or … not. The likelihood was she still wasn’t quite brave enough to start living in Greece, so every extra moment she could get with Theo was going to be precious. This break was turning into the summer adventure she’d never had. It was hard work, but so rewarding, and all the moments spent with her mum, her sister and this captivating man more than made up for the feet- and brainache at the end of the day.

  ‘I have all the licences needed for boat craft,’ Theo reassured Diana, helping her down and on to the boat.

  ‘Is everyone here?’ Abby asked, looking from the dock to the occupants inside.

  ‘I am here!’ Spyridoula raised her hand.

  ‘I am also here,’ Mrs Karakis said. ‘Still wishing that Roberto was here.’ She sighed heavily.

  ‘We have Theo,’ Spyridoula reminded. ‘If Erikousa isn’t enough for us he can do some more Pappas dancing.’

  ‘That will not be happening,’ Theo said firmly but politely.

  ‘Mum,’ Abby said, turning to Jackie. ‘Where’s George?’

  ‘He won’t be long. He wanted to bring some extra water, it’s going to be hot today.’

  Her mum looked completely radiant today in a bright, custard-yellow dress that lightly curved over her figure and stopped at her knee. Her tanned legs were enhanced with gold wedges that elongated her frame. Jackie was getting ready to live again, not just as a mum and a business owner, but as a woman in the prime of her life, looking for romance with a man she had loved for a very long time. Abby couldn’t have been happier for her.

  ‘Did someone say water?’ Melody remarked, appearing on the dock, each arm laden with a carrier bag. ‘I’ve got ouzo, retsina and … Metaxa was on special offer.’ She shook her mane of hair and smiled at everyone on the boat. Large sunglasses covered most of her face, but her body was barely covered in mini denim shorts and a red polka dot bikini top. Abby had one of Melody’s more substantial bikinis under her sundress but she had no intention of stripping it off until her party were happily disembarked on the nearby island.

  ‘Abby,’ Theo called. ‘How many do we wait for?’

  He was stood on the helm of the boat looking particularly gorgeous in linen shorts, Havaianas on his feet, wearing another vest top – this time dark grey – that looked like it had been slashed up the sides in order to reveal his hot, tanned obliques.

  ‘There’s George,’ Abby said. ‘And someone called Mastik.’

  ‘Oh no!’ It was her mum’s voice sounding panicked and Abby’s attention went back to Jackie.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Abby asked. ‘Have we forgotten something?’ They were only going eight nautical miles, Erikousa was quiet but there was life there … and a hotel.

  ‘What’s Aleko doing here?’ Jackie gritted her teeth together. ‘Why is he carrying a parasol and why does he look like he’s heading to our boat?’

  Abby looked to the shore, the part where harbourside met dock, and there was Aleko, carrying a large straw basket in one hand, a bright pink parasol underneath his arm. As he manoeuvred along, the end of the protruding umbrella almost took the hat off a woman sat on the beach reading a book.

  ‘He didn’t wanging win!’ Melody remarked. ‘He didn’t even come to the party. He spent the whole time trying to disrupt our party wit
h his stupid fake, non-Greek Caribbean band.’ She sniffed. ‘Where’s Mastik from the launderette in Acharavi?’

  ‘You know Mastik?’ Abby asked.

  ‘Who do you think does our washing? Mum doesn’t have a machine and you know she’s never going to go old school and wash her pants in the sea.’

  ‘Kalimera, everybody!’ Aleko waved a hand and the parasol fell from his grip and landed on the dock.

  ‘Have you come to see us off, Aleko? Wish our prize-winners well on their day trip to beautiful, tranquil, picturesque Erikousa?’ Jackie asked him.

  ‘No,’ Aleko answered, all smiles. ‘I have come to join you.’

  ‘No way,’ Melody stated immediately. ‘This is a private excursion. For raffle prize-winners only.’

  ‘I realise this,’ Aleko said, still continuing to grin. ‘It is unfortunate but Mastik could not make the trip today. One of his tumble driers, it does not tumble, or dry, so he offered me his place.’

  ‘No,’ Melody said at once. ‘No, no, no, no, no!’

  ‘Melody,’ Jackie interrupted.

  ‘What? He’s coming to spy,’ Melody said loudly, narrowly her eyes at Aleko.

  Abby watched their mum take her by the arm, pulling her to one side as Aleko approached the vessel. Abby shifted closer as Jackie dropped her voice to those low tones she’d used when admonishing them ‘privately’ in public when they were children. She remembered one particular hissy fit Melody had had over Uncle Ben’s Boil in the Bag in the middle of Tesco.

  ‘What is he going to spy on, Melody?’ Jackie asked.

  ‘We’re going to give out our new special August offers and drop some at the hotel on Erikousa.’

  ‘Aleko is going to see those anyway when we take them all over town. Just like we saw all the promo about his spa days.’

  ‘But—’ Melody began.

  ‘Mel, let’s just show him how Desperately Seeking entertain their clients. We can talk endlessly about all the deals we’ve done this week, let him know that the Dolans are a force to be reckoned with,’ Abby suggested brightly.

  ‘We are, aren’t we?’ Melody said. ‘Now we have you on our team, Abs, things are going to go next level for us.’

  ‘Well … I don’t know how much I’ve really had to do with it,’ Abby said.

  ‘It’s all down to you,’ Melody said. ‘Before you came we were down to our last thousand euros and I was dribbling all over a greasy Russian.’ She pulled a face. ‘What was I thinking?’

  ‘Well …’

  ‘Melody, why don’t you go and get on the boat and hand out those Erikousa information sheets and the picture quiz?’ Jackie suggested.

  ‘Did you add that picture of Clare Balding mixed with a horse?’ Melody asked with a snigger.

  ‘Just be nice to Aleko,’ Jackie ordered, as Melody sashayed towards the helm.

  Jackie let out a sigh then and looked at Abby. ‘Don’t listen to her, Abby.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘And don’t listen to me either.’

  ‘I—’

  ‘I know what I said the other day, but as much as I would love to have you here in Corfu with us it isn’t my decision to make. Nor is it Melody’s.’

  ‘Oh,’ Abby said, realising the purpose of this conversation.

  ‘And although George and I are having … tentative beginnings … it doesn’t mean that every Greek romance is going to last beyond summer, not that I don’t like Theo or can’t see his attraction.’

  Abby watched her mum’s eyes go to Theo who was looking particularly resplendent against the backdrop of cobalt sky and shimmering sea, strands of hair from his loose man bun fluttering against his face.

  ‘He’s very lovely,’ Jackie said softly.

  ‘I have thought about staying.’ Abby carried on quickly before her mum got her hopes up. ‘But I haven’t decided yet.’

  Jackie did well to mask her crestfallen look and instantly Abby sensed all those conflicted feelings doing battle like they were warring factions in Britannia.

  ‘But, Mum,’ she said, her voice almost a whisper. ‘If I do decide to stay it won’t be for any man, no matter how lovely.’

  ‘Mum!’ Melody bawled. ‘George is coming now. Get on the boat!’

  ‘Shall I put up my parasol for you, Diana?’ Aleko called. ‘Look! Look how pink it is. Jackie, does it not perhaps remind you of something?’

  ‘Er,’ Melody jumped in. ‘The colour of your embarrassed face when we win the Estate Agent of the Year award?’

  ‘All aboard then everyone,’ Jackie said, waving to George.

  Fifty-eight

  En route to Erikousa

  Theo took a long, slow breath inwards, filling his chest cavity to the max. He had distracted himself making small talk with the guests as they readied themselves for the trip, trying his best to ignore the fact that every bit of him was wanting to scream to a stop. Not start the engine, drop the anchor, re-tie the rope to the dock and run away. No one could know this was a do-or-die moment for him, that every receptor in his body was shaking so strongly, quaking at him to give in. Although he suspected Spyridoula had her suspicions. Each time he turned a little from the sea to check the passengers, her eyes were on him. And, when this happened, he pretended his feet were glued to the deck so his leg didn’t wince.

  ‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’ It was his aunt, at the wheel next to him, her carefully pinned hair whipped out of its gripped security. ‘Nothing like Athens.’

  ‘Or Halkidiki,’ Theo added.

  ‘Corfu, it is special,’ Spyridoula agreed. ‘And your mother, she thought so too.’

  Theo held onto the steel wheel a little tighter, his thoughts jarring, his mind drifting back to his childhood, so little of it containing memories of his mother. No one talked about her much unless they were drunk on ouzo and in the mood to reminisce. And that was where most of his knowledge came from – old photographs and other people’s stories.

  ‘She hated the villa though,’ Spyridoula continued. ‘She told Dinis it was like parading his ego up and down the street in front of everyone.’

  ‘She hated it?’

  ‘Too showy. Too big. That was not your mother at all.’

  ‘No,’ Theo agreed.

  ‘She lived life for the experience, the joy, not all the things that money can buy.’

  ‘What are you trying to tell me, Spyri?’

  ‘That perhaps your father sells the villa because he wants to remember your mother, not because he wants to forget her.’

  Theo gazed out onto the water, the island coming into sight as, behind him, the party of travellers broke into a raucous rendition of a song he did not recognise.

  ‘I know you have been leaving early and working late into the morning to avoid talking to him,’ Spyridoula said.

  ‘It has been very busy at The Blue Vine.’

  ‘You cannot avoid each other forever.’

  ‘It will not be forever,’ Theo said. ‘Soon he will have to return to the mainland and the villa will be sold. I do not know which will come first but the result is the same.’

  ‘And is that the right way forward? To have unrest in the family? Is that what you think your mother would have wanted?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘Then talk to him.’

  ‘And have him tell me he has a fake job waiting for me?’

  ‘Theo … he is just worried about you.’

  Spyridoula held onto the stanchion by the wheel as the boat steamed along. ‘He called me this morning, said he was worried about you taking the boat out today.’

  He shook his head and focused. He had been worried too, petrified, in fact. A row of sleepless nights invaded by nightmares of that day on the sea and the capsizing. His nose flooded with salt water, his lungs and eyes burning, breath taken from him, feeling panicked and desperate … But he couldn’t give in. He couldn’t let the fear win and he could not, would not lose a point of principle to his father. And, Abby needed him to captain this tri
p and look after everyone on board and that was what he intended to do. For her and for his own sanity and to prove to everyone he was still capable.

  ‘Are you worried about me, Spyri?’ Theo asked, looking at her.

  ‘About you driving the boat?’ She shook her head. ‘No.’ Then she took a breath. ‘But about the future, about you and my brother … yes.’

  Theo took a moment, checking the boat’s course, watching for traffic, then he said, ‘Stamatis told me to ask you about bougatsa.’

  He watched the colour drain from his aunt’s cheeks as if she had suddenly developed sea sickness. Immediately he knew it was the wrong moment. He had thrown it out spitefully, in retaliation, even though he had no idea what it was all about.

  ‘Excuse me, Captain, but I think I will rejoin the party now.’ Spyridoula turned slowly, making her way to the back of the boat.

  ‘Spyri, listen, I …’ he began. It was too late. His aunt was already repositioning herself next to Mrs Karakis.

  Fifty-nine

  Erikousa Island

  Melody had screamed hysterically every time Theo had picked up a little speed and then she had laughed, full-bodied, with all her soul. A lot less vocally, Abby had felt that same impassioned surge of excitement. The salt spray from the ocean licked her face, and the hot sun and scent of aniseed aperitif became a glorious summer mix that invigorated every sense.

  They had docked in Porto, the main settlement of the island, tying up to the concrete pontoon already rich with boats, some like the Pappas boat, others larger and looking like they could contain scores of day trippers. All the passengers had disembarked safely and had been told they would be leaving no later than 4pm to ensure they were back on Corfu before the afternoon wind picked up.

  And now Abby was standing on golden sand, pressing her feet into the warm grains, letting the feel of it soak through her. Could there be any better feeling? Being here on a beautiful paradise island, the sun on her skin, the sea so inviting, all worries suspended. She closed her eyes, relishing the way the sunshine uplifted her spirits. Could she stay in Greece? What would she do here? Fall into the business with her mum and Melody or strike out on her own? Do something else …