Some Like It Greek - Sue Roberts Page 0,23

along with a copy of Black Beauty for Liz because she liked horses. I wonder whether he’d have imagined I’d be standing here thinking about that book so many years later.

‘Isn’t that view just breathtaking,’ I sigh.

‘It is very beautiful,’ Demi agrees, despite it being a little chilly for her taste.

We’ve ordered two lattes that are served in long tall glasses as we peruse the food menu. Cheese features heavily and is included in sandwiches, fondues and cheesecakes. Eventually we settle on a dish called raclette which involves Swiss cheese placed on a grill of the same name and served over boiled potatoes.

When it arrives, I find the dish simple yet delicious and even Demi seems impressed, although she is far more taken with the apple custard cake that has a crunchy almond base.

‘I’ve always been a lover of desserts,’ she says as she scrapes the last of the custard from her plate with a spoon. ‘And yet my mother discouraged it, saying too much sugar would rot my teeth. I remember buying baklava and honey and almond buns from the bakery in the village, to eat alone before I got home.’

‘Always a rebel, then?’

‘I prefer to think of it as having a mind of my own,’ she replies with a smile.

‘Do you fancy a walk around before we head off?’ I ask.

‘It’s cold, though.’ Demi sips her coffee and pulls her cardigan tightly around her and shivers.

‘It is much cooler than France this morning, but that’s only because we’re so high up. The sun’s still shining. It’s hardly hot in Manchester, Demi, you should be used to it.’ I take the last spoonful of the delicious apple cake, the taste of cinnamon warm and welcoming.

‘I guess I am just a sun-worshipper; maybe it’s in my genes,’ she ponders and once again I wonder why Demi came to England in the first place. She spoke so lovingly of her childhood earlier, spending time on the beach with her sister and cousins and not long after she arrived in England, she opened the Greek café so she obviously longed to keep her Greek heritage alive. I find myself staring at her for a moment trying to work all these things out in my head.

‘What are you looking at?’ she asks when she notices me looking at her.

‘Nothing, really. I’m just glad I’m not doing this journey alone. I’m glad I have your company.’ I smile at her, and despite having to give up the larger bed in the van, I realise I really mean it. ‘Let’s get you into the Italian sunshine, then.’

‘I wasn’t sure I would come if I’m honest, but then…’ She hesitates for moment. ‘None of us are getting any younger. I would like to see some of my family before it’s too late. In truth, I thought maybe I would never see them again. I am so frightened of flying and then you asked me to travel with you. I believe it was meant to be.’ She raises her eyes heavenwards.

‘I think most things are,’ I reply, thinking about my own adventure and how it would never have been possible if I hadn’t been given the chance to take redundancy from the bank and reassess my life. When I looked through my father’s things I was inspired by his passion for travel as a young man, grabbing the chance to go off with his friends to see something of the world before he settled down. I had a glimpse of a life gone by and it was a wake-up call as to how little time we have on earth to do all the things we plan to.

I still can’t believe we’ve travelled this far already. Last night when Demi was sleeping, I took the map and a few photographs from my bag and found myself staring at the picture I had found with the postcard from Giorgios. The young girl with the long black hair is strikingly beautiful and looks a little familiar; I can’t help thinking what a small world it would be if she were to turn out to be one of Demi’s cousins.

We finish our food and as I settle the bill, I spot some postcards near the wooden counter so I buy a few. Even if I don’t send them, they will be a nice reminder of our journey when I get home. I take a few photographs of the scenic mountains before we climb back into the van.

I almost ask Demi again