Chapter Eighteen
The forecourt in front of KATS was filled with visitors of all ages and many nationalities, all enjoying the shelter’s open afternoon. Kostas and two colleagues lifted excited children up onto the stationary fire truck they’d driven down earlier, carefully placing fireman’s helmets on their heads, which elicited delighted squeals. Alison and Gladys manned the cake stall—fifty cents for a slice of chocolate, coffee and walnut, lemon drizzle, carrot or cherry fruit cake, and €1 for a ginger spiced bun or an iced cupcake, all proceeds to go to the shelter—served to a snaking line of people. Sally had been an absolute gem and rocked up with two giant Russian tea urns, though the tea brewing inside was English Breakfast and served the traditional British way with milk from jugs. She also had homemade lemonade and an array of favourite British biscuits—digestives, bourbons, ginger nuts, and shortbreads—donated free of charge by the mini-market, something Alison cannily pointed out would be a great advertisement for the shop, and so there was a placard on the trestle table proclaiming it.
Theo and Até stood at the entrance to the shelter, Theo holding a collection bucket where visitors could throw in coins as extra donations. He’d wanted his pet to wear her special knitted doggie jacket today, and had to be persuaded it would be too warm for her on this sunny, mellow September afternoon.
Frankie, along with Pavlos, was doing guided tours of the feline and canine inmates’ quarters. She was just gathering together a party to take through to the cats’ area when she spotted a face she recognized at the rear. The tall girl with long, platinum-blonde hair and ice-blue eyes had been draped around Nik’s neck that night Frankie had gone to Artemis AK to apologize to him. She stood out amongst the families, dressed as she was in a crop top that displayed her flat brown stomach above teeny-tiny Daisy Dukes, and high wedge sandals that made the most of her endless tanned legs. Maybe she was a cat lover, but something about the way the girl looked around her with febrile eyes, as though she was expecting to see something or somebody, that caught Frankie’s attention.
The group spent about twenty minutes oohing and aahing over the cats, many of which loved the attention, parading about in their runs, tails up, and pressing their noses against the netting and purring loudly. The girl in the short shorts stood back, her gaze often shifting to the door.
As everyone made their way back out into the reception room, Nik arrived. Frankie instantly felt her stomach somersault in that way she knew so well. She and he had become inseparable since she had agreed to resume their relationship last week; they couldn’t get enough of one another. But the wonderful thing was, she knew now that she had all of him; he’d said he loved her, and he wasn’t holding a part of him back anymore.
“Hey.” He came over and kissed her. “This is great. There are so many people!”
She leaned into him and drank in the musky-cologne smell of him. “Yes, actually, far more have turned up than we anticipated. I fear we may well run out of cake soon.” As she spoke, her eye was caught by the Nordic girl who stood nearby, her eyes fixed intently on Nik in a way that made a shiver run the length of Frankie’s spine. It dawned on her that the girl was here because she wanted him.
“There had better be some cake left for me,” he joked. “That is the only reason I came.”
“So not to see me then?” she came back. “Ah, well, you’d better get over to the cake stall before it all goes.” She gave him a grin. “Gladys told me that she laced the fruit cake with Metaxa.”
She pushed off him and watched him leave, standing back to let the next group of eager visitors in. The girl followed him, but not before giving Frankie a glance that would have frozen hot coals.
When she’d hosted another tour of the cats, and seen the party out, Frankie decided to pop outside to get a cup of tea or some lemonade, and maybe catch a couple of minutes with Nik. As she stepped out into the sunshine, she saw Dimitri at the tea table, talking to Sally who, she could see, was blushing up in response to the attention of this handsome man. She waved at them, then scanned the yard and caught sight of Nik in the far corner. He was deep in conversation with the blonde girl. Her hackles rose automatically when she took in the girl’s provocative stance; standing very close to him, she was thrusting out her ample chest and flicking back her hair. Instinct propelled Frankie to stride over to join them. “Hi!”
“Hey.” She felt reassured when Nik took her hand and pulled her close to him. “This is Elsa.”
“I remember you from earlier in the summer,” Frankie said.
“Hi!” Elsa held out her hand, and Frankie shook it. “Yes, I was here in June for a vacation, but I loved it so much that I decided to quit my job and leave Stockholm.” She smiled, her eyes flicking to Nik. “I start working at Artemis TZ next week.”
Frankie turned to him, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
“Marianna, our bar waitress there, is returning to college after the summer vacation. Elsa can take over her shifts,” he confirmed.
“Oh, okay.” Frankie couldn’t think of what else to say as her mind diverted into uncomfortable thoughts. It seemed on the face of it a simple explanation. However, something felt off. Why would Nik give this girl a job? Then the thought of Hannah, back in England and struggling on at McKnight’s, also popped into her mind. She’d intended to talk to Nik about her former assistant and the possibility of employing her if she wanted to come over to Kathos. Maybe he could find something for Hannah too. But, whatever, Elsa working for Nik made her uneasy.
Nik pulled his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans. “Elsa, here is my card. If you can be at the bar at midday next Monday, show this to Vasilis, the manager. I will talk to him before then.”
“Thank you!” Elsa glanced at Nik from under her lashes. “I will be there.” She turned. In what sounded like an extra friendly voice, she said, “Goodbye, Frankie, it is nice to see you again.” But her eyes flashed a different message, indicating she didn’t mean that at all.
“Bye.” Frankie watched as the Swede bounced away, her hips swinging and her pert tanned buttocks barely covered by her denim shorts. She turned back to Nik. “Are you sure about that?”
He shrugged. “What is the problem? She needs a job, and I need a replacement waitress fast. She speaks good English and German, and says she has done bar work before. Perhaps I did not treat her very well when she was last here.”
“Oh, I get it—guilt! Did you sleep with her?”
His mouth quirked upwards at her candid question. “No, pet hi mou. She was not for me at any point. And, as I recall, I was busy back then trying to win the attention of another, more beautiful woman.” He slid an arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her neck.
She allowed a glimmer of a smile herself at his flattery. “Call it feminine intuition, but I pick up that she still holds a torch for you, Captain Kontarinis.”
“Holds a torch?”
“She’s secretly infatuated with you. You should be careful.”
“Call it male logic, but I think you are seeing things that are not there. Apparently, she has brought her new boyfriend from Stockholm with her.” He nuzzled her neck again.
“Are you giving him a job too?”
“It was not discussed. I hope you are not still listening to the gossips?”
His words pricked her conscience; perhaps she was being too negative and unfair. He hadn’t given her a reason to doubt him since they’d got back together and he’d spoken sincerely about leaving his old lifestyle behind. She rotated so that she was facing him and looped her arms around his neck. “Okay, so I got it wrong. Just an old voice mail playing in my head. Sorry.” She stood on tiptoe and planted her lips on his. He responded, gathering her up in a passionate embrace. For a few seconds, the bustle around them was forgotten. “Mmm.” Reluctantly, she broke away. “Unfortunately, much as I’m enjoying this, I’ve also got a job to do. I must away, get myself a cuppa, then get back to the shelter.” She looked over her shoulder. “Look, there’s a queue for the next tour out of the door.”