“No, best not. Goodbye Jet Wilson, take care of yourself.”
“You too. Goodbye Aristede.”
I gave him five minutes to get away and then took my coffee outside to sit on the veranda. Grandma was already there. She gave me a wary look.
“It’s ok if you were listening in. There wasn’t anything earth-shattering said.”
“Oh, I wasn’t listening in. He did look a bit forlorn when he came out though. I’m guessing we won’t be seeing much of him for the rest of your stay.”
“Not in any unofficial capacity, no.”
“Oh. Oh well.”
“Grandma?” A thought had been nagging at me.
“Yes dear?”
“Those plants you saw. In the field, I mean.”
“Yes, yes, I knew what they were.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“It’s a generational thing. I was taught to let the men figure things out for themselves. ‘No man likes a clever girl’ my mother used to say. Frequently.”
“So the ‘maple-like leaves’, that was just a hint?”
“It worked well enough I think.” She winked at me, looking quite pleased with herself. But then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, “What about Matt?”
I sighed. “I keep telling you, we’re just friends. He doesn’t approve of workplace romances and I might need him to give me a job when I get home.”
“I just wondered if we might be seeing him, I wasn’t implying anything.” She put on her best offended face, but I’d seen it come and go easily too many times in the past to be taken in.
“Hmm, well he won’t be around either. He’s flying home tomorrow.”
“Oh, just us girls, then. I can live with that.” She gave me a huge smile and I returned it with enthusiasm. We clinked coffee cups in a toast.
“To girl time,” I said.
“To girl time.”
We took a sip and then sat drinking in the sunshine in companiable silence.
I heard a muted ringing and realised my phone was still inside. I went in to retrieve it and checked the caller id before answering.
“It’s cousin Ella,” I told Grandma as I accepted the call.
“Hi Ella, how’s things?”
“You have to come, Jet. You have to come now. I need you!”
The End
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Stalked in Switzerland
The second Jet Wilson cozy mystery – Stalked in Switzerland – is due out in May 2021. To be notified of the release date, sign up to my newsletter – https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v0g8t7 (and get the free story) – or follow my author pages on Facebook or Amazon.
Are you inspired to visit Crete? While their topography in the story may vary from reality, all the towns mentioned are actual places in southern Crete. Unlike the characters, of course, who are completely made up.
If you travel to Sivas, you may well notice the bougainvillea strewn Taverna Saktouris. It is owned by the lovely Sofia who bears no resemblance to Melani other than that she is very friendly and serves food to die for (not literally I’m pleased to say). It was Sofia who gave me my first taste of Briam for which I will always be grateful.
The Cretan Sea Pimpernel is a figment of my imagination but the Purple Sea Snail, which the Minoans used to make purple dye, is not. I have yet to find one, but I keep looking.
Knossos, on the north of the island, is the Minoan palace that all the tourists know. To my mind, however, Faistos, in the south, is the more atmospheric. It is situated on a hill overlooking the Messara Plain and has a small, self-service café with a terrace that has stunning views. And good wi-fi.
THANK YOU
Finally, a huge thank you to my editing team – Kate and Julie. Your insight and eagle eyes have been of invaluable help in making my dream of publishing Captive in Crete a reality.
