“Best to keep out of her way.” He threw his arm around Kat’s shoulders and drew her close in a conspiratorial embrace. “Now come on. You haven’t seen the extensions to the cellar door. We’ve been so busy since we finished them we haven’t had an official opening. It’s very fitting we should have the dinner there. Then Yia-yia can put her feet up. Your cousin Michael is in charge of the kitchen in the restaurant.” He guided her away from the house, up the path through the garden towards the newly refurbished cellar-door building.

Kat pictured her dynamic grandmother whose biggest joy was serving meals to her family. If Michael was in charge, Yia-yia would not be pleased. Pappou didn’t understand that in her eyes the cellar-door dining room would be an extension of the house, and she wouldn’t be happy if she was not allowed to serve dinner for her family. As much as Kat loved him, she was sad he didn’t see his plans might not always make others as happy as they made him.

Now was probably not the time to discuss her future with him. It could wait a little longer till the novelty of her arrival wore off. She would be here a couple of weeks; plenty of time to talk things over with Pappou.

* * *

“Keely, come on Keely, open your eyes now.”

Keely heard the voice but she didn’t want to leave the safety of the warm cocoon.

“Keely, do you remember what happened?” The male voice persisted. “Open your eyes.”

There was a slight pressure on her shoulder and she opened her eyes in a panic, reaching for the strap of her bag. Her arm stung and a hand gripped it firmly.

“Steady on. We don’t want you pulling your drip out.”

A tall man in a white shirt was bending over her. Keely pulled away in alarm.

“It’s okay,” he soothed. “You’re in hospital. You’ve had an operation. My name’s Ben and I’m looking after you today.”

Keely licked her dry lips and tried to take in her surroundings. She did recall dreaming she was in some kind of recovery room. Now she was awake and definitely not dreaming. She was in a hospital ward.

“What time is it?” she croaked.

“It’s nearly midday. Do you remember them bringing you in last night? You’ve had your appendix out.”

Keely recalled the pain. Nothing hurt now but she still felt nauseous. Midday? Her last memory was going into the toilets at the pub. That had been about midnight. Where had twelve hours gone? She licked her lips again.

“Would you like some ice?”

Keely nodded and accepted the cooling chips gratefully.

“Is my purse here?” she whispered.