‘I think she expected a curtsey, don’t you?’ asked Nell cheekily.

‘Now how are we going to get six copies of the Daily Post?’ Penny wondered.

‘Most of their readers are dead anyway,’ Moira commented.

‘Thank you, Moira,’ Dora replied. ‘Just because she didn’t interview you!’

‘We can buy them at the airport,’ Karl announced dramatically. ‘I’ve been looking up flights. Your horrible husband was right, Penny. Ferry to Santorini and flying to Athens is definitely the quickest.’

‘And bump into Colin at the airport?’ Nell replied in horror. ‘Absolutely no way. You lot can risk it if you want, but I certainly won’t.’

‘Nor me,’ Moira backed her up.

‘I think we should go the way we came,’ Dora said. ‘On the slow ferry that stops at all the islands.’

They all looked at her in amazement.

‘But you moaned all the way!’ Nell pointed out. ‘You said it was the worst eight hours of your life! You criticized everything from the food to Penny’s madness in booking it at all.’

Dora hid her face in her hands. ‘I know. I was a complete bitch. But that was before I got to know you all. The thing is . . .’ She hesitated for a moment, unsure how much of herself she wanted to reveal. ‘I’ve never had any real friends before. I was always a man’s woman. My God, doesn’t that sound creepy?’ She looked from Penny to Nell to Moira, all so different and yet united in the closeness they’d discovered here in Kyri. ‘I love you all, and I want to make our time here last a tiny bit longer.’

‘You know, Dora,’ Moira added, looking embarrassed in turn, ‘I agree with every word you’ve said. But our friendship doesn’t have to end in Kyri.’

‘And you can come and stay any time with Nikos and me, whenever you want!’ Penny added, almost in tears as she realized they were all going and she was staying, even though it would be with Nikos.

‘Stelios,’ Nikos requested. ‘You know about wine. Go and get some good stuff from the bar. Tell Takis I’ll pay!’

Takis arrived with a dusty-looking bottle that seemed to be covered in cobwebs. ‘I have been saving this for a very special occasion,’ he announced reverently.

‘And the fact we’re leaving counts as very special?’ Moira teased. ‘So you want us to go, then?’

Takis launched himself at her like a missile. ‘Miss Moira, you are coming back! I will go bankrupt if you are not here in the high season to manage Treasure Island. It was your idea! Your vision! Everyone thought you were crazy, but it worked! You charmed all the customers! Promise me you will agree.’

‘I charmed your customers?’ Moira asked incredulously. Moira, who had always known she was awkward and socially inept, a born outsider.

‘They complained when you were not there!’