The channel OF LOVE

The Greek island had cast its spell over Kathy and Lisa - but was Nina immune to its magic?

THE STORY SO FAR: Kathy and Lisa are staying with their friend, Nina, in Corfu and were supposed to be having a 'man-free' holiday while participating in Nina's creative workshops. Things, however, are not going quite as planned. Kathy has fallen, second time around, for Cam Hunt, a man she had a holiday romance with years ago, and who cropped up as a model in their first life-drawing class. Lisa, meanwhile, has been seduced by the charismatic restaurant owner, Alex. The two women appear to have fallen under the romantic influence of Sidari's aptly named Channel of Love. Nina, a cynic, is convinced her friends are heading for heartache. When her good friend Rob tries to convince her otherwise, they argue. Then Nina receives a text from Rob telling her he is returning to New York because he is struggling with the pain of his unrequited love for her. A realisation hits Nina... Has she too succumbed to the lure of The Channel?

A jaunty Greek folk song issued from the battered radio that Alex had set up on the deck of his fishing boat. He and Lisa sat facing each other, their bare feet touching.

'Is this another Greek saga of family blessings and curses?' Lisa asked, tickling the sole of Alex's foot with her big toe.

Alex crinkled his nose and nodded. 'This one's about a man who regrets selling his goats to buy his wife earrings.'

Lisa laughed and took a mouthful of the syrupy kataifi, which was all that was left of the basket of Greek snacks that Alex had prepared for them. He poured them both a cup of tea from the flask he'd brought.

'I'm so glad you've held on to your dad's tradition of drinking tea,' she said.

'It's one of the things I always miss when I come away on holiday. A good cuppa.'