23. Chapter 23
Chapter twenty-three
“Do you mind if we make a quick stop on the way back?” Dimitri asks me as he clips my helmet into place. “I bought some extra croissants I want to drop off to Yiannis and Angela.
“Sure. I’m all yours.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment and I try to backtrack.
“I mean, I have no other plans. So, whatever you need to do, I’m game!”
Dimitri’s lips twitch in amusement, his dark eyes meeting mine.
“Good to know.”
I’m grateful that he turns around to climb on his scooter because I can feel my cheeks flame even redder. I climb on behind him, grabbing his waist loosely. I feel more comfortable on the back of his scooter now after a couple of rides. Plus, I don’t need him to feel how quickly my heart is pounding in my chest after that embarrassing slip-up.
The ride back is a little busier than our journey there, but still relatively quiet compared to the roads of Santorini and even Rhodes. This time, instead of continuing down to Gialos, we turn down a couple of small side streets in Chorio, coming to stop in front of a red building with a terracotta tiled roof and white door.
Dimitri is just taking my helmet from me when the door opens revealing a short woman in a navy-blue t-shirt dress with a mass of dark curls piled on her head. The same woman who met him on the dock when the ferry arrived.
She calls out to Dimitri, who responds by holding up the croissant-filled paper bag from the bakery. She squeals in delight, speaking rapid-fire Greek as she beckons him inside. Only then does she notice me.
Her eyes widen a touch before she looks back and forth between Dimitri and me.
Dimitri switches over to English to introduce me. “Angela, this is Calla. She’s visiting from Canada. Calla, this is Angela.”
“Yassou, Calla! Dimitri didn’t tell me that he had a Canadian friend!” She shoots him an accusatory look. “Why didn’t you tell me you have a Canadian friend? What else are you hiding? Come in, Yiannis and Anna are inside. And bring those croissants with you!”
Angela stands back inside the door frame and beckons us both inside.
“Actually, wait. Give me those before Yiannis eats them all!” Angela snatches the bag from Dimitri’s hands, earning a low chuckle as she rustles around the bag pulling out a flaky, if slightly squished, croissant.
She bites into it, her eyes fluttering blissfully as she chews. “You are my favourite person.”
“Hey!” A voice calls out from the next room, “I thought I was your favourite person.”
Following Angela’s lead, we round the corner into the sitting room where a giant of a man is sitting on the floor, a tiny baby on a blanket in front of him. Even without being told, I immediately know this is Yiannis. He looks so much like his uncle Spyros that he could be his son. Yiannis peers up at his wife as he carefully threads the baby’s chubby little arm through the sleeve of a onesie.
“You didn’t bring me croissants,” Angela tells him.
“But I did change Anna’s very dirty diaper,” Yiannis points out.
Angela pretends to think about it for a minute before swooping down and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Ok, you are my favourite.”
“Good.” He huffs, picking up baby Anna before turning his attention to me.
“You must be Calla. Nice to meet you. I am Yiannis and this little angel is Anna.”
At this point, Anna starts to squawk, encouraging Angela to reach for her.
“Wait? You knew about Calla and I didn’t?”
Now baby-free, Yiannis stands up from the floor with a shrug. “Spyros told me he had someone new on the boat the other day. You know how it is, someone new on the island and everyone knows.”
“Everyone but me apparently,” Angela grumbles as she bounces little Anna on her chest. “I’m putting Anna down and then we’ll talk. Seems like I have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Oh, we just came to drop off…”
“Don’t you even try to leave before I’m back, Dimitri.” Angela shoots him a stern glare that makes him shut his mouth and slump back in his seat.
Dimitri glances at me to see if I’m ok with sticking around, I smile and nod. Angela seems like a firecracker, but the heat is on Dimitri, not me. So, I’m ok to see how it plays out. Besides, as I told him earlier, I really didn’t have any plans for the rest of the day and if I’m honest, I’m enjoying this glimpse into his life.
“Errr right then.” Yiannis slaps his hands on his knees, a happy smile on his face as his green eyes look back and forth between Dimitri and me. “Coffee? Actually, maybe wine? We may as well get comfortable. You’re going to be here awhile.”
We end up spending the rest of the afternoon with Angela and Yiannis in the shade of their garden amid a jumble of planters overgrown with various colourful flowers. Angela, Yiannis, and I split a bottle of wine while Dimitri, who is driving, sticks to water. Despite her brusqueness, I find myself enjoying conversing with Angela. As for Yiannis, he’s just a big teddy bear who dotes entirely on his wife and new daughter. Every time even the tiniest noise comes from the baby monitor, it’s Yiannis who jumps up to check.
I learn that Dimitri, Yiannis, and Angela all grew up together on the island. Yiannis and Angela started dating at fifteen, and have been together ever since. Both of them work for Spyros - Yiannis is usually on board while Angela takes care of the bookkeeping, finances, and advertising.
“So, it really is a family business,” I say, remembering the comment about how even the Elena, Spyros’s boat, is named after his grandmother.
“Welcome to island life,” Angela raises her glass of wine in a mock toast. “Everybody knows each other and we’re all involved in each other’s lives.”
“It’s kind of nice though,” I muse. “To have that sense of community. It’s so different in a big city where everyone is a stranger.”
“Oh sure,” Angela snorts, “it’s so nice being a new mother in a community full of traditional Greek women who tell me every time they see me that I’m doing something wrong with my baby.”
Her eyes lock on mine as she leans forward in her seat, setting her near-empty glass of wine on the table in front of her before she continues.
“It’s especially nice when every single one of them knows you haven’t been able to breast feed and are using formula. Do you have any idea what it’s like being a new mom, trying to do the best for your daughter, when a dozen or so women are telling you it’s not good enough? That it’s wrong? Do you have any idea how that feels?”
I wince in response. I may not be a mom, but even I know the heat and judgement behind the breast milk versus formula debate. I can imagine it’s even tougher here in a more traditional community.
“But sure,” she continues with a smirk, “I guess for a city girl just visiting for a couple of days then yes, the little town on the little island with its little community seems nice.”
Angela grabs her glass of wine as she leans back in her seat.
I can feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Both Dimitri and Yiannis are wide-eyed in surprise at the unexpected outburst.
“Ang…” Yiannis tries to diffuse her anger, but she glares at him and he shuts his mouth.
Dimitri opens his mouth to step in, but this is on me to fix.
I take a deep breath, “You’re right Angela. I have no idea what that’s like and I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you. For what it’s worth, I think that you guys are doing an amazing job. You have a beautiful, happy daughter.”
“Thank you,” Yiannis reaches over to grab his wife’s hand. “We are very lucky and Angela is an amazing mother.”
Angela’s eyes soften at his touch and his words, then offers everyone a refill of wine. Dimitri catches my eye making sure I’m ok and I nod. While Angela might not be my number one fan, I know we are ok. At least for the time being.
The sun is setting by the time we leave. I wave to Yiannis, holding Anna, and Angela as I straddle Dimitri’s scooter behind him and with a final goodbye, we speed down the hill towards Gialos.
Dimitri pulls up in front of my apartment, switching off the engine as I climb off.
“Thank you, again,” I tell him, handing back the helmet so he can stow it away.
“You’re welcome, again.”
My stomach chooses that exact moment to grumble. Loudly. Alerting me, Dimitri, and the cat lurking across the street that after a couple of glasses of wine, I should probably eat something today other than a croissant.
I let out an embarrassed giggle, “Um, do you want to maybe get dinner? With me? Clearly, I could use some food.”
I try to say it casually but the words come out of my mouth so quickly that it sounds like a single word rather than the sentence I intended it to be.
“Unless you have other plans, that is.”
Dimitri unclasps his helmet from his chin.
“No, Calla,” he grins, “I’m all yours.”
I may have invited Dimitri for dinner, but as the local, he gets to pick the restaurant.
“Do you like seafood?” he asks as we walk down towards the waterfront.
“Yes! I love it.”
“Perfect.”
We end up at a little restaurant across the bay. Like many tavernas here, it’s small with only a few tables. We grab one outside and within a moment, a waitress comes over to take our order.
“They have very good house wine here if you like?” Dimitri tells me.
Yes, I already had two glasses with Angela this afternoon, but I’m not one to turn down good wine. After all, I am on vacation.
“Let’s do it.”
As the waitress heads to the kitchen for our wine, Dimitri and I discuss the menu options. Unlike Niko who ordered everything without asking for my opinion, Dimitri shares his thoughts and is determined for me to try something new. The something new ends up being something called saganaki shrimp.
The dish comes so hot that it’s still bubbling. Full-sized shrimp scattered in a tomato sauce with chunks of crumbled feta cheese. Upon Dimitri’s coaxing I spoon a shrimp over to my plate, attempting to use my fork and knife to take the head and shell off. However, the head has its own ideas and instead of falling gently to the side of the plate, it flies across the table and onto the ground where two roaming cats immediately pounce on it, fighting each other for the prize. The hungry felines hiss and bat each other until a waiter shoos them, and the shrimp head, away into the night.
I stare wide-eyed at Dimitri who has his fist pressed to his mouth as he tries to bite back the laughter.
“I’m so sorry!”
He shakes his head, “Don’t apologize. But forget the knife and fork. Use your fingers, it’s much easier.”
To prove his point, he picks up a piping hot shrimp and deftly removes its head and shell without sending them across the table and onto the floor. He smirks at me and I roll my eyes, but follow his lead and put down my utensils.
Despite it being one of the messier and more difficult dishes I’ve eaten here in Greece, the saganaki shrimp is delicious. I think it’s my favourite Greek dish so far. In fact, this meal in general might be my favourite. The seafood is incredible, the location is simple but beautiful, the staff are friendly and the company… I peek at Dimitri over my glass of wine as he thanks the waitress who has brought us each a small pistachio baklava dripping in honey. His thick dark hair, those beautiful gold-flecked eyes, tanned skin and full lips. Yeah, ok, I’ll admit it. The company is pretty delicious too.
I had fully intended to pick up the bill for dinner, but Dimitri sneakily takes care of it on the pretence of going to wash his hands.
“But I invited YOU,” I argue with him as we make our way back along the waterfront in the direction of my apartment.
“Yes, but you are a guest and this is my home.”
I glower at him, still annoyed. “Fine. But next time I’m buying.”
He smirks at me before changing the subject.
“You were very kind to Angela today.”
This time it’s my turn to shrug. “People can be unkind, even when they don’t mean to be. I have friends who also had problems breastfeeding. It’s a sensitive topic. I think motherhood in general is. Everyone has their own opinions of what is right and what is wrong and how things should be done, and can be very quick to judge.”
“I think that is true for everything. Especially when you live on a small island. People will always judge.”
I look at Dimitri. He keeps his eyes forward as we walk but continues talking.
“When I left Symi, it was partly for a girl. We met in Rhodes but she was from Athens. We fell in love one summer and I followed her back to the mainland. Her father got me a job in his hotel business. I worked hard and got promoted very quickly and for a while, everything was good. But, in the end, the relationship didn’t work out. We broke up.”
I think back to the conversation on the boat, when Mary and Ed talked about Dimitri falling in love with some girl and following her to the mainland. Arthur quickly jumped in and said it’s just the job keeping him there now. At the time, I didn’t connect the dots but he must have known the relationship had ended.
For a moment I feel elated upon confirmation that Dimitri is single and available. But I quickly quash that thought. He’s Greek. I’m Canadian. Besides, we’re just friends. Thinking there could ever be anything more is just the wine talking. Because that would be crazy, wouldn’t it?
“I’m sorry,” I say gently.
“No, no. It was for the best. But now, there is nothing for me in Athens other than work. I want to leave. I’m not happy there anymore. But it is difficult. It is a good job. Good money. A career I can move up in. That’s not always easy to find. If I throw it away, if I leave, everyone will see it as a waste.”
“Is that why you stay in Athens?”
He nods, “In part, yes.”
I take a breath. If he shared and can be vulnerable, so can I.
“The real reason I came to Greece is because I was struggling to deal with a breakup.” I pause, “Actually, no. To be a breakup, there needs to be an actual relationship. It was more of a situationship, I just hoped there would be more and it would grow into something. So, I tried. I was always available for him and his needs. I changed my schedule to suit his so we could spend time together. I came when he called. But in the end, it didn’t matter. It didn’t work and it wasn’t ever going to. He was never going to choose me. No matter how hard I tried to be what he wanted. It just took me awhile to figure that out.”
I feel Dimitri’s fingers brush against mine in the dark. “He missed out.”
“Agreed,” I tell Dimitri. “I came to Greece to get away and it ended up being the best thing for me. I finally chose to do something for myself. Even if it seemed crazy to others. I did this for me, and I’m happier for it.”
We turn down the street to my apartment. Empty except for Dimitri’s black bike leaning against the side of the building in the shadows beside the stairs to the entryway.
“I had a really good day with you,” Dimitri tells me as we come to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
“So did I. Thank you again, for, well, everything.”
“My pleasure, Calla. I’ll see you soon, I hope?”
We smile at each other for a minute, then I walk up the stairs, inserting the key in the door. I start to unlock it but turn back around to see Dimitri still standing at the bottom of the stairs. Waiting to make sure I get safely inside.
“Hey, Dimitri?”
He looks up at me, his eyes appearing black at this hour, the golden flecks hidden in the dark. Maybe it’s just the lighting, or maybe the fact that I’ve had multiple glasses of wine, but he looks sad. I don’t want him to be sad.
“You deserve to be happy. No matter what others think.”
Dimitri bounds up the steps until he stands in front of me. He’s so close that I can feel his body heat. I inhale sharply, my heartbeat thundering in my chest as I look up at him. His eyes burn into mine as we stand face to face, close but not quite touching. I hesitate for a second, then rest my hand gently on his chest, the sign he needs to close the distance between us.
Dimitri’s hands sweep up my neck, pushing my ponytail off my shoulders as he tilts my head to meet his. His lips brush mine ever so gently and my eyes flutter closed as I lean in. Dimitri’s kiss is firm but not forceful. His lips are just as plush as I thought they would be, and slightly sweet and sticky from the honeyed baklava. He pulls away too quickly for my liking and I grab at his shirt in protest.
“Is this ok?” He asks me, forehead pressed to mine.
“Yes,” I breathe, letting go of his shirt to reach my arms around his neck and pull him back down to me.
I can feel rather than see him smile as his lips meet mine. This time hotter, hungrier. I part my lips slightly and he sweeps his tongue inside. Tasting, exploring, teasing. His hands slide down my body, coming to rest on my hips as he pulls me more tightly against him. Fingers spread on my ass as he kisses me, digging in ever so slightly and it’s all I can do to not moan out loud.
Yes, my body seems to say. More. More. More.
I slide my hands up through his hair, which is just as thick and soft as I imagined as he kisses his way down my neck, then back up to my lips. The world melts away as we kiss until it’s just Dimitri and I. I’m completely oblivious to anything but him. Lost in our own little world when all of a sudden, I hear someone clearing their throat behind us.
Dimitri and I break apart to discover Vera at the bottom of the stairs.
Trying to get in the door that we are very much blocking.
“I’m so sorry, Vera!”
I step down the stairs to get out of her way. Dimitri, ever the gentleman, notices my key still in the lock and uses it to open the door for her. Vera glances back and forth between the two of us, eyebrow raised before closing the door firmly behind her.
I squish my hands to my face. Absolutely mortified that the lady who I’m renting from found me making out like a teenager on her doorstep. Dimitri chuckles and wraps me in his arms. Pressing my head against his chest, I start to laugh too.
“Speaking of being judged.”
“Hmmm yes,” Dimitri murmurs. “But did it make you happy?”
I tilt my head up to look at him. His voice is teasing, but I can see the question in his eyes.
I stare at the man I’ve been harbouring a crush on. Is it smart to start something when we have completely different lives in different parts of the world? Probably not. But I like him. He treats me well, we’ve had a lot of fun together, and he just gave me the most incredible first kiss I’ve ever had in my life. Maybe it doesn’t make sense in the long run but there is no denying that it made me happy. And don’t I deserve to be happy too?
“Yes,” I tell him honestly. “It made me very happy.”
“Then let her judge.”
He leans down to kiss me again, slow and gentle, before breaking away.
“I better go. I work with Spyros on the boat during the day, but can I see you tomorrow evening?”
I nod.
“Ok, I’ll text you when I’m back. Have a good night, Calla.”
I wish him the same and head inside, waiting at the door until I hear him start the engine and zip away. With a dopey smile plastered across my face, I make my way to my room knowing full well that I will be thinking about that kiss all night.