Chapter 10 #2
The gentle chatter from the assembled guests ceases then when the registrar clears her voice and begins to speak.
Irene and Patsy dab at their eyes with a tissue as Owen and Tasha exchange vows and I am filled with joy for my oldest friend, even though I can’t see myself ever getting married. At least not for a long time.
Soon enough, they are declared husband and wife, and a wedding song plays as the newlyweds walk back down the small aisle, beaming with happiness, beneath a shower of confetti.
‘Gosh they look so happy, don’t they?’ Patsy says, with a smile on her face and I must agree.
‘They do.’ I nod. ‘I truly hope they live happily ever after.’
We take it in turns squeezing and congratulating them both, before we file into the reception area, where lines of staff and residents burst into applause and shouts of congratulations, to the delight of the happy couple.
As we make our way to the hotel restaurant, I spot the handsome hotel worker we met in the lift, who appears to be walking towards me.
‘I hope you enjoyed the wedding ceremony,’ he says. ‘And by the way, you look beautiful,’ he whispers, and annoyingly the hairs on my arms stand on end.
‘Does your girlfriend know you like to pay compliments to random women?’ I ask him, flattered but slightly irritated. The cheek of the man.
‘My girlfriend?’ He raises an eyebrow. A very attractive eyebrow, I might add.
‘The woman I saw you with earlier.’
‘Ah, not my girlfriend at all.’ He smiles. ‘I was simply showing her around the hotel as she is considering it for her wedding,’ he explains.
‘Oh, I see.’
‘Anyway, I will see you at the wedding meal,’ he says.
‘You are a guest?’ I ask, surprised.
I’d noticed him during the wedding ceremony, of course, but assumed him to be merely a member of staff making sure everything ran smoothly. Not unless Owen and Tasha have really pushed the boat out, and invited some of the hotel staff.
‘Yes, I am a friend of Owen. He helped with the building of this very hotel. My father owns this place,’ he reveals.
‘Wow, well it’s very beautiful,’ I tell him, slightly taken aback.
‘Thank you, I think so too. See you shortly.’ He touches me gently on the arm once more, before he disappears.
I grab a glass of ice-cold champagne from a tray a passing waitress is carrying and gulp it down, as I suddenly feel a little flushed.
‘Take it easy there. We don’t want to be picking you up off the floor later,’ says Irene with a giggle.
‘What? No, I’m fine. I promise you won’t need to do that.’ I smile as I try to regulate my heartbeat.
As we file into the breakfast room, Lulu takes her phone from her bag and answers a call. She covers her ear with her other hand before apologising, and sloping off outside.
‘Everything okay?’ I ask when she returns, just as waiters are pouring wine into glasses.
‘Fine, it was only Chloe,’ she tells me. ‘She was asking me for a bit of a loan,’ she divulges, even though I never asked.
Chloe has at least two jobs and wastes money, if past conversations with Lulu are anything to go by, including a penchant for eating out and constantly buying takeaway coffees.
‘Oh right, what for?’ I ask casually.
‘Does it matter?’ she asks, a tad frostily.
‘No, of course not,’ I say, wishing I had never asked. ‘Gosh, sorry if that was a little nosey.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry, Mia.’ She sighs. ‘And I think I really will leave my phone in my suitcase after today, I promise.’
‘That might actually be a good idea,’ I say gently. ‘You work so hard; you really deserve to chill and enjoy your time here.’
‘I know, and I will. I am going to mute it until I get to the room later,’ she says, stuffing it back into her bag.
There is no more talk of kids or phones, as we raise our glasses and toast the happy couple, before Tasha’s dad does an emotional wedding speech and Tasha and Owen say a few adorable words to each other, and thank us all for being here.
Bryn steps into his best man role then and tells a couple of cringey stories that clearly embarrass Owen and do little to change my opinion of Bryn.
He is about to launch into another story about a weekend in Amsterdam, when Owen’s dad tactfully takes the microphone from him and thanks everyone for coming.
‘It’s been so wonderful seeing so many of our friends here from the UK, and typically thoughtful of Owen and my new daughter-in-law Tasha to hold a wedding a little closer than Australia,’ he says. When he finishes speaking, everyone breaks into a round of applause.
Goodness knows what Owen sees in Bryn, or what he was about to say about the weekend in Amsterdam, but then I guess we never know how people’s relationships work, but safe to say, they just do.
Bryn must surely have some redeeming features as Owen surely can’t be that bad a judge of character.
Especially as he has chosen someone as wonderful as Tasha to be his wife.
Speeches over, we dine on the most delicious meal of a sea bream starter, followed by lamb in a red wine jus with lemony Greek potatoes and roasted vegetables. We finish off with a pavlova bursting with juicy berries.
‘Oh, my goodness, I don’t think I will ever eat again,’ I say, throwing my napkin down onto the table as coffee is served.
Platters of cheese and cubes of baklava are being placed along the tables, as if we haven’t had enough to eat already.
I have taken photographs of every course, and can’t wait to show my followers.
‘Me neither,’ says Irene. ‘Although that probably isn’t true.’ She laughs. ‘Gosh, I really will need this slimming club when I get home.’
‘This is wonderful,’ Lulu says wistfully, glancing out across the water. Patio doors have been opened in the large restaurant, bringing a much-needed gentle sea breeze wafting through the room. ‘And you’re right, maybe I do need a break. I never seem to stop back home.’
‘Perhaps you could step away a bit from doing everything at home. Maybe draw up a rota to share some tasks with the kids,’ I suggest, even though they are hardly kids.
‘I know I probably should, but I enjoy doing things for them,’ she admits.
‘It makes me feel needed, which is pathetic, right?’ She takes a long glug of her red wine.
‘And maybe even a little selfish. They really ought to stand on their own two feet a little more, if they are to navigate this world.’
‘It’s not pathetic at all. I won’t lie though, I think they take advantage of you at times,’ I say honestly. ‘You are allowed a life of your own, you know,’ I remind her gently.
I resist adding that because when they do finally decide to leave home and do their own thing, Lulu certainly won’t be their priority, which will be a difficult pill to swallow. I have seen it too many times.
‘I know, and if I was to psychoanalyse myself it’s probably a feeling of being needed, you know, after Carl left,’ she admits. ‘I think all my confidence went out of the door with him,’ she says as she sips her wine.
‘Well, he was an absolute fool.’ I reach for her hand. ‘Don’t ever let him make you feel like you weren’t good enough. Typical mid-lifer trying to turn back the clock. He will come to his senses, when it’s too late, trust me.’
I do hope Lulu is strong enough to tell him where to go, should he ever try to come home.
I saw him with his new girlfriend in town last week, wearing a tight shirt and dark jeans that would look better on a man half his age.
His much younger girlfriend was sporting a skimpy dress and inflated lips.
I’m pretty sure he will get fed up soon enough.
He didn’t look like a happy man to me, as he sat on a bench outside a fashion shop, scrolling through his phone and yawning, as his young partner headed inside.
‘I’m not that daft.’ She smiles and I really hope she means it.
‘Have you thought about going to your dance classes again?’ I suggest.
Lulu was once really keen on her salsa dancing classes, which seemed to tail off for no reason.
‘Do you know, I have actually been considering doing just that,’ she agrees. ‘Maybe those offspring of mine ought to fend for themselves a bit more, but it’s more than that, it is something for me,’ she admits. ‘I just seem to go to work, nip to the gym, then crash in front of the TV these days.’
‘Then you should definitely take up your dance classes again. And I might join you one day on a trip to Cuba for the real thing,’ I say dreamily. ‘Can you imagine the Insta photos?’
‘I might just hold you to that,’ she says, raising her glass.
People swap seats and chat as the wedding meal is leisurely and not rushed, just as I expected it to be in Greece. Even more dessert is placed on tables, in the form of some sweet almond biscuits and more cheeses.
As we sip our coffee, the hotel hottie – who introduces himself as Christos – asks for our attention and informs us that some Greek dancers will be appearing shortly for a floor show.
He stands tall and confident, the kind of man who addresses a crowd with ease.
‘Do you fancy a bit of that?’ Irene asks Patsy as she listens.
‘A bit of what?’ asks Patsy.
‘Greek dancing, what did you think I meant?’
Patsy rolls her eyes and laughs. ‘I wonder if there will be any plate smashing?’
‘I doubt it, not in this day and age. Times are hard for everyone,’ Irene reminds her.
‘Not for the owners of this hotel, judging by the décor, although I suppose it is a bit wasteful smashing plates,’ Patsy concedes.
I recall Christos telling me that his father owns this place.
I have just finished chatting to Tasha, taking a few selfies of us, when Christos slides into the seat she has just vacated as she chats to another guest.
‘Are you having a good time?’ he asks, fixing me with those dark-brown eyes. He has taken off his jacket, and has rolled the sleeves up on his shirt. He seems to be sitting awfully close. Has he pulled his chair nearer to me? I wonder.
‘Wonderful.’ I sigh. ‘The hotel really has done Owen and Tasha proud.’
‘We aim to please,’ he says, taking a grape from a plate and popping it into his mouth. ‘Actually, I was wondering if you are free tomorrow evening?’ he asks, taking me by surprise.
Lulu, Patsy and Irene are deep in conversation, and out of the corner of my eye I notice Patsy nudge Lulu and nod her head towards me.
‘What? I’m not sure, we haven’t really made any plans yet,’ I say, my heart hammering as I try to sound casual. Is he about to ask me out on a date?
‘Maybe you would like to come to my nightclub. I promise a free cocktail, for you and your friends, of course.’ He smiles.
‘You own a nightclub?’ I try not to let my mouth fall open.
‘It’s a strand of the family business.’ He shrugs. ‘My father owns many businesses in Santorini: hotels, shops, bars. I manage the biggest nightclub in Fira,’ he says proudly.
Handsome and from a seriously rich family? This wedding just gets better and better.
‘We might pop in, if I can persuade them,’ I say casually.
‘Good.’ He winks, before departing and leaving a Tom Ford scent I recognise hanging in the air.
‘He seems to have taken quite a shine to you,’ says Patsy after he leaves. ‘Although I can’t say I blame him, you look absolutely gorgeous,’ she says kindly.
‘Thanks, although I’m sure he was just being friendly.’ I shrug, yet feeling thrilled inside. ‘He actually invited us to the nightclub he runs, with the offer of a free cocktail.’
‘Us?’ says Irene.
‘Sure. He said bring your friends along.’
‘Nightclubs aren’t really my thing at my age,’ says Patsy. ‘A nice bar with some background music will do it for me these days. And an early night,’ she says, and Irene agrees.
‘Do you fancy it, Lu?’ I ask my friend.
‘Sure, sounds fun.’ She smiles. ‘And I’m all about trying to have some of that, remember?’ She winks.
‘Great,’ I say, feeling thrilled to have a look at the nightclub.