Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
I head to my room to update my social media, before I get ready for later.
As I sit on my balcony, it occurs to me that Christos hasn’t been in touch, either to ask me out again, or to check if Irene is okay, which I find a little disappointing.
Perhaps he has reached the conclusion that we are never meant to be together.
Besides, I am going out with Andreas tomorrow, so what would I say if he did get in touch?
I upload some photos and do a little talking video of the view from the balcony, and to my delight a wedding procession walks past.
A couple have seemingly married at the little chapel at the end of the road, and are being showered in confetti and good wishes from restaurant owners standing at the front of the restaurants as they pass.
I’m thrilled that I can record the whole thing, giving my followers a real glimpse of a traditional Greek wedding.
A few hours later, I have showered and changed and I am in the reception area with Irene and Patsy as we await our taxi to the restaurant.
‘I look like I’ve gone ten rounds with Muhammad Ali,’ says Irene, stroking the impressive cut above her eye. Her make- up has calmed things down a little, but it is still apparent she has sustained an injury. ‘And please tell me you have heard of Muhammad Ali, or I really will feel ancient.’
‘I have actually,’ I reassure her. ‘But only because my dad has told me he is the greatest boxer that ever lived.’
When we arrive at the restaurant a short time later, Tasha squeezes us all tightly.
‘Oh, Auntie Irene, you look better, but are you sure you are okay?’ She frowns slightly. ’I think you had us all worried for a while.’
‘Oh, I’m fine.’ Irene bats away any sympathy.
‘Well, I am pleased to hear it. I was really concerned.’ She frowns.
‘Well you needn’t be, because I am fine. Anyway, I am more interested in hearing about your time in that villa on the secluded island,’ says Irene. ‘But not the censored bits obviously.’ She winks and Tasha laughs.
‘Oh, it was bliss,’ she says as Owen orders some drinks.
‘I could easily have turned into Robinson Crusoe and stayed there forever.’ He sighs, before planting a kiss on Tasha’s cheek.
They are so loved up; I wonder if I will ever meet anyone who looks at me in that way.
‘We never exactly had to hunt for our own food though,’ Tasha says with a laugh. ‘The chef came in and cooked us delicious evening meals. We did our own breakfast though.’
‘Some days we never surfaced until almost noon, and skipped it,’ Owen says.
‘Too much information,’ Patsy replies, putting her fingers in her ears and laughing.
We are sitting looking at the menu just as Bryn and Owen arrive.
‘Blimey, you look rough,’ Owen comments to Bryn.
‘I am a little,’ he admits. ‘I made rather a night of it last night after winning a quiz. It’s taken me all day to feel human,’ he groans.
‘In other words, he’s been asleep all day,’ explains Ash. ‘Which meant I could get on with finishing a song I have been working on.’
‘Ooh interesting, what type of song?’ I ask.
‘It’s a kind of ballad. Something I think would really suit your voice, actually. You can hear the instrumental if you like.’
‘Sure, I’d love to.’
He shows me a video of him strumming the most beautiful guitar melody.
‘I have kind of scribbled down the lyrics for you to look at,’ he says to my surprise, as he takes a piece of notepaper from his pocket.
‘But I don’t want to dominate the evening, so maybe you could look them over and tell me what you think? I will send the guitar video to you as well,’ Ash tells me kindly.
‘Perfect, thanks, Ash,’ I tell him, excited to maybe try and sing the lyrics to the music.
Talk turns to our time in Greece, and we fill Owen and Tasha in on how we have been spending the last few days while they have been away.
‘The Jeep safari sounds like fun,’ says Tasha.
‘It was, as was the boat trip. Oh, and Lulu says to say hi and to thank you both once more for your hospitality. She really loved the wedding, as did we all. It was such a special day.’
‘It was, wasn’t it?’ Tasha curls her hand around Owen’s. ‘It’s a day I will always remember.’ She smiles. ‘And it was lovely to meet Lulu, she seems so lovely,’ says Tasha as she picks up an olive.
‘She is. I guess I have good taste in friends,’ I say, and she makes a little heart shape with her fingers.
My mind flits back to the day of the wedding at the hotel, where Christos worked his charm on me. The thought of his kisses still makes me go weak at the knees, but as he hasn’t been in touch, I decide to push all thoughts of him to the back of my mind.
‘So this is it then, our last supper together,’ says Owen as our drinks arrive. ‘I hope you can come over and visit us in the not-too-distant future though,’ he tells me. ‘All of you, I mean. Not you though,’ he jokes to Bryn. ‘I get to see enough of you.’
‘Charming,’ says Bryn.
‘I would love to. I had better get saving though,’ I tell him.
‘Oh, it would be amazing if you could,’ says Tasha. ‘I would love to show you around my favourite places. And the beaches are pretty wow.’
‘I’m not sure I could do that long flight,’ Irene says sadly.
‘Life’s unfair sometimes, is it not?’ she comments.
‘Here am I with the money, but not the youth, while you are the other way around,’ she says to me.
‘Sorry, sweetie, I hope that didn’t sound too rude,’ she continues a second later, having thought about it.
‘No offence taken,’ I assure her. Even though she’s right. I am young and I have an irregular income, which is a situation no one really wants to be in. I think it is maybe time for me to start really thinking about my future.
We order food, and talk and eat until the last of the diners have left the restaurant. When a waiter begins to stack chairs onto nearby tables, I think it might be time to order two taxis.
‘I hope to see you soon.’ I hug my oldest friend when the taxis arrive together, and try to hold back a tear in my eye. ‘I am so happy I was able to be a part of your wedding.’
‘I’m so glad you came.’ She hugs me a tiny bit harder. ‘I will Zoom call you soon, I promise.’
‘I look forward to it, and I can’t wait to see the wedding photos.’
We say our goodbyes before our taxis head in opposite directions, and I suddenly feel overcome with exhaustion.
It will be straight to bed when we arrive back at the apartments as I have an early start in the morning.
As I stifle a yawn, I realise I am really looking forward to my day out with Andreas.
Even so, I check my phone one last time to see if I have any messages from Christos, but he is keeping his distance.
‘Are you sure you are okay?’ I ask Irene as we step out of the taxi. I noticed her nodding off a little on the short journey back.
‘Just tired. I think it was all those drugs they gave me at the hospital.’ She smiles.
‘So no nightcap then?’ asks Patsy.
‘Not for me.’
‘I’m joking,’ says Patsy. ‘I’m tired too. I think all these late nights are catching up on us.’
‘Not to mention sleeping in hospital guest beds,’ says Irene to her cousin. ‘Thank you for being there for me. Both of you.’ She turns to me. ‘I feel blessed to know such wonderful people.’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ I tell her as we link arms and walk into the apartments together. I also wonder why a part of me hopes that Christos will not contact me again, and remove the dilemma I face. At least until I have got to know Andreas a little more.