Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
Mum is stirring some custard to go with the home-made apple crumble, the day after I arrive home.
After arriving late last night, I had a lovely lie-in and I am now handing out the little gifts I bought in Santorini, and my family thank me.
‘Ah, I love a snow globe, thank you, love,’ says Mum.
‘Yes, me too,’ says Gran, giving hers a little shake and smiling fondly. ‘Although I don’t suppose they have snow in Santorini.’
‘Maybe it’s ash from the erupting volcano,’ I suggest when Mum shakes hers too and she laughs.
As we chat, I notice Mum has set the table for five people, rather than four.
‘Are we expecting someone else?’ I ask as Mum looks at an incoming text on her phone.
‘We are. And they should be arriving any second now,’ she says as I hear the sound of a key turning in the front door.
‘Lewis!’ I scream as my brother walks into the room. I rush to him and crush him in a hug.
‘Nice welcome, sis.’ He grins, before hugging everyone else in the room.
‘So tell me all about your holiday,’ says Lewis as we tuck into delicious roast beef. ‘You have a nice tan there,’ he notices.
‘Oh, it was wonderful, but tell us all about what you have been up to first,’ I insist. ‘Then I have some news for everyone.’
‘Well, you will have to go first now,’ says Gran, putting down her knife and fork. ‘You can’t leave me in suspense, it’s not good for my digestion,’ she tells me.
‘Alright then.’ I take a deep breath. ‘The thing is, I will be returning to Greece next month for the rest of the summer.’
You can hear a pin drop in the room, before Mum is the first to speak.
‘What?’ Mum frowns. ‘But I don’t understand. Surely you can’t afford to do that, without any money.’
‘And don’t you think you ought to be concentrating on finding a job?’ says Dad, mildly exasperated, and I hope I haven’t gone and ruined the happy mood in the room.
‘That’s the thing, I have actually found one,’ I tell Dad. ‘It’s only temporary though.’
‘Well, that’s something, I suppose. Are the wages any good?’
‘Oh, they are.’ I smile. ‘Very good. It’s just that it happens to be in Santorini.’
I tell my family all about the job I have secured for the summer season, and Mum claps her hands together.
‘That’s great news! Oh, I’m so glad you are pursuing your singing again,’ she says excitedly.
‘Me too, love, that sounds like a smart place too,’ Dad says with approval.
‘Yeah, nice one, sis, that really is great,’ adds Lewis. ‘Let’s see the photos of the club,’ he urges, so I grab my phone and do just that.
‘Oh, very nice,’ says Dad, looking proud. ‘Very nice indeed.’ He nods approvingly.
‘Gran? What do you think?’ I ask, noticing she is a little quiet, despite congratulating me.
‘I think it’s absolutely marvellous,’ she tells me. ‘Yes, I will miss you, but oh what an opportunity.’ She smiles warmly. ‘If I had my time over again, I would say yes to more things, I can tell you.’
‘Oh, thank you.’ I hug my gran, who is sitting beside me. ‘It isn’t for another month, so let’s enjoy the time I have here,’ I say.
‘Let’s do just that. And I think we ought to open a bottle of something to celebrate,’ says Dad. ‘Don’t we have a bottle of Prosecco somewhere from Christmas?’
‘And maybe we can finish off with this,’ says Lewis, lifting a bottle of good brandy from his rucksack nearby.
After our delicious lunch, we are sitting around in the lounge chatting. I show my folks more pictures of the piano bar in Oia, and some of the unofficial wedding photos.
‘Oh, doesn’t Tasha look a picture,’ says Mum. ‘And Owen looks so handsome. I can’t wait to see the official photos.’
‘Smart venue,’ says Lewis, looking again at the photos I took of the piano bar in Oia. ‘I’m sure you will have a great time working there.’ He smiles as he hands me back my phone.
‘And I will come and visit you, Gran. I’m home for six weeks now, remember, so any little jobs you need doing around the house, I’m your man,’ he tells her and I can’t help wondering whether he will be happy to cut Gran’s toenails.
‘You might regret saying that,’ she says with a wink as she sips a cup of tea.
Dad is about to protest, I’m sure, but maybe thinks twice about doing some DIY at Gran’s, as he remembers his slight back problem. He does offer to mow the lawn though, as gardening is something he enjoys.
‘So where will you be posted to next?’ I ask Lewis as we tidy the kitchen and load the dishwasher.
‘Cyprus,’ he tells me. ‘Which isn’t actually that far from Greece, so I might have time to pop over and see you sing.’ He smiles. ‘In fact, I know a bloke who runs a tribute bar near Paphos if things don’t work out. He could sort you a job,’ he says as he places some cutlery in a drawer.
‘Not sure about being a tribute act,’ I tell him. ‘But thanks anyway.’
‘Not a problem.’ He smiles.
I have fond memories of Lewis and myself growing up together, even though he could never stay indoors for long, always seeking out people to play football with, or go off somewhere for the day.
Sometimes, he would allow me to trail along with him to the park, but only if one of his friends had one of their siblings with them too.
He always looked out for me if he was around, but it came as a surprise to no one when he decided to spread his wings and join the army.
It seems Lewis’s arrival home couldn’t have come at a better time with my imminent departure, although Mum and Dad have never been the type to insist we stay around for them, although I have been immensely grateful to have spent time here since I lost my job and flat.
Mum finds the Prosecco in a cupboard, and after Dad cracks it open, we sip from paper cups, also left over from Christmas, to avoid any more washing-up.
‘Here’s to our Mia,’ says Dad. ‘And Lewis. We are bloody proud of you both,’ he says as we raise our paper cups, and Mum holds back a tear.
‘And you know, that Greek holiday we have been thinking about, perhaps it might be possible this year,’ says Mum. ‘Do you reckon you would be up for that?’ She turns to Gran as everyone raises their cups in the air, after Dad proposes a toast.
‘Just you try and stop me,’ says Gran, and suddenly, all feels well in the world.