Chapter 24 #2
Several cats weaved in and out of everyone’s legs, and Maddie couldn’t stop herself giving them the odd titbit from her plate.
‘Ah, you are a cat lover?’
Lydia, the sister, had spotted her spoiling the animals.
‘Busted.’ Maddie smiled but rushed on when she saw the woman’s confusion. Busted didn’t really translate.
‘Sorry. Yes, you’re right. I love cats, can’t resist their little faces. In fact, I’m going to adopt one from the cat sanctuary up past the main town.’
‘Ah, yes, I know it. You do not have any cats to adopt where you live in England?’
The woman’s frown told her she couldn’t for the life of her understand why someone was taking a cat all the way back to England. Put like that, it did sound a bit crazy.
‘It’s complicated.’
‘I see.’
She obviously didn’t, but was willing to let it go.
‘And you and Sofia, and your friend…’
‘Charlotte.’
‘Ah yes, Charlotte, were all at school together. Is that right?’
‘Yes.’
Her internal warning system told Maddie to tread carefully.
She’d been briefed by Sofia that Greeks were happy to ask you even the most personal questions at the drop of a hat.
How old you were, how much you paid for your house, and what you earned were apparently standard enquiries.
What was considered nosy in Britain was fine here.
‘And you were all in the same year? Which would make you all the same age?’
It was asked with a smile, but Maddie’s eyes searched out Sofia further down the table.
Sofia’s eyes and ears were on high alert, and she’d caught the words school and same age and seen the determined expression on Lydia’s face.
There was no way she wanted her age revealed this early on, which Maddie would know, but she needed to make it crystal clear.
Why were they so obsessed with how old she was?
It was like they were sizing up a racehorse they were thinking of buying.
The atmosphere cooled a few degrees. Her eyes met Maddie’s, and she gave a brief shake of the head.
Moments later she was relieved to see her friend get up from the table.
At the signal from Sofia, Maddie went for the first thing that came into her head.
‘Sorry, but I need the toilet. Can you tell me where it is, please?’
‘Of course.’ The smile didn’t waver, but Maddie could tell that Adonis’s sister was annoyed she’d failed in her mission. Whether she was the sole interrogator or briefed to speak on behalf of everyone else was hard to tell.
When Maddie returned, she was relieved to see that the main dishes were being brought in by Kostas and Ariadne, which was a spectacle in itself. Kostas put the first one on the table.
‘Help yourselves everyone. In honour of our guests, we have beef and aubergine stew, moskári me melitzanes, a chicken stew, kapamas, and a lamb stew with avgolemono, which is a delicious creamy egg and lemon sauce.’ Ariadne put the dishes in the centre of the table and made to go back to the kitchen.
Maddie caught Charlotte’s eye.
‘Surely not more food?’ she mouthed.
Ariadne returned with two bowls, even bigger than the rest.
‘To go with it, we have island potatoes mashed in olive oil, and maroulosalata, a lettuce salad to take away the richness of the stews. Please, eat!’
The food was genuinely fantastic, and to Maddie’s relief, thankfully there was no more talk of ages or cats.
The chatter around the table got louder and louder as the meal wore on, and they were encouraged to sample everything on the table.
By the time the loukoumades, small Greek doughnuts, plus a separate jug of chocolate sauce on the side, came out, Maddie was so full she couldn’t believe that anyone would even attempt one.
But Sofia’s pleading eyes forced her to take a couple of the sweet treats and swallow them down with some water.
Just when she thought it was all over, and most people at the table had lapsed into a semi-conscious state, the shot glasses and the raki came out and were passed round.
Sofia stood up and toasted their hosts.
‘Thank you for your hospitality and a truly stunning meal. The best we’ve experienced in Greece.’
The satisfied smiles of Kostas and Ariadne showed it was very much the right thing to say.
‘It has been so lovely to be welcomed into Adonis’s family and to meet you all. Yamas!’
Everyone joined in with the shouts of Yamas!
Just moments later it seemed, Adonis pointed at the two cars which had appeared in the driveway. He stood and hugged his brother and sister and their partners in turn.
‘Thank you so much ta agapiména mou adérfia,’ which Maddie guessed meant ‘my lovely siblings’. ‘But I must go back to work.’
There was a collective groan.
‘I’m so pleased you have met Sofia and her friends.’
This was followed by cheers and clapping.
‘And now, sadly we must leave you to the washing up.’
Lydia flicked her brother with a serviette.
‘Pah, that was always the case. Mummy’s little treasure never had to do the washing up.’
She reached up to kiss him on the cheek.
‘Don’t leave it so long next time. You work too hard.’
Adonis gave Sofia a thorough kiss before getting in his car.
As soon as they’d cleared the driveway in their own car, Sofia undid several buttons in the front of her dress.
‘Aaah. I don’t think I can ever eat again.’
Charlotte slumped back against the seat.
‘Me neither.’
Maddie patted her own stomach.
‘Even I’m stuffed.’
Charlotte slapped her friend on the thigh.
‘Don’t hear that very often, Mads.’
‘True.’
Charlotte turned towards Sofia.
‘They seemed really nice though, didn’t they?’
Maddie spoke before Sofia had the chance to reply.
‘Yes, if slightly obsessed with knowing how old you were, Sof.’
Sofia put her hands over her eyes.
‘Don’t. I’m so relieved it’s over.’
‘Adonis knows the truth though, doesn’t he?’
‘Of course, he knows the truth. They’re a picnic compared to what the mother’s going to be like. Mothers never like me, and I’m sure Greek mothers will like me even less. That little treat is set up for tomorrow.’
‘Oooh.’
‘It’s just because I’m going home in a couple of days. I’ll be back, but Adonis wants me to meet all the important people in his life before I go.’ Sofia suddenly looked out of the window. ‘Will one or both of you come with me, pleeeeease…?’
Maddie shook her head.
‘That won’t look at all weird.’
‘I did run it past Adonis. He’s organised a car to drop me off to have coffee with her in the morning because he can’t take any more time off work. He said if I wanted to bring one or both of you that would be fine.’
‘Okaay. Char?’
‘You’re better with old people, Mads. The three of us turning up might freak her out. So, I’m happy not to go.’
‘OK, I can see I won’t get out of this one.’
Sofia leant over and hugged her friend.
‘Thank you. Thank you.’
‘Please don’t squeeze my stomach. It might explode.’
‘I know, let’s stop in the town on the way and do some shopping. We can walk a bit of this food off.’
‘OK, but the coffees are on you.’
‘It’s a deal.’
Charlotte was thrilled to see a couple of art galleries in the main town on their walk as well as several art supplies shops. There hadn’t been anything like this on the other islands, and she wasn’t that interested in buying clothes; she had more than enough.
She stopped outside one gallery with a stunning window display. It called to something inside her, far more than a collection of dresses and tops ever could.
‘You two go on. I just want to pop in here. Let’s meet in an hour in the main square. Decide on a coffee shop and message me the location.’
‘OK, if you’re sure.’
Sofia barely looked back. Nothing and no one was going to get in her way when it came to shopping.
Charlotte went through the door of the gallery, housed in an old building, which felt as familiar to her as entering her own house. The spacious room opened right up at the back and was hung with brightly coloured abstracts.
At one end, in a light-filled glass conservatory, a woman sat painting at an easel.
The smell of the oil paints made her head swim. She’d missed this so much. Why had she allowed Doug to take this from her as well as her sense of place in the world? Her art wasn’t his to toy with. Charlotte watched in silence for a long while until the woman beckoned her over.
‘You are also an artist?’
Her accented English made Charlotte think she was Scandinavian.
‘Yes, how did you know?’
‘You looked so at peace. And you stayed still for so long.’
Charlotte looked up at the glass roof with the dazzling blue sky beyond and out at the white houses climbing up the hill.
‘What a gorgeous place to paint.’
‘It really is. I’m Astrid, the artist in residence here.’ The woman pointed to a set of stairs in the corner. ‘I live in the flat above, with a roof terrace overlooking the sea. It is simple, but it has everything I need.’
‘I’m Charlotte. Pleased to meet you.’
Charlotte’s head was blown by the idea of actually living and working in such a lovely place. It was something she’d never considered. She had to find out more. If she was late for coffee, so be it.
Maddie was now officially bored stiff by the number of shops they’d visited and dismissed after a few minutes. Unusually, Sofia couldn’t find anything she liked. They were back on the street once again.
‘Nothing in there either?’
‘No. It’s to wear to meet Adonis’s mum. It’s got to be just right.’
The wrong image could send everything crashing down before they’d even started.
‘But you’ve got loads of clothes with you. Your suitcase was massive. I made do with hand luggage.’
‘Nothing I’ve brought is suitable. It’s got to be tasteful and a bit conservative with a small c.’
‘Really? Why can’t you just be yourself?’
‘Because I know this woman will be all judgy. Did you hear Lydia calling him “mummy’s little treasure”. I want to make a good impression.’
‘For someone who’s saying it’s only a casual thing, you seem very bothered about what his mother will think. I don’t have to dress up as well, do I?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
Maddie pointed at a shop with a big gold C on the front.
‘What about this one? It’s got the sort of expensive things you like in the window.’
Sofia took her arm and rushed her past.
‘Oh no, we can’t go in there, even if the clothes are amazing. That’s Celine’s. She’s a horrible French ex of Will’s who tried to ruin things between him and Grace.’
‘Well, I can’t fault you on loyalty.’ Maddie blew her friend a kiss. ‘Which is a nice thing. But what about this next shop? My body’s crying out for coffee.’
Sofia eyed a white dress in the window with a high neck, a pleated skirt and a thin gold belt round the middle.
‘Yes, that might work. You don’t think white’s too young?’
‘No.’
Maddie really thought it might make her friend look a bit like a majorette, but if she didn’t get some caffeine in her soon, she’d collapse.
The dress looked a hundred times better on Sofia that it did on the model in the window, something that invariably happened, observed Maddie.
Apart from one foray in front of the mirror to show her the dress, her friend spent ages faffing in the changing room, but to her great relief they were eventually out on the pavement again with a bag bearing the posh logo of the shop and heading for the square.
Seated at the chicest coffee place in town with views through the streets to the sea, a waiter approaching their table made Sofia pick up a menu and open it.
‘Shouldn’t we stall him and wait for Char? She’s late.’
Maddie picked up her phone.
‘I did message her to tell her where we are, but I can see she’s not read it. I’ll message again, but you know what she’s like when she’s talking art. I’m beyond desperate for a cappuccino after that shopping marathon, so let’s order.’
On the walk back to the hotel after lingering over their coffees in the square, Charlotte was full of her meeting with Astrid and opened her bag to show them the selection of watercolours, brushes and paper she’d bought.
‘I can’t wait to get going on a couple of pictures while I’m here. Just simple stuff, but it’s a start.’
Sofia and Maddie smiled at each other. It was lovely to see their friend so happy.
They’d only been settled on Sofia’s terrace for around half an hour, watching the boats, when the phone rang in the room.
Sofia raced to answer it, but moments later called out for her friend.
‘Char, it’s for you.’
‘Me?’
Grasping the receiver with an unsteady hand, Charlotte held the phone away from her ear, letting Sofia listen too.
‘Charlotte Trent.’
‘Yes.’
‘Your husband is waiting in reception.’