As Greek as It Gets: A fun, feel-good romantic comedy Page 11

  ‘So, you made it, then?’ He has a broad smile on his face. ‘I thought you might still be sleeping.’

  ‘Vangelis, hi! What are you doing here?’ I’m shocked to realise that my heart seemed to miss a beat when I laid eyes on him. Thank God I never blush.

  ‘I never saw you at breakfast but I decided to visit my mother anyway. Perhaps she is right in saying I do not visit her often enough.’ He shrugs.

  ‘I can see she keeps you busy when you get here.’ I gesture to the wheelbarrow full of scorched yellow grass and weeds.

  ‘Always. There are so many jobs to do around the house and in the gardens, of course. She has a gardener who comes in, but I think she tells him to leave some of the work for her sons.’

  I fall in step beside him as he pushes the wheelbarrow to a compost heap, before setting it down.

  ‘As luck would have it you have arrived on a good day. There will be a wedding here shortly. Come, I will introduce you to my mother.’

  He leads me to the dark, wooden front door of the house, which contrasts beautifully with the pink walls. As we step inside, a small, pretty, dark-haired woman, dressed in a blue floral dress, greets us in the hallway and introduces herself as Selena.

  ‘Kalimera.’ She takes my hand and shakes it warmly. ‘You must be Alice. My son has told me all about you.’

  I don’t quite know how to interpret her words, but she has a warm smile and soft brown eyes just like her son.

  ‘Would you like some fresh lemonade? I know the bus stops at the very bottom of the hill. It’s quite a walk on a day like this.’ She is so welcoming that I find myself envying Vangelis for having such a warm, caring mother.

  I gratefully accept her offer of a drink and she leads me into a vast kitchen. The walls are lined with pale wooden cupboards and there’s a huge table at the centre of the room. A cream jug full of wild flowers sits on a windowsill that overlooks part of the garden.

  Selena tells me that today there will be two weddings at the villa: one in about twenty minutes, and the other in the late afternoon. While I finish the cool, zesty lemonade, she glances at her watch and invites me to take a look around outside.

  Opening the patio doors from the kitchen, we turn left along a short gravel path until I suddenly find myself in a vast, rambling garden. I clasp my hand over my mouth as the view in front of me is absolutely stunning. Bright red, yellow and mauve flowers are blooming all around the garden, interspersed with long reeds. At the centre of the garden is an old tree with gnarled branches, yet sprouting pretty, pink-coloured flowers.

  ‘That is the chaste tree,’ Selena tells me, when she catches me staring at the tree.

  ‘The chaste tree? What an intriguing name.’

  ‘The flowers were said to be crushed into a tea to help decrease the sexual urges in monks. Or at least taken as an aid to lower their libido to help them to remain celibate.’ She has a cheeky grin on her face as she almost whispers the words.

  ‘Really? How… fascinating.’

  ‘Although, interestingly, it is said to have the opposite effect on women, acting as an aphrodisiac.’ She raises an eyebrow and grins.

  At the end of the slightly sloping garden is a pretty, white, flower-covered archway and, as we approach it, I notice that a table has been set beneath it, covered with a white cotton cloth and set with a vase of mauve-coloured flowers. Two glass flutes are sitting on a silver tray and Selena tells me some champagne is chilling in the fridge for later. As we walk along the garden, with me taking in every inch of it in wonder, the scent of heady blooms fills the air.

  ‘This is just incredible.’ Standing under the flower-covered archway my breath is taken away, once again, as my gaze falls beyond the garden and I spot the shimmering sea below. It’s the most exquisite place for a wedding and at this moment I just wish that this simple, beautiful garden could be the wedding venue for Max and me.

  ‘It’s quite something, isn’t it?’ Selena says, noting my obvious admiration. She proudly surveys her garden and the glorious scene beyond, where tiny fishing boats can be seen bobbing on the water.

  ‘It’s unbelievable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful wedding venue.’ My senses are stirred and I have an urge to sketch my surroundings, when a thought pops into my head.

  Cavendish House back in the Lake District, despite its grandeur and carefully trimmed topiary hedges, cannot compare to the natural beauty of Selena’s garden. The thought of two people exchanging their vows in the serene beauty of this place completely fills my heart with love. I can’t help thinking of the scale of the celebration that Max has planned for us and once again feel completely torn. Our families would probably think I was selfish coming to a place like this to exchange my vows with Max, yet somehow it just feels so right here. I wonder whether everything happens for a reason, including my coming to Crete and meeting Vangelis. What were the chances of running into someone whose mother conducts weddings from her garden in the hills? It’s the stuff of dreams to me.

  ‘Maybe you could be a witness at the wedding today,’ Selena suggests. ‘Usually it is me and one of the villagers. But earlier today I asked Vangelis. If the couple don’t mind, I’m sure you could do it. Weddings aren’t really your thing, are they, darling?’

  She smiles affectionately at her son as we stroll back up the garden towards the house and I find myself wondering why Vangelis doesn’t like weddings.

  Ten

  I am seated near a window in the kitchen, enjoying a cold drink, when I hear the sound of a car. Glancing out of the window, I see a young Greek couple getting out of a taxi. The bride is wearing a long, simple cream dress edged with lace and the groom is wearing a blue suit over a white open-necked shirt. As they walk closer, I notice the bridal bouquet is made up of an assortment of pretty wild flowers rather than an expensively put-together bouquet from a florist. The couple are smiling at each other and, as they approach the house, I see that the bride has a slightly rounded belly.

  Selena has changed into a white blouse beneath a formal two-piece navy suit with a silver brooch on the lapel. She walks outside to welcome the couple warmly into her home. They glance in my direction, then nod, and I presume Selena has just told them that I will witness their marriage today.

  ‘Actually,’ I whisper to Vangelis. ‘Would you mind being the witness after all? There’s something I would quite like to do.’

  Vangelis shrugs his shoulders and agrees to my request and I go to tell Selena about the change of plan and to ask her if she has any paper. She goes to a writing bureau in the lounge and removes a piece of good quality plain paper from a drawer, which she presents to me with a curious frown.

  ‘I’d like to sketch the couple as they make their vows,’ I explain. ‘Vangelis will witness their marriage, as you’d originally planned. That is, if it’s okay with you and them.’

  Selena speaks to the couple and then confirms that they agree to my idea, and I follow the small procession outside. I take a seat beneath an olive tree, just out of sight of the couple, and take out my trusty small tin, containing pieces of charcoal, from my shoulder bag. I sketch the couple beneath the beautiful flowered archway as they say their vows, all the time thinking how simply stunning and happy they both look. My eyes are almost filling up as they hold each other’s hands and the groom slides the ring onto his beautiful bride’s finger. I sketch the chaste tree in the background and hope that they will live happily ever after.

  I scribble the date onto the finished sketch, alongside a little heart, and, as we all share a glass of champagne, which Selena had provided for a toast, I pass the drawing to the bride.

  ‘A little memento of your day here. Congratulations to you both,’ I say, letting Selena translate my words for them.

  The bride takes the drawing in her hand and a single tear falls down her cheek.

  ‘Efharisto. It’s beautiful.’ She squeezes me in a hug and I can smell her fresh, rose-scented perfume.

  ‘That really
is very good.’ Vangelis is looking at the drawing. ‘I see you are talented as well as beautiful.’

  Selena looks at her son and jokingly wags her finger at him. ‘Please excuse my son. He can be very charming. Although maybe he should not be to a woman who is looking for her own wedding venue.’

  The couple sign the wedding certificate and the bride asks Selena if she would take a few photos of them from her mobile phone. Selena snaps away, guiding the couple to various parts of the garden, and they seem thrilled when they scroll through the shots and smile happily as they view the photos taken among the flowers, by the chaste tree, and with the sea in the background. Before they leave, Selena pops into the lounge and returns with an empty picture frame.

  ‘Here, let me.’ She takes the drawing from me and places it carefully into the wooden frame before handing it back to them.

  ‘Teleios,’ says the bride, which Selena tells me means ‘perfect’.

  The couple tell Selena they are going for a meal at a little taverna just out of town. They are about to order another taxi when Vangelis offers them a lift to the restaurant. Apparently it’s not on the high street, but a little off the beaten track, a mile or two away. It’s as though the couple are seeking complete privacy for their nuptials, and I reflect on how everyone’s idea of a perfect wedding is completely different.

  Now I find myself beginning to wonder whether Max is right. Maybe a wedding should be a huge celebration of two individuals’ love for each other, watched over by their loved ones. Would I regret it for the rest of my life if I were to exclude those closest to me?

  As the couple thank Selena once more and leave with Vangelis, I walk back into the garden with Selena.

  ‘So, you have seen the wedding ceremony here. Even though it is a beautiful location the ceremony takes no time at all. Some people even feel it is a little rushed. You must think carefully. Would you like your wedding vows to be over so quickly?’

  The honest answer is, I’m not so sure.

  ‘Did the bride and groom have any family?’ I ask, hoping my curiosity isn’t inappropriate.

  ‘You may have noticed that the bride is pregnant. It’s barely noticeable, but definitely there. Her parents didn’t want to attend her wedding. They said she has brought shame on the family.’

  ‘What? Oh no, the poor girl. I’m surprised that people would be shocked by that in this day and age.’

  ‘Truthfully, maybe many people would not be. But she comes from a strict Greek Orthodox family who live in the largest house in a small village. The bride’s family have quite a bit of money. Her father owns an olive oil factory, whereas the groom is a simple goat herder. The bride’s parents were opposed to the romance from the beginning.’

  It’s hard not to feel sorry for the couple. Having seen them together, it is so obvious that they are in love. It must have broken their hearts not to have their families present on their happy day. I hope the bride’s parents come round in time, as surely they will not want to miss out on the chance to see their grandchild grow.

  Chatting to Selena, I discover that she has been a widow for five years and I can’t help wondering whether all these weddings ever make her think about finding love again. Or maybe she found her one true love in life in Vangelis’s father and would never consider being with another man.

  I ask Selena some questions about the legal aspect of the wedding and she tells me that most of the correspondence can be done via email and hands me a card with her business details.

  ‘Thank you for this and thank you so much for showing me around today. I feel so lucky to have been able to watch a wedding. It was beautiful, it all just felt so special,’ I tell her.

  ‘You are most welcome. Now, would you like to stay for a spot of lunch? I have some homemade spanakopita in the fridge. My son will be back shortly.’

  I think can think of nothing nicer than having lunch here with Selena and Vangelis, and feta-and-spinach pie is one of my favourite Greek foods, yet all the same I decline Selena’s kind offer.

  I want to be alone with my thoughts for a little while. Watching the couple marry today has made me look forward to marrying Max even more, so why do I feel something I can’t explain when Vangelis is around? He has something about him that is so captivating. I was surprised by how happy I felt when I saw him today and realise I need to put some distance between us and concentrate on my forthcoming wedding to Max.

  ‘Please say goodbye to Vangelis for me. I’m so happy I ran into him or I never would have known that the wedding house exists.’ I hope he won’t think me rude for disappearing before he returns but, then again, I never made any promises to stay.

  Selena shakes my hand warmly and I thread my bag over my shoulder and head out into the warm sunshine.

  Eleven

  Walking back towards the village, my thoughts turn to the happy couple once more and I hope they are enjoying their wedding meal alone. Along the way, I absorb the serenity of my surroundings, strolling once again past the wild, overgrown grasses on the roadside with bursts of colour from wild flowers. As the scent of wild thyme fills my senses, I breathe deeply, enjoying the tranquillity of the area. I’ve just been popping into a few of the shops I remember from last time I was here when my mobile phone begins to ring in my bag.

  It’s Max.

  ‘Hi, gorgeous. How are you?’

  It’s so lovely to hear his voice, I feel an immediate sense of calm wash over my troubled mind, and I’m relieved that the tension in our last conversation is behind us.

  ‘Max, hi! I’m just out doing a little shopping. Would you believe I’m in Koutouloufari? I walked past the restaurant where you proposed earlier. I wish you were here with me.’

  I know in this moment that I would like nothing more than to be having lunch here with Max and sharing a cool, crisp bottle of wine with him.

  ‘Aw, so do I. What are you doing up there? Are you showing the girls the place where I proposed?’ I can picture Max smiling.

  ‘I came alone, actually. The girls have gone to the beach, but I didn’t fancy it today. I wanted to do a little shopping and I remembered there were some cute little gift shops here.’

  I decide not to tell Max about the wedding house, with its beautiful garden, until I get home. And who knows? Once I’m back in England all thoughts of getting married here in Crete may fade into the distance. It’s easy to be seduced by things on such a beautiful island. As things stand, so many people are expecting to share in our special day, and we’ve already sent out the invitations so it would be a real upheaval to change our plans now.

  Max’s voice interrupts my thoughts. ‘Well, don’t forget to bring me a jar of good olives like those ones we ate non-stop at that little taverna near the beach. Anyway, would you believe your mum has invited me to dinner at her house tonight? She rang me this morning and said that she’s making her cheesy-topped shepherd’s pie.’

  It’s rare that Mum even invites us over for dinner together, so I’m surprised to hear she’s invited Max on his own. I suppose it’s rather nice that she’s looking out for him.

  ‘You don’t have any late appointments, do you? Don’t want Rex ending up in A & E again from eating too late,’ I remind him.

  ‘I’ve actually got an early finish, which makes a change, doesn’t it? My last appointment’s just after four o’clock, although I’ve got a couple of early ones the next morning. And you know I can’t resist your mum’s homemade food. There isn’t a problem with me going, is there?’

  ‘Yes, I know you can’t resist her food! Sometimes I wonder if you’re only with me to get access to Mum’s macaroni cheese. Go and enjoy yourself, Max. I’m sure Rex will be glad of some male company.’

  ‘I will do. And I might go and have a drink in the village after that with a couple of the blokes from the bank.’ He pauses. ‘And I should tell you that Rachel stayed an extra night before heading back to Leeds, so she might join us. I know you were upset that she was with us at race night, but I got
over her years ago, Alice. And you know I’d much rather be sitting in a taverna, sharing a bottle of wine with you.’

  My heart sinks, but I try to remain upbeat. ‘I’d love to be doing that, too. Thanks for telling me, Max. You enjoy your night out and I’ll be home before you know it. We can go to the Greek restaurant in town. Not quite the same, I know, but the moussaka there is fantastic.’

  ‘Oh, yes, that chicken dish in tomato sauce and ouzo for me, every time. And a bottle of Mythos.’

  ‘It’s a date. But, don’t worry, I won’t call it a date night.’

  The term ‘date night’ irritates Max, as he says surely it’s natural for couples to go on nights out together, and why does everything have to be given a name these days?

  When we finish the call, I tell myself to get a grip. Maybe wedding nerves are getting to me after all, because I’m starting to feel paranoid about just about everything. Why can’t I just relax and be happy?

  As I’m coming out of a little deli with Max’s olives, lost in thought, I hear the toot toot of a car horn.

  Vangelis pulls up beside me in a black coupé. ‘Are you alright, Alice? You did not wait.’ His hair has tousled slightly in the breeze from the car and he’s wearing a look of concern beneath his sunglasses.

  ‘Wait for what?’ I reply a little tersely, which I regret instantly.

  Vangelis removes his sunglasses and regards me closely. ‘I thought you would have waited until I returned. Has something upset you?’

  ‘No, sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I just feel a little stressed, which should be impossible in a place like this.’ I breathe deeply as I take in my surroundings and try to centre my thoughts.

  The main street of the village is round the next bend, so I decline a lift and carry on walking, while Vangelis crawls his car beside me. Once parked up, he offers to take me for a drink in one of the tavernas, which have begun to get busy, and despite having resolved to keep my distance, I find myself accepting. What harm can a cooling afternoon drink do?