As Greek as It Gets: A fun, feel-good romantic comedy Page 20

Lexie has recently had her cast removed and Mum, Lexie and I met for lunch last week in town and had the most wonderful day. Mum laughed a lot, which is something I haven’t really seen her do in a long time, so maybe she’s beginning to forgive herself.

  ‘So I was thinking’ – Gail is putting the finishing touches to a new display of wedding gifts – ‘maybe we could find a corner to put some baby shower gifts in. It’s a big thing now, isn’t it? Everyone seems to have a baby shower.’

  ‘It’s true, but I’m not sure I would have one. I’m a bit superstitious about that kind of thing. I’d like to meet the baby first before I go giving it a present. Although it’s not really about the baby present, I suppose, it’s about the mother-to-be getting together with her friends and having a good time.’

  ‘Exactly. Which is why I want to have a whole range of gifts, including some new champagne glasses that say “My First Drink in Nine Months”, you know, to toast the new arrival, with the words written in gold lettering.’

  ‘A nice idea, although you don’t want anything that looks cheap and tacky,’ I say honestly.

  ‘My goodness, who is this girl that regularly speaks her mind? Although I have to say I rather like her. I suppose I can get a bit carried away with the fun stuff.’ Gail places a silver-leafed fake flower into a vase and I take it out again.

  ‘Too much. Let the vase speak for itself.’

  She rolls her eyes at me but the flower remains out of the vase.

  ‘Of course it’s fine having fun stuff,’ I reassure her. ‘You don’t want to narrow your market too much. As long as you remember that a lot of your regular customers have a lot of disposable income.’

  ‘I know. Which is why I source one-off products like that.’ She points to a stunning patchwork chaise longue, which has been hand-made and has a price tag of almost £4,000.

  ‘Fair enough.’

  Placing a wedding album into the bridal section, Gail asks me about my own wedding plans. ‘You must be getting excited now… not long to go. I bet Max’s excitement must have reached fever pitch by now.’

  ‘Funnily enough, he hasn’t said too much lately, which, I’m not going to lie, is worrying me ever so slightly.’

  ‘First you worry about him talking about it too much, now it’s not enough! Honestly, Alice!’ Gail grins at me to let me know she’s joking. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. He probably just doesn’t want to panic you, as he knows you’re a little nervous.’

  ‘Possibly.’

  Gail locks up and walks with me to the station, where she nips into the Sainsbury’s inside it. ‘Right, see you in the morning. I’m going to grab a magazine and an early night.’

  Gail, who’s in her fifties and has been married for twenty-four years, seems to have a lot of early nights these days. I wonder whether her husband Frank joins her on these early nights, but get the impression that he spends a lot of time doing his own thing, notably following his beloved football and watching a lot of it on television. I’m kind of grateful that Max isn’t a big sports fan. Once a year, he likes to go and watch the Formula One racing with his pals at Silverstone, and he attends the occasional race day, but nothing more. I hope Gail’s husband has something nice planned for their silver wedding anniversary next year.

  When I arrive home just after six, I inhale the unmistakable aroma of Chinese food and I’m surprised to find Max in the kitchen setting out a takeaway onto some plates.

  ‘Mmm, that smells amazing.’ I was going to cook fish for dinner, but my taste buds are salivating.

  I shrug my coat off and give him a hug before he hands me a glass of white wine.

  ‘Thanks for the flowers, Max, they are absolutely beautiful.’

  It feels so good to bury my face into his chest. The pain of not being able to do it is still fresh enough that I savour this moment.

  He looks down at me seriously until I’m finished hugging him. ‘I love you, Alice.’

  I smile happily as I open a cupboard and retrieve a vase for the flowers. ‘You’re home early today.’

  ‘Yep. I’ve been flat out all day, tying a few ends up before I set off on holiday.’

  ‘Holiday?’ I ask, with a confused and slightly sinking feeling growing in my chest. I’ve been thinking that Max has been a bit secretive on his phone recently, when I’ve been around. And now, a week before our wedding, I’m worried he’s been talked into a short skiing break one of his friends has suggested. ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

  ‘As it happens, I’m not going on my own.’ He goes to a drawer and hands me a flight ticket.

  ‘Greece? What is this, Max? Is this for our honeymoon?’

  We’ve talked about returning to Greece for our honeymoon but haven’t decided on a location.

  ‘Look at the dates.’ Max takes a sip of wine, before he takes the lid off a container of salt-and-pepper ribs.

  I wonder if he’s booked our honeymoon to Koutouloufari and for a split second I selfishly hope he hasn’t, as I don’t want to risk running into Vangelis.

  As I look closely at the flight dates and the destination, my hand flies to my mouth. ‘Santorini? Tomorrow?’

  ‘Correct. Those photos of your day in Santorini looked amazing and that painting you did seems to have cast a spell over me, as every time I walk past it I wish I could be there,’ he says, his voice full of excitement.

  ‘But tomorrow, Max… I’m not sure Gail will let me have the time off.’

  ‘I’ve already sorted it. She thought a little break before the wedding would do you the world of good. Students are queuing up for part-time jobs at this time of the year, so she’s got you covered.’

  I think of how Gail and I said good night and she never said a thing.

  ‘I think we deserve a little break before the big day,’ Max continues. ‘I know you’ve been stressing about the wedding and maybe I was a little over the top with some things, so I thought we deserved a little time to chill.’

  ‘You mean, a kind of honeymoon before the wedding? Will that really make it less stressful?’ I’m so stunned I can barely speak.

  ‘If you like, yes.’ Max threads his hand through mine and kisses me. ‘I want us to spend some time together, just the two of us. No interruptions, no thinking about work, just enjoying ourselves. I love you, Alice, and for a short time I thought I was going to lose you.’

  ‘Oh, Max, that will never happen. I love you too.’

  Twenty-Six

  I’m thrilled to find that Max has booked us one of the swish, glass-fronted apartments that the girls and I admired on our trip. The inside, if that were possible, is even more stunning than the outside, with white walls, pale wooden furniture and turquoise cushions and fittings that match the colour of the sea view outside. It’s gorgeous.

  Every room has a view of the sea and the master bedroom has the most enormous bed I have ever seen. On the bedside table are a bottle of champagne, two glasses and a small box of hand-made chocolates. It’s the most luxurious place I have ever stayed in in my entire life. Opening the door from the bedroom, I gasp when I spot our own private pool and Jacuzzi, completely shielded from the other apartments.

  ‘Max, this is unbelievable. It’s absolutely perfect.’

  I kick my shoes off and climb onto the huge bed and run my hand over the expensive cotton sheets, as Max pops the cork on the champagne and pours me a glass.

  ‘Right, much as I’d love to climb in there with you, there are a few things we ought to be getting on with.’

  I’m wondering what Max is talking about, when there’s a tap on the door of the apartment and standing outside is a courier carrying two clothes bags and a holdall. Max takes delivery of the luggage and hands the man a tip.

  ‘Max, what on earth is going on?’ I ask as he lays the clothes bags on the top of the bed.

  ‘Why don’t you have a look?’

  I slowly unzip one of the bags, my hands shaking, wondering if what I’m imagining is inside could really be
there. As I inch the zip down my wedding dress slowly reveals itself.

  ‘My wedding dress! But how…? Why…?’

  Max pulls me to him and silences me with a kiss. ‘We’re getting married, that’s why.’

  ‘Married? Here?’ For a second I can’t seem to think straight and struggle to take it all in. I think of the guest list, the caterers and everything else that has been organised for the big day in ten days’ time.

  ‘Yes.’ Max glances at his watch. ‘In two hours from now, so you might want to grab a shower before the make-up lady arrives. And, before you ask, it will be just us two at the ceremony,’ he says, with a sincerity in his voice. ‘Alice, I can’t believe I got everything so stupidly and spectacularly wrong and I’m so sorry. I just got carried away with the whole celebration thing, not really considering what you wanted. So, we’re marrying here, just the two of us.’

  ‘Are you sure it’s what you want, Max?’

  ‘I’ve never been more sure.’

  A while later, Sonia, a lovely chatty lady, arrives and puts me completely at ease as she listens to how I would like my make-up and sets about styling my hair into soft curls. As I slip my dress on and glance at my reflection in a full-length mirror, I think I look pretty good, even though I do say so myself. Max steps out of the second bedroom a few minutes later and he has never looked more handsome. He’s wearing a light blue, checked, three-piece suit over a white shirt.

  ‘You’re so beautiful.’ Max crosses the room and takes my hand in his, his voice breaking with emotion.

  ‘So are you. But I think there’s something missing.’ I eye the buttonhole on his lapel and realise we don’t have any flowers.

  ‘All sorted. The car will be arriving in’ – he glances at his watch – ‘around fifteen minutes and the driver will be bringing the flowers with him. Let’s have a toast before he arrives.’ Max pours us each a small glass of champagne. ‘To us, and whatever the future holds for us. May it be one long adventure.’

  Max knocks the drink back in one and I wonder whether he is a little nervous. My own nerves have diminished now that I know I won’t have to say my vows in front of dozens of other guests and I hope Max really is alright with this. I would have gone through with it for him although it seems he has done the same thing for me.

  Half an hour later, the car drops us off outside the church and I clutch my fresh, pink and white roses and step outside into the warm sunshine. A dozen or so white steps lead up to a little church, where the ceremony will take place on a veranda outside, with a backdrop of the Caldera in the sparkling Aegean Sea. A table is set with flowers and a smiling registrar warmly welcomes us.

  As we say our vows, with the warm sun caressing our hands as we prepare to exchange rings, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

  Afterwards, drinking in the view of the jumble of white buildings, blue domes and a ship sailing into the port, takes my mind back to the holiday with the girls and of how I almost ruined things forever. I’m so happy Max and I have been married here, today, in this utterly perfect place.

  Max has organised a photographer, who doubled up as a witness at our wedding, and he follows us to a restaurant a short drive away. When we step out of the car, some locals who are enjoying a drink burst into applause and congratulate us.

  ‘I’ve reserved a very special table for us,’ Max tells me. ‘It’s on a private balcony at the rear of the property.’

  ‘Oh, Max, it sounds absolutely perfect.’ We thread through a busy indoor seating area to more applause.

  ‘I just hope you don’t mind your mum and your friends not being here to share in this,’ Max says, sighing.

  ‘I would have loved them to be here, but you can’t expect people to travel abroad for a wedding last minute.’

  ‘I’m sure they wouldn’t have minded,’ Max reassures me.

  We step outside onto a huge balcony, where a table has been set with balloons and ribbons for a wedding meal. As I walk closer, I am absolutely stunned to find Ria and Kerry seated at the table. Along with Molly, Max’s parents, Mum and Lexie. There’s also Gail from the gift shop and her husband Frank. Ria pops a party popper and we are doused in confetti as we approach the table.

  ‘I can’t believe it.’ Tears are falling down my cheeks, but Mum pulls me into a hug and dashes them away before they can ruin my professionally applied make-up. ‘What are you all doing here?’

  ‘Watching you get married, what else?’ says Ria, a beaming smile on her face. ‘Congratulations!’

  ‘I’m so sorry you didn’t see it,’ I say, wishing I hadn’t wasted time worrying about the wedding guests. The only ones who really matter are those closest to me, who are all sitting right around this table now, sharing in the wedding meal.

  ‘No, I mean it. We watched you getting married,’ Ria says, lifting her iPad.

  It seems the photographer was videoing the whole ceremony, which was being live-streamed for the guests to watch from the restaurant.

  ‘Oh my goodness!’ I can hardly breathe as everyone gets to their feet to hug us tightly and raise a toast.

  Later, after the most amazing meal, which included a fish course and a fall-off-the-bone lamb kleftiko, we are sitting around picking at a cheeseboard and eating grapes.

  ‘So you organised everything online?’ I ask Max. ‘But wouldn’t I have to have signed something?’

  ‘You did. One day when you were dashing to work, I asked for your signature on that bank form about the mortgage. Discreetly covered over with a file.’

  It would also explain all Max’s hurriedly finished phone calls when I walked into a room over the last few weeks.

  ‘And were the caterers okay?’ I thought about Joe and Sarah and how they had saved the day when we went to visit them at their café in town.

  ‘They’re still doing the catering. In fact, I think they were a little bit relieved that it would now be a hot buffet.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well, we’ve done the quiet wedding, but do you really think you would get away with not having a party? All the other guests on the list will be coming to a party when we get back home. I couldn’t bear to cancel the fireworks.’

  ‘Oh, Max. It’s perfect.’ I reach up and kiss my new husband on the lips.

  ‘I know you would have liked Crete as a wedding place but, what with…’

  I shush him with another kiss.

  ‘I just hope this place is as Greek as you would have liked. I know how you love those little villages,’ he muses.

  As I glance at the scene below the restaurant in the early evening, a Greek woman carries a basket of bread into a small house, followed by a tabby cat, as the outline of a giant orange sun is preparing to set over the horizon, casting a glimmering sheen on the water. I toss my bridal bouquet over my shoulder to the table and Ria catches it.

  ‘Are you kidding, Max Jenkins? This place is as Greek as it gets.’

  Epilogue

  ‘It’s an interesting piece,’ I say, as I stare at the watercolour in front of me. It’s a black and white rainbow with red paint dripping down the arc.

  ‘The red represents blood. It’s to remind us that there isn’t always magic at the end of the rainbow. Life’s hard and we have to experience pain. There’s often disappointment,’ the bearded bloke standing in front of me laments, with a faraway look in his eyes.

  Oh dear.

  ‘Well, um, as I say, it’s interesting. I’d love to display it.’

  I’m thinking that it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but then again art is purely subjective, isn’t it? Besides, paintings are meant to represent something and like it or not this painting does exactly that. Well, to the artist, at least.

  We discuss details and the previous sombre expression is transformed by a huge smile that lights up his whole face.

  ‘Really? Thanks so much. People don’t always get it.’

  I’m not sure I do either, but I reckon everyone deserves a chance of pursu
ing their dreams.

  ‘He’s a cutie,’ Ria says, when he’s left the shop. ‘If a little serious, although maybe he’s just had a lot of rejections.’ She pauses. ‘His face really lit up when you took the painting, though. Things could be on the up for him now, thanks to you.’

  ‘If his painting sells, you can be the one to ring him, if you like,’ I suggest with a wink.

  Two weeks after we returned home from our surprise wedding in Santorini, I led Max into the village to show him a surprise of my own. We were here to meet a letting agent who, when I’d enquired, had told me that the lease on one of the shops would be up the following month and would not be renewed by the current tenants. (The Community Centre idea had ended up being a bit of a non-starter after all, which may actually have been a blessing in disguise, since it had prompted me to look for my own premises.)

  ‘Which means,’ I told Max excitedly, ‘this could be my new gallery.’

  Max was open-mouthed and followed me around the shop in a daze, before the agent showed us a huge adjoining room, with a good-sized garden beyond it, which could be used for classes, together with a rear kitchen and bathroom.

  ‘It’s absolutely perfect.’ Max lifted me from the ground and twirled me around before kissing me. ‘I’m so proud of you, Alice.’

  It seems all my saving had paid off, as I was able to pay the deposit on the rent myself, and a year ago my dream finally became a reality.

  Business has been steady from the moment I opened the doors. Messy Painting for Toddlers is a huge hit on Wednesday and Friday mornings and I’ve installed French doors from the room that leads out into the garden, where there’s now a play area. Young mums can have a coffee in a newly installed covered patio area, with soft furnishings, and have welcomed the classes with open arms.

  It’s Saturday morning now and Ria occasionally pops in to help out in the gallery and sell some of her jewellery, which is displayed in a tall, narrow glass case, while I teach the watercolour painting class in the adjoining room. Today, the class is being held outside, as the weather is fine.