My Big Fat Christmas Wedding (22 page)

‘With our lifestyle? You in boarding school…us travelling the world? No. It just wasn’t possible. But perhaps one day when we slow down.’

Mum shot him a look as if to say don’t
ever
suggest we are getting old. I grinned. Oh, I did miss my parents. Funny, you’d think I wouldn’t so much, after a boarding school childhood. Or perhaps it was the opposite – missing them had become a way of life.

‘Maybe we’ll live at this villa more and take on a dog,’ Dad continued. ‘Quarantine rules aren’t so strict nowadays, I believe.’ He pulled a face. ‘We just need to get a reliable builder in to sort out the drains. I’m tired of waiting for the council to.’

I brought the coffees over on a tray, and then sat down.

Mum plucked a piece of fluff off her trousers. ‘Are you happy, darling? Living in a sleepy village instead of London?’

‘So, so happy,’ I said. ‘And don’t make Taxos sound so archaic! We have internet. The Greeks are no different to us – into all mod-cons. Kos Town is brill for shopping.’ I cleared my throat. ‘I must admit, it’s taken a bit of getting used to, but Taxos really feels like my home.’

Dad picked up the local paper from the coffee table and like he’d always done in my childhood, tried in vain to understand the articles.

‘Just so you know, we’re also immensely proud of how you helped to turn around the village’s prospects, last summer,’ said Mum. ‘You’re a good girl.’

Whatever my age, those words always made my chest glow.

‘And how is Grandma? Still in good health?’ She sipped her drink.

I smiled. ‘Yes, out with me last night, at a dance club – and by the looks of things, the only member of the party today with bright eyes and no hangover. Georgios and Sophia have invited us over for dinner,’ I added, in a bright voice and glanced at my watch. ‘You’ve both got time to freshen up. I’m going to quickly make up some Cornish pasties to take over, to do a taste test for this new savoury venture of mine.’

‘Do you ever stop coming up with ideas, Pippa?’ Dad grinned. ‘Remember how you put together a business plan at school for running a tuck shop? Your headmistress was very impressed.’

Despite myself, I laughed again. ‘It’s good to see you both.’

Oh no. A sob welled in my chest. It had been hard all week, putting on an act, pretending Niko and I were okay.

Dad put down the paper. ‘How did you manage to stop the dear Sotiropoulos family from turning this into one Big Fat Wedding?’

I bit the inside of my cheeks. Little did he know, that’s exactly what it had become – not because of lavish decorations or hundreds of guests, but because of all the doubt and uncertainty surrounding it. This wedding couldn’t have been more complex.

‘Remember, they are trying to stick to a budget, plus there are other distractions – it’s a really busy time, especially with the Christmas fair this year.’

Mum drained her mug. ‘Plus they are such lovely people – so accommodating. Sophia is an angel. Remember that Christmas we came over and visited them, when I’d just lost Granddad? She understood completely when I didn’t want to dance and gave me open access to her and Georgios’ bedroom upstairs, if I needed a quiet moment on my own. I couldn’t imagine her ever forcing something extravagant on you, if it wasn’t what you wanted.’

Dad shook his head at Mum. ‘It’s a mystery to me how you and that lovely woman get on. You’re quite the opposite. Like insisting on throwing me a “surprise” party for my fiftieth, even though I’d declared I didn’t want to celebrate.’

‘You were just being a middle-aged grump,’ said Mum firmly. ‘I’m sure men go through the menopause as well.’

As they continued their discussion in the bedroom, I set about preparing shortcrust pastry. Perhaps, one day, I’d have a relationship like theirs. Mum and Dad were two such contrasting people, like me and Niko. Yet in a way, their dissimilarities held them together. They shared common goals, at the same time giving each other the space to be themselves.

I rolled out the dough and cut it into large circles. Earlier I’d prepared the juicy pork and apple filling. Tonight Georgios was making moussaka and Sophia her spinach pie and Pandora had insisted on dropping off her famous chocolate and walnut cake. Plus Demetrios delivered the pottery bride and groom he’d made for the cake. We’d all cooed in wonder at the detail, down to my red hair and freckles. Cutest of all, ceramic Niko carried a fish. My figurine held a scone.

‘Hmm, those pasties smell good,’ said Mum as we walked into the village through the fragrant pine trees. The hoot of owls and crisp December evening air accompanied us. Fairy lights twinkled ahead and Christmas music escaped from houses. The mood at the fair had been good today, with wallets open and goods disappearing off tables. Pandora’s handkerchiefs proved popular, as did the chocolate tombola. And despite the itchy false beard, Cosmo thoroughly enjoyed being Santa.

Mum wrinkled her nose as we veered around a pile of donkey dung. Litter from the fair danced across the road and I made a note to clear it up on my way back to the villa later on.

My chest tightened as we approached Taxos Taverna. From Cosmo’s cycle shop opposite came the sound of his harmonica. It performed a duet with the nearby lapping tide. Deep sea air breaths. I wasn’t looking forward to confronting Niko – what if he stuck to his decision…but then why hadn’t he made the news more public? The tiniest amount of hope inflated my heart for a minute and in my mind I ran through my turtle charity plan and how I would explain it to him.

Then as soon as I saw the cheerful faces of our families as they hugged each other and joked about how we could double-barrel our names to Sotiropoulos-Pattinson, something inside me erupted. A burst of impatience, combined with wanting to do the right thing, perhaps. If the wedding was off, these people needed to be told as soon as possible. The way Niko looked – his blue shirt open at the chest…those dark eyes hinting at secrets…all my instincts told me to press him up against the wall and kiss the confusion, the misunderstanding and doubt, into some hiding place. But that was no good. I wanted a proper, solid future with him, having fully confronted any issues. I couldn’t wait a second longer to find out if his heart was in tomorrow’s ceremony – or if he just wanted us to carry on dating and wouldn’t turn up.

I grabbed Niko’s hand and led him outside to the front of the taverna, little shots of electricity running up my arm. That always happened when we didn’t spend enough time together – every atom of my body craved a connection.

‘I…we…’ I threw my hands in the air. ‘This is ludicrous. We can’t continue like this.’ I cleared my throat, determined to stand strong. ‘Niko – the time has come to make a final decision. Is this wedding on or off?’

His eyebrows knotted. ‘Look, I’m sorry I’ve been distracted…with Cleo…the accident…but I feel…I feel more like myself today.’

I glanced inside. Mum and Sophia were nudging and winking each other. Only Grandma’s brow furrowed.

‘Let’s go to the beach,’ I muttered. ‘We need to talk – privately. There’s something I want to tell you.’

‘But the meal—’

‘This can’t wait!’ I said, chest tighter than ever as, minutes later, we sat down on the sand and gazed into the distance, the moon half hidden by sepia cloud.

‘Like I said…’ He turned to face me and tentatively took my hand. ‘I think that knock on the head…the whole refugee experience…it knocked me off-centre. Everyone says I’ve been a bit detached – even Apollo got fed up yesterday and bit my arm for my attention.’

He gave a small lopsided smile.

‘Not seeing you on Christmas Day…’ His voice became ragged. ‘I never want to go through that again. Please forgive me, Pippa. As soon as I boarded that plane last Friday night, I knew, in my heart, that I was being an idiot. You and me – we fit together. The differences keep it interesting.’

‘So since you’ve got home, you’ve not questioned my love?’ My eyes tingled.

‘Not your love – no – just—’

‘So what is this secret, with Cleo?’

His face flushed. ‘She told you about that?’

‘No. Just said there was something.’

‘I…I can’t tell you…not yet.’

I sighed. ‘So – where do we stand? Do you still believe that the only thing that matters to me is glitz and fancy parties? That in my heart, I regret leaving my London life? I’ve backed off this week, Niko – to give you space. But tomorrow is our wedding day. People – I – deserve to know what’s going on in your head.’

He nodded. ‘I have thought about nothing else all week. And I get it now – your move here has been life-changing, no? I didn’t really appreciate that until we were in London and I felt out of place after just a few hours – you’ve spent months here. And you will probably need a few more months to adjust, still. I spent a lot of time thinking about that, since I got home from hospital and realised how I’d acted too rashly, fleeing England and shunning you when you visited me on the ward.’

‘But Niko…you’ve always been the one for me. It was nice seeing Henrik and London again, but surely that’s natural? Honestly, I felt nothing deeper – just a sensation of missing a previous life. Plus I searched you out all evening. You were always with Lisette. And I know that was my fault,’ I said, as his mouth opened. ‘I should have introduced you to more people instead of getting carried away, chatting with old colleagues.’

Niko looked down. ‘I acted like a sulky child. It was your night. I should have been open with you about my feelings and not just run off.’

‘So be open now and tell me about this secret with Cleo.’

‘No – because if it doesn’t happen…it could cause disappointment for—’

‘For who? Her?’ I gave a loud sigh. ‘Honestly, Niko. Please. Let’s have a little transparency.’ My face crumpled and the stress of the last week tightened my chest. Oh no. The frustration built. My mouth opened. Emotional words shot out. ‘I was so worried when you flounced off to Greece with that cancellation ticket you got, Friday night. And then you didn’t reply to my texts. All Saturday, I was worried sick,’ I said, not caring if I was being unfair, because it hurt, the happiness in his body language every time he talked about Cleo.

‘Oh how sorry I am – forgive me for trying to save lives.’ Eyes sparking, he gazed at me and shook his head. ‘Look – our families are waiting for us at the taverna. I cannot deal with you when you angry like this. If you really think so low of me, then, then…’ He shook his head. ‘Just do what you think best.’ He jumped up. ‘Cleo was only—’

But I didn’t hear. Why couldn’t he just declare his love for me, then and there? I swallowed the sob that rose at the back of my throat and also got up. ‘Don’t bother speaking if you can’t manage one sentence without mentioning her name.’

He ran a hand through his curly hair. ‘Pippa. You are being ridiculous. Over-dramatic. Perhaps that personality is better suited to dynamic London.’ His eyes glistened.

More chewing of the inside of my cheeks, to stop the flow of tears. ‘That’s what you’d expect,’ I said, eventually, ‘but I have news for you. Taxos is my home, whether I’m with you or not.’

He raised one eyebrow as if I was the one telling lies.

My fists curled. I’d show him that Pippa Pattinson was in control of her own destiny, and didn’t ping between London, Taxos – or Dubai for that matter – on the whim of two men. So as briefly as possible, I told him about my charity idea…Romeo and Orion’s involvement…the disused boat shed. How I’d already talked to Yanis and Stavros. How I planned to stay on here, with my new friends and business venture; how I intended to spend the rest of my life swimming in Kos’s turquoise waters and knowing the names of my neighbours.

‘Surprised you, haven’t I?’ I muttered, as he stood silent. With a gulp, I turned to go. ‘Tell Mum and Dad I’ve got a headache and will see them in the morning.’

‘No, Pippa! Stop! Let me explain!’

Without waiting for a reply, I sprinted along the beach towards Caretta Cove, safe in the knowledge that, with his abdominal bruises, he’d never catch up. Yet footsteps sounded behind me and Niko called my name. I ran faster, only stopping once to briefly turn around. Squinting I saw Niko bent over, rubbing his chest.

A sense of satisfaction should have washed over me, as I’d just given Niko the ultimate evidence of my commitment to Taxos; the ultimate proof that all his doubts about me were wrong. But instead, a sense of helplessness washed over me. When I eventually slowed my pace, I sat on a rock and delved into my coat pocket. Carefully, I pulled out the Syrian couple’s lucky silver charm. Using my mobile phone as a torch, I studied the shape of the hand and the blue evil eye.

‘Big fat lot of good you were to me,’ I said, but couldn’t help giving it one final kiss, before I lifted my arm in the air and aimed the charm at the sea.

Chapter Eighteen

Something old – my underwear. Why make the effort?

Something new – the dress, hand-stitched by Pandora.

Something borrowed – Mum’s pearl necklace. Apparently, she’d worn it to my christening.

Something blue – the evil eye in the charm would be lodged down my cleavage (I just couldn’t bring myself to throw it into the ocean).

Why did I need luck? Because I’d woken up to my parents pouring out Bucks Fizz, Dad whistling and Mum complaining how her hat made her nose look big. Then she put on her Eighties wedding song compilation album, forcing me to listen to those classic ballads, ‘Endless Love’ and ‘Take My Breath Away’? It added to the growing niggly feeling inside that I may have – it’s just a small possibility that… aarghh okay, what if I’d overreacted last night?

In bed I’d analysed our whole conversation on the beach and the upshot was that I’d hardly let Niko finish a single sentence. Conversely, he’d hung on my every word when I’d described my loggerhead turtle charity plan. Plus tried to chase me when I left. Nausea filled my throat every time I recalled the image of him bent over in pain, as I fled.

Therefore first thing I’d raced into the village and tried to find him for a proper talk. But he was already out with Cleo. I almost asked Sophia if he’d come back at all to the taverna last night. Shoulders sagging, any appetite for breakfast gone, I’d loped back to the villa and arrived seconds before my parents got up. You should have seen their faces when I fitted on the dress. Pandora’s sewing really was exquisite. Think elegant, floor-length, with simple ivory lines and a sleeveless bodice – with the arms and backs covered with delicate lace detailing. It skimmed over my curves without the slightest puckering. My parents’ excitement offered a welcome distraction from my brain trying to make sense of my argument with Niko and whether he’d be waiting for me in the church’s aisle. Surely he would have cancelled the wedding by now, if he no longer saw me as his wife? Feeling like an actress in a play, I smiled and showed excitement, trying to behave like a typical bride. How had it come to this? At the final hour, I still wasn’t sure what was going to happen.