My Big Fat Christmas Wedding (23 page)

The wedding was supposed to be at three o’clock. This morning, for one final time, villagers would set up their stalls in time to entertain the Sotiropoulos relatives descending on our village. The fly-leaf advertising the Taxos Christmas fair stated it would finish at one pm on the Friday. This would give our neighbours time to change and head to the church. We’d agreed on an open invitation for the whole village, then food afterwards back at the taverna for family and close friends only.

‘And the cake?’ said Mum.

Pandora caught my eye and grinned. She’d called in for a very last-minute dress-fitting. Plus she was my
koumbara
– Matron of Honour. I hadn’t wanted loads of bridesmaids nor pageboys. Sophia had been brilliant as we’d tried not to disappoint her relatives who had small children.

‘You marry a family, not just a man,’ one had muttered and glared.

‘Pippa no like fuss,’ Sophia had said. ‘But we provide a lovely posy for all the children to hold during the ceremony and ask that they dress up to have special photos with the bride afterwards.’

‘The cake is already at the taverna, but I have a photo of it on my phone,’ said Pandora, a twinkle in her eye. ‘I followed Iris’ design.’ The baker had been thrilled and surprised when I’d asked her to be my right-hand woman for the wedding, but how could I choose anyone else?

‘You’ve always believed in me and my plans to help Taxos,’ I’d said. ‘Plus welcomed me into the village and your life. And all those childhood memories I have of you, giving Niko and me slices of your baklava, which is the best in the whole of Greece.’

Pandora rifled in her handbag and pulled out her mobile. Mum’s eyes bulged. Dad tittered. I glanced at the photo of the blue and white-iced sponge in the shape of a domed Greek church, with green and black olive marzipan branches draped around the bottom.

‘That’s very…’ Mum looked at me.

‘Authentic?’ I suggested. ‘Don’t those olives look realistic?’

Eventually Mum’s face broke into a smile. ‘You know what, darling, I absolutely love it. It’s from the heart – none of those clinical sugar roses or towered pastel cupcakes nonsense. What flavour is it, Pandora?’

‘The top tier is plain, the middle lemon and the bottom chocolate.’

‘Mmm.’ Mum stared closer at the phone’s screen. ‘Delicious.’

I had planned to make some of my famous glittery scones this week, for the reception. Just as well I hadn’t been feeling sparkly enough, because now they might have been wasted. I pretended to blow my nose with a tissue, its real purpose to dab my wet eyes. I still
had
to find Niko this morning and finally let him talk.

‘I, um, just need to go into the village,’ I said, in a measured voice to control any wobble at the thought that Pandora’s scrumptious cake may never be cut; that I’d been over-imaginative about this secret between Cleo and Niko. What if now it was too late and he’d had enough of my accusations and our arguments?

Mum sucked in her cheeks. ‘What about your hair, nails and make-up?’

‘It’s still five hours to the wedding and I’m already getting cabin fever in here,’ I said. ‘Look…why don’t we go and take a look around the fair?’

‘Because we know what you are like,’ said Dad and drained his flute of Bucks Fizz. He smiled. ‘You’ll get roped into helping someone and will end up running late for church.’

‘I won’t. Promise. Pandora, shall we walk back with you?’

‘You are definitely pleased with your dress?’ she said.

I kissed her on the cheek. ‘Couldn’t be happier.’

My limbs felt heavy as I anticipated everyone’s disappointment if Niko didn’t say “I do”. His relatives were travelling here from other islands. Georgios and Sophia had sweated over the menu. Grandma had put so much thought into the flowers. Pandora would miss out on the glory of everyone admiring her baking and sewing skills.

I gave everyone a bright smile. ‘Come on. Let’s do some last-minute Christmas shopping.’

However shopping was the last thing on my mind. As soon as we reached the busy high street, I felt bad but gave Mum and Dad the slip. No mean feat, as everyone who saw me slowed my escape by wanting a kiss or hug. I lost count of the number of people who wished me well. Feeling as discreet as Mum’s slash of red lipstick, I made my way to Taxos Taverna. Grandma stood outside, shaking a small mat.

‘Sweet Pippa! What are you doing here?’ She gave me a small smile. ‘Shouldn’t you be making yourself even more beautiful and drinking champagne?’

I bit my lip. ‘Is Niko back yet?’

She stopped her work.’ No. It is a shame you missed him earlier this morning… Pippa…my little sugar doughball…what is going on? Is the ceremony going ahead or not?’

Out of nowhere, a sob lurched into my throat. With Iris I could no longer keep up the pretence. ‘It might really be over.’ My voice cracked.

Grandma put the mat on a nearby table and sat me on a chair. She sank into the one to its side.

‘Pippa – you are wrong. Last night…I felt something was up with Niko and privately read his coffee sediment. It said a foreigner’s luck would make sure he put down roots with an old friend.’

‘That makes no sense at all, as usual,’ I said, teasing her through tears. I sniffed. ‘Cleo is an old friend. Perhaps it means her.’

Grandma burst out laughing. ‘You are not serious? Niko would never marry her.’

‘How do you know? They have spent most of the week together and she speaks so highly of him.’

Grandma’s brow furrowed. ‘Niko worked out years ago that Cleo was using him for money and treats and would never go out with her again. It came as no surprise that her first husband divorced her, calling her a golddigger.’

‘But they seem so close.’

Grandma nodded. ‘Cleo may not make the best wife, but she has proven to be a loyal friend. A couple of years ago, Uncle Christos almost had his house repossessed. He would have lost everything he’d ever worked for. Niko contacted Cleo, because of her estate agency expertise. She worked her magic, and rented it to a wealthy artist from Athens who wanted a quiet retreat to work in. Then she found Christos and Stefan a modest place to rent.’

Gosh. Who would have thought? ‘I still find it odd – their friendship. She and Niko have hardly anything in common.’

Grandma smoothed down her apron. ‘How do you remember Cleo?’

‘Glamorous. Loved celebrity. Never stopped talking at – or over – people.’

‘Exactly. She wasn’t the most popular at school – came across as thinking she was better than the rest. But Niko has the knack of seeing the soul in people. He always defended her. I don’t think she’s ever forgotten that. She hurried to Taxos this week, as soon as word spread of Niko’s brush with death.’ Grandma shook her head. ‘And fond of him as she is, Cleo would never settle down with a humble fisherman.’

I stared at my nails, all filed and ready for polish. It looked like I’d been a bit harsh about the glamorous Greek siren.

Grandma cleared her throat. ‘Niko mumbled something about him and Cleo going to the houses opposite the pottery. She must have had a bit of work to do for the estate agency.’

‘Thanks.’ I stood up.

I ducked my head, to avoid anyone’s eyes, and cut through the crowds and passed a crocodile line of children being led by Stefan, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. They must have been heading for the beach treasure hunt. I sloped off, around the back way, to the road where Niko would be.

It was empty as most people were either selling or buying items at the fair. Demetrio’s aubergine-coloured pottery shop was closed as he was running his stall. Across the road I spotted Cleo, glossy blonde highlighted curls trailing down her leather jacket. She wore skinny jeans and high boots. As Grandma said, it seemed unlikely a woman like her would consider settling down in a village like Taxos.

She stood outside an adorable little blue and white house, set back from the rest of the street. Detached, it had turquoise shutters and two pots outside, with a small olive tree growing from each. Whitewashed steps went up the right-hand-side to the door. Pebbles covered the ground at the front. The front door was dome-shaped at the top.

Cleo stood on the front step and tucked in her blouse. With one hand, she smoothed down her hair and then opened her handbag to reapply lipstick. My mouth dessicated, as if I’d eaten a spoonful of sand because then Niko appeared…buttoning up his shirt. He leant backwards into the house and reappeared holding his jacket. Cleo laughed, said something, and straightened his collar. And then…I pressed a fist against my mouth. He wrapped his arms around her neck and they hugged.

Oh. I got it. A sour taste burned my tongue. That was no doubt a house Cleo was trying to sell. Clearly she’d borrowed the keys and taken Niko there to make love. I’d read about estate agents doing that for the thrill. My eyes widened. Grandma’s coffee reading was wrong.

How could he? And on our intended wedding day as well? With a gulp, I spun around and started to run, feet stomping, pulse beating loudly in my head.

‘Ow!’ I tripped and landed at an angle, yelping as my foot twisted. Cue footsteps running. Before I knew it, Niko had lifted me to my feet.

With a shake, I pulled away. ‘Leave me. I’m absolutely fine.’ Using every ounce of strength not to cry, I limped towards a bench under a palm tree and sat down.

‘Pippa.’ Cleo shook her shiny mane. ‘You must be more sensible or you’ll mess up your wedding day.’

I snorted. ‘We all know there is going to be no ceremony.’ I glared at them. ‘Honestly, what sort of man shags a woman on his wedding day, who isn’t his fiancée?’ The sour taste returned to my mouth.

‘Shags?’ His brow furrowed and Cleo muttered something to him in Greek. Those mocha eyes widened. ‘That is your opinion of me?’

‘What I am supposed to conclude? You both stand there, Cleo tucking in her shirt, you buttoning yours up. You embrace. All week you have been together, sharing some secret…’

Cleo rolled her eyes and looked at her watch. ‘Look. I go. You two talk. I need to get ready.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘And so do you, Pippa. That hair.
Really
. Next week, get yourself a conditioning treatment.’

Jaw open, I watched as she teetered away, texting into her phone.

‘I give up. The woman leaves a life-changing conversation by discussing my hair.’

Niko sat next to me. ‘That’s Cleo – and one of the many reasons I could never marry her.’ He took my hand. ‘Do you really believe I just slept with someone else?’

I turned to face one of his irresistible lopsided smiles. My palms perspired as I recalled our steamy summer nights. Niko’s urgency. His tenderness. The way I caught him watching me as I woke up. ‘I believe any woman would find it hard to resist your charms. But…’ Our eyes locked. ‘No. Not now the shock has worn off of seeing you both adjusting your clothes…. Like with Lisette… I know you are loyal.’ I sniffed. ‘I never wanted to move back to London, you know.’

He squeezed my fingers. ‘Once I’d calmed down, I realised that. My rush away from the party – it was childish. But seeing you in your old life, with sophisticated Henrik… it made me doubt myself for a second. I couldn’t cope with the thought of losing you. I’ll never understand stockmarket trends or care about buying a designer suit.’ He sat more upright. ‘But I’ll always do my best to keep you safe and put colour in your cheeks, when you’re feeling blue.’

Heart racing, I kissed his forehead, his nose, that small scar just above his mouth. God, I’d missed our closeness.

‘And when you told me, last night, about your plans to stay in Taxos, whatever happened to us – it just confirmed what I already knew. The last couple of days…the way grateful villagers talk about their Pippa – it made me realise what a fool I’d been to risk losing someone like you.’

‘It’s only a fair.’ I hung my head and shrugged.

‘Pippa…’ He lifted my chin. ‘It is so much more than that. Plus Yanis and Maria Manos spoke to me. You’re going to make a real difference to their lives. How you care about the problems of people who are almost strangers – I understand now how wrong I was to contemplate for one second that shallow glamour is what appeals to you. My temporary suspicions shame me now.’

‘Like mine about you and Cleo shame me,’ I whispered. ‘This week I’ve been thinking hard too and understand that I am responsible for my own happiness; that my recent discontent has nothing to do with material things but about me challenging myself. And with the loggerhead turtle charity project, I know I’ve now done that. Plus I promise not to moan about spending ever again.’

‘Ever?’ Niko’s eyes teased. ‘Let’s not make promises we can’t keep.’ He cleared his throat. ‘And I swear to learn to accept your financial help when we need it.’

‘And I must realise that with my future here, those savings really are valuable, and shouldn’t randomly be dipped into.’

Niko grinned. ‘Do you think that means we’ve reached a compromise?’

‘Grandma would be so proud,’ I said and grinned back, my scrunched-up insides unwinding.

‘Watching you with your clipboard and pen help organise the stalls this week…’ Niko brushed a curl from my face. ‘I can never thank God enough that he let me survive the cold waters, and have another chance to feel your special lips on mine. The accident made me question if you were right for my future. This week that question has been well and truly answered… In my heart, I must have known you really were The One. A couple of times I thought about going to see the priest, to call things off, but I just couldn’t go through with it. Thank you, dear Pippa, for giving me the space this week to get over that bump to my head…to calmly think things through.’ His voice became husky. ‘Now I know more than ever that my secret plans with Cleo were the right thing to do.’

‘No more secrets,’ I muttered and moved closer, feeling his breath on my mouth. ‘Not if we are going to walk up that aisle.’

‘I wanted it to be a surprise, Pippa; wanted to make sure it was possible, before I told you. Something I hoped would make you happier about our future.’

My knees turned to Greek semolina pudding. ‘I need nothing but trust, loyalty and love – and to feel you against me in the closest possible way.’