My Big Fat Christmas Wedding

by Samantha Tonge

  ‘Yes. Niko told me what he said. But what has this got to do with you feeling happier in Taxos?’

  ‘Olivia, Henrik’s…’

  Grandma nodded.

  ‘She’s a super-successful charity fundraiser. Her job sounds so challenging.’ I gave a small smile. ‘All things considered, Olivia’s a special kind of person and – despite everything – said to always contact her if I needed her expertise. You see, I’ve decided—’

  ‘To found a turtle charity here?’

  My smile widened.

  Grandma clapped her hands. ‘That expression on your face reminds me of the early days of when you set up the teashop.’

  ‘Oh, Grandma, I’m so excited. This could make such a difference. Give me the challenge I need to be happy here, long-term, using my business skills.’

  ‘But you have such a lot to learn, no?’

  ‘Absolutely. For a start, I need to decide on the trustees and sponsorship and to agree with the council on the area we can patrol.’

  ‘Fortunately you know Stavros.’

  Yes. Corrupt as he was, the mayor and I had come to an understanding during the summer, when he’d been trying to push through the heinous plans to turn Taxos into just another tacky resort.

  ‘Henrik mentioned the name of the woman who set up the protection scheme down south – I’ll track her down. Plus we’ll have to rent suitable premises close to Caretta Cove. I thought of the old boat shed where I found Niko, near the fig tree.’

  ‘Niko’s old girlfriend, Cleo, is visiting him tomorrow, having heard that he had been injured. She works for an estate agent and could perhaps find out who owns it – see if they’d be willing to sell.’

  My forehead tightened. Cleo? I remembered her from my childhood, one year when she and Niko were dating. Very glamorous. Determined to become a pop star. She’d dreamt of living the highlife in Athens. She knew all the latest hairstyles, plus cuts of jean. Cleo and I used to have little in common. In fact she seemed to go out of her way to be unpleasant, even though in those days, Niko and I were nothing but best mates and I’d in no way been any sort of love rival.

  Grandma brushed down her red skirt and cocked her head to one side. ‘These initial costs… How are you going to cover them?’

  ‘Partly from my savings. Although I’ve thought it through and I understand now why Niko doesn’t like me using them for our everyday life. He’s a grafter…’

  Grandma nodded.

  ‘If I keep subbing our lifestyle from my funds then there is no satisfaction when I have a good day’s sales in the teashop or Niko catches a decent amount of fish. Part of the motivation to work is earning good money. It’s like when I first left home, Mum and Dad offered to put down a deposit on a flat for me, but I wanted to do it myself.’

  I blushed. Here was me talking about the choice of whether to earn my own living or not, whereas Niko’s family – everyone in Greece – had no such luxury. Savings were gone. Working hard was essential just to eat and pay basic bills.

  ‘I mean, I was very lucky to have their support. Not everyone enjoys that back-up.’ I cleared my throat. ‘However this charity needs hard cash to get up and running. I won’t touch my savings once it takes off but until then, I’ll need that money to cover essential costs.’

  ‘You said partly.’

  ‘Yes. I don’t want to dig a deep, deep hole in my savings – Niko speaks sense when he says we might need them for a rainy day. Therefore, I need to find a sponsor.’

  Grandma sat upright. ‘Why not Orion Lakis?’

  My eyes widened. ‘Oh my word… Of course!’ The boss of Creami-Kos – Stavros’ brother. Whilst the mayor had proven himself to dabble in dubious deals, in my experience Orion was methodical about working within the law.

  ‘It would be great for his company’s profile – working with a charity,’ said Grandma.

  I reached over to kiss her on each cheek, nostalgia filling my veins as I breathed in her signature, flowery perfume. As a child I used to wonder if she made it herself. ‘Yes! Thanks for the clarity. He is the obvious choice.’

  Yet her face fell. ‘This is all good, Pippa. Let’s hope it wins Niko around. But what if…’

  I couldn’t help smiling, despite the hint at bad news. Good old Iris. Never afraid of confronting the niggly issues head-on.

  ‘Niko. What if him wanting to call off the wedding is not just a result of a bump on the head? What if he really does want to break up?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I said, quietly, a slight tremble in my voice. ‘Honest. I’m not saying it would be easy to live here and not be together with Niko, but, well, I’ve decided – my home is in Taxos. I don’t want to go back to the rat-race. It’s a dream come true working in the teashop and this charity venture – it’s a personal challenge for me. A lifelong one. It’ll make me develop new skills and utilise the ones I’ve already got.’

  ‘You are sure? This country…life here is so challenging and without love to carry you through…’

  ‘I have the love of good friends. I can manage in my parents’ villa until I find myself a house. Next door are also having problems with water and have rented a portaloo. I shall get one delivered before Mum and Dad arrive and that would stand me in good stead for staying there if needs be.’

  ‘What about London?’

  I shrugged. ‘Yes, the buzz, the glamour of London, that’s appealing, but only for a visit. I know that now. Henrik wanting me to go to Dubai made me realise my love affair is with Taxos as well – the history, sense of community…this place has soul. Do you know, in London, I even missed the fresh smell of donkey dung, when I inhaled London’s traffic fumes?’

  Crepey skin at the corner of Grandma’s eyes crinkled.

  ‘It was great to see my ex-colleagues again, but it reminded me that all we really used to talk about was work and the latest TV shows. I never got to know my colleagues personally, or my customers in the bank. And I couldn’t tell you the names of my neighbours. I don’t want to go through life like that.’

  ‘The village would miss you too, Pippa. Even Apollo the cat.’

  ‘But what shall I do about my parents? They are due to arrive in a couple of days. Is that long enough for me to change Niko’s mind?’

  Grandma looked at me. ‘What does your heart say?’

  ‘My heart says that Niko is a stubborn man and that stubbornness gets stronger over time. So I need to act quickly to change his view before it becomes concrete. If I actually cancel the church and my parents’ visit he may never go back on his decision. I need to act promptly.’

  Grandma smiled, showing the gap in her front teeth. ‘Did you know, Niko was the reason we got Apollo the cat? He asked one week for a pet and his parents said no. So over time he became more and more focused and started helping neighbours out for money, to buy the animal himself. He bought the food bowls, a collar plus a month’s worth of food and presented them all to Sophia and Georigos one night. How could they say no!’

  I smiled. ‘Doesn’t surprise me. So… I’m going to carry on as if the wedding will take place.’

  I was still smiling a couple of hours later, after I walked Grandma back. The streets were empty, save for a couple of stray dogs and fairy lights twinkling in front of shops. I avoided going into the taverna and made Grandma promise not to tell them I’d be walking back alone. Taxos was one of the safest places on the planet. Plus I swore her to secrecy over my plans. I didn’t want to tell Niko about them until I’d got some firm details and at least spoken to Orion Lakis and had built a strong case for us getting back together. A few days should be long enough. On Thursday I would put forward all my reasons for staying and just hope that, by then, he hadn’t gone ahead and spoken to the priest and locals. I bit my lip. If he did, I would just have to deal with that when it happened. Perhaps I’d laugh it off with people – say Niko still wasn’t well and the doctors said he might behave strangely for a few days. Anyway, he’d looked so washed out in the hospital
, I doubted he’d have much energy this week for the stress of cancelling a wedding.

  I strolled back up the high street, a twist in my stomach now unfurled. A twist that had built up over the last few weeks. Despite Niko and I falling out, somehow my future now seemed more secure than ever. Henrik was wrong – I hadn’t had just a holiday fling. All the summers of my formative years had been spent in Taxos. Now I was enjoying a full-blown, mature romance with the Greek island, for better or worse.

  A noise made me turn around – just as well, perhaps, with my soppiness. Was that a muffled sob? Slow footsteps approached.

  ‘Miss Valli?’ It was the retired head teacher I’d seen at the butcher’s a while back. Mournful black eyes peered out of her face, contrasting with her bright turquoise anorak. ‘What’s the matter?’

  She dabbed her face with a handkerchief. ‘Excuse me. Not normally so emotional, but… I was going to bed. Had a nice day with my niece. Have just been dropped home and my darling dog is missing.’

  ‘Oh no.’ I leant forward and gave her a hug. Not another one. Honestly, what was it with dogs in Taxos?

  ‘He wanted to play with some strays this morning, but I pulled him back. Then stupidly, today, I was in a hurry when my niece arrived and left the back door unlatched.’

  ‘You go home. In case he returns. No doubt he’s just roaming the streets with his new friends.’ I stepped back. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll rally the villagers – a group of us will put together a search. I’m sure he’ll be back home before you can say “Happy Christmas”. Life on the streets won’t seem so appealing when dinner time comes.’

  ‘You a kind girl. Thank you. Perhaps he will return on his own.’

  After informing me of her dog’s usual favourite places to walk, Miss Valli sniffed and headed back down the road. I took stock for a moment. Which villagers wouldn’t mind being disturbed on Christmas Day? My face broke into a smile. All of them, if I was honest, and that wasn’t anything to do with living in a tight community. It was the same in Kos Town – attempt to speak a little Greek, for example, and a local would do their very best to help you with a problem. Perhaps it was the open, outdoor island life that made Kos people happy to open their hearts and doors. Of course, there was always the odd exception. Yanis sprang to mind.

  Yanis…the butcher’s… I tried to put myself into the head of Miss Valli’s missing dog. The Manos’ home would sound and smell appealing, with the aroma of raw meat and company of rescued dogs. It was worth a shot, before disturbing other villagers. I headed towards the butcher’s and in the distance spotted the pottery. All its lights were off. Demetrios had been spending Christmas with his brother’s family, further up the coastline. I glanced back up the road behind me, towards the Vesteros’ hotel. Music and chat wafted across from the building. I could ask for help in there, but I didn’t want to risk Mrs Vesteros getting upset. It was only a couple of weeks since her adorable dog, Otis, had drowned.

  Walking slowly, I approached the butcher’s and turned into the little alleyway by its left side. This led to the building that housed their big refrigerators, and the back garden. Only the occasional bark shot over the fence. Mrs Manos mentioned once that if it wasn’t raining, they gave the dogs free run of the garden overnight. I shivered and pulled down my woolly hat. The gate was padlocked. I glanced at a nearby dustbin. Behind it was a dip under the fence. I crouched down. Was that big enough for Miss Valli’s dog to get in? Claw marks were visible on the ground.

  If I stood on the dustbin I could peek over, just to check, without disturbing anyone – especially aggressive Yanis. Pulse quickening, I hauled myself up in slow motion, to avoid making the slightest noise. Afterwards I would head over to Pandora’s. She wasn’t a good sleeper and would help me search the village. Perhaps Miss Valli’s dog was down by the shoreline. Looking around me first, I pulled myself up on tip-toe, so that I could see over the fence.

  Through the darkness, I squinted and caught the eye of one dog. Urgh. Big mistake. It gave the loudest yap. This resulted in the other one joining in. There was no sign of Miss Valli’s dog and I was just about to step down when, aarghh! Fingers curled around my ankle and gripped my leg tight.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‘Get off!’ I shouted, blood pumping around my body as if it was seeking a fire to extinguish. Indeed, my throat felt aflame as acid backed up from my stomach. ‘I haven’t got my purse on me,’ I said in English, between gritted teeth, struggling to think of the words in Greek.

  The dogs barked more loudly and I shook my leg vigorously.

  ‘Careful, Pippa!’

  With a deep breath, I glanced down. Oh no. Yanis.

  Yet the downturned mouth and dull eyes didn’t hint that a fist or foul words were heading my way. Instead, weariness shrouded his face. With limp shoulders, he nevertheless held firm. ‘I don’t want you to fall, that’s all,’ he muttered and reached up with his hand.

  Staring at his fingers, I swallowed.

  ‘Pippa!’ he said indignantly. ‘I have never intended any harm and never would. Your ThinkBig friend got it wrong. Now it is cold…come inside for a hot drink.’

  Wasn’t as if I had much choice. Reluctantly I took his hand and jumped down from the bin. As soon as I hit the ground, I pulled my fingers away, half-intending to run. However Yanis made no move to follow.

  ‘Coffee?’ he said, barely meeting my gaze.

  I scrutinised his face. The pallid complexion. Those lacklustre eyes. The unshaven cheeks. By all accounts Yanis was a good man – or used to be, in the days when he socialised in the village.

  ‘I never meant to hurt you, that day you fell over in the street,’ he mumbled, as we headed towards his back door. ‘I lost all sense for a few moments. No excuse but honestly, Pippa, just before that Henrik arrived, I was going to help you up.’ He turned around and gave me a wry smile. ‘Mama was furious and told me off so loudly when you’d left, that I felt about five.’

  ‘Hmm, Grandma Sotiropoulos has the knack of doing that.’ We exchanged looks. ‘Okay. Coffee.’

  Nothing more was said until we sat down in the cluttered kitchen, each of us behind a steaming mug. He passed me a slice of ginger and fig baklava.

  ‘Happy Christmas,’ he mumbled. And then…oh no. His head fell into his hands and he kind of gulped.

  ‘Oh, Yanis,’ I said softly, and reached forwards to squeeze his shoulder. ‘What’s the matter? The other day, why were you so…so…’

  ‘Quick to lose my temper?’ He looked up, eyelashes wet.

  The staircase creaked and Mrs Manos appeared in a kaftan covered with a big, blue shawl. Her normally tied-up hair hung down in wispy ringlets.

  ‘Pippa?’ she said. ‘Son? What is going on?’

  ‘I found Pippa looking over our wall,’ he mumbled and suddenly looked puzzled. He hadn’t even thought to ask what I was doing. I studied his haggard face, old before its time.

  ‘Now Miss Valli’s dog has run off. I thought it might have been looking for company amongst your strays. Then Yanis appeared and…’ I shook as a shiver ran up my spine.

  ‘Don’t judge him too harshly, Pippa,’ said Mrs Manos. ‘Things have been desperate.’

  I gazed at her gaunt face, lined and sallow.

  ‘Why not pour yourself a drink and join us?’ I said and smiled.

  ‘Mr Manos would be so ashamed,’ she mumbled, five minutes later as she sat next to her son.

  ‘Why?’ I asked.

  ‘Since he died, our lives seem to have fallen apart.’ A tear trickled down her face and she tugged on a ringlet of hair. ‘He always insisted, however tight money was, that I go to the beauty salon. But without him around I spend the money on more important things.’ She smiled through her tears. ‘He was a wonderful husband. I worry that we are letting him down.’

  ‘Don’t ever think that.’ I reached across the table and patted her arm. ‘I’m sure he would be proud – you have taken in your family. You are all pulling together to survive. What m
ore could he ask?’

  ‘That I take the place of head of the family, now he is gone,’ blurted out Yanis. ‘But look at me. No home of my own. A young son with shoes half a size too small because we can’t afford new ones. Me, a man who can’t offer his widowed mother a comfortable retirement.’

  My eyes felt wet too. Despite all the physical hardships, it was their pride that had been most hurt.

  ‘How is your wife, Yanis? We don’t see her often in the village.’

  He took a large mouthful of coffee and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘Maria… She’s not been well. Mama took our little boy to school before term ended so that she could stay at home. Her brother committed suicide,’ said Yanis.

  ‘I did hear – and I’m so sorry,’ I said.

  Yanis nodded. ‘A decent man – but he lost everything the last few years. His business. His wife. His home. He ended up living on the streets. We said to come live with us.’ Yanis looked around. ‘No much room, but he could have had the sofa. But Maria’s brother had his dignity.’ He took another glug of coffee. ‘Maria became depressed and living in the caravan is not helping. She needs counselling but our medical services here in Greece are not what they were. The doctor says everyone is depressed. The waiting list is long.’

  ‘Can’t he give her tablets?’

  ‘We managed to get some, but they don’t seem to help. It’s difficult not to focus on the unfairness of life – like Maria losing her job at the deli.’ Yanis’ fists curled. ‘They wouldn’t admit it – said they had to let her go because of the recession. But she’d been there the longest and I’ve no doubt was their hardest worker.’ He scowled. ‘It was obvious to us that he got rid of Maria because she had missed a couple of days due to feeling down. You know, she was their best pie-maker by far. People came into that shop just to buy her lamb and beef filo pastries. Maria didn’t even reveal her special mix of herbs to the deli’s owner. It was a recipe passed down throughout her family.’