Under a Greek Spell

by Simone Hubbard

  ‘Now let me see if I remember … Bacardi, Southern Comfort, peach liqueur, cranberry juice and ginger ale.’

  I check them off the menu. ‘Well done. You’ve only missed this.’ I point to one item.

  ‘Oh yes, it is energy drink.’

  ‘So, how do you know all about cocktails?’

  ‘We love cocktails in Mykonos, and I have studied them for many years. I’ve even created some of my own.’

  ‘Wow, a cocktail connoisseur.’

  ‘I will make you one tonight at the hotel.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to it. Now, what do you suggest to eat? I’m starving.’

  ‘I suggest we share a typical Greek meze, with things like hummus, falafel, dolmades and fattoush.’

  ‘Sounds good to me. I’ve been to a handful of Greek restaurants at home so I’ve tried a few of those things.’

  We place our order for some drinks and food. I can’t help laughing at Costas who’s ordered a boring coke. ‘After all that, you’ve ordered a coke?’

  ‘I do not mix driving and drinking.’

  ‘No, but you do risk your passenger falling off the back.’

  Costas laughs. ‘I do love your sense of humour, and your eyes…’

  ‘Why do you like my eyes so much?’

  ‘They are so blue.’

  ‘And yours are so brown…’ I’m about to add that I find them very sexy but the waitress reappears with our drinks.

  ‘Take a sip and tell me what you think of Afternoon Delight.’

  ‘Mmm, it’s delicious.’ My phone bleeps with a message alert. ‘Ooh, it’s my mum with an update from her trip.’ I hesitate to look at it because I don’t want to seem rude but Costas waves his hands.

  ‘Carry on, please, do not worry about me.’

  ‘Okay. It says:

  Having great time, just

  stopped for lunch at

  little taverna in Santorini,

  amazing place, fallen in love

  with all Greek islands so far.

  Boat amazing we even have

  on-deck whores. Your dad having

  withdrawal symptoms from wolf.

  The itinerary has changed because

  of weather issues so can you book

  him in for a game on Friday.

  Hope u & Helen are

  behaving ;)

  ‘Wow, Shirley, your parents are very…’

  ‘Technophobic, Costas, and bloody useless at texting. They’re on a clipper ship cruise, where they all muck in, but not to that extent. She’s obviously not read it before hitting that dangerous “send” button.’

  ‘And your dad – what is “wolf”?’

  ‘Golf, I suspect. He’s itching to have a game. I think Helen’s arranging something for when the boat docks here… Ooh, I think our food’s here.’ A huge platter of food is placed before us. ‘Flipping heck, I’m not sure I’ll eat all that.’

  ‘Do not worry, I have a big appetite and this is my main meal of the day. Now, taste.’ His hand heads towards my mouth with a black olive pinched between his fingers.

  ‘I’m not sure about olives. I’ve tasted them before and didn’t like them.’

  ‘Yes, but not olives grown up the road.’

  I reluctantly open my mouth and he puts the slimy olive in it, giving me no option other than to start chewing. It isn’t actually that bad. In fact, I quite like it. He then tries his luck with a large green olive with a slightly tougher texture. I think I like it better. I’m glad the other diners are inside so they can’t be put off by our seductive olive flirting. I now join in the spirit of things by putting them in his mouth. I find this feeding each other thing is a bit of a turn on.

  After a few more sips of my Afternoon Delight, I start to feel relaxed and a bit giddy. It’s a long time since I’ve enjoyed myself in a bloke’s company. I feel like a teenager again, but without all the worry of not knowing how to kiss properly or how to have sex. Richard and I had a good sex life until the dreaded let’s-start-a-family topic was brought up. It all went downhill from there. He must have thought I’d trick him and try to get pregnant on the sly.

  ‘So, Shirley, do you like the food?’

  ‘Yes, it’s delicious, but I’m going to reek of garlic and onion.’

  ‘Reek?’

  ‘Smell.’ I waft my hand in front of my face.

  ‘Oh, I see. But only to other people – not me.’ He winks cheekily and another wave of giddiness washes over me. ‘Do you have plans for the rest of this afternoon?’

  ‘Oh, I’m not sure. I was hoping to meet my sister back at the hotel. I thought she’d have texted me by now, though.’

  ‘Was that your sister I saw you with last night?’

  ‘Yes, it was. I didn’t notice you.’

  ‘No, I was working on the opposite side of the restaurant. I saw you come in and thought you were going to fall over, but your sister managed to keep you upright.’

  ‘Oh, those silly shoes. Helen did warn me that I’d end up falling over, but who listens to their older sisters?’

  ‘You looked like you were busy.’

  ‘Oh, my goodness, that’s another story…’ My phone bleeps again. ‘I’m really sorry, Costas. It’s probably my mum with some spelling corrections! No, I’m wrong, it’s from Helen.’ I read it to myself just in case there’s work stuff that affects Costas in it.

  Things not going to plan.

  Had to drop in at

  hotel down the road,

  will explain later.

  Mykonos Gold is

  awful so won’t be

  back until at least 6.

  Really sorry.

  See you later. xx

  ‘Oh dear, things aren’t going her way … which means I’m a free agent. I’d like to be back at the hotel by five thirty, so I’ve got a couple of hours.’

  ‘What about little sunbathe on beach at my parents’ hotel?’ he enquires, looking hopeful.

  ‘Yes, that would work, if you’re sure you can spare the time. That would be a really nice way to finish the afternoon. I can fill you in about my sister Helen.’

  Costas teaches me to ask for the bill in Greek: To logariasmo, parakalo.

  ‘I’m paying for this, Costas, after the milk fiasco and all your time showing me around.’

  ‘Shirley, it has been a pleasure sharing such good company, and the milk made me laugh. I have not laughed like that for a very long time.’

  I suddenly detect some sadness in his voice that wasn’t there before, so I quickly lighten the mood. ‘Maybe you could teach me to say “I’m paying on my card”.’

  ‘We could be here all afternoon. Just leave your card there. The waitress will see and bring the machine out.’

  Sure enough, she appears with a card machine and taps in the amount. I put in my pin. We wait a few seconds and then she looks embarrassed. ‘I am sorry, it says the card is declined.’

  ‘What? It can’t be! I told the credit card company I was going away… Oh dear, I’ve just remembered something.’

  ‘Shirley, what is it?’ Costas asks, looking concerned.

  ‘The credit card company must think my card’s been stolen. I told them I was going on a Caribbean cruise. I’ve forgotten to update them…’

  Costas is laughing. ‘Caribbean cruise? You are a bit off course.’

  ‘Ha ha. I’ll explain it all later. But what about this bill? I’ve got roughly half so we could go Dutch.’

  ‘Now we are talking about Holland? Is this a world cruise?’ Costas is laughing even more.

  ‘No, “going Dutch” means I’ll pay half.’

  ‘Shirley, you keep your money and I will pay. This is what I would like.’

  ‘Okay, you win. I’ll call the credit card company later
and maybe you’ll let me treat you another time when my card’s unblocked.’

  ‘Yes, I would like very much for us to have a meal together.’

  We stroll back to the moped hand in hand, laughing about the bill and I tell him about our Caribbean cruise plans.

  * * *

  We arrive back at the hotel and everything is quiet. It looks like most of the guests are sunbathing in the garden area or on the beach. Costas’s parents are busy in the little bar. They wave at us.

  Costas pulls a couple of sunloungers together and fetches towels. ‘What would you like to drink?’

  ‘Oh, just water will be fine, thanks.’ I don’t want him thinking I’m a lush.

  He’s quickly back with water in a cooler jug and a couple of glasses with ice. ‘I just change into swim shorts and be back in five minutes.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m wearing my bikini under my clothes so I’ll just put my sun cream on while you change.’

  ‘I can do cream for you,’ he offers enthusiastically.

  ‘Okay, if you insist. You can do my back.’ Anything else and he’ll turn me into a quivering wreck. I’ll be wanting to do unmentionable things with him after having known him for only six hours.

  ‘Okay, and you can do mine when I get changed.’

  ‘It’s a deal.’

  I quickly take off my shorts and T-shirt and lie down on my stomach. He unfastens the clip on my bikini top to move the strap out of the way and glides his hands over my back, sending shivers of excitement all down my body. ‘I will do your legs as well.’

  ‘Okay,’ I whimper.

  ‘Is there anywhere else that needs cream?’

  ‘No, I’m fine, thanks. I’ll do the rest.’

  He refastens the clip. ‘All done.’ That would be the understatement of the day. He leaves me smouldering and fantasising.

  I catch sight of his dad in the little thatched-roof bar. I can see him shaking this and that, and I can hear a machine whirring away. It looks like he’s preparing a couple of cocktails. They’re both in tall glasses. One is dark and the other blue. He adds the finishing touches and places them on a tray. Costas has reappeared. He picks up the tray and heads in my direction looking … how can I put it? … heavenly.

  ‘One Blue Lagoon for lady with intoxicating blue eyes, and a Cola Rolla for me – more cola than rolla!’ he laughs, putting the drinks down on the little table in between the sunbeds.

  ‘Are you trying to get me tipsy? Because you’re doing a good job!’ I try, unconvincingly, to sound like I’m objecting. Obviously, I’m enjoying every minute of my time with him.

  He lies on the bed and looks over in my direction. ‘I think it is my turn for some cream.’

  Right. Deep breaths, I can do this. I squeeze some cream on to his back and glide my hands up and down his back, rubbing in the cream.

  ‘You know, Shirley, you make fantastic massage.’

  ‘Really? I’m glad you’re enjoying it.’

  ‘Yes, a bit too much,’ comes the reply, and he promptly props himself on his side.

  ‘We try these cocktails and see if my papa has learnt what I show him. Yamas.’

  ‘Mmm, this is delicious. You taught him well.’

  ‘Yep, mine is good as well. He is a good student. So, you were going to tell me about your sister and why she leave you on your own.’

  ‘Oh yes. So, she works for a travel company and she was told last week that instead of reviewing a Caribbean cruise as she’d planned, she’d have to come here. She’ll hopefully be done in a couple of days.’ I don’t want to say too much to Costas and blow Helen’s cover, especially as I’m doing the Boutique Blue’s observations.

  ‘Oh, that is a pity. I will not have you all to myself.’ He replies, looking quite crestfallen.

  ‘I’m sure we’ll sort something out. Besides, won’t you be working?’

  ‘Well, actually the Boutique Blue is very quiet at the moment. They ask for volunteers for unpaid leave so I put my name on the list. I have no mortgage and bills to pay, so I am keen for my fellow workers who do have commitments to have the work.’

  ‘Gosh, I didn’t realise things were so bad.’

  ‘Yes, this is a very quiet May. Luckily, my parents are quite booked up so I can always help them and give my grandparents a break. Anyway, you are on holiday, not worrying about the Greek economy. What about a splash in the sea?’

  ‘Or a swim?’

  ‘You swim?’ he says sounding surprised.

  ‘Yes, Costas. England is an island. The sea that surrounds it may be freezing cold but we do have swimming baths. I’ll have you know I’m a good swimmer.’

  ‘Swimming baths,’ he repeats, frowning.

  ‘Race you to the sea!’

  We run down to the water and straight into the rather cold sea. It momentarily takes my breath away. I was expecting it to be a bit warmer. We splash about like a couple of kids and finally adjust to the cold water enough for a swim.

  After what seems like an age of splashing, swimming and floating about, Costas takes my hand to kiss the back of it and says, ‘I will remember this day forever.’

  I smile, blush and reply, ‘Me too.’

  We run back up to our sunloungers and dry off. I lie down, close my eyes and begin daydreaming again about Costas rubbing that cream all over my body…

  ‘Shirley! Shirley, it’s time to go.’

  ‘Go. Go where? Where am I? Oh my God, I’m so sorry, I must have nodded off. What time is it?’ I ask in a panic, suddenly remembering where I am and that Helen might be wondering what’s happened to me.

  ‘No panic, it has just gone five,’ Costas replies. ‘If okay with you, I take you to catch bus and then come home to change for work. I am not due back until six thirty.’

  ‘Yes, that’s great, whatever suits you. I’ve already taken up your whole day.’

  ‘You have not taken up all my day. And, besides, you make my day happy.’

  I pop my shorts and T-shirt back on over my still slightly damp bikini and stuff everything else into my bag. Costas has already put on his jeans while I was asleep. I do hope I haven’t embarrassed myself by snoring or dribbling.

  His mum is busy collecting towels and glasses and comes to give me a hug. ‘It has been lovely to meet you, Shirley. I hope you will visit again.’

  ‘Oh, I’m sure I will. I’ve had a lovely day. Thank you.’

  ‘Right then, Shirley, back on the scary moped. I try to drive not too fast.’

  We arrive in the chaotic main square. There are three buses parked up, with another bus trying to turn round in between cars, mopeds, trikes and people everywhere. Costas parks his moped and we make our way over to the buses.

  ‘This is your bus. Just pay the driver. It is two euros. You get off where you wait this morning,’ he says, laughing.

  ‘Yes, I know. You’ll not let me forget that in a hurry, will you?’

  ‘No, but I am glad you missed the bus. Do you have plans for tomorrow?’

  ‘My only plan was to relax by the hotel pool.’

  ‘I could take you on a drive around the island, if you like. I could meet you here at midday?’

  ‘Yes, that sounds like a plan. I’m sure you’ll know all the off-the-beaten-track places to visit.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I can definitely do off the beaten track,’ he replies, mischievously raising his eyebrows. ‘Oh, and Shirley, it is the hotel policy not to date the guests so I would appreciate that we keep this to ourselves.’

  ‘No worries. But Helen will sniff out anything suspicious a mile off,’ I declare laughing.

  ‘Well, we better be careful,’ he replies, winking and taking my hand to kiss it.

  ‘Maybe I can have your number?’

  ‘Of course.’ He takes my phone, taps in his number and rings his
with it. ‘I can text you now,’ he says smiling.

  I get on the bus and hand over my two euros. I wave to Costas, who’s now back on his moped. He waves back and the bus sets off. A couple of minutes later, my phone alerts me that I have a text. It’s probably Helen back early. I open the message. It clearly isn’t from Helen. It says:

  I enjoy today. xx

  My heart is all of a flutter. I text him back.

  I enjoy today too

  Glad I missed the bus

  See you at dinner. xx

  As we drive along, I daydream again, thinking about my lovely day with Costas. I’ve got distracted by my damp bikini bottoms, which seem to have got sand in them. They’re beginning to get a bit uncomfortable and as I attempt to readjust them inconspicuously, I notice a woman in the seat opposite giving me a funny look. I offer an explanation. ‘Sand – it gets everywhere!’ She doesn’t look very amused and looks out of the window instead.

  What with all my fidgeting, I nearly miss my stop. Luckily, other people are getting off here so the bus is slowing down anyway. I follow the other guests down the track to the hotel and walk wearily into reception. Nikos immediately recognises me and comes running over.

  ‘I am so sorry, I told you the wrong amount for bus journey! It is two euros. I just find out it has gone up last week,’ he says, looking quite embarrassed.

  ‘No problem, I sorted it.’ I’m about to explain but think better of it.

  ‘Did you manage to see the windmills and Little Venice?’

  ‘Yes, I did. Thank you very much for all your help. In fact, what is the Greek for “Thank you”?’ I enquire, thinking I can add it to my extensive vocabulary.

  ‘Efharisto,’ he replies.

  ‘Efharisto,’ I repeat.

  ‘You say very well – a natural!’ Nikos says kindly.

  My plan is to find a sunbed and attempt to appear like I’ve been there all day, ready for when Helen gets back. As I approach the garden, I can see that there are now plenty of free loungers. I grab a towel and settle down on one. I might even get my bikini bottoms dry as I relax in the warm sunshine.