CHAPTER 15
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EVA
Greek weddings are long.
Of course, there is always months and months of preparation before the big day, as there is with any wedding. But on top of that, the wedding itself isn’t a one-day affair. It’s a whole weekend.
I was touched when I received an invitation to the big day, but I was involved in so much more than just being a guest. Sofia, the bride, insisted that I join her and her friends for her bachelorette party on the Friday, too. And that in itself, was an all-day affair. In the morning, she and her friends picked me up, and we drove across to the other side of the island where we spent the day at an incredible spa.
Santorini is the most stunning island I’ve ever seen. Even as recently as fifty years ago, it was relatively unknown. It was simply another one of the Greek isles tucked away in the Aegean along with hundreds of other islands. The residents enjoyed a peaceful life with little to worry about since the Turks had finally been overthrown and the war had ended.
They only had electricity brought to the island in the sixties. Before then, they’d relied on generators or more commonly, they didn’t have electricity at all. Life was primitive, but they preferred it that way. Once the outside world truly understood the beauty Santorini held and word got out, the quiet life was over.
These days, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the island every year, captivated by the iconic houses: tiny white buildings built on top of each other, cascading down the sides of steep hills, all topped with blue roofs. The houses, facing out to sea, bright white and beautiful, make for stunning holiday photos and pictures for pretty magnets and other souvenirs.
The spa consisted of three of these little houses, redesigned in such a way that there was a large glass foyer at the front of the building where we were warmly welcomed and offered a glass of sparkling champagne upon our arrival. We were then led through to the cloakrooms, where I changed into a black and white one-piece swimsuit. It was a daring little number with high cut-out details on each side, and I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that Nick wasn’t around to see me in it.
As soon as everyone was ready, we were escorted out to the back of the spa where the nine of us had sole use of the breathtaking infinity pool on the balcony that overlooked the ocean. As I sipped champagne with nothing between me and the sea but the side wall of the pool, I thought of how much my life had changed and just how lucky I was.
Sofia was a beautiful girl, and so excited about her wedding the following day. She and her friends only spoke a little English, but they’d insisted I feel included. There were seven bridesmaids in total; three girls all named Maria, two Elizabeths and one girl called Kiki. The last girl was named Dimitra, and when my tongue couldn’t wrap around the letters easily, she laughed and simply said: “Call me Demi.”
I couldn’t help but ask about the large number of Marias in Greece. Sofia explained to me in broken English that they were named after the Virgin Mary, the most important figure in the Orthodox Church. In some ways, she was venerated more than Jesus himself. I liked this idea that there was a woman at the head of things. It made for a nice change.
After a relaxing day of massages, foot rubs, manicures, and even a leg wax, I felt refreshed and rejuvenated. The day wasn’t over, though, and I was dropped back at the house to get ready for round two: cocktails in the main town.
So, I quickly showered, did my hair and makeup, and dressed for a night out. I was glad I’d decided to bring the black corset; if for nothing else than to see the look on Nick’s face when I pretended not to notice him, as I grabbed a bottle of water I didn’t need, just as I was on my way out. It was priceless.
More and more of my time was spent wondering what he was thinking and whether he was thinking of me, too. When I lay in bed at night, he was my last thought as I drifted off to sleep and usually the first thought as I woke up. When I saw him around the house, he didn’t need to say much. His eyes said enough.
I was pleased to meet Lily, and I honestly liked her, but I was a little disappointed that she’d arrived before anything could happen between Nick and me. Since she’d arrived, we’d barely had a second alone. She clung to her dad like ivy to an oak.
The bachelorette party was great fun, but nowhere near as wild as some of the parties I’d been to back home. The emphasis in Greece is on simply being together, friends having fun, and while getting tipsy is encouraged, nobody gets so blind drunk that they stumble home.
Later that evening, I fell asleep pleasantly tipsy, and although I was tempted more than once to slip into Nick’s room, I resisted. I knew I had to stop thinking of him in that way, no matter how difficult it was. I was here as an employee, after all.
The next morning, the day of the wedding, I got up and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt before being picked up by the bride’s sister, one of the Marias. We drove to the house where they were all staying to help dress the bride.
Sofia looked absolutely flawless in a white wedding gown, the bodice was embroidered with rhinestones and pearl beads. Her two-tier veil was neatly held in place by a small crystal head-piece, and a gorgeous white rose silk bouquet completed the look.
I’d brought my dress with me, and in a small bathroom in the old family home that Sofia was finally leaving, I slipped into a red knee-length dress and matching heels. I scooped my hair up into a loose bun and applied my make-up.
When it was time for everyone to make their way to the church, I was practically thrown into a car full of aunts and cousins, none of whom had any idea who I was, but they were nonetheless welcoming. I received more kisses than I could count, along with several cheek pinches and even the odd pat on the butt by a particularly animated aunt. The women of Greece, I found, were glamorous, loud, and loving.
At the church, I kept an eye out for Nick and Lily, and they soon arrived. I left two of the bridesmaids to stroll over and greet them and to help Maria out of the car.
“How is everything?” I asked her. “Are you doing okay?”
She waved me away as she transferred herself from the car to the wheelchair, a task she was quickly beginning to master. “Go and have fun!” she cried. “I am fine.”
I was about to walk away when she grabbed my arm and pulled me close. I thought she was going to tell me that there was something wrong with her leg; perhaps she was in more pain than she was letting on, or that she wanted to tell me she needed to use the bathroom. But instead, she only reached out and softly stroked my face before leaning in and planting a kiss on my cheek.
“Koukla,” she whispered. “You are beautiful.”
“Thank you!” I said, laughing. “But what does that mean? Koukla?”
“Doll,” she replied. “You are a porcelain doll.”
As I turned around, Nick stood behind me. My breath caught in my throat. He was stunning in a black, single-breasted tuxedo. His tanned skin looked even darker against the white-winged collared shirt he was wearing and his eyes were the color of deep murky waters.
Excitedly, I waited for him to say something, tell me how beautiful I looked and that he wanted me to save a dance for him, but there was nothing. He didn’t smile or give me his usual cheeky wink. He stared at me for a moment, and then turned away. But as he did, I caught a glimpse of what I could only describe as sadness in his eyes, although it was gone as soon as it appeared, leaving merely a stern expression behind.
I was confused and felt deflated, to say the least. Every brushstroke of my hair, every swipe of mascara, I’d wanted to be perfect for him. But now, there was nothing.
Lily came rushing over and wrapped her arms around my waist, which cheered me up a little.
“I love your dress,” she said. “It’s so pretty.”
“Thank you. I like yours, too. Those blue flowers are just beautiful. They bring out your eyes.”
I meant it. Her white dress was made with several layers of organza so that the skirt flowed out like a cloud. The cornflowers sewn all over the dress brought out the color of her eyes. She reminded me so much of myself.
I only wished that her dad had come up to me the way she had, but Nick seemed to be avoiding me, and I didn’t understand why. When he’d grabbed me in the study and pinned me against the bookcase a few days ago, he’d filled me with such a thrill that I wanted more, and I thought that he’d felt the same. The little smiles, the winks, the looks. Was I mistaken? Now, he didn’t seem interested in the slightest.
There wasn’t much time for me to dwell on it, though, because the bridal car turned into the parking lot outside the church and was greeted by loud gasps and applause. Inside the church, the groom waited nervously with his friends and family, but nobody was focused on him. All the attention was now concentrated outside; it was all about Sofia.
The old golden Bentley she arrived in was a sixty-year-old classic, and I wondered how many other nervous brides it had driven to church over the years.
Sofia stepped out of the car, beaming, and her father helped fix her veil while at the same time trying to dab his eyes with a handkerchief. We made our way into the church to take our seats, leaving the photographer to take even more photos of the beautiful bride.
The service was interesting, but I didn’t understand a single word of it, of course. And, after what seemed like an eternity, it was over; the bride and groom were married, blessed by God and ready to start their new lives together.
Watching them, a thought drifted into my mind like a whisper. I dreamed of another time, another world, where I was the one in the white dress standing in the front of the church. Beside me, stood a gorgeous man with blond hair and dark eyes, a man who made me feel like the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. I wondered whether such a dream would ever become a reality.
I stole a glance over at Nick, and to my surprise, he was staring at me, his gaze intent. As our eyes met, the glance lingered for a few seconds, and this time, I was the first to look away.
The wedding reception was held at a quaint tavern overlooking the ocean. Golden lights were wrapped around large wooden posts, shining softly, while white lanterns hung from beams that were suspended above our heads, seeming as if they were floating. Long tables, covered with white organza tablecloths were decorated with white and blue flower arrangements, and place cards were carefully placed all along the center of the table, assigning each guest their seat.
The place buzzed with excited chatter as everyone took their place. Nick and Lily were seated next to Maria, and I was sitting at a table with two of the bridesmaids, Kiki and one of the Elizabeths.
I talked with the girls for a little while and was about to pour myself a glass of wine, when I saw Maria waddling over, using a walking frame I’d been trying to get her to use for several days now.
“Come, Eva. Get up,” she said, her voice serious. “The music near that table is driving me crazy. I want to sit here instead.” I looked over at the table and then back to her again.
“But that’s the head table,” I whispered. “Isn’t that just for family?”
She shrugged. “Who cares? Everyone’s family here! Now move. My knee’s hurting. Are you going to make an old woman stand here all evening?”
From the look that she gave me, I knew better than to argue. So, I quickly stood up and helped her to sit down. As soon as she was settled, she turned to talk to the girls, ignoring me completely. I stood there for several seconds before lowering my head and asking her if there was anything more she wanted me to do for her.
“Are you still here?” she asked and shook her head. “Stop fussing. I’m fine now,” she said. “Go. Go sit down.”
Not only had I been welcomed as one of the bride’s close friends to her wedding, when only a few weeks earlier I’d never even met a single one of these people, but I was now sitting at the exclusive head table where only Sofia’s and Stavros’s parents sat, along with Nick, Lily, and another couple of people I didn’t recognize.
I quietly sat down beside Nick, who was talking with Sofia’s father. Lily was off with her cousins, and I tried to stay as inconspicuous as possible, feeling as if I wasn’t supposed to be there. And then, sensing that someone was sitting next to him, Nick turned around. He looked confused.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Maria just came over and insisted she wanted my seat. She said the music’s too loud up here, so she made me give up my seat to come sit here instead.”
As I said the words, I realized that there was no music playing, and I got the strange feeling that it had all been a ruse, a plan to get me to sit up here, next to Nick. He, at the same time, realized the set-up, and we could only grin at each other.
My heart was beating wildly, and my breathing became faster as he looked at me, again saying nothing. In the end, I couldn’t bear it any longer.
“What?” I asked. “Why do you look at me like that? And at the church, you barely looked at me at all. Have I done something wrong?”
He couldn’t answer, because loud applause spread across the room as the bride and groom entered the tavern. Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone stood up to welcome the happy couple as they made their way to the head table. As soon as Sofia saw me, she leaned down and kissed me, in no way perturbed at seeing me sitting where her aunt was supposed to sit.
As we sat down again, the waiters came over to the tables and filled our glasses before bringing out a huge array of food. It was only as Nick reached over to scoop some salad onto my plate that he answered me.
“At the church, you took my breath away in such a way that I had to leave before I forgot myself,” he said softly. I held my breath, frozen rigid as he whispered in my ear. I could only stare at him as he slowly dropped the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers onto my plate, one at a time.
“Last night, watching you strut around in that little outfit of yours, nearly had me standing up and ripping it from your body,” he continued. “But seeing you in this dress, all I want to do now is slowly peel it off and make love to you. It’s a conundrum, you see, because I can’t decide what I want to do first.”
And at that, he grinned at me, popped a tomato in his mouth and chewed slowly, the wicked glint in his eyes and the askew smile never leaving his face.
“Does that answer your question?”
I could only nod, utterly dumbfounded, as a rush of heat coursed through me.