Page 72 of All You Need is Greece

Monica rushes to congratulate me and admire the stunning engagement ring I am wearing.

‘What a romantic story!’ she says when I fill her in. ‘He came all this way to propose?’ She takes a sip of champagne. ‘That’s amazing! When is the wedding?’

‘No idea, to be fair. We haven’t really discussed it yet. Anyway, today isn’t about me,’ I say firmly, getting back to the matter in hand of preparing for Judith’s wedding.

‘Of course.’ She smiles, topping up her drink before diving into her bag and pulling out a make-up pouch.

We leave her to it and head off to shower and get ourselves ready. Marco will be meeting us here and I can hardly wait to see him. Lars has been despatched to Tania’s house, and, in line with tradition, will meet Judith at the church later. Judith was thrilled to discover that Lars had arranged to have the ceremony at the flagged terrace at the foot of the church. There’s a little-known road which he found out about, next to the remembrance tree. She shed a tear when she told me about it one evening, explaining that there was a remembrance ribbon for Ray on the tree. She said it felt like he would be watching over her, and somehow giving his blessing and I told her I was certain that he would be.

An hour later, we all reappear in the kitchen, and give a collective gasp when we see Judith, who looks absolutely stunning. Her hair is pinned up and dotted with tiny pearls, soft tendrils curling around her face. Monica has made up her face up beautifully, using a soft grey on her eyelids that brings out the colour of her eyes, and a soft peach lipstick.

‘Oh, Judith, you look beautiful.’ She looks radiant, and ten years younger.

Her outfit looks amazing too, the fitted dress showing off her slender figure, set off with some low-heeled ivory satin slingbacks.

‘Monica, you have done a fantastic job,’ says Tania. ‘I might book you for my own big day. Not that we are planning a wedding any time soon,’ Tania adds quickly, when she sees the surprised look on Judith’s face.

‘Lars is a lucky man. Although I have to say he scrubs up rather well too, as does Michael.’ I saw them both earlier, making their way across to Tania’s, where they will no doubt be having a little drink of something with Nicos.

‘Thank you. You all look beautiful too,’ says Judith, admiring our outfits; her earlier nerves thankfully seem to have disappeared. Hannah is wearing a little make-up again today, her sparkling green eyes matching the blouse she has paired with a pair of wide-legged white trousers. Doll and I are both wearing summer dresses accessorised with jewellery. Doll’s is a shortish, pink linen shift, mine a knee-length, vintage-style floral dress.

Monica heads off then to get herself ready, saying she will meet us at the church, and Tania also disappears to put the finishing touches to the party at her home later.

‘Gosh, I don’t want to move in case I spoil anything,’ says Judith as we sit chatting. The rest of us have another small glass of champagne, as another bottle was sitting in the fridge, but Judith declines, saying a drink might spoil her lipstick.

‘I can fetch you a straw if you like,’ I offer.

‘No, really.’ She laughs. ‘I’m quite happy sitting here chatting to you all for a while, you are doing a good job of keeping the nerves at bay.’

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rings, and I head outside and take delivery of a beautiful bouquet of cream and peach flowers.

‘The flowers, of course! My goodness, I almost forgot about them. Is the delivery driver still there?’ she asks, looking a little worried. ‘The men are across the road. I hope they have their buttonholes.’

I dash outside after the driver, who tells me the men do indeed have their buttonhole flowers, as he had been over there before coming to us.

‘Are you okay?’ I ask Judith, who is constantly glancing at her watch.

‘What? Oh yes, it’s just that I am expecting a couple of visitors,’ she tells me. ‘I have been trying to keep it a surprise from Tania.’

‘That sounds intriguing.’

‘She was so disappointed that her mum and dad, my sister and her husband, couldn’t come because her dad has broken his leg in a cycling accident. So to cheer her up I invited a couple of the previous volunteers from the summer. Tania was particularly close to them, especially Wes and Liz, and I was thrilled when they told me they would come over for the wedding. Chloe, another of the volunteers, couldn’t make it sadly, but says she will call later.’

The doorbell rings again then, and Judith dashes to open it. It’s another delivery.

‘Who can this be from?’ She tears open the cardboard box, which reveals a bottle of champagne sitting on some straw in a wooden crate, with a small box of fancy-looking Belgian chocolates.

‘Oh, it’s from Chloe, how thoughtful,’ she says, turning over a card and reading it. ‘Gosh, we were just talking about her. I must send her a thank you message,’ she says, reaching for her phone.

Just then, the doorbell rings, and as Judith has just sat down, I answer it. When I open the front door, Marco is standing there.

‘Marco, come in. Judith thought you might have been some surprise wedding guests.’

‘Sorry to disappoint.’ He kisses me on the cheek. ‘And you look stunning,’ he says, looking me up and down.

‘You could never disappoint.’ He looks and smells delightful, wearing the blue suit he wore the other night with a pale lemon shirt. I still can’t believe we are engaged. And properly this time.

He walks into the kitchen, and I feel proud to introduce him as my fiancé. A few seconds later, the doorbell rings once more, and this time Judith accompanies me to answer it. When she opens it, she almost squeals with excitement at the sight of the two people standing outside.

---