Page 74 of All You Need is Greece

‘There may be one more.’ Lars smiles, not giving anything away.

Inside the marquee, a long table is groaning with hot and cold food, and the most beautiful wedding cake stands taking centre stage. As we file inside, Tania makes sure everyone has something to drink before she taps a glass with a spoon and gains everyone’s attention.

‘Thank you so much, everyone, for coming. Of course, huge congratulations to my aunt Judith and my new uncle Lars,’ she says, and everyone cheers. ‘Let’s raise a glass to them both and wish them a happy life together for many more years.’

‘I hope there will be many more, we’re getting on a bit,’ says Judith and the crowd laugh.

‘So without further ado, please find a seat, grab some food and have a good time,’ says Tania.

It all feels so wonderfully relaxed, with no table settings or formalities, just people eating and drinking and getting to know each other. It’s exactly the kind of wedding I would like for me and Marco.

We get chatting to Liz and Wes, and they tell us all about the summer they spent here.

‘Gosh, that all sounds quite eventful,’ I say, when they tell us about the fire and one of the volunteers called Chloe, who met a Frenchman and went off sailing with him. And, of course, it’s where Tania met Nicos and now lives here with him.

‘It was life-changing for me being here,’ Wes reveals. ‘It made me decide what I wanted to do with my life, and Tania helped me figure it out too, she’s really cool.’

‘She is,’ I agree.

‘So, what do you do?’ asks Marco, taking a sip of beer from a bottle.

‘I’m a musician. I went back to music college last month, and have regular gigs in a nearby town, I sing and play the guitar.’

‘Well, good luck to you.’ Marco clinks his beer bottle against Wes’s. ‘I can’t think of anything worse than doing a job you have no interest in.’

‘So what’s your line of work?’ Wes asks Marco and he tells him all about the family restaurant.

‘Your family own an Italian restaurant?’ Liz’s eyes widen. ‘Italian food is my absolute favourite. Maybe you could give me a couple of recipes?’

‘I’m afraid they are family secrets. If I told you, I would have to kill you,’ says Marco, narrowing his eyes.

‘It’s a good job I like my local Italian pizza takeaway then.’ She jokingly puts her nose in the air and Marco laughs.

‘Maybe this place has an effect on people,’ says Marco. ‘I know exactly what I want from life now too,’ he says, turning to me.

‘Congratulations! I love, love, LOVE your engagement ring,’ says Liz when we tell her we are engaged to be married.

‘Thank you. It was Marco’s grandmother’s ring.’

People change places and swap stories, villagers mingling with the volunteers and everyone is having a wonderful time.

Music is gently playing and Lars suddenly heads into the middle of the small wooden dance floor.

‘And now, ladies and gentlemen, I would just like to sincerely thank every one of you for joining us on our special day. It means so much that you are all here with us. Thank you also for all of your hard work and help to make this such a memorable day. Judith and I will never forget it.

‘And now I would like to start the dancing by having the first dance with my beautiful wife.’ He nods towards Hannah, who is obviously in charge of music, as just then the sound of a Viennese waltz can be heard.

The sound of applause rings around the room as Judith joins Lars on the dance floor with a look of complete shock on her face.

‘May I?’

Lars takes her in his arms, and they glide around the small wooden floor, Lars straight-backed and dancing like a professional. Tania, who is sitting next to me now, clasps her hands together with tears in her eyes, as she records the special moment on her phone.

‘You’re not a bad teacher,’ I hear Michael say to Doll as the newly married couple walk off the dance floor to thunderous applause.

‘You taught Lars how to dance?’ says Liz. ‘So are you a dance teacher then?’

Michael takes no time in telling Liz and Wes all about their dance prowess and Liz’s eyes light up.

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