Page 14 of Not My Greek Wedding

‘Gosh, I feel ancient now,’ she says. ‘Although saying that, he was at his height in the nineteen eighties. I met him once, you know.’

‘You never did,’ gasps Irene.

‘I did. I went to London on a weekend with college. He was in a bar with two blokes. I asked him for his autograph and he was very polite as I recall,’ she says wistfully.

‘Do people still ask for autographs these days? Or do they ask for a selfie, and, if so, I wonder how often is it declined?’ muses Irene.

‘Goodness knows,’ Patsy says with a grin. ‘I can hardly believe that London trip was over forty years ago.’

‘Good Lord, was it really?’ gasps Irene. ‘I think I need another drink.’

‘I think you’ve had enough for one night,’ says Patsy, linking arms with her.

‘Don’t be a party pooper, the night is young,’ protests Irene, giggling.

‘Which we most certainly are not,’ says Patsy, which earns her a gentle shove on the arm. ‘Okay, maybe we will have a nightcap at the hotel bar.’

They chuckle all the way back to the hotel, Irene giggling away and I get the feeling this holiday is going to be a whole lot of fun.

NINE

‘Lulu!’

I squeeze my friend in a hug at the airport, just after seven thirty the following morning.

I’m so glad I didn’t overindulge last night, as I feel fresh this morning, and ready for some breakfast.

‘How are you?’ I say, when we pull apart.

‘Apart from shattered, I’m fine,’ she says. ‘I did manage a few hours’ sleep on the plane, thankfully, but I still feel a bit rough. I bet I look a right sight.’ She pulls a face.

Lulu with her curly hair, sunhat, and long white-linen dress looks as fresh as a daisy.

‘You look great. Anyway, come on, let’s get to the apartment, freshen up and I’ll take you for breakfast before the car collects us to go to the hotel for the wedding. Ooh I can’t wait,’ I squeal excitedly.

‘Lead the way,’ says Lulu as we leave the airport terminal and head into the brilliant sunshine outside, even at this early hour.

‘Oh wow, that’s a bit different to back home,’ says Lulu, squinting up at the brilliant blue sky, before she puts on her sunglasses.

‘Just a bit. In fact, it’s even hotter than usual, a bit of a heatwave I’m told. Actually, let’s have a selfie.’

We pose outside the hire car, and I will post to my followers later saying something about heading off in a car to explore the island.

Pulling away from the airport, we are soon on a road flanked by pastel-coloured hotels and villas, some with huge ferns and palms in the front gardens. We drive past early morning joggers, dog walkers and older couples enjoying a leisurely stroll before the sun really gets up.

I couldn’t help noticing that one couple, maybe in their eighties, were holding hands as they strolled, and marvel at how people can find that kind of enduring love. Or maybe they have recently met on Tinder. Perhaps they are each other’s first love who have hooked up again, following the death of their spouses. There goes that imagination of mine again!

‘So what happened that you needed to get a later flight?’ I ask Lulu as we drive.

She sighs. ‘Phil gave me the afternoon off, so I was set for an earlier flight as you know, then Tom called me in a panic.’

‘Oh no what happened?’ I frown.

‘He’d had an accident at work. A concrete slab fell on his hand,’ she tells me.

‘Ouch, sounds painful. Is he alright though?’ I ask. Tom works part time around his university course, as a labourer on a building site, and despite health and safety regulations can be a bit accident prone.

‘Oh fine, but I went to meet him in A and E and you know how long the wait can be these days.’ She sighs. ‘I decided to stay with him and take him home. Turns out his finger was broken, which is what he suspected. No nerve damage thankfully, which was what he was initially worried about as he couldn’t feel anything in his fingers,’ she tells me.

---