Page 38 of Not My Greek Wedding

‘And yet I don’t even know your name,’ I tell him.

He introduces himself as Andreas.

‘Hi, Andreas, I’m Mia and this is my friend Lulu,’ I say cheerfully.

‘Nice to meet you too, formally that is. Anyway, welcome once more and take a good look around. I am sure you will find something that takes your fancy,’ he says, meeting my gaze.

‘I’m sure I will.’

‘Were you two flirting?’ asks Lulu as we peruse some tasteful-looking blue wine glasses.

‘No. At least I don’t think so.’ I laugh.

‘He seems nice though,’ she says, before sliding her fingers over a silk scarf, artfully draped over a piece of driftwood.

‘He does. He’s quite funny, too, which I like,’ I find myself saying.

‘Hmm. You haven’t forgotten about Christos already, have you?’ she teases. ‘It’s like speed dating, although you are probably too young to even remember that.’

‘Oi, I know what speed dating is.’ I nudge her playfully. ‘I’m just saying he seems nice, that’s all.’

‘If you say so.’ She raises an eyebrow.

‘I do. Besides, he was probably just being friendly in the hope that we will buy something from his shop.’

‘You’re probably right, some of the stuff in here is gorgeous though,’ she says, glancing around and taking it all in.

Lulu buys some silver earrings as a gift for her daughter and a shirt for her son, after asking a fashionable-looking guy around her son’s age if he would wear the shirt and he confirmed that he would.

I select a honey drizzler made from olive wood, as I love to have honey and Greek yoghurt when I am back home. As Lulu looks at some more jewellery, I admire a few wooden sculptures. One is the face of a man who is stroking his face with his hand.

‘Do you like that?’ Andreas appears at my shoulder.

‘I do, yes, it’s quite eye-catching.’ I stand and admire the sculpture, while Lulu is eyeing up some candles.

‘Thank you. I actually made that myself,’ he tells me proudly.

‘You did? Wow, it’s amazing,’ I tell him honestly and he thanks me again.

‘I love a wooden sculpture. I bought one for my friend as a wedding present,’ I tell him, thinking about the gift I brought for Tasha. ‘Is it the face of someone you know?’ I can’t help asking.

‘Actually, yes, it is my father,’ he reveals. ‘Even though he doesn’t see my art as proper work, but merely a hobby.’ He shrugs.

‘Really? Well, I think it’s wonderful. You obviously have a real talent,’ I tell him sincerely.

‘Thank you,’ he replies.

‘I’m afraid I can’t resist,’ says Lulu, approaching us with a scarf and a chunky blue candle containing sea salt and sage that I spotted earlier. ‘It is a gift to myself,’ she says as she plonks it down on the glass counter.

‘Good to see you treating yourself,’ I tell her.

‘I second that,’ says Andreas as he takes Lulu’s payment. ‘In fact, feel free to treat yourself as much as you like,’ he says with a cheeky grin.

Just then, the tinkle of the doorbell can be heard as a steady stream of customers file into the shop.

‘Please excuse me,’ says Andreas as he hands Lulu her bag of shopping. ‘These people will be from the cruise ship. I may be very busy now.’

So you don’t like the pollution from the cruise ships, but you don’t mind the ringing of the tills? I think to myself, but for some reason, I stop myself from saying anything.

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