Page 4 of Not My Greek Wedding

There was no cheating involved, but my ex just stopped trying. Truth be told, I think we both did. Our evenings going for beach walks or meeting up with friends at local eateries had been replaced by drinking wine at home and watching TV.

When I became excited by a forthcoming episode of a soap, I realised we were in a rut. I suggested we join a gym together or at least make more effort to see more of our couple friends and family, but I was met with a wall of silence.

It was clear that the relationship was beyond repair and the passion we had enjoyed at the beginning of the relationship had all but burned out. Perhaps I should have heeded Mum’s words when she told me she thought we were rushing into things when we moved in together. And thinking about it, we never really had that much in common. I have always loved music and would listen to songs on the radio at home happily singing along to them, something I am sure my ex did not always appreciate.

Even so, I missed him when the inevitable split came, despite things having reached a natural conclusion. I guess three years is quite a long time to be with someone and I can’t deny that a part of me felt mad that I had wasted my time in a relationship that was destined to go nowhere.

I turn my attention back to my TV programme.

‘Thisis your bathroom,’ gasps Abbey as she is shown into a room complete with a jacuzzi, and the biggest shower I have ever seen in my life. You could fit a whole family in there. The celebrity opens a door to reveal a small swimming pool and Abbey’s mouth falls open.

‘Right, done,’ I tell Gran as I put my nail file away.

‘Ooh that’s better, love, thank you,’ she says as she wiggles her toes, before placing her feet back into her fur-lined slippers.

She reaches into her handbag and fishes out a twenty-pound note.

‘Absolutely not,’ I tell her, pushing it away. ‘You have already given me some spends for Santorini, remember.’

Which I accepted reluctantly, but she insisted. And I will pay her back when I start work.

‘I’ve told you,’ She says with mild exasperation. ‘Who else will I spend it on? Your mum and dad are okay financially, so is your brother, and with your current employment situation being what it is,’ she says, reminding me that I am currently jobless and that I really ought to be searching for a job online. ‘But it isn’t just that,’ she continues. ‘I’d have paid more than twice that to have my toenails done privately and you are good to me.’ She smiles fondly. ‘I appreciate everything you do for me.’

I thank her then, and tuck the money into my bag. I don’t use a lot of cash these days, but I have my eye on a little blue bag in the shopping precinct for my holiday, so I might buy that. It isn’t leather, but you would never know as it’s a good dupe.

‘Right, I’m off.’

‘Alright, love, and be careful crossing the roads, especially if you have those ear bugs in.’

‘Earbuds, Gran.’ I laugh.

‘Yes, whatever. Those electric cars are quiet enough without you wearing earbuds. Make sure you use a crossing,’ she advises.

‘I always do, Gran, don’t worry.’

I peck her on the cheek as the programme credits roll, and a clip is shown of the house Abbey is visiting in the next episode that could not be more different. The Victorian house has a lounge with bold-patterned wallpaper and a huge pink sofa. The room is dotted with large plants in copper pots.

‘Now that’s more like it,’ says Gran, sipping her tea. ‘See you soon, love.’

I head off home and fire up my laptop to browse some jobsites. Not before I look at some pictures of Santorini though, and sigh with pleasure at the bright blue skies and whitebuildings. I can’t wait to be there rubbing oil onto my skin and lying on a beach, before heading off in the evening to sample the nightlife. And, of course, the wedding! Tasha will make the most beautiful bride and Owen is so handsome their wedding photos are bound to be just adorable.

Tasha and I were friends throughout high school, although we knew each other even earlier than that as we lived in the same street but went to different primary schools. As young kids we spent summers in and out of each other’s gardens, playing in paddling pools when we were little, to enjoying family BBQs as we got older.

After studying interior design Tasha went on holiday to Australia, where she met her husband-to-be, Owen, a property developer. She stayed for a while and designed the interior of one of his building projects as love blossomed. After several long-haul flights back and forth, she eventually gained her visa.

We have had some great times over the years and a bucket load of memories to look back on in the future.

Breaking into my thoughts, as I am sitting daydreaming, Tasha video calls me.

‘My friend! How are you?’ I ask, thrilled to be looking at her face and speaking to her. ‘I have literally just been thinking about you.’ I smile.

‘I’m great, thanks, getting a bit stressed about the wedding though,’ she admits.

‘That’s only natural, isn’t it?’ I frown, hoping all is okay.

‘It is, so everyone tells me. I don’t know why I’m such a bag of nerves, I think it’s just excitement,’ she says.

‘Definitely not cold feet then? Sorry, I must ask.’

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