Page 78 of Not My Greek Wedding

‘I am looking forward to you returning already,’ says Andreas as we stand together, his arms around my waist. ‘I hope you do not change your mind about returning, once you get home.’

‘Of course I won’t,’ I assure him. ‘Besides I don’t want to go breaching my first contract as a singer, do I?’

He gives me a final kiss, before our fellow passengers make their way to check-in, signalling that it is time to leave.

‘Bye, Andreas. I will see you again soon,’ I say, giving him a final hug before he departs.

Sitting on the plane, I am about to switch my phone to airplane mode, when a text comes through from Andreas, telling me he forgot to wish me a safe flight, and I smile to myself as I thank him.

Christos has remained silent since our impromptu meeting, which is unsurprising really considering what happened at his home. Once more I think of how relieved I am that I never slept with him, despite the obvious chemistry between us. Since meeting Andreas though, I have barely given him a thought. Seeing him with another woman revealed his true colours, and despite my initial surprise, I am glad it happened.

‘Fancy a gin and tonic?’ asks Irene later when the drinks trolley trundles along the plane. ‘One last treat before the diet starts at home.’ She laughs.

‘In that case, shall we have some Pringles too?’ suggests Patsy.

Seated in our row of three, we sip our drinks and chat about the highlights of our holiday.

‘I have two really,’ says Irene. ‘Tasha and Owen’s beautiful wedding and lunch in that fancy house near the beach.’ And Patsy agrees.

‘Honesty really does pay off,’ she says, thinking of the day she found the rightful owner of the pretty necklace. ‘I still can’t believe they had staff to serve us food and drinks, I felt like a celebrity.’ She sighs with pleasure.

‘Oh, I agree,’ says Patsy. ‘I think I could easily develop a taste for the finer things in life, after trying that lobster.’

‘Maybe you ought to develop a taste for tinned tuna, it’s more in your price bracket,’ Irene says with a giggle, and Patsy playfully nudges her.

‘And remember me telling you we were offered a reward?’ says Irene. ‘Well, the owner managed to sneak a hundred euros into my bag, even though we refused to accept it.’

‘Did she?’ Patsy looks shocked. ‘You never said.’

‘How do you think I have paid for those extra cocktails?’ She giggles again.

‘Well, I imagine it was nothing compared to the cost of the necklace, I suppose,’ says Patsy.

‘And she is lucky that it was you who found it,’ I say to Irene.

‘How the other half live, hey.’ Patsy sighs.

Her comment makes me think of Andreas, and how he said that money isn’t everything and that it cannot really guarantee happiness. I think there may be some truth in that, but I guess it depends on the individual. Some people adore money and riches above everything else I realise, as annoyingly Christos pops into my head.

‘So how about you, Mia, what was your highlight?’ asks Patsy as she opens her tub of Pringles.

I think of all the wonderful experiences, starting with, of course, my oldest friend’s gorgeous wedding. Surprisingly though, Christos doesn’t feature in my top holiday moments.

‘The wedding, of course, not to mention the stunning scenery and the wonderful restaurants,’ I tell them. ‘Oh, and the Jeep safari. Lulu and I both really enjoyed that.’ I smile to myself. ‘But the night in the karaoke bar was a real highlight for me. It gave me the confidence to realise I really am a good singer, even if I say so myself.’

‘A great singer,’ says Irene and Patsy agrees. ‘Who has only gone and bagged herself a job in a piano bar in Oia.’

‘I know!’ I almost squeal.

I think then not of the time I spent on the luxurious yacht, but the day I spent with Andreas at the beach, and the delicious picnic he had thoughtfully prepared. I recall how he really listened as I spoke to him. And then, of course, there was that most surprising kiss as we said goodbye.

‘What’s the soppy grin for?’ asks Irene, which I didn’t realise I had on my face.

‘Oh nothing. It’s just that being here has reminded me that we really ought to use our talents and follow our dreams.’

‘I’ll drink to that,’ says Patsy and as we tap our little plastic glasses together, I look forward to the future with a new-found confidence.

THIRTY-TWO

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