Page 47 of Take a Chance on Greece

‘Delicious,’ I said, relishing the fresh flavours of the food. ‘I think this is one of the best meals I have ever tasted.’ It was certainly up there with the picnic we’d had on Mount Ainos, but perhaps it was the company for both meals which helped to give them that extra edge for me.

Eleni beamed, then turned to Alexis. ‘All food in Greece should taste like this. Why have you not been taking her to proper places to eat, Alexis?’ She told him off. ‘You need to sort that out. I am sorry Lydia. Alexis is clearly not looking after you properly.’

Alexis held up his arms in mock surrender as Eleni playfully slapped his chest on her way past to put some moresouvlakion the barbeque to roast.

‘I can only apologise, Lydiamou. I promise to try harder from now on,’ he said earnestly.

‘You don’t need to try at all with me. I like you just the way you are,’ I said quietly.

‘I am very lucky. And I feel the same way about you. But there is something…’ He hesitated, concern clouding his features.

I felt a pang of nerves, worried about what he might be about to say. I didn’t want anything to spoil this wonderful evening. I reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

‘Whatever it is can wait. Eleni has given us strict instructions to enjoy ourselves, and so enjoy ourselves we shall.’

Alexis looked like he wanted to speak more, but Stephano swung by to inspect our plates.

‘Do you have enough to eat? Eleni will never forgive herself if our honoured guests are hungry.’

‘I shall be the size of a house if I eat all this,’ I protested, as he added an extra scoop oftzatzikionto my plate.

‘You need to keep your energy up,’ said Alexis, the sparkle back in his eyes. ‘After the eating, there will be dancing. Do you remember how I warned you?’

As the sky fell darker, the drinks flowed and the hubbub of chatter grew louder. I turned hoarse from having to shout to make myself heard. People kept on pressing glasses of chilledretsinainto my hand and adding extra delicacies to my plate. I’d long since accepted that my vow of temperance was not going to be possible at this party, but I was trying my best to go steady, still traumatised by the horrible hangover I’d experienced post-tattoo night.

Just when I thought the party couldn’t get any livelier, Stephano emerged from the apartment holding a musical instrument with a long neck and bulbous body.

‘And now the party really starts,’ said Alexis, clapping his hands in joy. ‘Stephano is going to play hisbouzoukifor us.’

The first two notes sent a shiver through my body. The tune started slowly, then gradually accelerated until Stephano’s fingers were dancing hypnotically over the strings at lightning speed.

‘What do you think?’ asked Alexis.

I struggled for the right words to express how wonderful I was finding the evening.

‘It’s so very Greek.’ I laughed.

Alexis joined in, delighting in my enjoyment of proceedings.

‘This is how life should be,’ he said. ‘And now, we dance. Come on.’

He took my hand and led me to the line which had already started to form.

‘I’ve no idea what to do. I’ve got two left feet at the best of times,’ I protested.

‘Follow my lead. It is very simple. It is not about looking good. It is about feeling the music and letting the rhythm guide you,’ he said. He looked so alive and happy that I couldn’t resist following his lead.

He stretched his long arms and gestured for me to do the same. His left hand rested on my right shoulder. I reached up to rest my right arm on his left shoulder and then we joined the long line of people all facing Stephano.

Stephano played a chord, and started a slow tune. We took a step to one side and then the other. Just when I had got used to that little sequence we stepped forward. Everyone around me tapped their right foot behind their left and then stepped forward again, raising their knees. I stumbled slightly, but Alexis held me up, softly squeezing my shoulder to make sure that I was alright. All of a sudden, everyone lunged down and back up again, and the whole sequence was repeated. The men at either end of the line clicked their free hands in time to the music. Slowly I became accustomed to the pattern and relaxed into the rhythm, just as Alexis said I would.

Then Stephano’s fingers started flying across the frets and the movement of the line grew more chaotic as we skipped forwards and backwards.

The music reached its climax and everyone broke apart. Alexis seized my hands and spun me, both of us laughing like children. We whirled round and then came to a gasping stop, still holding onto each other. Caught up in the moment, I found myself reaching up to touch the side of his face. He leaned down towards me, then our lips were only a breath apart. I could smell the subtle scent of his aftershave on his neck, warm and spicy. It sparked a memory of something, but before I could retrieve it, I was distracted by Alexis gently pulling me even closer, his hand resting on the small of my back. I smiled as I imagined his fingers tracing the words of my tattoo. His lips curved against mine, and I closed my eyes, savouring the magical moment of our first kiss.

And then I heard someone shout. In a daze, we broke apart. The music had stopped, and there was a crowd gathered around Eleni. Although I couldn’t understand what people were saying, I thought I could guess what had caused the commotion.

‘She’s not…’ I started.

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