There were a few tables inside when she peeked in, cosy against the thick stone walls, but who would want to be trapped inside when they could eat out in the street on a warm evening?
She’d worn white linen tonight, a new dress with a deep V neck, and broderie anglaise detailing on the sleeves and hem, and teamed it with a necklace of beads in different colours and some big gold earrings.
White had always suited her, and she’d got a few glances from older Greek men as she made her way down to the port from the language school. But maybe she was kidding herself. She hoped she wasn’t mutton dressed as lamb. It was one of the phrases her daughters found hilarious and accused her of making up. There was a whole raft of sayings that seemed to have just vanished within a generation. She supposed she’d learnt them mainly from her mother. Things like ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ or ‘the early bird gets the worm’ had her daughters rolling around.
She and her friends still used them occasionally, but she’d have to remember not to utter any at the meal, as she’d be the oldest guest by far, and she didn’t really want to point it out.
Daniel and Rose arrived together, and sprang apart when they saw her, which made Grace smile. She’d seen them secreted together in corners, and hoped it was going well.
By the time all the teachers had arrived, it was half an hour past the agreed time. Grace had noticed that time seemed to be a bit of an elastic concept for Greeks, particularly in relation to social events.
Giannis and Elena turned up a fashionable forty minutes late and sat at either end of the table. The atmosphere cooled a few degrees as they glared at each other. Giannis positioned himself next to Anna, who was wearing a skintight black dress, which, Grace had to admit, looked stunning.
Grace took the seat next to Elena. She’d wanted to grab her anyway, to find out more about the one-to-one lessons she’d been asked to provide for her and Giannis’s children when the language school was officially closed during August. Nearer the time, they’d all get a list of private clients who wanted to be taught in their homes, but she’d been singled out to go to the house of the bosses for some reason.
Thanassis sat down opposite her, looking very dapper in a white linen shirt. Out of the classroom, he scrubbed up well.
‘Look, Grace, we are matching. You mustn’t tell everyone we got dressed together.’
‘You’re hilarious.’
Charlie was on her right, and after she’d thanked him again for his help with Stelios, they got into a conversation about his DJing. Grace was fascinated to learn more, but their chat was cut short by Giannis standing up.
‘I hope everyone has wine. Let’s raise our glasses to a successful summer term.Yamas!’
‘Yamas!’
Grace knocked back some more of the taverna rosé that was dotted down the table in jugs. It wasn’t at all bad. She’d had a glass earlier while waiting for the language school owners. And some of the yummy homemade bread with maidanosalata, a delicious creamy parsley dip.
‘This restaurant, run by a local family, has been here for over a hundred years,’ said Giannis, raising his glass in the direction of the waiters. ‘All the food is wonderful, especially the stuffed squid which they are famous for. I hope you don’t mind that we have pre-ordered a series of dishes that we will all share together, which is the Greek way. So, please, enjoy the food and wine.’
It was the signal for the waiters to file out with a plethora of ceramic dishes, red like the woodwork, all held high over their heads. Grace’s mouth watered. She’d held back on her usual snack tea, and the smells that floated through the air were amazing.
Many mouthfuls later, of everything from moussaka to squid stuffed with feta and chopped peppers and drizzled in a sharp lemon butter sauce, Grace was stuffed. She’d also drunk her own bodyweight in wine and needed the loo.
She stepped inside but pulled back at the sight of Giannis and Anna, heads bowed, in the corner by the fireplace. She couldn’t hear any of the conversation, which was in Greek anyway. Anna was moving her hands around a lot and Giannis’s face was strained. The bonhomie of his earlier toast had vanished with the daylight.
Luckily the sign for the toilets pointed upstairs, and Grace rushed up the sweeping staircase in the hope she hadn’t been seen.
When she came down, they were still at it, talking in fierce undertones. Grace returned to her seat just as Elena got up. It wasn’t clear exactly what was going on inside, but it was certainly something Elena didn’t need to see, in Grace’s opinion.
‘Elena. I wanted to catch you. Can we have a quick chat?’
The younger woman sat down again with a barely audible sigh. Tonight’s outfit was a glorious mix of cappuccino and caramel linen separates, paired with fabulous gold jewellery, but the sadness in her eyes made Grace want to scoop her up for a hug. She was sure her boss wouldn’t want her interfering in her life, or gently helping things along, as she liked to call it. Her daughters would probably have a different description.
‘Yes, of course.’
‘I just wondered if we could go through what I’ll be teaching your children when we start the private lessons.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Elena’s slightly horrified look told Grace that it wasn’t quite the done thing to discuss anything business-oriented at the works dinner. But she was stalling for time. She hadn’t seen Giannis or Anna come out of the restaurant yet. Elena’s perfectly manicured hand, complete with unchipped coffee-coloured nail varnish and several gold rings, one with a sparkling stone the size of a pea, landed on her arm.
‘I will invite you to the house for coffee in a couple of weeks’ time, and we will go through it all then.’
‘That would be lovely. I look forward to meeting your children.’
Out of the corner of her eye, Grace saw Anna take her seat again.
‘Good.’ Elena stood up. ‘And now, if you’ll excuse me.’
