Free Excess All Areas by Mandy Baggot Page B

was close to 1.00am when the two women arrived at Petroholis Restaurant. It was the establishment Yiannis and his parents jointly owned. It was an outside restaurant with a large canopy covering all of the thirty five tables. It was set a road width away from the edge of the harbour and was in the perfect position to entice in custom because of its good view of the sea.
    There were still a few people finishing their meals when they arrived.
    Slim, dark haired Yiannis was wiping down tables when the women entered the restaurant and Mr and Mrs Petroholis were sat at a table with another couple chatting over, what looked like, a bottle of retsina.
    ‘ I return triumphant!’ Freya exclaimed loudly and she held aloft a bottle of sparkling wine. She quickly realised that she needed another hand to steady herself when she fell hard against a chair.
    ‘ Freya won the karaoke. It was a sing off between her and Samos, but Freya’s rendition of a Slade classic had the whole bar on their feet and won the day,’ Emma announced as she approached her boyfriend.
    ‘ You sound like you have good time,’ Yiannis spoke, slipping his arms around Emma’s waist and kissing her lightly on the lips.
    ‘ We did, but we missed you,’ Emma told him sincerely and held him close to her.
    ‘ Oh please! Put him down! Where’s my hug?’ Freya exclaimed and she manhandled Emma out of the way and enveloped Yiannis in a giant embrace.
    ‘ Hello Freya, it is great to see you. You look well,’ Yiannis told her as he kissed her cheek.
    ‘ Hmm you mean I haven’t lost any weight since you last saw me,’ Freya translated.
    ‘ No, I mean you look different. It is your hair I think, a new style,’ Yiannis remarked, holding her away from him to get a better look.
    ‘ Yes, thanks to my fashion adviser here,’ Freya announced and threw her arms around Emma, very nearly causing her to topple over.
    ‘ Freya? Is that you my darling girl?’ Mrs Petroholis called as she made her way over to the group.
    Mrs Petroholis was a mountain of a Greek woman, six feet tall and almost as broad. She was a stark contrast to her husband who was barely over five foot and of slim build. Together they were an affectionate couple who went out of their way to make people feel welcome in their company.
    ‘ Mrs P! It’s wonderful to see you,’ Freya spoke and she let herself be caught up in the arms of Yiannis’ mother.
    ‘ You look like you have lost weight! You need meatballs at once. Come, I get Spiros to make you some, come, come,’ Mrs Petroholis ordered and she pulled Freya towards Yiannis’ father.
    ‘ Oh Mrs P I’ve had quite a lot to eat tonight. I’m not sure I could do justice to your meatballs,’ Freya spoke, secretly ravenous because of all the alcohol she’d consumed.
    ‘ Hmm you had a lot to drink huh? Then you need more food. Spiros, some meatballs for Freya,’ Mrs Petroholis ordered her husband.
    ‘ Ah Freya, it is good to see you. Come, sit down. This is Nikos and Angelica. Come, all of you, sit down. I get some food and more drinks,’ Mr Petroholis announced, moving chairs hurriedly around to accommodate everyone.
    ‘ Oh well, if you insist,’ Freya replied and joined the couple at the table.
    ‘ Yiannis, come help in the kitchen,’ Mr Petroholis ordered him.
    ‘ I won’t be long,’ Yiannis told Emma and he followed his father.
    ‘ So girls, you have nice food tonight?’ Mrs Petroholis asked as she too sat at the table.
    ‘ It was nice. We had the sunset table - in the end,’ Freya told the group.
    ‘ You won’t believe it but we ended up having our meal with Nicholas Kaden, Gene Bates, Bob Crosby and their film colleagues,’ Emma announced.
    ‘ Oh these Hollywood people! I no impressed with them. They come into village and stir everything up,’ Mrs Petroholis said waving her hands about.
    ‘ That’s exactly what I said Mrs P, nearly to the word,’ Freya told her.
    ‘ It can only lead to one thing and that is