The Butterfly Storm by Kate Frost Read Free Book Online Page B

where Alekos had
proposed.
    ‘Sophie, you will freeze!’ Despina suddenly shouts from the archway. She’s wearing a fur coat with
the collar turned up and matching hat and gloves.
    I slowly walk back across the grass.
    ‘Our guests are arriving,’ she says, hooking her arm in mine before marching me to the front of the
restaurant. ‘Alekos is serving drinks, Takis is laying out the food, and I need you to make your delicious
mulled wine.’
    Mulled wine is my little piece of England that Despina has actually taken a liking to, unlike
Yorkshire puddings, bread sauce and horseradish, each of which she’d tasted and turned her nose up
at.
    Alone in the kitchen I pour countless bottles of red wine into a cauldron-sized pan and add cloves,
star anise, cinnamon sticks and slices of lemon and orange and stir it gently over a low
heat.
    ‘I thought I could smell something good,’ Lena says, slipping into the kitchen. ‘Any chance of a
sneaky drink before anyone else?’
    I ladle some of the wine into a glass and hand it to her. ‘You like it as much as your Mum
does.’
    ‘I can’t believe we were missing out on this for so many years before you came here.’
    ‘This is my Mum’s recipe,’ I say. ‘Although she always used to add a very generous helping of
Cointreau or any other spirit we had in the house at the time. She liked it strong.’
    ‘Do you miss her?’ With her hands cupped round the glass she blows on the hot wine.
    ‘I’m beginning to. My memory of her and home is outdated since she moved away from Bristol. Do
you think I’m terrible never having invited her here?’
    ‘I think you have your reasons.’
    ‘She’s infuriated me, made me angry, made me sad but I miss the way she could always
make me smile. I miss the way I used to be able to talk to her about anything, and I mean
anything.’
    ‘You’re lucky; Mama’s wonderful but I was always embarrassed to talk to her about
personal stuff, you know, my feelings.’ Lena takes a sip of the mulled wine. ‘That is so
good.’
    ‘It reminds me of Christmas parties at home with Mum, my friends loved it. We’d get
pretty pissed on the mulled wine Mum made.’ I ladle myself a glassful and take a sip. ‘Not
bad.’
    ‘What did you use to do for New Year in England?’
    ‘Go out with Candy and our friends in Bristol or go to a party at someone’s house.’
    ‘Do they still do that?’
    ‘Not Candy so much now she has Jake and is pregnant again, but my friends who are still in Bristol
will be getting together tonight.’
    ‘Are you going out later?’
    ‘With Alekos and his friends? I think so.’
    Lena knocks her glass against mine. ‘To the New Year and more of this wine! I’d better
check if Callia needs feeding, plus Mama will be wondering why I’m not serving drinks and
being a good host to our guests. Alekos is far better at being sociable than me; he has
a natural way with people, but what Mama wants…’ she raises an eyebrow and we both
smile.
    The band is playing by the time I emerge from the kitchen with a tray of glasses filled with mulled
wine. A few guests, led by Despina, have already made a circle on the dance floor. The first time I’d
been made to dance at Alekos’ cousin’s wedding, I’d surprised myself at how much I had enjoyed it. I
was rubbish though, particularly at the fast dances, where my feet would get muddled and I’d crash
into the person next to me.
    My tray of wine is soon emptied and I stand at the edge of the dance floor and tap my foot to the
music.
    ‘Sophie!’ Takis calls as he sidesteps past me. He puts his free arm across my shoulders and pulls me
into the dance. My feet follow Takis’, stepping forward, forward, back and across, along with everyone
else circling in time with the beat of the music. This is what I love about Greece - the spontaneity, the
passion and zest for life. Alekos is on the opposite side of the circle sandwiched between Despina and
Demetrius. His face is hot from