* Chapter 1 - Love will find a way.
It was a momentary decision. The thought came into my
head to take a holiday in Greece. I'd always fancied going. It
would be nice to get away to see the sights and also I thought
it would be a bit of an adventure. Had I known this decision
to take a short break, would turn into the longest and worst
ordeal I was ever going to face; I might have decided
differently. As it turned out, it took me down roads I
certainly didn't want to go. The only driving force that saw
me through the hardest times was the love for my son and
love can indeed move mountains. I later realised that was
exactly what faced me.
Everybody has a tale to tell. I have met people whose lives
have been remarkable and inspiring. I hope my story will be
just as inspiring and illuminating for those who find
themselves in a similar position to me.
In 1990 whilst on the holiday in Corfu I met a Greek girl
named Helen. Little did I know that this first encounter was
to change both our lives forever? I had fallen head over heels
in love with her and likewise, she with me.
I only knew Helen for three days and three nights, not
long really, but nevertheless ever minute I spent with her was
incredibly worthwhile.
The first time I ever saw Helen was when I was sitting in
the bar of my hotel in Benitses. It was only 3pm in the
afternoon. It was a small bar but well stocked up with the
cocktails I liked.
The cocktail I drank was called Blue Wave and was a
mixture of gin, white rum, blue Curacao, pineapple juice,
lime juice and finished off with a couple of dashes of syrup
and crushed ice .
(I suffered from the effects of that drink with severe bouts
of headaches during the whole time I was on holiday there.)
Three young girls walked into the bar. I could hear them
speaking Greek and I thought to myself that they were good
looking girls.
One of them caught my attention straight away. She stood
out from the two other girls. She had long beautiful blonde
hair which hung half way down her back and she was
wearing a blue swimsuit with beach sandals.
The other two girls were quite pretty. They were also
wearing blue swimsuits and just plain sandals
Two of the girls went straight into the hotel and the girl I
liked sat next to me at the bar and smiled at me a few times
with her beautiful blue eyes.
I thought to myself wow she's so beautiful. I could feel
butterflies in my stomach. I'm not a shy guy usually as I have
had my fair share of women but Helen was something
different.
She had a sexy Greek accent which turned me on straight
away. I built up my courage and said hello. She replied back
in broken English and said, "Hi, how are you?"
I replied nervously that my name was Ian and she then
told me that her name was Helen.
I put out my hand to her and she shook my hand which
was trembling.
She was drinking a soft drink; just ordinary orange juice, I
think.
I was thinking to myself, all the time I was looking at her,
that she was very beautiful and that it would be a dream
come true, if she liked me. 11
I could not stop looking at her. To me she looked like a
Greek goddess. I was oblivious to what was going on around
me.
She didn't stay long in the bar with me; she wanted to go
back for a shower and to have a sleep.
She got up and smiled and was ready to walk away. I just
grabbed her and told her, speaking slowly in my Farnworth
accent, that I wanted to see her again.
She shrugged her shoulders and looked at me and said in
her broken English, "Eight pm here in the bar."
I understood what she was trying to say. God knows how
she understood my Farnworth dialect as most people, even in
England, struggled to understand me.
Anyway she left and said goodbye in her sexy accent. I
carried on and downed a few more drinks, just to calm my
nerves. I didn't drink anything strong; I just had a couple of
small Ouzos. I didn't stay long after Helen went, probably no
more than half an hour.
While I was drinking I was just thinking of Helen, how
charming and polite she was.
I left the bar and went straight back to my hotel room
where I had a quick shower. I put on my best white short-
sleeved shirt, jeans and black shoes. I made sure I smelled
nice by spraying under my arms and I put on Kouros, my
favourite aftershave. It was one of the best available at the
time.
I peered at myself in the mirror so many times that I knew
exactly how many spots I had on my face.
I arrived at the hotel bar early. It was only six thirty and I
wasn't supposed to be meeting her till 8pm
I drank a few vodkas for Dutch courage. I don't know why
I felt so nervous. The bar was about half-full.
There were probably no more than thirty people sitting there.
YOU ARE READING
For the love of Christopher
RomanceA very emotionally charged story, all the more poignant as it is true . Most holiday romances have no conclusion good or bad. Just a few lead to fairy-tale weddings and 'happy ever after.' Ian Lomax went to Corfu and fell in love with a Greek girl c...
