Winter Hearts

Banana Milk Versus...

Siana had driven them to Amfissa, the more populous city that was also the administrative council centre of all the surrounding towns. Whilst it boasted having the status, it was almost as ramshackle in organisation as Delphi, with less cultural lustre and more industrial leanings in its makeup. As the city expanded outwards, its newer roads were built with more space and organisation, giving the centre of the city a bustling, modern feeling for all its cramped beginnings.

Much as she liked that Amfissa had more boutiques and artisanal shops, it still couldn't muster up the appeal that Delphi and Arachova had to the city folk who thronged to them on the weekends for a good weekend away partying.

However, those in the know, like she was by way of Panos, knew where the good bars and cafes and lounges were. Though tonight, she had brought them here simply for a change of scenery, to a bistro and lounge establishment serving lighter, more upscale versions of local dishes. It sat right on the main square, which was really a huge, loose roundabout overcrowded with double-parked cars and motorcycles. The rest of the town with its more sophisticated cafe and bar establishments could come later, if they weren't too tired to move on to something else after dinner.

She parked up a narrow street off the square and they walked down in single file along the thin sidewalk whose width had been lost to the necessary widening of the road. The day had turned a little blustery and a light drizzle threatened to fall just before they reached the restaurant.

Inside, they were shown to a table by the window, and the couples settled into their chairs after divesting themselves of their coats and scarves, peering out into the square with its endlessly circulating flow of traffic.

Their older waiter was a familiar face to Siana, someone her father knew by name, and she from having come here several times before. He smiled down at her, his features attractive and open.

"I am so hungry," Min said, opening up the menu. Her face fell. "I can't read this. Please tell me they have that wheat soup we tried last time."

"Trahana. Yes, it is our specialty," the waiter said pleasantly, his voice warm and rich.

Both Min and N looked up at him, perhaps reacting to the pleasant timbre of his voice. Min smiled as she handed him the menu. Siana could see the waiter warming to her, his own smile more than a little pleasant. She also noticed N perusing the waiter's features with open curiosity and admiration, and couldn't help feeling she had seen that look before.

"I'll have that, please," Min purred, passing him the menu.

"Is that all you're having?" Siana asked incredulously.

"That's all I need," Min said, her smirking eyes lingering just a fraction of a second on the waiter's face before turning to Siana. Siana pursed her lips at Min.

Was she flirting with the waiter who was her father's acquaintance as she was sitting right next to N, who was also checking the waiter out?

"Is it that good?" N asked, and Siana was not sure if he was aiming that question at Min or the waiter, because he was looking at the waiter with that familiar expression.

Both Min and the waiter said "Yes", which prompted N to look at Min, his curious eyes brightening.

"Then I must have some too, whatever it is," he said, also handing his menu back to the waiter, who laughingly asked if he needed him to explain what it was.

"No, I shall trust you both on the matter," N said, his voice warm honey, as he looked at the waiter with the same levelled gaze he had given Eleni earlier that day: sharp, kind and mostly about instilling a sense of expectation in the behaviour of the other.