Vacation in Greece: Chapter 7 of 9

infozoo (34)in #love • 7 years ago

Chapter 7: A Bottle of Red

“What do you mean? How is that even possible? Take another look before you tell me you can’t find my wife’s luggage.” Jim looked at his watch. It was noon in Athens, but 3am at home, which explained two things: the reason for Jim’s uncharacteristic crabbiness, and the reason he and Dana couldn’t find a supervisor to expedite their issues to. Early afternoons in Greece were like siesta time in Central America and most workers were conveniently away from their desks taking a long lunch and a rest.
Red tipped fingers flew across keyboard keys, swear words in broken English could be heard under the woman’s breath, and Jim was pretty sure the sharp “click” he had just heard was the airline clerk signaling under the desk yet again via a red “HELP!” button for her supervisor to join her in puzzling through the mystery of the missing luggage.

It didn’t matter that their airline seats had been first class, it didn’t matter that Jim and Dana had worked tirelessly for three months to plan for every contingency in order to feel safe and comfortable leaving their children for two weeks, and it didn’t matter that their flight had been comfortable and cozy with the two of them snuggled together watching movies on their transatlantic voyage. None of that mattered now because when an airline loses your luggage within hours of beginning your two-week vacation in sunny Greece, even the most patient person will eventually lose their cool. Jim was close to it. And he rarely lost his cool.
“Sir, I have good news and I have bad news, for you, I have both newses,” the clerk said in English that obviously wasn’t her first language.
Jim and Dana looked at each other. Despite the frustrating circumstances in which they found themselves, the jet lag, and the overwhelming need for a shower and a cup of coffee, not necessarily in that order, the two burst into a fit of laughter. The clerk looked at them curiously, trying desperately to understand what she had said that might sound funny to these strange Americans. Jim and Dana were delirious with exhaustion though and could just as easily have found a reason to laugh at a fork, or a fire hydrant, or a banana, or anything as equally boring, at that point in time.
“Well, aren’t you going to ask us which news we want first?” said Dana, through fits of giggles. “When you have both types of news to share, you see, you always have to ask the person which they want to hear first. At least that’s how Asher expects us to do it.”
“Asher? Who is this Asher? Is there a third traveler?” The clerk was really confused by that point and her fingers scrambled across the keys to look for a third member of their travelling party.
“Never mind,” said Jim, as a way of rescuing the poor clerk. He put a sympathetic arm around his exhausted, home sick wife. “Tell us the good news, please.”
“The good news is, I have founded the baggage of your wives.” The clerk was solemn, expecting her news to be accepted with great bravado. When it wasn’t, she frowned.
Jim nodded thoughtfully. “I only have one wife, not wives, but I am so pleased to know you have found her baggage.”
The clerk smiled, grateful for a small bit of satisfaction from her customers. “And now, I tell you the bad news,” she said, warily.
“Yes, please. Go ahead.”
“Your baggage is in France.” She nodded with emphasis when she reached the word ‘France’ as if doing so would stress the grave importance of the situation.

“France? Well, let’s get it over to Athens then, shall we?” said Jim, trying to remain calm.
“Yes, we do it! We to make baggage come to Greece. Right away!”
“How long will it take for it to arrive,” asked Dana, skeptically. “When you say right away, what exactly do you mean?”
With the exception of the clothes she was wearing, everything she had purchased and packed for their romantic trip to Greece was apparently now in France. It was beyond disappointing and she didn’t want to take any chances that she might misunderstand how long she would be separated from her suitcase.
“Yes, right away, it will come. You check back in one week! It maybe will to come here in those days!”
“One week??!?” Dana’s patience was gone.
“Thank you, thank you for your help,” said Jim. He scribbled something on a slip of paper and handed it to the clerk. “We are staying at this hotel in Athens, and here is the phone number there. Please make a note to call us if our wayward luggage arrives.” The agent nodded, and Dana stamped her foot angrily. Jim simply steered his fuming wife away from the counter and walked her towards a café.
“I’m dirty, and grimy, and I need a shower…and, and, and…I miss the kids, and I want some coffee, and I have no clean clothes, and France stole my suitcase and, and and…” Dana was in tears.
Putting his arms around her, Jim held her close and crooned into her ear. “There, there… there, there… there, there,” he said. “Let me take care of you, sugar,” he said.
Dana looked up at Jim then, her eyes still misty. She gave him the slightest of smiles, and his heart melted. The truth was, as they had lifted off the ground at the airport in the U.S.A., Jim had made a solemn promise to himself: no matter what happened, he wanted Dana to feel taken care of. For all she did for the family, in gratitude for all she did for him, this trip was about making sure Dana relaxed and let someone else care for her for a change. And Jim was making good on that promise.
It didn’t mean she was taking to this new arrangement easily, though. It was hard for a person like Dana, always the one caring for others, to relax and let others do things for her. She had resisted at first, but Jim persisted in his efforts. It had actually been somewhat humorous to watch her adjust to not being the doer, fixer, and helper. The flight attendant on the plane, for example, had spilled a cup of ice, and there was Dana on the floor of the aisle, down on her hands and knees in the tiny space, picking up ice cubes within seconds of the spill. The flight attendant and Jim had looked at each other over her head, neither having seen anything like that before. Then there was the elderly woman in the Athens airport who couldn’t find the restroom. Dana had put her arm around the woman and crooned softly in her ear as she escorted the woman to the restroom. She’d popped her head out of the women’s bathroom moments later and asked Jim to find an airport steward because, “the bathroom really could use a good cleaning!” Jim had just smiled and nodded. It was as if she couldn’t stop herself from taking care of everything and everyone around her. And that was why Project “Get Dana to Relax” was in full swing. She needs this, desperately, Jim thought.
Sitting her in a chair in the small airport cafe, he motioned for her to stay seated and wait for him.

Moments later, he returned with a cup of coffee and a pastry she didn’t recognize. “Drink this,” he said gently, handing her the cup. “It’ll help you regain your strength. And I’ve also brought you a piece of baklava. Try it, I hear it’s delicious.”
With all the obedience of a small child, Jim watched as Dana did exactly as he instructed. So strong and independent, so adept at taking care of the needs of everyone else, it was strange to see her relax into being cared for herself. He loved seeing it. A woman who leans on her man can be quite sexy, he thought.
“Jim, I’m so sorry I fell apart,” she said, finally. “The coffee helped and the baklava was really, really good. I feel quite a bit better now. I’m just not used to being in a place where I feel so out of sorts, and I miss the kids, and losing my luggage was the last straw, you know?”
Jim held her hand and lifted her to her feet. “Let’s go grab a cab, shall we? We’ll get you to our hotel and then decided what to do next, okay? Don’t worry, you’re here to relax; let me take care of everything. You’re going to have a wonderful time.”
The sunlight outside the airport was intense, directly overhead, and scorching hot. And yet, it was a relief from the chillier temperatures they had left behind at home. Hailing a cab, they slid into the backseat and Jim draped his arm around Dana protectively.
“Look around you,” he said. “Take it all in.”

Dana and Jim were mesmerized. With their arms wrapped around each other, they looked at the thriving remnants of one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The cab driver spoke just enough English for Jim to be able to give him the address of their hotel, and off they went. The weather was so nice they rolled the windows down and enjoyed the sultry breeze that greeted them. On its edges were the scents of petrol, cigarettes, and fish, and it was at all an unpleasant mixture. It smelled foreign, far away from home, strange, and all together intoxicating. As the cab moved through downtown Athens, the traffic started to slow down and they had long pauses to look around during times when the cab couldn’t move forward even an inch.
“Look, sugar, over there!” Jim pointed in a direction beyond the cab and watched as his sleepy wife followed with her gaze.
“What is it?” she asked.

Rising high about the city were the walls of the Acropolis, gleaming white in the brilliant sun light, looking as glorious as Jim had imagined. He couldn’t wait to explore this landmark and all that the city offered, in the days to come.
By the time they arrived at their five star hotel, selected and booked for them by Janet, Dana was asleep on Jim’s shoulder and he regrettably woke her up. Their suite was the honeymoon suite in a hotel that was a landmark in the Plaka neighborhood. It was all that they had dreamed of though, everything they had hoped for, with every amenity imaginable, and Dana was reinvigorated and energized by the opulent beauty of their room and the views of the Parthenon and downtown Athens from their balcony.
“Let’s go, Jim. Let’s explore!” Her hand grasped his and pulled him from the hotel room.
In truth, Jim had envisioned a nap in the cool air of the hotel and perhaps a late lunch before playing tourist, but the smile on Dana’s face was all the invitation he needed. They could shower later, they could relax later, they could sleep later; for now, Dana was ready to explore Athens, and he didn’t want to miss seeing her so excited. She was beautiful when she smiled, and he loved the way she had perked up like a flower at the thought of a new adventure in a strange city awaiting them.
The two decided that after travelling for nearly 14 hours, they needed a drink. The concierge recommended a place in the historic Plaka neighborhood that was within walking distance of their hotel, a place called Dimitri’s. It was a micro-distillery of sorts that made their own brandy and flavored liqueuers and, of course, had the infamous Greek Ouzo Jim and Dana looked forward to trying.

Stepping into Dimitri’s, they were delighted to see the walls were filled from floor to ceiling with bottle after bottle of the house-distilled beverages. Seating them at a cozy table for two, the waiter stood at the ready to take their order and didn’t seem at all disturbed by their frumpy and wrinkled travel clothes. Jim ordered a glass of Dimitri’s 7 year old brandy, while Dana ordered a glass of red wine.
The waiter returned with their drinks and a complimentary plate of something to snack on. Dana looked with curiosity at the dish in front of her.
“What do you think it is? It looks like a… It looks like a toaster strudel, one of the ones Bethany likes for an after school snack.”
Jim roared with laughter. “I doubt they’d be serving us a toaster strudel here, sugar. Let’s try it, want to?”
The flaky, triangular pastry yielded easily to the side of Jim’s fork and he quickly scooped up a bite and motioned with his fork for Dana to open her mouth. She eyed him curiously, unaccustomed to being fed, but then smiled and opened her lips. He slid the fork into her mouth and watched as she savored the bite.
“Mmmmmm,” she said after a few minutes of chewing thoughtfully. “I’ve never had anything like it, it’s amazing!” Creamy feta, spinach and a flaky, delicate crust combined to make spanakopita, a Greek favorite which the waiter said would really accompany a nice course of roasted lamb if they cared to come back later for dinner.

“We could come back later for dinner, if you want to of course,” Jim said to Dana.
Looking down at her travelling clothes, Dana frowned. “We could, but something tells me I’m not going to be welcome for a full service, white linen dinner in this pair of yoga pants I’ve been wearing since yesterday. And just look at my hair. I don’t even have a blow dryer. It’s in France, remember? What are we going to do about my luggage? I don’t know when it will arrive and when I’ll get a clean pair of clothes and a hairbrush.”
“I was thinking about that and… Well, here’s the thing, Dana. Remember how you used to wear such cute things when we were dating? God, you looked so amazing every time I saw you…”
Dana frowned. She remembered her own assessment of the deficiencies of her current wardrobe as she had read through the last issue of The Busy Mom back at home. She started to get annoyed. It was one thing for her to feel like she didn’t dress in a sexy, feminine way anymore, but it was downright hurtful to hear Jim hinting at the same thing. This trip was not starting out on the right foot at all.
“What are you saying, Jim? Out with it,” she said, annoyed.
Jim held her hand across the table and ran his fingers across her smooth skin. He looked deeply into her blue eyes which suddenly looked like a stormy sea, not the peaceful, cornfield blue he adored. “I’m not saying anything, Dana. Well, wait, actually I am.” He sighed. “Here’s what I’m saying. I’m saying, you are beautiful, you have a beautiful body, and I just think that our vacation is a wonderful opportunity for us to spend some time shopping for some new outfits that showcase your long legs, your smooth skin…”
“Stop, stop, stop,” Dana said, laughing. All annoyance was gone. Her husband had handled that tough conversation like a champ. “You’re embarrassing me!” she giggled.
The several glasses of red wine Dana had polished off were starting to show in her ruddy glow and dancing eyes. Jim thought for a moment that it had been a very long time since he had seen his wife tipsy, and he liked the idea of it. Jim was a man who knew an opportunity when he saw it staring him in the face, and he rarely passed one up.
Motioning to the waiter to come to the table and lean close, Jim whispered something in the man’s ear. Moments later, the waiter returned with a brown bag with sturdy handles. Jim paid the bill and generously tipped the waiter who had been his accomplice. Standing up and pushing back his chair, Jim motioned to Dana to follow him out of the restaurant. Dimitri’s was, as the concierge had suggested, a delightful watering hole.
Out on the street once again, the sun shining as intensely as it had before they had stepped into the cool shade of Dimitri’s, Dana asked, “What’s in the bag?”
Jim just smiled and said, “It’s a surprise. You’ll find out later. Let’s do some shopping and if you are a good girl, and if you let me help you pick out some outfits that look amazing on you, I’ll tell you the secret. Later.”
Dana swatted his shoulder playfully. “You’re on!” She loved surprises and was delighted that Jim had planned one for her.
The two walked down the busy downtown streets of Athens following directions from the waiter on how to get to the section of the city where there was a great selection of clothing shops. Exploring a new city is an adventure in itself. Jim and Dana pointed out different things to each other and enjoyed the strange way of life of a city so different from home. One particular block was an open air market. Large wooden tables held a bounty of produce, vegetables and fruits of all kinds, cheeses, meats and breads, and Dana commented that there was so much food sitting out in the heat and how did it keep from spoiling? The market was a definite curiosity to her, a far cry different than the air conditioned super market at home with its rows and rows of refrigerated cases. But this was why they had gotten their passports a few years ago. They wanted to see the world, and this was their first chance to.
A warm breeze unexpectedly came up behind them as they walked, buffeting Jim and Dana closer together. For a second, their hands touched and Jim took the opportunity to grab Dana’s hand, locking his fingers in hers. It was a simple gesture, but it held a new excitement for some reasons. He felt like a teenager again, walking down the street hand in hand with a new love. Looking over his shoulder at Dana, he noticed she was smiling with the same goofy grin he knew was on his own face, and so he didn’t let go of her hand until they reached the first shop.
They stood outside the shop peering at the display in the large window and Jim noticed their reflections in it as well. The window was full of shapely mannequins, all wearing swim suits. There, right next to the mannequins, was Dana’s reflection. Regardless of how shapely the mannequins were, Dana had a figure that rivaled all of them. Her breasts were high, her waist thin, and she wasn’t made of plastic. He smiled at his silly observation. There was no denying it, she was sexy, as sexy as anyone Jim had ever seen, and he marveled at how perfect her figure was despite having had three children. She was amazing, he saw that now. He grimaced with the realization that it had been quite some time since he had taken the time to notice her beautiful body. All she needed now were some outfits that showcased her curves and her glowing skin and firm body. A lost suitcase was the perfect opportunity.
“Well, I think you’ll probably need a new swim suit, won’t you? I mean, I’m sure your luggage is going to take its time getting here from France,” he said, opening the door to the shop and ushering her inside.

“What, one like that?” she asked, motioning to the mannequins. “I’m too old to wear something like that… It would be like wearing a rubber band. Don’t men like it when women leave something to the imagination?”
“Remember, Dana, you’re on vacation! Let’s have some fun and try on some things you wouldn’t normally pick out for yourself. Trust me, I have excellent taste in swim wear,” Jim said playfully, nuzzling into the back of her neck with a kiss and pushing her forward and deeper into the shop.
Dana paused for a moment, and a shy smile rippled across her face. If the mannequins in the window were intimidating, the displays around the shop would make any woman, no matter how self-confident she felt, feel as self-conscious as a gawky teenager being fitted for her first bra, over non-existent breasts.
“I think this is a bad idea…” Dana tuned to leave.
Jim grabbed her by the arm and held her close. “What’s wrong, sugar?”
“I just… I don’t know. I can’t do this…” she stammered.
“Let me help, everything’s going to be okay. I’m your husband, remember? And I love you to bits,” he said, and kissed her gently on her pouting lips. “Swim suits are nothing to be afraid of. Last I checked, none of the ones in Greece even have teeth.”
He handed her a two piece suit with a matching sarong. She took it hesitantly and headed to the dressing room. Jim stood there and watched Dana vanish from view as the door to the changing room closed behind her. He felt awkward all of a sudden, standing amongst the half-naked mannequins, and was relieved when she emerged a few moments later. She had changed quickly, he recognized. Probably because she is so used to shopping with three kids in tow. It must be some sort of art form, clothes shopping when you’re a mom.
“What do you think?” she said. The sarong was wrapped around her and she unwrapped it slowly, showing Jim the bright white swimsuit underneath.
“Think?” he stammered. The truth was, he didn’t think. He was too busy taking her in, taking in her long legs and the way they stretched for miles to meet the tiny white bikini bottoms hugging her hips. The color of the suit set her tan on fire, showing toned, muscular legs and bronzed skin. She was exquisite. Where had this beautiful creature been hiding? Was this the same woman who came to bed in grey sweatpants every night?
“Well?” she asked again, enjoying his gaze as it travelled across her body.
“I… I think… I, well, I… I think it’s… perfect,” Jim said, finally.
“Good! Because I was thinking of trying on a red one next,” Dana said.
All the color drained from Jim’s face. He knew what red looked like on Dana, and he couldn’t wait to see a repeat of her dropping her sarong to reveal something red against her smooth skin. Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed that the shop clerk was busy on the phone in what sounded like a heated, intense conversation with a customer. She would be occupied for a while. He grabbed the first red suit he could find and shoved it at Dana. “This one,” he said. “Try this one.”
Dana returned to the dressing room, and without thinking Jim quietly followed her.
“Jim, what are you doing?” Dana protested.
Jim didn’t say a word, he just put his finger over her mouth to silence her and pressed his body against hers, forcing her into the dressing room, and closing the door behind them. Then he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips, letting the clothing she was holding drop to the ground. What he had in mind would be worth skipping the demonstration of Dana in a red swim suit, of that he was certain.
Withdrawing from the kiss and framing her face in his hands, Jim looked at Dana for one long, breath-stealing moment before closing his lips again over hers, joining his tongue to hers in a slow, erotic tango. As he deepened the kiss, he slipped his hand beneath the fabric of the bikini top and cupped her breasts in his palms. Firm breasts encased in satin, soft skin met his touch and kissed her deeply with delight.
Dana resisted at first and tried to pull away in protest, and Jim suspected he would hear her saying momentarily, “We are in a dressing room, in case you have forgotten! We can’t do this here!” So, he deepened his kiss again, keeping her tongue busy and keeping her protests silent, and teasing her nipples until she let a soft sigh escape.
“I want to see you,” he whispered into her mouth. He moved to the sensitive spot just beneath her ear lobe and repeated himself, breathlessly, “I want to see you. All of you.”
He drew back far enough to gaze down at Dana, his eyes dropping to her breasts as they remained tucked into the white bikini, but noticing that they were rising and falling with each of her quick breaths.
“Put your arms up, sugar.”
Dana obeyed his quiet command and Jim reached behind her to undo the buckle of the bikini top, leaving Dana standing in front of him in nothing but a tiny pair of white bikini panties.
He was silent for a long moment and when he spoke, his voice was low and reverent. “Dana, my love, you’re stunning.”
She lifted her gaze as her hands drifted down to her panties, nudging them seductively over her hips and letting them fall to the floor of the dressing room to puddle up next to the pile of red from the discarded red bikini. Jim’s gaze slid over her face, down to her heaving breasts, and lower still to the juncture between her thighs. Like a physical caress, his gaze seared her skin, making her breath catch and her pulse quicken. She pulled in a deep steadying breath then, and exhaled slowly.
Jim leaned forward so his forehead was touching hers. “I want you to promise me something,” he said.
Unable to speak, she nodded.
“Today, right now, tonight, for the next two weeks, and for every day and every night we share from this point on, I want you to tell me exactly what feels good for you. Especially tonight. Especially on this trip. Especially while we’re in Greece. This trip is all about you and your needs, and all about us, and I want to give you everything so that we’ll never again forget how much we mean to each other. Will you do that, Dana? Will you let me give to you?”
“But what about you? What about your needs?” she started to protest.
He dipped his head, sealing his lips over hers, in a kiss so slow and thorough her body melted and shivered against him, despite the heat they both radiated. Her protests were silenced once again by the persistence of his mouth.
“Here’s the secret, the one from Dimitri’s. I have four bottles of red wine in this brown bag,” he said, already breaking away from her mouth to kiss a slow trail down her throat. “I want to go back to our hotel and I want tonight to be only about your pleasure. I want you to know what it feels like to have your husband make love to you. It’s been so long… It’s been way too long… I’ve missed you.”
Her breath hitched at his words and from his kisses, which were now travelling sporadically down to her breasts. A little gasp escaped as he cupped her breasts and kissed each nipple in turn, tickling her with his tongue.
“I want to taste every inch of you,” he said.
Looking deeply in her eyes, he pushed her back onto a small stool, the only piece of furniture in the small changing room. Jim sunk to his knees and slid his hands up her thighs, slowly, never dropping his gaze from her eyes. He could feel her breath and pulse quicken as his fingers met between her thighs and spread them apart until she was opened before him. He parted the soft folds of skin and gently brushed his tongue against her sensitive spot, enjoying the taste of her wetness.
Dana bit her lip and arched her back, thrusting herself even closer to his eager mouth. It had been too long since he had tasted his wife, and he had missed her. She had a warm, nutmeg-like scent that captured him and he felt himself growing, responding to the gentle thrusts of her hips. As his tongue danced over her and he slid a finger inside her, Dana placed her hand on the back of his head and forced his tongue and finger deeper inside her. Then Dana took several quick breaths and held him tight; her legs shook and her bright red, painted toes curled in a clench of release.
As she loosened her hold on him, she leaned down and kissed him, enjoying the taste of herself on his lips.
“I’m ready for that red wine now,” she said huskily. “Shall we leave this poor fitting room to recover?”
Jim smiled, helping her to her feet. “You’ll have your wine, Mrs. Tully, on one condition.”
“Oh, and what are your conditions, Mr. Tully?”
“We’re buying the yellow white bikini and you’re wearing it again later, and often,” he said, grinning mischievously.