by M J Hardy
Sighing, I study my immaculate fingernails and say sadly, “Looks can be deceptive. When I saw you at the airport, I was jealous of you.”
“Me! Why on earth would you be jealous of me?”
“You seemed happy and your husband looked like a fun companion. Charles is a little stuffy most of the time and although I can’t fault his generosity, or his manners, life with him is kind of dull.”
“I’m sorry.” She seems genuine and maybe it’s because she’s so kind and a stranger, I offload some of my problems.
“The sad thing is, Kim, my marriage is probably hanging on by a designer thread. Charles works all the time, all hours of the day and well into the night. Most of my time is spent on my own because I don’t have many friends. They all have families, children and endless social engagements. I have shopping and the hairdressers with the occasional fitness class thrown in. Yes, I have a nice car, a nice house and an endless credit account, but that’s not what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“To work.”
Her eyes widen and I laugh. “Yes, a little strange when most people dream of retirement, but I have always wanted to work. To have that buzz knowing you are achieving something. A place to go every day where you count for something. Friends and colleagues who become more like your family than your own and a sense of living your best life because when you don’t have that, it’s meaningless.”
“Then why don’t you get a job?”
“Charles won’t listen when I tell him. He thinks what’s missing is a baby to occupy my time. To be honest, I’m surprised he didn’t buy me a puppy and have done with it. He thinks he just needs to tick a box and I’ll be happy, while he heads back to business where he lives most days. In our marriage there are three things. Him, me and business. It sits between us like a third wheel because he would much rather spend time with that than me.
“Then tell him - go and get a job and he will have to accept it.”
“Maybe, then again, you don’t know Charles. He would hate it and make my life miserable until I gave it up. Anyway, what about you, do you work?”
Kim nods but has a sad look in her eye. “I’m a hairdresser. I work for a lovely woman called Betty, who, as you said, has become like a mother to me. I love working there, but Jack thinks I should set up on my own. Be more ambitious, when all I want is a family.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “I think we need to swap places. It appears you got my dream, and I got yours.”
We share a smile and I feel bad for what I’ve done with her husband. I know there is also a connection she shares with Charles, and I’m keen to learn what that is.
“I’m sorry, Kim, but…” I stop and she nods, “Go on.”
“Well,” I sigh heavily, “Did something happen with Charles, it’s just that you appeared familiar when we met in the town?”
She blushes a little and looks guilty. Maybe I should be angry, worried even, but there’s a part of me that hopes she’s about to tell me something that takes him off my hands, which shows how far my marriage has already deteriorated.
“The other night, Jack and I had an argument. He left me and rather than face the rest of you having a happy time, I headed back through the trees. For a while it felt as if someone was following me and I was scared. Luckily, the first person I met was Charles, and he was so kind.”
“Charles was?” I stare at her in surprise and she nods.
“He checked out the bushes and made sure it was safe. Then he could see how shaken I was and arranged for a brandy at the bar. I think he was concerned because he sat with me for a while. I suppose when he saw me in the town, he was worried because once again, I had an argument with Jack and wasn’t really thinking straight.”
She smiles warmly. “It appears that your husband was my knight in shining armour twice in a row and I’m grateful for it.”
“And your husband, is everything ok now?”
“Not really.” She looks so devastated I hold my breath because this could be the moment everything changes for me.
“He told me something that has shattered me. You see, Evelyn, unlike you, the thing I want most in life is a baby. To raise a family with my husband who, despite his treatment of me, I love with all my heart. It’s why I don’t want the business, the distraction from what I really want, but he told me last night he couldn’t have children for medical reasons.”
“I’m so sorry.” My heart fills with compassion for the petite woman who doesn’t look as if she has a bad bone in her body, and she smiles through watery tears. “It’s fine, I’ll get over it, but it’s too raw at the moment.”
She brushes the tears from her eyes and smiles bravely. “I’m sure we’ll work something out because I’m a great believer in fate and this is just another hurdle to jump. It will be the same for you. Things will work out for the best, we just don’t know what fate has in store for us, and it will all be fine in the end.”
She smiles and then laughs softly. “Anyway, I don’t know about you, but I can feel my skin shrivelling up from all this heat. Maybe I need a swim to cool off.” She leaves the sauna and I sit for a moment, processing what she just told me. How cruel fate is to give me everything she wants with the wrong man? If I could swap places with her, I would in a heartbeat, but it’s not as easy as that because it’s obvious she adores her husband and who wouldn’t? He’s an impressive man and now I’ve met his wife, part of his allure is crumbling because how could he cheat on such a beautiful person as her? If I felt bad before, I feel like evil personified now and vow to steer well clear of Jack for the rest of my stay.
Chapter 29
Kim
Evelyn was so nice and nothing like I thought she’d be. Having now spent time with them both, it feels as if they are heading in different directions.
As I head for my massage, I wonder what Jack’s doing. I’m not even sure if he went on the trip. He stormed off after breakfast and by the time I left to come here he hadn’t returned.
Bianca directs me to a darkened room, and it’s so peaceful in here. It feels tranquil and smells amazing.
As instructed, I hang my robe on the hook on the wall and position myself face down on the bench that has been covered in a towel. The air conditioning cools my heated skin and the smell of sandalwood and eucalyptus calms my spirit. All around the room are lotus blooms that look majestic and beautiful, and I sigh with pleasure.
The soft music lulls me into a state of relaxation that I sorely need, and then I hear the click of the door opening as the masseuse enters the room.
To my surprise, I hear a male voice speaking in a thick foreign accent as he says deeply, “My name is Fredo, I will be your masseuse.”
Strangely, I don’t feel uncomfortable about the fact I’m lying naked on a bench with the prospect of a stranger touching my body. In fact, I’m looking forward to it and I laugh to myself as I picture the look on Jack’s face if he could see me now.
I feel the oil hit my body and almost groan out loud as he begins to work it into my skin. The scent, the soft lighting and the seductive music relaxes me and it feels so good being manipulated by his strong hands and I am loving every minute of it. No words are needed as I indulge in the ultimate pleasure as I live the dream.
The time passes quickly and I almost fall asleep before I hear the door click shut behind me, signifying the end of the session. Stretching out with contentment, I swing my legs off the bench and feel a sense of calm that wasn’t there before. This was just what I needed and as I slip on my robe, I am looking forward to experiencing more of the same.
I am shown back to the pool by Bianca and see the pretty girl I noticed on the ride from the airport. As I take the seat beside her, she smiles. “Hi, I’m Emma.”
“Kim.”
I settle down and groan. “That massage was amazing. Have you had yours yet?”
“Yes, and to be honest, it was a little embarrassing because I got so turned on.”
Sh
e winks and I laugh. “Yes, it was quite a sensual one, probably because it was a man.”
“Hmm, probably.”
She looks around and sighs with contentment. “You know, I’m loving this place. It’s doubtful I will ever be the same again.”
“Me too. A week just isn’t long enough.”
We see one of the women walking past and Emma calls out, “Hey, Chloe, how was the mud room?”
“Amazing, have you done that yet?”
“Yes, I’m just waiting for another cocktail, what about you?”
“Massage.”
We both groan with appreciation and then laugh as she raises her eyes. “It’s good then.”
“The best.” Emma shouts across the space dividing us. “Word of warning, it’s a man who is great with his hands, just saying.”
I notice that Chloe’s smile dims a little and smile reassuringly. “Honestly, it’s amazing. Really good.”
She nods and says loudly, “I’ll let you know.”
As she heads off, Emma watches her go with a troubled look. “Did she look ok to you?”
“A little worried when you mentioned the man.”
“Yes, I thought so too, I wonder why?”
“It was probably nothing. Some people feel a bit funny about that. To be honest, I was at first, but as soon as he started massaging that oil in my skin, I forgot my own name, let alone the sex of the person doing it.”
“I was pleased it was a man, it would have felt weird if it was a woman.”
Emma laughs and I grin. “You make a good point.”
She says with interest. “Did you win this competition like me?”
“Yes, how amazing is that? I never normally bother, there are so many of them, but this one looked so inviting I couldn’t resist.”
“Yes, me too. I saw it loads before I actually bothered to comment. Sometimes I’m like that. They say people see things seven times before they buy. Maybe it’s a psychological thing, it becomes more familiar and sets your mind at rest.”
“Yes, I was surprised there weren’t that many comments though.”
“Yes, me too, although sometimes they run several ads for these things.”
“You seem to know a lot about it.”
I look at Emma with interest and she nods. “I run my own company.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Not really.” She laughs a little bitterly. “It’s not doing that well as it happens.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, what do you do?”
“I bake. Cakes, biscuits, bread, that sort of thing. Mainly I cater for corporate events but they’ve dried up lately and so I’ve been targeting smaller restaurants, although that doesn’t work because they mainly prepare their own. Business is a little shaky, which is why I was desperate to get away. Ignore the inevitable and postpone actually having to look for a job.”
“That’s terrible, do you think you’ll have to resort to that?”
“Yes, unless…”
I note the spark in her eye as she leans in and whispers, “Unless the extremely hot guy I’ve met here, makes me an offer I can’t refuse.”
“Seriously!” I stare at her in surprise and she grins. “Honestly, Kim, this guy is gorgeous. He owns this place as it happens and can’t do enough for me.”
“He owns this place, that’s…”
“Destiny.” Emma looks so pleased with herself, I push aside any reservations I have.
“You see, Kim. I’ve never been lucky in love. When I was at college, I was popular and I attracted all the good-looking guys and quite honestly had a great time there. Maybe that’s why I was never interested in settling down with one man. I had my pick of the bunch and I was ruthless in my picking. The trouble is, when college ended and I actually had to work for a living, the man-candy dried up and I found most of my friends had drifted away. Setting up business on my own didn’t give me many opportunities to meet the right man and so I have struggled a little, just dabbling in online dating to get me out at night.”
“And now.”
“Now I’ve met the dream and I’m not joking; this man ticks all the boxes. But I only have a few more days with him. What if it’s like all the others and I’m left to return home with nothing but a delicious memory to keep me warm?”
“Can you swap numbers, arrange to meet again perhaps?”
“Maybe.” She looks thoughtful. “He is English and lives there. In fact, he was telling me that now his business is sorted, he’s looking for a wife.”
“There you go then, he’s ripe for the picking.”
I smile with encouragement and she nods happily. “Yes, you’re right. Strike while the iron’s hot and I’ll reel my man in. Thanks, Kim, it’s been good to chat.”
She stands and says ruefully, “Time for my facial, what have you got next?”
“The mud room followed by a facial. I’m expecting miracles though and hope to walk out of here a new woman.”
She grins and as we part company, I’m glad I came. That’s two women I’ve met who were good company. I feel rested and am starting to believe that my problems could disappear with just a little time and readjusted goals. Thinking of the two women I met and their situation, reminds me that I’m the lucky one because my husband is everything to me and if the worst thing is we can’t have children, then I must support him in that because I married him for a reason, and I can’t imagine my life without him in it.
Chapter 30
Chloe
It’s fine, he’s a professional and does this all the time. Not every man is a predator, and I must calm down. I repeat the words over and over in my head as I make my way to the treatment room and try to breathe deeply as I head inside and note the soft music and flickering candles set up around the room on every surface.
The scent of jasmine fills the air and I take a deep breath.
It’s all good, nothing sinister here, just relaxation and pure bliss.
As instructed, I remove my robe and lie face down on the bed and wait for the treatment to begin. It doesn’t take long before I hear the click of the door and I immediately tense up.
A low voice with a foreign accent makes me stiffen a little as he says softly, “My name is Fredo, please relax.”
I breathe out slowly and feel the warm oil hit my skin, and I must admit it feels so nice. He begins to massage my body and I can’t help stiffen up as I feel his hands on me but he whispers, “Relax and let your mind wander to paradise.”
I try to do as he says and as he probes my skin with gentle fingers, I allow my body to adjust to his touch. It feels so good, slightly sensual, and now I know what the other girls were so happy about because this is heaven. I’m amazed at how good I feel and my eyes are heavy as I allow my muscles to relax under his skilful hands.
The whole experience is one of pleasure and as he moves lower, I feel a little embarrassed about how turned on I am. I stifle a groan as he massages my buttocks with his strong fingers but I relax into it and push away the thoughts that haunt me at night and decide this is the best therapy for me as I let him work my body like the professional he is.
He says softly, “I am going to place a special lotion on your back that will loosen the tension in your muscles.”
I say nothing and wait for the pleasure to begin, and as I feel the warm liquid trickling down my spine, I groan with pleasure. He works it in and even when his hand brushes the swell of my breast, I bite back a groan because I have never in my life been as relaxed as this. His hands massage, tease and titillate and it’s the most pleasurable feeling of pure bliss.
I’m not sure how long it takes, but when he leaves, I feel almost disappointed. Sitting up, I swing my legs over the side and shake myself a little. It’s as if every part of my body is vibrating with pleasure, and now I can see what all the fuss is about.
Grabbing my robe, I head outside and see Bianca heading towards me smiling.
“Was that good?”
“Amazing, tha
nk you.”
She nods and smiles, “Follow me, your facial is planned for thirty minutes’ time. Maybe you would like to rest by the pool with a cocktail of juices designed to restore vitality.”
“Lead the way.”
I follow her to the pool area and see the glamorous woman swimming a few lengths, and once again, I envy her figure.
As I take my seat, I accept the cocktail gratefully and watch as she leaves the pool and wraps herself in her robe. Bianca calls out, “Evelyn, it’s time for your massage.”
She catches my eye and I give her the thumbs up.
“Enjoy, it’s amazing.”
She smiles. “Thanks, I’ve been looking forward to this.”
As I watch her go, I feel quite proud of myself. It may not be much, but I achieved something huge just then, for me, anyway. For the first time in years, I allowed my body to relax with a stranger and there were no nightmares to ruin the experience for me. Maybe this holiday was just what I needed, to put to rest something that should have been dealt with years ago. Even the thought of seeing that sleazy man again makes no difference because that massage has proved something to me. I need to accept my past and not let it affect my future. I don’t want to be scared all the time and I want to take charge, so I make a decision. I’m telling John everything and I’m telling him tonight.
Chapter 31
Emma
Lunch is an interesting one. The four of us are seated at a round table overlooking the pool, and attentive waiters serve us amazing salads as we sit under the shade of a huge white umbrella. The food here is certainly exquisite, and all around me are extremely contented women.
Chloe looks so much better than when I saw her earlier, and she giggles. “I wonder if the men have had a good time.”
Kim laughs. “I hope not.”