First Impressions

by Margaret Thornton

  ‘I’m sure he will, but he’ll be OK with Mum and Dad … No, I don’t think he’ll take a dislike to you, Bill. I was only teasing. I’ve never known him to take a dislike to anyone. He’s a very friendly dog. Labradors are, you know. That’s why they make such good pets; they’re so gentle with children. I’m not sure about being a guard dog, though. He hardly ever barks and I don’t know how he’d react to a burglar.’

  ‘You still haven’t answered my question. Shall we give it a try, Christine? I’m absolutely sure that I want to … if you do?’

  ‘Yes … yes, I do, Bill,’ she answered. ‘We’ve got along well together this week and yes, I’d like to go on seeing you.’

  They were interrupted at that stage by the arrival of their lunch. ‘That looks good,’ said Christine. ‘It’s enormous, though.’

  The tart filled the large round platter. It was a sort of thin pizza, covered with crème fraiche, crisp bacon pieces and golden fried onions. And it turned out to be just as delicious as it looked. The dry white wine was the perfect accompaniment.

  ‘I’m really chuffed that we can go on seeing one another,’ said Bill. She knew that he was not one for flowery phrases, and she felt, now, that she was able to trust him. He had assured her that it was definitely all over with Olga. She guessed that there might have been others, plenty of them, but she was ready to give him a chance.

  ‘I shall ring up the boss as soon as we get back to the hotel,’ he told her. ‘I’ll tell him that I’d like to work in the UK for a while, maybe permanently. I know there are several lads who will jump at the chance of working on the Continent. So now … well, it all depends on Monty, doesn’t it?’

  Nineteen

  The phone lines from the Gasthaus Grunder to places in England were busy on that Monday afternoon. Bill, as he had promised, rang his boss in Preston as soon as he and Christine arrived back at the hotel.

  ‘What? You as well!’ said Charlie Baldwin, the manager of Galaxy Travel when he heard Bill’s voice and had listened to his request. ‘I’ve already had Mike on the phone saying the same thing. What’s up with the pair of you? I thought you were both OK, and you get on well together, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, like a house on fire,’ said Bill. ‘We’re good mates, but we both have our reasons. I didn’t know Mike had spoken to you, I’ve not seen him since breakfast time.’

  Charlie admitted that he did know why Mike wanted to work in the UK. ‘Family problems, I gather,’ he said, ‘and I can understand that. Wives get fed up when their hubbies are working away, and Mike’s been doing the Continental tours for about three years now. He’s ready for a break. But what’s the problem with you, Bill? You’re a single bloke, and I thought you liked it over there.’

  ‘So I do,’ replied Bill, ‘but I’m the same as Mike; I feel that I’m away from home too much.’ He didn’t want to say that he had a new girlfriend, one that he had met on this tour and that he was hoping to make a go of it. ‘I don’t have family commitments in the way that Mike has, but I do have a family – parents and a brother and sister, and grandparents who are getting on a bit. And there are things I like to do like go to football matches, and I’m in a darts team – at least I used to be – and, well … I just feel so out of things while I’m over here. I know it has its compensations, and I’ve enjoyed it, but the shorter tours at home would suit me better.’ He decided he’d said enough and maybe he was overbuttering the bread, or whatever the saying was.

  ‘Yes, I see …’ said Charlie. ‘You have a free week after you get back, don’t you? And then I think we’ve got you down for one of the French tours, in the Loire Valley …’ One of the problems with Galaxy was that you never knew where you might be asked to go from one week to the next.

  ‘I’ll think about it,’ Charlie told him. ‘That’s the best I can say at the moment. I’ve more or less told Mike that it’ll be OK for him – he did ask first after all – and there’s young Steve dying to have a chance to work on the Continent. He’s ready for it now, but he’ll have to have someone with him the first time to show him the ropes. I’ll see what I can do, Bill, but it’s a pity, you were starting to get more experienced over there. It’s not a job that anyone can do. Leave it with me, and I’ll try to rearrange the schedules.’

  ‘Thanks very much Charlie. I’m grateful to you. It’s hard to explain but—’

  ‘Say no more, Bill. We always try to oblige if we can. It makes for a happier workforce. See you on Wednesday then? It’s been a successful trip, has it? Apart from the couple of problems I’ve heard about—’ that was the suitcase incident and Mr Johnson’s heart attack; they had to report back to HQ about everything that happened ‘—but you and Mike seem to have coped very well. Anyway, bye for now, Bill.’

  At the other end of the line Charlie Baldwin reflected that, knowing what he did about Bill, there was probably a lady involved. But they had a fair number of drivers and there were always men waiting to join the firm; women, too, in these days of equal opportunities.

  Bill found Mike in their bedroom, lounging on his bed reading a spy thriller.

  ‘So you beat me to it.’ said Bill. ‘I’ve just rung Charlie and he said you’d been on the phone. I get the impression that you’re home and dry – you did ask first – but he’s going to think about my request. So it’s fingers crossed.’

  ‘I hope you get what you want then, if you’re sure about it. You had a good day with Christine then, did you?’

  ‘Terrific, thanks! We’ve agreed to give it a try, and I’ve a week off when we get back, so …’ Bill winked and made a thumbs up sign.

  ‘All power to your elbow, then,’ said Mike. ‘Don’t go mucking things up if you think you’re in with a chance.’

  ‘I’ll try not to. How did you go on with Sally? I take it she’s still anxious for you to work at home?’

  ‘Absolutely, but she was a lot calmer, not in such a tizzy as she was the last time I rang.’

  He had phoned her around lunchtime, just before she started her afternoon shift at the supermarket.

  ‘Hi there, Sal, it’s me,’ he began. ‘How are things with you?’

  ‘Hello, Mike. I guessed it might be you.’ At least she sounded much calmer, and he breathed a sigh of relief at not having to hold the phone away from his ear. ‘Things are better here, I’m pleased to say. Our Tracey went back to school this morning with her tail between her legs, as you might say. I’ve never seen her so subdued. She was cocky about it at first – at least she pretended to be – as though it was just a laugh. But she had a real good telling off from me, and she was grounded all weekend, and for this week as well, unless I relent.’

  ‘Good for you, Sal! She’s not a bad kid, though, really, is she? We’ve done our best to bring her up in the right way, although I must admit it’s been largely up to you in the last few years. I’m going to have a word with Charlie about working nearer to home. I shall talk to him today instead of waiting till I get back.’

  ‘That’s good,’ said Sally. ‘Thank you, Mike … We do miss you, you know. I know you’d probably be away all week, but at least we would have all the weekends together.’

  ‘We’ll have to cross our fingers that Charlie agrees, then. I’ll put in an earnest plea.’

  ‘Tracey misses you a lot. I hadn’t realized how much, but last night she said to me, “I really miss Dad, you know. It’s awful that he’s away so much.” And she even said, “I’m sorry I’ve been such a nuisance, Mum.” That’s all she said, but you could have knocked me down with a feather.’

  ‘It’s nice to know I’m missed so much.’ Mike felt very touched at what Sally had said, and he was more determined than ever not to be such an absentee father. ‘Listen, love, I’ll have to go now. Goodness knows how much this is costing. Bye for now, Sal. love you, and love to the kids. Take care now …’

  ‘Will do. See you soon, Mike. Love you too …’

  Jane phoned her mother when she returned to the hotel in the mid-after
noon.

  She had spent the day with Dave in Freiburg. The low cloud and grey skies during the early part of the day had not helped her downcast spirits. But towards midday the sun had appeared, and by this time she had managed to cast off most of her gloom.

  It seemed that Dave intended to act as though there was nothing wrong. She realized he was a pretty sanguine sort of fellow, determined to look on the bright side and not allow himself to be downhearted. Did that mean that he was unable to feel things as deeply as she did? She had not really known him long enough to have found out everything about him. She knew, though, that men and women often had a different outlook on problems.

  They had had a pleasant enough day, although there was that constant niggle at the back of her mind all the while that this might be the last time they would be alone together. In a couple of days she feared they would have to say goodbye, and that would be the end of their all too fleeting romance.

  They had dined at lunchtime under the veranda of a cafe in the market square. It was not so busy as it had been on Saturday, but there was still a good number of tourists around and they kept meeting other people from the coach. They had seen Bill and Christine setting off somewhere in a taxi earlier that morning, looking very happy together. Whilst they were having their lunch Shirley and Ellen walked past with the two brothers, Trevor and Malcolm. Jane was not quite sure which was which, but Shirley was walking with one of the men, and Ellen with the other, not arm in arm or hand in hand, but they seemed very relaxed in one another’s company. Ellen gave a shy smile and a little wave to Jane as they passed.

  ‘Ellen’s a lovely person, isn’t she?’ Dave remarked. ‘She seems to be getting on well with Trevor – at least I think that one is Trevor. I get the impression that she’s dominated by Shirley a lot of the time, so this should do her a world of good.’

  ‘Yes, I hope so, even if it’s only a holiday friendship …’ Jane’s voice petered out. She said no more, but she felt that Dave knew what was in her mind. He nodded but made no comment.

  They had a last wander around the square when they had finished their lunch, then took a bus back to the village, which was the nearest stop to the hotel.

  ‘I must finish my packing now,’ said Jane, halting at her bedroom door. ‘I’m taking back far more than I came with.’

  ‘Me too,’ said Dave. ‘I’ll see you at dinner time then? If we go down early we could have a drink at the bar?’

  ‘Yes, maybe …’ She smiled brightly as she entered her room. ‘See you later, Dave.’

  A few moments later, after trying to get herself into the right frame of mind, she went down to the foyer to phone her mother.

  ‘Hello, Mother. It’s me.’ She hoped she was sounding happier than she felt. The carefree attitude she had tried to assume all day was fast disappearing.

  ‘Yes, I guessed it might be you,’ said Alice. ‘You’ll be setting off back tomorrow, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes, eight o’clock in the morning. I’m just going to finish my packing.’

  ‘You’ve had a good time, have you? You feel the holiday has done you good?’

  ‘Yes … yes, I’m sure it has. It’s all been lovely. Good weather, and lots of interesting places to see, and nice people on the coach.’

  ‘You’ve made some new friends then?’

  ‘Yes … yes, I have. One or two people I shall keep in touch with.’ She had a chance then to mention a particular one, but she did not do so. She might have done, had not Dave told her his true circumstances. But Mother would never get her head round that. ‘What about you, Mother? I expect you’ve made some friends at Evergreen, haven’t you?’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so. Like you, there’s one or two I might keep in touch with. I said I might pop back and see them sometime. I told you about Flora, didn’t I? We get on quite well, and there are one or two others. It’s been better than I expected, but I’ll be glad to get home. There’s nothing like your own bed and your own things around you.’

  ‘I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it. I said you’d be OK there, didn’t I?’

  ‘Yes, maybe you did. I said I’d give it a try, and that’s what I’ve done. Now, when are you coming to collect me? You won’t be back till late on Wednesday, will you?’

  ‘No, it’ll be too late. I’ll come on Thursday morning, so make sure you’re ready. It’ll be nice to get home,’ she said, realizing that, in spite of everything, she had missed her mother. ‘It’s been a great holiday … but all good things come to an end.’ She felt her voice breaking, and her mother picked on it at once.

  ‘Jane? What is it? There’s nothing wrong, is there?’

  ‘No, nothing at all. It’s just … it’s nothing, Mother. I’ll see you soon …’

  She put the phone down quickly, trying to stem the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She hurried back to her room where she made a cup of tea and tried to compose herself.

  She dragged her suitcase from the top of the wardrobe, ready to start packing. It was easier packing to go home as one didn’t need to be so careful about folding the clothes. She had a large plastic bag in which she put the items that were ready for washing, but some things would only need a quick iron to be ready to wear again.

  There was so much more to take home than she had brought with her. As a result of her shopping sprees in Baden Baden and elsewhere her case was bulging and the adaptable straps stretched to their furthest limit. Then there were all the bits and pieces she had bought as souvenirs or for presents. She had been given a sturdy carrier at one the gift shops and that would hold her purchases and fit into the overhead compartment above her seat. One bonus with coach travel was that the luggage was taken care of – although, occasionally, maybe not as well as it might have been! – and the passengers did not need to carry their heavy cases around.

  By the time her case was packed, with the clothes she had decided to wear for the last day’s travel in the UK at the top, she was feeling more composed. She washed, then dressed with care for the final evening in Germany. That morning in Freiburg, egged on by Dave – he had been determined to carry on as though everything was OK – she had bought a pair of flared trousers in a deep coral shade, and a top with pink and blue flowers on a white background. She knew that they suited her – made her look younger – and she decided as she applied her make-up and combed and rearranged her hair, that she must do her utmost to be cheerful and carefree that evening, and put to one side the jumbled thoughts that were whizzing round and round in her head.

  She sat and read her book, getting engrossed in other people’s joys and sorrows which was a distraction that helped her to focus her mind on something else, if only for a short time. Dave knocked at her door at six thirty, and she greeted his cheerful, ‘Ready, Jane?’ with a bright smile.

  They sat in the bar area enjoying a pre-dinner aperitif along with several other Galaxy travellers. In fact, by the time they were ready to go for their final dinner almost all of the party had congregated in the lounge. They all knew one another by this time, some better than others, of course. There was plenty to talk about and conversation flowed easily. Jane chatted to one, then another, relieved that she did not have to talk exclusively to Dave.

  Just before seven o’clock, which was the set time for the evening meal, Herr Grunder appeared in the lounge. ‘We have a little extra treat for you this evening, ladies and gentlemen,’ he announced. ‘After your meal we will have a get-together – that is how you say it, I think? – here in the lounge. You may not know – my wife, Marianne, and I have only just found out – that this may be the last time that our good friends Mike and Bill will be staying here.’ There were surprised exclamations from a few people as he went on to say that the two drivers had decided to give up their Continental tours to work in the UK.

  ‘We have known them for quite some time,’ he said, ‘Mike rather longer than Bill. They have become good friends to us and we will miss them. And so, ladies and gentlemen, there will be a farewell drink fo
r you all after the meal, “on the house” as you say, then a little entertainment. We will dance and sing and have a good time together, yes? You have been excellent guests, all of you very happy, I think, and no complaints. Marianne and I, we thank you very much. And now … your last evening meal awaits you. Please enjoy it.’

  There was a round of applause before they all trooped into the dining room. There was a festive air to the room with candles burning – safely in glass holders – on each table, and vases holding fresh flowers: roses, Sweet Williams and sweet peas, their fragrance scenting the air.

  The meals at Gasthaus Grunder had all been good, some more palatable than others to English taste, but on the whole their plates had been cleaned each time, apart from one or two dumplings that had proved to be rather too filling. The guests all agreed that the meal on the final evening was one of the best that Herr Grunder and his assistants had prepared that week. Onion soup with noodles was followed by the main dish of succulent roast pork served with asparagus tips, broccoli and potato slices in a cheese sauce. The dessert was Sachertorte, as was served in Viennese cafes, a rich chocolate cake with a layer of cherry jam, served with whipped cream.

  The party of six – Mavis and Arthur, Dave and Jane, Shirley and Ellen – had got to know one another quite well over the six days they had spent at the guest house, and they talked to first one then another, with ease. Jane, as usual was seated between Dave and Ellen. Ellen looked very attractive that evening. Her grey hair, which at first had had that tight permed look, was now arranged in a softer style. The coral top she was wearing matched the pink lipstick she had applied sparingly and brought a radiance to her rather pale face. Jane commented that her hair looked nice, and Ellen said that Shirley had washed and set it for her. Most of the ladies had done an impromptu styling of their hair as ten days was too long to go without their usual shampoo and set or blow dry.