***
There was nothing to indicate that it wasn’t safe. There were no deep rumblings or sharp cracks, so it came as a complete shock when the ice below her suddenly caved in, plunging her into the dark icy waters below. Laura wanted to scream but her vocal cords seemed unable to respond. She spluttered about, trying to gain a hold on the thin ice around her. The cold was inconceivable—it ate into her bones and sapped her strength. She knew she couldn’t hold on much longer.
“Laura! Hang on!”
“I’m coming, Laura!”
She heard the voices behind her and turned her head, straining to see who it was. Two silhouettes approached her cautiously, their arms outstretched. But something was wrong with her vision, she couldn’t see clearly; she couldn’t make out who they were.
“Laura! Take my hand!”
David! It was David’s voice. He’d come to save her.
“No, Laura, take mine. Here! Let me help you!”
Hugo? Laura was confused. Was he here, too? She squinted up at them and was finally able to see their anxious faces, both pleading with her to take their hand.
She raised her arm to grip a hand, but it felt heavy, so heavy she could barely lift it. Then another dilemma presented itself to her: Which hand should she grab? She looked at the two men before her; both urged her to save herself. But she didn’t seem able to grab either hand.
I’m going to drown, she thought. I’m going to drown because I can’t decide which hand to take.
And then there was that god-awful buzzing in her ears; it just wouldn’t stop. It invaded her head and pierced her thoughts and … roused her from her slumber.
Shit! She’d been dreaming. Heart pounding, she struggled with her phone, desperately swiping at it to turn it off. She fell back against her pillow, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
She’d been skating on thin ice.
You don’t have to be Freud to work that one out, she thought. Two am. Time to get Vanessa up and take her to the loo. Crap. This getting-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night lark is killing me.
She slipped her feet into her slippers and pulled on her dressing gown. God, she hated having to leave her warm bed. She shuffled down to Vanessa’s bedroom and bent over her sleeping daughter. She shook her gently and called her name.
Nothing. She was dead to the world. The urologist had said the problem was exactly that— she slept so deeply her brain failed to receive the signal from her full bladder. You’d think her neurons would be a bit more assertive, more insistent. The little buggers ought to hold hands and march straight up to her brain and scream and shout till they made themselves heard.
She sighed, resigning herself to the fact that she’d have to carry her daughter to the bathroom once again. She pulled back the covers and her heart sank. She was too late. A dark stain spread across the middle of the bed.
Oh no. Not again.
She went back to her bedroom and woke David, who slept almost as soundly as his daughter. Then she returned to Vanessa’s room, scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom. She set her down on the floor, but her daughter barely registered what was happening. She grabbed the hand held shower hose and let it run for a while. As soon as the water was warm enough, she stripped off her daughter’s pyjamas. It was then that Vanessa started to wail; she didn’t appreciate having her sleep interrupted—a sentiment Laura shared.
She rinsed her off quickly and dressed her in a fresh pair of pyjamas while David changed the bedding. They’d performed this ritual so often they’d got it done to a fine art.
Ten minutes later, they were all fast asleep.
Chapter 14
Sandra ran her hand through her brown spiky hair. “Thank God it’s Friday. This week has been heavy going. I had to lay off some more workers yesterday. It’s devastating for everyone.” she said forlornly.
“I agree, and it’s bad for company moral, but it can’t be helped,” replied Hugo. "Everyone will be out of a job if the company folds."
"It's not going to come to that, surely," said Sandra. "We have some leads in the pipeline, don't we?"
“That's true, but they're not a done deal yet. Right now we're staking all our hopes on a couple of projects in Colombia. One is a massive council housing estate, and the other is the construction of a motorway," he answered, indicating the folders on the table.
"When will you know, Hugo?" asked Laura, booting up her laptop.
"Hopefully, we’ll be able to clinch it within the next few days. A personal meeting is so much more productive than video conferencing."
“Oh, I thought you weren't going till next month," said Laura.
“Yes, we haven't had a chance to talk yet, have we?" The innuendo was not lost on Laura. "My trip has been brought forward."
"Oh. So when are you leaving?" she asked him.
"This evening. I’m going with the Field Operations Manager."
“So soon. And when are coming back?”
“Probably in a week’s time. I should be here when you wrap things up at Delta.”
"Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."
“Don’t worry," Sandra reassured him. "Laura and I have things under control.”
“Yes,” agreed Laura. “I’m sure the company’s safety performance will improve next quarter with the new training and work procedures.”
“I hope so,” said Sandra. “In fact, before we start, let me just get the latest HSE figures from Daniel. I’ll be back in a sec,” she said, getting up from the conference table in Hugo’s office.
Laura heard the glass door swing shut behind her, and felt her insides twinkle.
She turned to look at Hugo and realized she was holding her breath. He returned her gaze with an intensity that said so much more than words. He took her hand and brushed his lips against her knuckles. Then he turned it over and planted a hot, wet kiss on her palm.
Laura sat there demurely while her senses exploded.
***
"Are you sure you'll be all right? Just the two of you?"
"Of course we will, David. Anyway, it's just for one night. Besides, we have the dogs."
"You're going to turn them loose at night, I suppose."
"Yes, David, I am. I'm more concerned with our safety than I am with the lawn."
"OK, I just hope that they don't cause too much damage during the night. Anyhow, don't forget to double-check all the doors and windows before you turn in," David reminded Laura.
"Don't worry, I won't."
"OK, baby. I'll see you tomorrow evening then."
"Enjoy your workshop, but not too much. Is the long-legged witch going to be there?"
"Who? I haven't a clue who you're talking about," David replied innocently.
"Yeah, right. Just make sure she doesn't cast any spells on you," Laura muttered.
She couldn't help feeling resentful of Joana. That self-assured, even possessive way in which she had been talking to David that day. Like a woman who was fully aware of the effect she had on men; a woman who was used to getting what she wanted.
"Laura, it's a team-building weekend. We're here to hone our leadership skills, improve our performance, increase motivation...."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just don't get too carried away with your bonding activities," she grumbled. "Where are you now, anyway? What's that chill-out music I hear in the background?"
"I'm in the Shangri-La Bar, overlooking a gorgeous pool lit by floating candles. Quite romantic, really. And seductive."
"Bastard. Don't forget: too much play and no work makes Jack a dead boy," Laura retorted.
"I don't think that's quite how the saying goes."
"It is in my book, so beware."
"Hey, David. What are you drinking?"
"Hello, Joana. Just give me a moment. Laura?"
"Christ, David. That woman's voice has enough glycerine to give her Type I Diabetes.”
"It's wonderful to be appreciated," David teased her. "OK, bye now. Gotta run. Loads to do, you
know."
He chuckled as he swiped his index finger across his smartphone. He loved to needle Laura; after so many years together she was still so jealous. It always amused him to see how she sized up what she perceived to be the competition. Hell, all women did. They definitely eyed one another more than men eyed them. Especially when it came to size. No matter how liberated they considered themselves, women were forever checking out who had the broadest backside or the slimmest thighs.
David pocketed his phone and swivelled around on his black leather bar stool to face Joana and Ricardo.
"Joana, my precious, what can I get you to drink?" asked Ricardo, wrapping an arm round her bare shoulders. She wore a red halter neck jersey dress that would make any priest hastily cross himself.
“I’ll have what David’s having,” she answered, slipping out from under Ricardo’s arm. “What are you having, David?” She took the glass from his hand and swirled it to inspect its contents. She stood so close to David that her ripe bosom all but jutted into his face.
“A B&C,” replied David.
“A B&C? What’s that exactly?”
David leaned back, his elbows resting on the polished hardwood bar top in an attempt to escape her mammary attack.
“Brandy and Coke. I acquired a taste for it in South Africa. Try it. You’ll like it.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will,” she replied, handing back his glass. The look in her eyes matched the tone of her voice.
Ricardo arched and eyebrow and signalled to the bar tender. He pointed at the glass in David’s hand and lifted two fingers.
“Well, this workshop was certainly interesting,” commented Ricardo as they waited for their drinks. “Bit of a shame that Tiago’s team won just about all the challenges, though.”
“Yes, it was, wasn’t it? David, you should organize more weekends away like this one. We could have all sorts of fun…”
“Oh, we could indeed,” agreed Ricardo. “In fact, I have a few ideas of my own that we could implement to make the most of our time here.” He stroked his perpetual two-day shadow, and brought his gaze down to Joana’s generous neckline.
Joana smirked but David pretended not to notice the innuendo.
“Tomorrow’s outdoor activities should be fun,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the zip-lining and canoeing.”
“Yeah, me too,” answered Ricardo. “Pity we have such an early start though. I like to have a bit of a lie-in on Saturday mornings.”
“Yeah, it’s getting late,” said Joana, glancing round the near empty bar. “It looks like the others have all gone to bed already, and I’d better do the same otherwise I’ll never be able to get up on time tomorrow. Are you coming, David? We’re on the same floor.”
David’s early warning system pinged loudly, alerting him that evasive action was called for.
“Actually, I’m gonna stay up a little longer and have another drink. Why don’t you two go on up? I’ll see you in the morning.”
Joana’s face hardened.
This is a first for her, guessed David. She’s not used to being turned down.
“Well, then, in that case, we’ll do just that, won’t we, Ricardo?” she asked, placing her hands on his shoulder.
“You bet we will.” He circled her waist, letting his hand slip lower than propriety allowed. He winked at David. Your loss is my gain, buddy.
As Ricardo led Joana away, she looked back over her shoulder at David. The expression on her face clearly said what she thought of him.
David stared after them. “Yeah, I’m a bloody fool,” David silently agreed with her.
Chapter 15
“Come on, V. Just five more,” Laura encouraged her daughter as she held the heavy bag for her.
Vanessa hopped from one foot to the other as she executed consecutive knee strikes, bringing her legs back for maximum force. Perspiration made her T-shirt cling to her slim body, and exertion brought a rosy tinge to her cheeks.
“OK, there’s my girl! Great workout, well done. Here, have a little sip of water.”
Laura held the bottle up so that Vanessa could sip on the straw.
“Whoa, that’s enough. Let’s do our stretching exercises and then we’re done for the day,” said Laura as she helped her daughter remove her pink gloves and hand wraps.
“Phew! I’m tired, mommy. And hungry.”
“We’ll have breakfast in a minute. Just a quick shower first, okay?”
“Okay, then I want to move my toys to my new bedroom. When’s daddy coming home?”
“He’ll be here this evening, but we can manage ourselves. Strong women that we are,” answered Laura, holding up her palm to high-five her daughter. “But first I have to feed the dogs.”
***
“I don’t bloody believe it!” Laura shouted at the dogs. “Just look at the state of the lawn! Did you have nowhere else to dig?”
Laura frogmarched the dogs, who were suitably contrite, to the dog run and locked them in. David is going to have an almighty fit if he sees this. Thank God it’ll be dark when he comes home.
She grabbed her gardening gloves and a spade from the garage and went to inspect the damage more closely. One of the big ones, probably Mia, had dug a lovely deep foxhole—after two false starts. Damn. Why couldn’t the stupid dog have dug them closer to the flower beds where she could give them a discrete makeover? Or better still, somewhere deep in the woodland where it didn’t matter. She really would have to see if Cesar Milan could possibly come and do a show in Portugal.
There was only one solution, which although not perfect, might just work if she managed to keep David away from the garden for a few days.
Choosing a piece of lawn near a flower bed that was sparsely populated, she plunged the shovel into the earth as hard as she could, and worked it with her foot until she had cut out a sizeable piece of turf. Straining under the weight, she carried it to ground zero and started to fill in the holes. By the time she had disguised the damage as best as she could, her back muscles were burning. Then she extended the flower bed to incorporate the cut-out turf, and transplanted a few clumps of weeping sedge so that it wouldn’t be immediately noticeable.
The lengths she had to go to in order to keep the peace, she fumed. She put the gardening stuff away and went to help Vanessa with the toys.
***
It was dusk when the squawking of seagulls alerted Laura to the fact that David was calling.
“Hey, David. Where are you?”
“Hey, baby. I’m almost home. I’ve just turned into the lane. What you girls doing?”
“Laura’s colouring in and I was watching TV. I’ll jog down and meet you at the gate. I need to stretch my legs.”
“Great. See you in a bit.”
“V, I’m meeting daddy at the gate. Do you wanna come with?”
“No, I’ll stay here and colour in. I want to finish my picture so I can give it to daddy.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll see you in a bit then. Shall I bring Lilly in to keep you company?”
“Oh, yes please, mommy!”
Laura opened the door and whistled. The sextet appeared as if by magic. As Laura let Lilly in, the others immediately tried to follow suit, only to have their hopes dashed. Their disappointment, however, was soon forgotten when they saw they got to accompany their mistress on a jog. All five tails wagged merrily as they set off.
David’s headlights swung towards the gate just as she reached it. She stood aside to let him in, ordering the dogs to do the same. David drove in just far enough for the gate to close behind him, before stopping the car. The girls would do a runner if they were left alone with a half-open gate. Laura and David had learnt that the hard way.
Seeing Laura bend down to greet him through the window, David turned off the ignition and got out. The dogs were beside themselves with joy, as if they hadn’t seen him for weeks.
David laughed. “At least there’ll always be someone that’s glad I’m home.”
Laura slipped her arms round his neck. “I’m glad you’re home,” she said, kissing him.
And then the kiss that was supposed to have been a wifely welcome-home greeting turned into a hot, torrid affair. They groped each other like adolescents at a drive-in, panting and groaning against the car. Hands tore at clothes and unzipped jeans. And whether fuelled by secret thoughts of third parties or just by the heat of the moment, they wrestled each other to the front of the car. Under the cover of darkness, Laura lay back against the bonnet as David took his place between her legs.
The dogs looked on, happily thumping their tails on the ground in time to the thrusting and grunting.
Chapter 16
“Girls, don’t run off like that, you’ll get lost,” warned Laura, as Vanessa and Mariana squeezed past the throngs of tourists who filled the narrow street that served as the main thoroughfare in Óbidos.
Like the other little alleyways, it was lined with medieval whitewashed houses with a blue or yellow trim. Bougainvillea and geraniums adorned the tiny windows and doorways. Few people actually lived within the castle walls; in modern times the town had expanded and spread at the foot of the hill.
“Let’s get away from the crowds. Why don’t we take one of these little side streets and make our way up to the castle wall?” suggested Sara.
“Good idea,” agreed her husband. “The girls are big enough now to manage those steep steps that lead to the top. We could walk the perimeter, as long as we hold their hands.”
“I don’t know about that, Miguel,” cautioned David. “The cobblestones are slippery and there are no barriers or handrails to prevent you from taking a nasty tumble.”
“Oh, stop being such a worrywart, David,” replied Laura in an exasperated tone. “We’ll hold their hands, they’ll be fine. I don’t want Vanessa growing up to be a wimp who’s scared of everything.”
David compressed his lips in disapproval but didn’t say anything.
“Come on, David,” said Miguel. “You can tell me about that event on the way. The one you went to yesterday. Was it worthwhile?”
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