SUNLOUNGER 2: Beach Read Bliss (Sunlounger Stories)

by Belinda Jones

  She couldn’t have been more wrong.

  As Tobias opened the door he revealed a four-poster bed with beautiful white organza draped from all four corners. Brooke sighed, feeling an immediate need to fall onto the bed and sleep forever.

  She barely acknowledged Tobias leaving as her phone buzzed again:

  Hotel is fabulous. Hope yours is too! Kim

  Bloody Kim. She had attached a photo of a luxurious suite complete with panoramic views of New York City. Suddenly her urge to sleep was nixed. She needed to make sure her trip was better than a trip to the Big Apple. Or at least make it look like it was. And for that she would have to head back out…

  But where would she go?

  She made her way downstairs and tentatively poked her head round one or two of the doors. ‘Tobias?’ Brooke found him in the kitchen, looking at his phone. ‘Sorry to interrupt, I just wondered if you could tell me a little more about the area?’

  Tobias didn’t look up, seemingly lost in thought.

  ‘Um, hello?’

  Tobias raised his eyes to hers. ‘Oh, I am sorry.’ He seemed to come back to the present moment. ‘Please excuse me, I have a lot on my mind. What would you like to know?’

  ‘Well, I don’t know really. What are the best attractions here?’

  He gave an easy shrug, his eyes lighting up for just a moment. ‘For your first night, you must go to Drosselgasse.’

  ‘Drosselgasse?’ She attempted to repeat, her ears pricking up with interest.

  ‘It’s one of the most well-known streets in Germany.’ He looked at his watch. ‘If you give me thirty minutes, I will take you. That is, if you would like me to?’

  ‘I would like that very much, thank you. My very own tour guide.’

  Hmm. Perhaps things were looking up after all.

  *

  Brooke could hear the street before she could see it. Loud music and laughter, different languages intermingling with gorgeous but mysterious smells…

  ‘Here we can eat, drink, shop, laugh, dance and sing,’ Tobias almost managed a smile. ‘Some people say this is the happiest street in the world.’

  Brooke hoped it was true – they could both do with cheering up.

  ‘It’s so narrow,’ Brooke marvelled as they set on their way. It was just a few metres wide, and yet the street seemed to stretch as far as Brooke could see. The crowds seethed around them, moving in both directions and swaying to the oompah bands. She watched as all the colours seemed to swirl into each other, making her dizzy.

  ‘I need to laugh tonight,’ Tobias announced as he steadied her, guiding her onward. ‘My girlfriend is no longer my girlfriend and she has run off to New York.’

  The admission took her by surprise, but she felt a sudden sense of solidarity with this serious but gentle stranger. ‘Well, Tobias, let me tell you, all the worst people go to New York.’ She clapped her hands together. ‘So let’s begin!’

  ‘First we must eat and drink a Rudesheimer Kaffee,’ declared Tobias, now with just a hint of a smile.

  They made their way up the street and took a seat outside a small restaurant. Tobias ordered and Brooke was delighted to discover that the Rudescheimer Kaffee contained alcohol, a very tempting sounding ‘Asbach’ brandy.

  ‘Ready?’ The waiter proceeded to set light to the drink.

  ‘Oooh!’ Brooke was fascinated by the process and giggled as she took a sip and the warm liquid pumped through her body giving her a sudden a rush of energy. ‘That’s gone straight to my head!’

  ‘The brandy is made not far from here. You should maybe visit there. The vineyards are also pretty. You can take a cable car and be lifted over them to the monument.’ Tobias was starting to relax and seemed much friendlier. Under different circumstances he could even be the type of man Brooke might fall for.

  Just as Brooke was musing over his potential, he burst her bubble with a single word. ‘Currywurst.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘Currywurst and chips!’ He pointed to the menu. ‘The best comfort food in Germany.’

  ‘My boss mentioned that stuff. It sounds kind of gross, but…’ Normally Brooke would order the healthiest option, but she was so hungry and everyone eating seemed to be really enjoying their food. ‘OK, Tobias. I’ll try it. You know what they say, “When in Rome…”. Or, erm, Germany.’

  When the sausage arrived it was huge. What had she let herself in for? Tentatively she sliced a sliver of the pork and mopped up some of the sauce. There was an enormous dollop of mayonnaise on the edge of the plate, which seemed unnecessary. There was already sauce on the plate so why the need for more? She looked over at Tobias who was dunking his chips in the mayo.

  ‘At least try it,’ he encouraged.

  It was nothing like she had tasted before – it was, frankly, divine.

  Minutes later, she had polished off the lot. ‘Would it be considered rude if I licked the plate?’

  Tobias laughed, knowing that she was serious. ‘Do you really care?’

  Taking this as a challenge Brooke licked her plate straight across the middle. ‘I can’t believe it!’ She was giggling now. ‘I’m a currywurst convert!’

  *

  With bellies full of currywurst and contented smiles on their faces, the pair continued along the Drosselgasse, chatting amiably now that they had bonded over Germany’s finest cuisine.

  ‘Tobias, you speak really good English. How come?’

  ‘My ex-girlfriend was English.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘So I decided to improve on what I learned at school and take lessons. And since most English people are too lazy to learn a whole other language—’

  ‘Hey, we aren’t all lazy!’ protested Brooke.

  ‘And we don’t all steal sunloungers!’ laughed Tobias.

  The evening air was filled with laughter and the smell of alcohol. Already it was eleven o’clock and yet there was still a pink glow where the sun had set. The crowds of tourists were just gearing up for a night of entertainment but the long coach trip was starting to take its toll on Brooke.

  ‘Do you want to go back?’ Tobias asked as she failed to stifle a yawn.

  ‘Do you mind?’

  The alcohol seemed to have helped him relax and he lifted his arm for Brooke to link hers into.. ‘Not at all.’

  The walk back to the guest house didn’t take long and when they reached the front door, Brooke found herself wanting to hold on to Tobias a little longer, though she wasn’t quite sure why.

  ‘So, what do you recommend for tomorrow, Tobias?’

  ‘Well, we must Niederwalddenkmal whilst in Rudesheim,’ Tobias replied. With a totally straight face.

  Brooke was too tired to ask what that involved but felt certain it would be something special. She had just enough energy left to nod dumbly when he added, ‘You’ll need to be up early.’

  Once in her magical four-poster bed Brooke realised that she felt happy, something she hadn’t felt for a while. It felt good.

  With a smile on her face, she drifted off to a restful sleep.

  *

  What felt like a mere few hours later, there was a gentle knock at the door.

  ‘Breakfast is served!’

  Brooke climbed out from between the deliciously soft sheets and beamed as she let in Tobias who was laden with a tray boasting an expansive selection of German sausage and cheese as well as freshly filtered coffee and just-squeezed orange juice. The bread rolls were still warm.

  ‘Guten morgen!’ He smiled at her sleepy appearance. ‘We will be leaving in half an hour. The sun is going to be scorching today, so wear sunscreen.’

  Brooke frowned in the direction of her window – it was still dark outside and a glance at her watch showed it was four-thirty in the morning – but her doubts were overruled by her gratitude for the breakfast and her rumbling tummy. ‘You’re the local, Tobias – you know best!’

  As the pair left the guesthouse Tobias explained they were visiting the Niederwald monument. It was best t
o go before the crowds and the sunrise would be beautiful. They walked through the silent streets where only hours before you couldn’t move for bumping into other revellers. You would never have guessed that anyone had been there.

  As they reached their destination, Brooke stalled at the sight of a cable car.

  ‘I…er, I’m a bit scared of those, to be honest. Can we walk?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘I’m sorry, what?!’ Brooke was taken aback by his bluntness.

  ‘My friend has come early to operate this for us. I can’t tell him that we are not getting on!’

  ‘Oh. Right. OK. Well, is it safe?’ Suddenly Brooke felt annoyed at Tobias for assuming it would be ok with her.

  ‘It will be fine, I promise. But we do need to get on,’ he hurried her towards the cable car. ‘It’s not long before the sun rises.’

  She watched as he greeted his friend and tentatively took a seat in the dangling contraption. With a jolt, the journey began. The pace was reassuringly gentle but still she was nauseous, swallowing hard to contain her nerves. And that super-sized breakfast. Despite telling herself to focus on the distant horizon she found her gaze dropping. The river below looked dark and uninviting. Her stomach looped again and she wondered what could be worth feeling like this for.

  She didn’t have to wait long to find out, as seconds later she was free, back in the open air and now stood beside the Niederwald monument. At nearly forty metres tall, the statue was of a majestic, somewhat formidable woman with wind-tousled hair, sword in one hand, crown held aloft in the other. Her name was Germania, Tobias informed her, built to commemorate the foundation of the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian war, and she looked like she could flatten Lady Liberty if she had to. Brooke felt this was a victory for Rudesheim over New York. She made a mental note to take a picture and send it to Kim.

  ‘What I really bought you up here to see this…’

  Tobias turned Brooke to see the sun coming up over the other side of the gorge. The rays instantly began warming and illuminating the river that just minutes before had looked so intimidating. She smiled as it began to sparkle. The trees in the forest below were just beginning to turn delicious shades of orange and red. Brooke could make out the fairy castles in the distance and all was quiet.

  As the first rays of sun hit Germania’s face, she seemed less menacing and the birds began tweeting. Brooke could feel tears well in her eyes. She blinked furiously, not wanting Tobias to see.

  ‘It’s very beautiful, no?’ he murmured softly. ‘I sometimes come here to think. Before the tourists arrive. It’s like looking down from heaven.’

  The sounds of nature were disturbed by the buzzing of Brooke’s phone.

  Just back to hotel now after amazing day. Hope Germany isn’t totally rubbish. Kim

  It is far from rubbish, thought Brooke as she let a huge smile cover her face. They stood for half an hour watching the sun come up and light up the world below them.

  ‘Now, it’s time for a German favourite – kaffee und kuechen. That’s coffee and cake to you!’ laughed Tobias. Even though they had not long ago enjoyed breakfast, Brooke couldn’t wait.

  *

  A whoosh of delicious, sweet scents hit them as they entered the nearby cafe. There were many types of doughnuts, pastries decorated with fruit and masses of cream and icing, and shelves lined with loaves in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Brooke had been in bakeries before but she didn’t realise just how many types of bread there were.

  ‘I could be here a while!’ giggled Brooke.

  ‘I recommend the Bienenstich.’

  Not knowing where to start, Brooke ordered the suggested slice. It was delicate and delicious – a fluffy sponge, topped with a thick layer of the lightest vanilla cream ever created. The whole ensemble was finished with a layer of sugary almonds. Perfection.

  As they finished their heavenly pastries and drained their coffee cups, Tobias announced he had to return to the guesthouse. ‘But I insist you explore our vineyards and try the local wine.’

  Brooke raised an eyebrow, unconvinced – she much preferred to drink cocktails. Preferably on a beach somewhere hot and sunny.

  ‘Honestly, we make wine to rival the French; it just doesn’t get the same recognition. Besides, how can you come all this way and not try it?’ Tobias reasoned.

  He had a point. Waving him off, Brooke took the short walk back down the hillside and made her way towards a quiet pub overlooking the river. Not knowing anything about wine, she ordered a glass of any local white wine.

  ‘They are all local!’ laughed the bartender.

  ‘Well, I had better try them all then!’ Brooke was joking but before she knew it, she was on her fourth glass of wine. She decided that she quite liked German wine. It was sweeter than she remembered and there was no vinegary aftertaste or ensuing headache. For a while she sat and watched the river flowing by and the people boarding ferries in the baking sun. She couldn’t decide if it was the sunshine or the Reisling making her feel so warm.

  ‘Soon the tourists will be gone and all will be quiet until Christmas,’ said the bartender as he came and sat beside her. ‘I am Stefan. This is my family’s pub.’

  ‘I’m Brooke.’ She studied him for a moment and then asked, ‘What do you like best about being here?’

  He thought for a moment and then replied, ‘I like that this is home. I like that I get to work and live here and that other people like it here too. We are lucky that there is very little trouble here, not like the big cities.’ He frowned. There was a female voice calling him from inside. ‘Ja! Ich komme Tanja, momentmal!’ He turned back to Brooke. ‘I must go, my wife is calling.’

  As she watched him leave Brooke imagined what it would be like to live here. She’d certainly end up several stone heavier thanks to all the cakes and currywurst – she must have devoured three thousand calories already today. She got to her feet, feeling fuzzy from the wine, and decided it was time to walk off a few hundred said calories.

  She looked around the local shops but they mostly just sold souvenirs – little wooden smoking men and cuckoo clocks like in the reception of the guesthouse. There were, however, one or two boutiques selling leather shoes and handbags. Brooke considered going in but changed her mind; she was half cut and had her credit card with her, a dangerous combination.

  She slowly wandered back in the general direction of the guesthouse. Tobias was right about the weather – it was really hot, a mini heat wave. And then she spotted the man himself leaving a newsagents just up ahead and she found herself galloping up behind him and giving him a playful push. He turned around with a look of utter shock on his face. She regretted it immediately; she thought she had broken the ice with him, but obviously not.

  ‘Sorry – too much wine and too much sun! I’ve got myself a bit lost – could I follow you back to the guesthouse?’ she asked.

  ‘Err, who are you?’ he questioned.

  Brooke felt a stab of panic. What did he say? Was she having an outer body experience?

  Then his face suddenly changed, realisation spreading across his features. ‘Oooh, you think I am Tobias? No. I am Jason. I guess he didn’t tell you he had a brother?’

  As she squinted back at him she could see now that they weren’t exactly alike, though the similarities were strong.

  ‘No he didn’t mention that! I am so sorry – I promise I’m not just a drunken English woman assaulting you in the street.’ If she wasn’t already slightly sunburnt, he would have seen her blush.

  ‘Come, I will take you back.’ He smiled warmly, more openly friendly than Tobias had been at first.

  The pair made their way through the narrow and winding streets. By this time it was over thirty degrees and Brooke’s alcohol buzz had transformed into a cloying dizziness.

  As they entered the guesthouse Jason called out to Tobias. ‘Hey, it’s me, your favourite brother, and a drunken English guest!’

  ‘I am not drunk!’ Brooke t
ried to protest but failed, leaning against the doorway of the hotel entrance, grateful for its support.

  Jason smiled and with no effort at all, scooped her up in his arms.

  ‘I think I had better take you to bed!’ he winked at her.

  ‘Put. Her. Down.’ Tobias’s voice was steely.

  ‘We were only joking around,’ Brooke pouted, stung by the sharpness in his words. ‘I thought he was you – I saw him in the street and—’

  ‘I said put her down.’

  Jason lowered Brooke to her feet, the mood in the room now decidedly less playful.

  ‘Jason, in my office. Now.’ Tobias’s gaze was focussed solely on his brother.

  Brooke left them to it and headed up to the cool sanctuary of her room, straining slightly to hear what was being said downstairs. The voices were terse. There was obviously quite some history there, certainly nothing she should get involved with. She turned away from the door and noticed a note on her pillow.

  You are invited to a fairy-tale castle…

  Brooke was intrigued; she opened the envelope – apparently she needed to be ready to leave at seven that evening. That’s all it said, other than an elegant signature. Tobias. Brooke couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t even know him but so far he had been a brilliant host, if sometimes a little short.

  Brooke spent the rest of the afternoon deciding what to wear. What’s appropriate attire for a fairy-tale castle? Eventually she picked out a pale blue dress; it was made from a silky, floaty fabric and Brooke felt feminine and pretty when she looked back at herself in the mirror. It wasn’t quite on a par with a Disney-esque gown, but it would do.

  She was just about to leave her room when her phone buzzed. It was Kim, again.

  Feet are killing. Had to buy new shoes.