Tilting her head upwards, Tanya watched Serge wake, and greeted him with a morning kiss. “Morning, my love.”
“Good morning.”
“You don’t snore in your sleep. Well, most of the time, anyway.”
“You snore like my old dog.”
“Hey.”
Being a Sunday the pair stayed in bed. The sun shone through the pink curtain and slowly the room began to heat. Sitting in bed, Tanya cupped Serge’s hand. “Beatrice said we can redecorate the room.”
“Great, more work.”
“It would be good to make it our own.”
“You’re right though, It’s a bit strange looking at pictures of her daughters when I go to sleep. Find myself dreaming about them.”
“You better not.”
“Don’t worry they’re not always naked.”
“Get lost.” Tanya slapped his chest. Her thoughts returned to the decorating. “We don’t need any furniture, just some paint and a few pictures of our own.”
Tanya could see that Serge had closed his eyes and existed on the thin line between sleep and the real world. Glancing about the room from the bed, Tanya started planning. “I think we should go shopping.”
Tanya paced down the aisle of the hardware shop. Her flat shoes squeaked on the linoleum floor as she stopped in front of rows upon rows of tinned paint. From paint tin to paint tin, her eyes analysed each colour. “What do you think, Serge?”
“I like the maroon.”
“No. Reminds me too much of one of Vlad’s porn sets.”
Serge yawned as he rested his elbow on the handle of the trolley. “I’m not sure, then. You pick.”
“You want ivory?”
“Yeah, I’ll roll with that.”
“Don’t you think it’s a bit cold for a bedroom?”
“What about baby blue?”
Tanya smiled and giggled at Serge. “I’m saving blue for when we have our little boy.”
“Oh…. OK.”
At the checkout, Tanya couldn’t help but notice Serge’s silence. After handing over the money, she hooked Serge’s arm and walked out of the store. “About the boy, you know. I’m in no rush. It was a joke, more than anything.”
“That’s good.”
“But it would be good …. One day, I mean.”
“Yes, one day it would be.”
Tanya rubbed Serge’s arm. “You seem annoyed.”
“I’m not.”
“You are, I can tell.”
“Look, there are a quite a few things we have to sort out before we can even think about kids, OK?.” Serge opened the door of the Land Rover. “Plus, we’ve only been together five bloody minutes.”
“Hey, I know.” Tanya climbed into vehicle and placed the bag of shopping at her feet. “I might have gotten a little bit excited before. But it’s just a sign that I’m happy. No need to spit your dummy out. All right? Fucking hell Serge, I’m sure you’re going through menopause.”
“Sorry…. I just wish things were easier. You know?
“I know that. We’re both going through it together though, aren’t we?”
“Life would be great if things were straight forward.”
Tanya rubbed Serge’s thigh. “Kiss me.” She smiled as he placed his lips on her cheek.
“I’m sorry. Let’s get back, shall we?”
Stuck on a narrow country lane, the Land Rover barely moved as it followed a farmer herding his sheep. Tanya watched the sheep chewing the hedgerows before being chased by a snapping sheep dog. She still felt she needed some answers from Serge. “One last thing about our little conversation before, Serge.”
“Go on.”
“How long do you think it will be before we can think about settling down?”
Serge dropped the Land Rover into first gear. “I couldn’t really answer that.”
“OK, I’ll rephrase it. How long will it be before we can forget about Vlad?”
“I’m not sure we can forget about him.”
“We can’t let him ruin the rest of our lives.”
Serge rubbed a hand down his face. “We can’t, and we won’t.”
“But don’t you want a place to call our own? One day have a family?”
Serge watched the farmer eventually moving his herd through a gate. “Of course I do. But what’s all this about, Tanya?”
“I’m just happy, Serge. But I don’t want anyone to take that away.” Tanya smiled as Serge placed a hand on her thigh. She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “You mean the world to me.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The sun broke through the grey clouds and warmed Beatrice’s back as she knelt on a plastic mat in the vegetable garden. The sound of footsteps caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder while continuing to turn the soil with her garden fork. “Bruce?”
“Yeah it’s me.” Bruce opened the small wooden gate and stepped into the vegetable garden.
“Is Serge with you?”
“No, the pair has gone to the village.”
“I wish one of them told me, I would have given him a small shopping list.”
“They seemed in a little rush to get out. I think Tanya is in need of a pregnancy test.”
Beatrice chuckled away as she continued to twist the fork in the black soil. “Shouldn’t be saying such things.”
“What did you want me for?”
“Well, I was thinking.” Beatrice stabbed the fork into the soil and wiped her brow. “He’s forty next week.”
“Aye, daft bugger is really down about it.”
“I know, poor thing. Anyway, after talking to the girls on the computer….”
“Internet, it’s the internet, Beatrice.”
“Whatever it’s called. Well, I was looking up some deals for a little getaway for Serge and Tanya.”
Bruce stooped down and picked up a potato from the basket. He picked at a black eye with his finger nail. “I turned seventy and all I got was a bloody cake.”
“It’s not a competition, Bruce.”
“I know, I’m much better looking.”
Beatrice dismissed Bruce’s comment with a shake of her head. “I would go away with you, but we can’t leave the farm. Not unless you were willing to pay someone to tend to the livestock while we’re gone.”
“I know , I know.”
“Anyway, what you mean, I only made you a cake?”
“I can’t remember opening any bloody presents.”
Beatrice stabbed the fork into the soil. She turned and waved her mud covered finger at Bruce. “Do you think that bottle of Dalmore just magically appeared? Cheeky sod.”
“Aye, forgot about that.” Bruce put his hands in the pockets of his body warmer. He glanced up at the sky as the clouds covered the sun. “So, what’s the price of this … getaway?”
“It’s a steal. Ninety nine pounds for two nights.”
“Christ, I’ll put a tent out in the field for a fiver.”
“Come on, Bruce. It’s half price.”
“For my fortieth I think we went for a bed and breakfast in bloody Scarborough. Not even any hot water to have a nice bath.”
“Enough, Bruce.”
“OK. OK.” Bruce gazed towards the barn. “I was going to let him have a half day tomorrow, but I think that muck spreader needs a good cleaning.”
The shadowy kitchen flickered in the candlelight. A huge chocolate cake sat in the middle of the kitchen table. Serge sucked air into his lungs and expelled it with all his gusto. The candles fluttered before being totally extinguished by the rushing air. He smiled and laughed as he sat through a chorus of happy birthday. Scratching his head, Serge tried to think back to the last time he sat through such a song.
Tanya stooped down and kissed Serge’s cheek. “Happy eighteenth, Lover boy.”
“I wish, Tanya, I wish.”
Slapping Serge on his back, Bruce stared lovingly at the cake and licked his lips. “Happy Birthday, Son.”
“Thanks, Bruce.”
Beatrice smiled and struggled to contain her excitement as she handed over a card. She clasped her hands together and watched Serge open the letter. “Happy birthday, Serge.”
“Bloody fantastic.”
“Oh I hope you both have a fantastic time.”
“Of course we will.”
Tanya took the paper from inside the birthday card. She screamed with excitement and jumped up and down. “Oh, I can’t wait for two days of pampering in a hotel.”
Bruce couldn’t wait any longer and began slicing the cake. “I don’t care if the doctor tells me I have to watch my cholesterol, I’m having some of that cake.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Scaffolding lined the four walls of the drawing room. White sheets made ghostly silhouettes of the furniture. Julia stormed along the floorboards as a heel of her red shoe got caught in a protective sheet and sent her crashing to her knees. “Malcolm!” She glared at Malcolm with ferocious eyes.
“Christ, are you OK?”
“This bloody hotel is going to be the death of us both.”
“Don’t say that.”
Julia snapped as Malcolm helped her to her feet. “I will say what I want.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Two things.”
“OK.”
Julia pushed Malcolm in his chest. “First, the internet has gone down because we haven’t paid them.”
“I’ll get on it.”
“Also, I have just been to see the bank manager, you know, the one you’re scared of.”
Malcolm ran his fingers through his hair. “I told you not to go until the end of the month.”
“That was last month. It’s the fucking third today.”
“Oh.”
Julia held her hand to her face “We’re facing bankruptcy, Malcolm.” She pushed Malcolm’s hand away as he tried to comfort her. “When will you wake up to the reality of the situation? Your money has gone.”
“We need to get to May, Once the tourists come, we’ll be fine. The bank knows that.”
”The bills just keep coming, Malcolm.” Julia leant against a sheet covered bureau. “The renovation never ends. This place is a fucking money pit.”
“I know it is.”
“We need a miracle.”
“I know.” Malcolm chewed his finger nail as she paced the floor. “Right, I’ll go down to the lobby and sort things out at reception, it’s going to be carnage down there with no net.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tanya held Serge’s hand as they walked down the coastal street. The large granite buildings towered above them and cast long shadows over the historic fishing port of Aberdeen. Seagulls glided on a coastal gale, their hungry eyes waiting for the trawlers to unload their catches of North Sea cod.
Inside the cavernous white marble hotel lobby, a large queue waited at the reception desk. Serge noticed a sign for the gents and glanced at Tanya. “While you book in, you mind if….”
“No, go on.”
“Great.”
A member of staff walked the line and stopped at Tanya. “Waiting to check in, Madam?”
“Yes”
“Booked online?”
“I have.”
“Unfortunately we are experiencing some technical problems with the E-booking system.”
Tanya sighed and glanced away. “All right.”
Tanya sat on the leather couch while she waited for her complimentary drink. A young couple slumped on the couch in front of her. Tanya picked her teeth with her blood red nail as she waited for Serge to return.
“Just arrived?”
Tanya saw a fresh-faced young man. She pointed to herself. “You talking to me?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, I was in my own world. My partner and I just arrived this minute. You?”
“Please forgive us for the delay. We aren’t fully open yet as the restoration work in the East Wing is ongoing. I guess the builders cut the connection again.”
“Oh.”
“Apart from this, everything else works great. I’m Malcolm, the owner. This is my wife, Julia.”
Tanya thought him to be younger than herself. “The owner … you look like you left school yesterday!”
Malcolm glanced at his wife as he laughed. “I was fortunate to make my money young. I played tennis professionally for five years.” He sighed as he rubbed his knee. “Damaged my knee ligaments in the gym, which put an end to me living the dream.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, sport is full of such sob stories.”
“But, still sad though.”
“I picked myself and invested in this place, I married Julia and am now happier than ever.”
Tanya watched the couple hold hands. “Sound quite a positive character.”
“Sulking gets you nowhere.” Malcolm stroked the back of Julia’s neck. He glanced at Tanya. “Your name is?”
“I’m Tanya and my boyfriend is Serge.”
Julia smiled at Tanya as she rubbed Malcolm’s thigh. “Where have you come from, how long are you staying?”
“Just the two nights. I’m from London.” Tanya covered her mouth as she yawned. “Well, we’re living north of Perth at the moment.”
“Oh, so you could call yourself an expat?”
“Guess so, I do feel as though I’m in foreign surroundings.”
Seemingly interested in his new acquaintance, Malcolm moved to the edge of his seat. “London to Perth, that’s quite a change of scenery. What do you do for a living?”
“Model … well, I used to.”
“Easy to believe.” Malcolm winced as Julia pinched his thigh.
“Now I actually help my boyfriend farm.”
Julia’s smile lacked substance. “Good for you, Tanya.”
“Thanks.”
“Doing something with a bit more soul than modelling.”
Serge walked out of the toilet. He sighed once he spotted Tanya and the couple conversing. He stepped up to couch and sat by Tanya’s. He put his arm around and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Checked in?”
“There’s a problem with the booking system.”
Malcolm leaned over the coffee table to shake Serge’s hand. “Serge, I’m Malcolm Monrose, the owner of the hotel.”
“Hi.”
“Sorry for the delay today, it’s caused by the ongoing work. It’s still our off season. We’re desperately getting ready for May.”
“Don’t worry, I think it’s a lovely place.”
Julia smiled at Serge. “Your lovely girlfriend told me that you’re a farmer.”
“Did she?”
“You must be quite a novelty in your community.”
“I don’t follow.”
“The accent. Clearly not a native of Perth.”
“No … No I’m not.”
A receptionist declared the booking system was up and running, causing Serge to jump from his seat like a scalded cat. “Please excuse us, we really need to get into our room.”
Julia watched Tanya and Serge walked towards the reception. She turned to face Malcolm. “I’m sure I recognise her, you know?”
“Really? I’m not sure if I do.”
“I wonder from where?”
“They say the harder you think, the further away you get.”
Julia watched as Tanya stood behind Serge at the counter. “I won’t be able to rest until I find out where she is from.”
“Don’t stress about it.” Malcolm sniggered as he put his arm around Julia. “She’s not an ex of mine.”
“I’m not bothered if she is. Just stop looking at her arse.”
“I’m not.” Malcolm rubbed his arm after being elbowed by his wife. “OK.”
“I know what you’re doing even before you know yourself.”
“He isn’t as friendly as she is.”
Julia folded her arms as she stared at the Serge. “I know, he’s quite abrupt really. I think she’s in for an earful when the
y get back.”
“Why? Do you think we’ve caused her some trouble?”
“I can smell a story.”
“Don’t you think he is a farmer, then?”
Julia threw herself back into leather couch. “I thought it was bloody obvious.”
“Really?”
“Why would she be with a man twice her age, if he’s just a farmer? Secondly how many Russian famers do you know who farm in Scotland.”
“Even if he is a business man with an escort? You know that won’t sell copy, though. It happens all the time.”
“I know.” Julia scratched her chin. “But he’s more than that”
“You think he is an oil baron?”
“He’s got something to hide, that’s for sure. And I think it’s more than just a dirty weekend.”
Malcolm sniggered to himself. “You can tell you want to be an investigative journalist.”
“I think we need to bump into those two again.”
Chapter Thirty
Tanya swiped the card and the door unlocked. Excited, she burst through the open door and flung herself down onto the bed, then glanced about the plush room. “The place is amazing.”
Dropping the case on floor, Serge collapsed at her side. “God, I could sleep for a week.”
Tanya rolled on top of Serge, pressing her lips against his. “I’m so excited.” She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. “Love you.” With a smile on her face, she whispered, “I don’t know where to start.”
“A blow job is never a bad way to begin.”
“I was thinking about a swim. Could relax in the sauna afterwards.”
“What about holiday sex?”
“I prefer the term lovemaking.”
“Ok, lovemaking then?”
Tanya rolled off Serge and lay at his side.“Tonight, babe, tonight.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.” Tanya took hold of Serge’s hand. “Coming for a swim then?”
“Mind if I skip the swim, and meet you in the sauna in an hour?”
“You just want to get rid of me so you can sleep.”
Serge closed his eyes. “Bruce has really been getting his money’s worth. Think I paid for this trip just in overtime.”
“Mind if I go my own then?”
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