‘Thank God that is over,’ Thea said, going back to the seat where they’d started out. ‘I am so sweaty.’ She grabbed Tim’s shirt and used it to pat her face.
‘You’re getting a nice colour, though. Oh, of course, congratulations, Jimmy, Emily, that’s so wonderful.’ Carla’s eyes sparkled. Now Emily was engaged, hopefully she would leave Lee alone, although looking at them, she doubted it.
‘Thank you,’ Jimmy said, raising his glass.
‘To Emily and Jimmy,’ Tim toasted.
‘To the most beautiful girl in the world, thank you,’ Jimmy added.
‘Jimmy, you are so sweet,’ Carla said, glaring at Emily.
‘So, is this fake champagne?’ Tim added, laughing.
Emily and Lee said nothing.
*
‘So, it’s all finished?’ Anne-Marie asked as she, Ed and Lily sat in the office.
‘Yes. I’ll type up the interviews soon, but here’s a quick round-up.’ Lily could barely contain her excitement. ‘Jimmy proposed to Emily.’ She was triumphant. No matter that her money said the marriage would never go ahead, it was still a coup.
‘He proposed while you were interviewing them?’
‘Yes, and she said yes.’
‘How wonderful for our publicity. They were the only couple I liked, after all.’
‘Also, Tim surprised us. He was very articulate.’
‘What did he say?’ Anne-Marie was unconvinced.
‘That he needed beauty to exist, and he thought he was a bit like you. He said this place was inspiring to him.’ Lily resisted the urge to giggle about the comparison between Tim and Anne-Marie. They both liked a drink, they were both blonde...no, that was as far as she could go with that.
‘Do you think I misjudged him? I mean, he sounds so utterly sensible, a kindred spirit. Do you think I should give him another chance?’ Anne-Marie was almost hopping with excitement.
‘Perhaps,’ Lily lied. They were anything but what Anne-Marie thought they’d be, of that she was almost convinced. ‘Oh, Carla was quite articulate and romantic; Lee was a bit monosyllabic.’
‘As long as he didn’t mention the lack of talent.’
‘He certainly did not.’
‘Good. When you’ve finished, and we’ve reviewed the answers, I might invite them to dinner again; let them redeem themselves. Maybe I judged them too quickly.’
‘So, we’re not sending them home?’ Ed asked.
‘Don’t be silly. However, they did disrupt the resort, so I still want to keep an eye on them. Especially as we have the big magazine people flying in tomorrow to do the interview with Todd and Katie. So, tonight, Lily, you have to help Ed watch the competition winners and leave Todd and Katie.’
‘OK, boss.’ Lily was relieved. She was running out of ideas of how Todd seduced Katie, and how Katie responded. She would never make a writer.
‘Now, I shall go to the house. I need quiet to think about my novel.’
‘See you later,’ Lily said knowingly. Thinking about it was all Anne-Marie ever did.
‘And don’t disturb poor Abigail; she’s got another of her heads.’
Lily and Ed obediently shook their heads.
I don’t feel that we’ve been alone enough lately,’ Ed said, when his wife had gone.
‘Well, we are now. Lock the door.’ Lily began undoing her blouse.
‘When these guys are gone, I think we should just leave,’ Ed said, as he turned to her. ‘The last few days have been so busy, and I’ve missed you.’
‘Are you sure?’ Lily felt her excitement mounting. She couldn’t wait and neither her guilt nor anything else could stop her now.
‘In a couple of weeks we’ll be together.’
‘That soon?’
‘It’s not soon enough, my darling.’
*
‘Everything is fine, Harriet,’ Todd said. He reasoned that there weren’t many men who had calls from their publicist on their honeymoon to check their itinerary.
‘Are you sure?’ He knew she wasn’t concerned for their welfare, just for the Studio.
‘Yes, it’s fine.’ Todd looked at Katie and smiled. It was fine. Sort of.
‘So are you going to be OK to do the pictures and interview tomorrow? You have all the information?’
‘Of course.’
‘Good. Listen, the press is going mad over here, guessing where you are, and they might find you. Be careful, all right? I mean, too many people know where you are for us to be sure of your privacy.’
Todd thought of Marcus. ‘We are being careful,’ he replied.
‘Good.’ She hung up.
‘That was Harriet.’
‘I guessed that,’ said Katie. ‘Is everything OK?’
‘Yeah, she just wanted to check in with us about the magazine people.’
‘Did she say anything else?’
‘No, apart from our marriage has rocked America. Apparently the press is on the hunt for us.’
‘They don’t know we’re here yet?’
‘No, but they might find out.’ He paused. ‘Harriet said we should be careful.’
‘Todd, I’m not the one that needs to know that.’ She looked at him pointedly, as if to tell him that she knew exactly what he’d been up to.
‘I know,’ he answered, dejectedly. He made a decision. When the magazine people left tomorrow, he would tell Marcus he couldn’t see him again. Too much was at risk. His pleasure was something that he could ill afford, and it wasn’t fair on Katie.
He thought about her more and more as a person, and he even believed they could perhaps be friends. But he had to persuade her that they weren’t going to be together romantically, and he needed to earn her friendship, her trust. Which meant that Marcus, and anyone else for now, was history.
19
Make Yourself At Home!
At The Love Resort, your happiness is the only thing that matters to us. The resort becomes your home for the entire length of your stay and therefore we want you to feel that you can treat it as such.
We are here to serve you; the resort is here to be used for your pleasure. So relax, have fun, and if you need anything, Guest Services are at your disposal twenty-four hours a day.
Remember, our home is your home!
Guest Handbook
*
‘We’ve done our duty, by the interview, praising the resort and all that, so I think it’s only fair that as we did nothing last night, we have some fun tonight, especially as we have something to celebrate,’ Tim announced, as he got the barman to open another bottle of sparkling wine.
Thea tried to forget everything that she’d been thinking. She took a long swig of her drink and decided that there was no harm in trying to have fun. She deserved it. This wasn’t the time to confront Tim; she decided to make an effort. They would have time to sort everything out when they got home. But she didn’t want to think about that yet.
*
‘Emily, can we talk?’ Jimmy said when they were in their room, getting changed for dinner. He wanted to tell her that he knew they had a big problem; if he was being honest with himself he’d known it before he’d proposed, but he’d carried on regardless. At first he thought that it would solve all their problems, but then he knew he was doing it because he was jealous of Lee. He wanted Lee to know that she was his, and to stop looking at her in that way.
‘Jimmy, let’s just enjoy tonight. I think it’s best.’ Jimmy thought about saying something, but instead he went to shower. They would just have a good time; he’d worry about everything else later. He had to keep remembering that he was still on holiday and he would have a good time with his fiancée if it killed him. After all, why would she have agreed to marry him if she didn’t love him? Perhaps he was being paranoid.
*
‘What do you think about Emily and Jimmy?’ Carla asked Lee when they were getting dressed.
‘She didn’t look thrilled,’ he replied absently, as he concentrated really hard on
choosing a T-shirt.
Neither did you, Carla wanted to say, but she held her tongue. What was it with him and the country harlot? She decided to leave it. She knew that she had every right to be furious with Lee, and she was. But she would have plenty of time to confront him later. For now, she needed to turn his attention back to her. She stood in her bra and knickers in front of the wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear.
‘Hey, Carla, I think you’re the best. You know that, don’t you?’
She looked surprised at his unprovoked compliment. ‘Thank you,’ she replied but went back to the task in hand with the same sense of resolve.
*
‘Can you believe he asked her to marry him?’ Tim asked.
‘She’s gorgeous. Although I think he’s too good for her,’ Thea replied.
‘Yeah, he’s decent and she’s a princess. High maintenance, mark my words.’
‘Wow, Tim, you never fail to surprise me. How do you know about high-maintenance women?’
‘I read your Cosmopolitan. Anyway, Thea, I’m glad you’re not like that.’
‘Oh, great, Tim, you’re glad I’m easy.’
‘No, not easy. But not a demanding woman like Emily. Poor Jimmy will have a stroke or a heart attack if he marries her.’
‘Do you think you’re being a bit harsh?’
‘She’s quite good fun and I like her, but I wouldn’t want to marry her.’
‘Well, that’s one thing I can be glad about. Come on, let’s get to dinner.’
They met in the Coral Restaurant, and arranged a table on the terrace, overlooking the sea. Tim held court, basically because no one else seemed able to speak. Thea tried to think of something to say—Tim hated silence; it scared him—but the atmosphere was oppressive.
Emily picked at her food, while her low-cut green dress was drawing Lee’s eyes to her chest. Thea wanted to reach out and comfort Carla. She was so pretty; why was her boyfriend looking at Emily? She felt like taking a swing at him. Thea knew that the day had been trying, but events were now scaring her.
‘I know, we could play cleavage ball,’ Tim announced, before quickly flicking a pea at Thea’s cleavage. ‘Bullseye,’ he shouted, getting up from his chair, as Thea, giggling, wrestled it from her bra.
‘Tim,’ she chastised good-naturedly.
‘Well, if you girls will wear those low-cut things, what do you expect?’ Suddenly the atmosphere diffused and everyone laughed. Thea was grateful to Tim, and kissed his cheek.
After dinner they decided to go to the entertainment bar. For once, Anne-Marie wasn’t there to keep an eye on them, and Lily and Ed didn’t seem to be around either. The entertainment for that evening was a limbo show, and then couples’ limbo dancing. Tim, of course, led them, but Lee was hot on his heels as they drank more and more. They started with the resort cocktails, but soon moved on to shooters.
‘Six tequilas,’ Tim ordered.
‘Followed by six Lover cocktails,’ Lee shouted.
‘Oh God, I’m drunk,’ Jimmy slurred.
Thea was hot on his heels. Seeing the overweight couples trying to squeeze themselves under the bar was almost too much for her to bear. ‘Oh my God, if that woman gets under that bar, I’ll eat my hat.’
‘You don’t have a hat,’ Carla pointed out, as they saw the woman collapse on the floor.
‘They’ll need a crane to get her up again,’ Tim predicted.
‘That’s mean, Tim.’
‘But true.’
They all fell about laughing, until Tim decided that they should participate.
‘I can’t do that,’ Lee protested.
‘Oh, don’t be so boring. We’ll go first.’ Tim grabbed Thea’s hand and led her to the floor. They were quite good, until he fell over and pulled her on top of him. They both collapsed laughing, as the audience cheered them.
‘Sorry, Thea,’ he gasped breathlessly.
‘Don’t be. I don’t think we’re cut out for this. Oh God, Jimmy and Emily are up, look.’
Thea looked but she cringed as she did so. Poor Jimmy tried his best but was awful, which just made Emily angry. Thea and Tim laughed but it was clear that Emily wasn’t happy; Jimmy looked defeated.
‘Couldn’t you have tried harder?’ Emily hissed.
‘No, I couldn’t. It’s just a stupid game,’ Jimmy hissed back, surprising both Emily and Thea. Thea resisted the urge to cheer. Carla and Lee went last, but it was clear he wasn’t interested; he was less than half-hearted about the whole thing. Thea felt angry for Carla, who looked really embarrassed by the whole situation. She went over to her.
‘It’s just a dumb thing.’
‘A bit like my boyfriend,’ Carla replied.
Finally, they all agreed limbo dancing was stupid, and they went to the ‘Enchanting Evening’ bar, where the jukebox played and they were the only ones in there.
‘Those other guests were so competitive,’ Thea shrieked when they sat down. ‘And the prize was one of Anne-Marie’s bloody dresses, not even money or anything useful.’
‘But the dress was signed,’ Carla giggled.
‘I guess you could auction it on eBay,’ Jimmy mused.
‘Shit, why didn’t we think of that? I might have tried harder,’ Tim finished.
Only Lee and Emily remained silent.
Tim’s impressions of the couples, especially as he stuffed the sofa cushions up his shirt to emphasise the point, kept them amused for ages, and the drinks kept flowing.
‘You didn’t make any effort at all,’ said an American voice.
They looked up to see a couple walk into the bar. The woman was wearing a dress not dissimilar to Anne-Marie’s, floaty and pink, and the man was wearing a pair of slacks with a smart shirt tucked in.
‘Fresh blood,’ Tim said before going over to where they sat. ‘Hello, may I introduce myself? My name is Timothy; I am from Great Britain,’ he enunciated.
‘Hi. Patricia.’ The American woman held out her arm. Tim took her hand and kissed it. Her husband looked surprised.
‘Charmed, I’m sure.’
‘Oh my God, he’s priceless,’ Carla whispered to Thea, giggling.
‘He bloody well is,’ she replied, shaking her head.
‘My husband is called Anthony,’ the woman continued.
‘Nice to meet you, old chap. I say, why don’t you come and join us?’
‘We’re fine,’ Anthony growled.
‘We would love to,’ Patricia answered, glaring at him. They stood up and went to join the others.
‘I would like to introduce you to Patricia and Anthony. This is Thea, my beloved, that’s Jimmy, Emily, Lee and Carla.’ Tim sat down and summoned the barman over.
‘Where are you from?’ Thea asked politely.
‘California, where the sun always shines,’ Patricia replied.
‘If you can ever see it,’ her husband snapped.
As the drinks arrived, the atmosphere dropped. Lee kept looking at Emily. Jimmy was staring at his drink. Thea engaged Carla in conversation, and Tim started working his ‘British’ charm on Patricia.
‘Of course, being British is wonderful.’
‘I just love your accent.’
‘Oh, thank you. Well, I am rather well educated. Eton, just like the princes.’
‘Do you know them?’ Her eyes were like saucers.
‘Oh, my dear, no, I was at school a while before them, but I have met the Queen on quite a few occasions.’ Thea choked on her drink.
‘You have? What’s she like?’
‘Really rather tiny, actually. But I never miss one of her garden parties.’
Anthony looked at Tim as if he was going to kill him, but instead he stood up. ‘I’ve had enough of this resort for one night, or for a lifetime. I’m going to bed.’ He looked daggers at Tim and at his wife.
‘Well, you go on. I’m staying here with these charming English people.’
Anthony scowled at her and left.
‘Thea, let’s go choos
e some songs,’ Carla said. They went to the jukebox.
‘What the fuck is he doing?’ Thea asked.
‘Who? Tim?’
‘Yes, all that rubbish about knowing the queen, and that accent. It’s not even close to Hugh Grant’s.’
‘He’s funny, though.’ Carla looked confused.
‘Fucking hysterical. Anyway, we’ve got a choice between Mariah Carey and Elton John.’
‘Elton. Someone should take the song choices here in hand.’
‘Are you going to tell Anne-Marie?’
‘No, but I might send her a postcard.’
When they returned to the table, more drinks had arrived. Jimmy hadn’t touched his; Emily was downing hers, as was Lee. The awkwardness in the atmosphere was evident, but Patricia and Tim were in a world of their own.
‘If you ever visit England, I will personally introduce you to the Queen.’
‘You could do that?’
‘Oh, yes, quite sure. She’d love you.’
Thea looked at him and snapped. ‘Tim, I need to go to bed,’ she declared. Patricia looked mortified.
‘I’ll follow you later,’ Patricia looked relieved.
‘But I don’t want to go alone,’ she replied. He whispered something to Patricia and stood up.
‘Listen, Thea,’ he said as soon as they were outside, ‘I’m not ready to go to bed yet and I’m not really happy with you insisting on babysitting me.’
‘Oh, really? But you’re happy enough at home when I make sure the rent and the bills are paid, and when I feed you and work my sodding socks off to ensure you don’t have to.’ She felt unusually satisfied for speaking her mind.
‘I never ask you to do anything for me; you’re the one that insists on it all the time. Thea, you are always suffocating me,’ Tim shouted.
Thea recoiled in shock, turned on her heels and stormed off in tears. She found herself, ironically, on the love seat they’d been photographed on earlier. Then she sobbed her heart out.
‘Where’s Thea gone?’ Carla asked suspiciously.
‘To bed. She’s tired. I’m not. Simple.’ Tim’s good nature seemed to have left him. He was angry.
‘Is she all right?’ Carla asked.
‘She’s fine. Will you leave it?’ Tim snapped.
Jimmy and Carla exchanged a glance.
The Love Resort Page 18