“Do you know what Paul does for a living, Dad?,” asked Sonya, as she tried to help Evan with a spoonful of his spaghetti, as the child wasn’t being very successful.
“I’m not sure, we’ve only talked about what I do for a living, but whatever it is he must be making a lot of money.”
“I think I’ll just have cheese and biscuits after my salad,” said Kate, “ or I’ll not fit into anything that I’ve brought with me. By the way, have we got any plans for the rest of the day?”
“I think Evan’s tired after being in the Kid’s club. What say we put him in the push chair and have a walk down to the sea front?”, asked Greg. “He’ll probably fall asleep on the way.”
“Then this evening?”
“ Well, after Evan has been to the Mini disco, this evening is your own, Ladies. Though I’ll want you back by half past twelve, Kate. I can watch some T.V while Evan’s asleep.”
“And what about me, Dad, what time do you want me back?” asked Sonya mischievously.
“The same as your mother,” Greg said sternly. “Half past twelve is late enough.”
***
“Well, that was really nice of you both to stand me a facial,” said Jean to Doreen and Milly, as they made their way along to the Quiet bar, after Jean had spent thirty minutes having her face massaged with wonderful smelling lotions and Doreen had been given a manicure. “What did you do, Milly, while we were in there?”
“I went back to the shop and got some more postcards. I’ve already written a couple while you were being ministrated to. And I’ve had a couple of drinks while I was writing them.”
“Oh, you alky you,” said Doreen. “Well, we’ve got to be quick, Jean, to catch up with her. Did you bring our postcards in your handbag, we could do with catching her up on them too?”
“I just want to say before we go into the bar, girls,” said Jean self consciously, as they stood at the door. “ I’m right chuffed with your birthday present and my skin feels lovely after it.”
“It’s not your birthday yet, though,” said Doreen, going all mysterious on her.
***
Greg pushed Evan along in the push chair, looking over at the view of the sea and though it was still an overcast day, he could see the sun trying hard to push through the clouds far out above the horizon. Sonya had given her son a bottle of milk and his blanket to settle down with. Although Evan considered himself a big boy now, he still liked a little cosseting now and again.
Mother and daughter walked behind, still dressed in a leisurely fashion, but with their all weather jackets around their shoulders, in case a cold wind began to blow.
“I saw that waiter looking at you again in the dining room,” said Kate quietly.
“Which one?” asked Sonya airily, as she looked over a hedge at some apartments they were passing.
“The one called, Juan.”
“Oh, him,” said Sonya. “I thought you were going to say the handsome one called, Miguel.”
“They’re both handsome,” insisted Kate. “A lot handsomer than some of the lads you’ve been out with recently.”
“That is true,” Sonya agreed, grinning at her mother.“Anyway are you applying for the position of my pimp, Mother?”
“Hey up!,” shouted a male voice, coming from somewhere a good few yards behind them. The two women turned around in surprise, but Greg who had recognized the voice began to push Evan along more quickly. When he reached a corner, he disappeared from view, leaving Kate and Sonya wondering whether to go after him, or wait for Paul and his family. They decided on the latter. Greg would wait somewhere for them, they thought confidently.
“We thought it was you,” said Paul as he, Cheryl and the children caught them up. “Where are you off to? Cheryl was just looking in the shop for some duty free perfume. We didn’t know whether to buy it on the ‘plane when we we’re going back.”
“And is it cheaper here?”, asked Kate.
“It’s very similar in price,” Cheryl replied.
“So where are you off too?” Paul asked again.
“Oh, we’re only having a wander around, trying to get our bearings,” said Kate.
“Where’s Evan?,” asked Jack.
“I think his granddad has taken him for a walk,” answered Sonya. “He was tired and he’s having a little nap.”
“Jack doesn’t have a sleep in the afternoon anymore,” said Annabelle, “ and he’s four now so we’ve got rid of the push chair.”
“It’s a pity Greg has gone ahead,” said Paul. “When I was out for a run this morning, I passed some trampolines on the beach. All three kids could have played together. Never mind, we’ll catch you later. See you at dinner then.”
They all walked together as far as the road junction, then the Coopers carried on and the two women turned left to see where Greg had gone. He was hiding in the entrance of another hotel a little further on, with Evan fast asleep in the push chair.
***
“Are yer coming over with me ter play boules, Mavis?”, asked Fred, after they had eaten their lunch and were sitting in the foyer on a sofa, letting their food digest.
“I don’t think I want to,” answered his wife. “If you give me some money I can go and get some postcards and write them while you’re playing. I really want to get our Valerie’s off to Australia, it’ll take weeks to get there.”
“Here,” he said, shoving a thousand peseta note in her direction. “Get two postcards, one for our Valerie and one for Lillian. The others can whistle and while yer there, get me a newspaper. And don’t forget I want t’change when I get back again,” he said, as he ambled out of the door.
***
“I think I had better go and get behind the rep’s desk,” said Lucy, after the two girls had eaten their lunch and were finishing off their coffees at the pool bar. “Are you feeling more relaxed, now that Kath has taken Simon to the airport?”
“Of course I am, Lucy. I don’t know how to thank you, Kath and the owner for all your kindness. If Simon hadn’t kicked off again, I could have been at the airport with him.” She shivered at the thought, then realized she was still wearing Lucy’s cardigan.
“I hope you don’t mind if I ask you another favour, Lucy, but what happened to Simon’s key?”
“Oh, the security guard probably handed it back to Reception. Why, are you cold, do you want to go back to your room?”
“I’m still wearing your cardigan, Lucy. I thought I would go back and change out of this dress, put something on a little warmer.”
“Well, when you’ve got changed you can come back to see me at the rep’s desk. There’s a couple of sofas there and if you fancy a read, I’ve a box with books in that people donate at the end of their holidays.”
“Oh, that’s nice of them, yes I’ll do that. I’ll bring back your cardi’ too, but unfortunately I’m not able to wash it for you.”
“Don’t worry about that, I’ve some hand wash liquid in my apartment. I can wash it on my day off with the rest of my stuff.”
***
“Come on, Milly, give us another song,” said Doreen, as the three women sat in the Quiet bar, after another round of drinks that the waiter had served them.
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey,” Milly sang.
“Oh, this is grand,” said Jean interrupting, who was on her third gin and tonic. A drink she had never had before.
“Somewhere over the rainbow,” she started singing. “No Jean, Milly’s singing,” said Doreen, slurring her words. “We’re practicing for Karaoke on Friday night.”
“Are we doing Karaoke?” asked Jean. “I’ve never been to a Karaoke before. Is that where you get up and sing with a microphone?”
“Yes, it is,” said Milly. “Now shut up and let me practice or I’ll never get it right.”
“Senora, Senoras,” said Juan, who was now working behind this bar, having finished his work in the dining room. “This is the Quiet bar. Peopl
e come here to enjoy the peace and tranquility, Karaoke is in the Sunlight Bar on Friday night.”
“Are you telling us to shut our mouths or leave this bar, young man?” asked Doreen, leering up into his face.
“No, Senora. How could I want your beauty out of my sight? You are like the English rose that I have in my garden.” Doreen laughed and looked around at the expectant faces of the other guests, who had been waiting for a row to break out.
“You little smoothie you. O.K, we’ll be quiet, if you get us another round of drinks.”
***
Jenni walked along the corridor of the second floor, musing to herself that she might have been on a plane by now. Instead, she was having another six days in this lovely hotel with a room to herself, without having to share it with her highly sexed boyfriend. Next week would take care of itself. She would telephone her dad to collect her from the airport at Manchester, then Simon wouldn’t have the opportunity to make a show of her.
She let herself in with the key she had picked up at Reception and was horrified when she saw the state of the room. Her clothes were strewn everywhere. Some were on the floor, some on the bed, some were hanging askew in the open wardrobe. The drawers that she had put her underwear in neatly, had been pulled out and emptied. And when she glanced in the bathroom, she found that all her toiletries had gone. The cosmetic bag that she had her makeup in was missing, along with her toothbrush, toothpaste, her shower gel and hair products and her favourite almond scented soap.
Jenni sat on the edge of the bath and started to cry. The tears she had only shed lightly before came streaming down her face, as she let her pent up emotion come to the fore. The bastard, the evil bastard, had paid her back for not going back to England with him. He knew she had no money and taking her things would cause her a lot of suffering.
She let herself cry, until there was nothing left for her to cry with. Though under all her pain there was an anger that he could treat her so. She wiped her face with a towel, then rinsed it with a little cold water, until the redness and puffiness had subsided. Then she set to work to bring some order to the very untidy room.
Chapter Six.
Jenni came down the steps to the foyer, then walked along the corridor to where Lucy was busy attending to the people who wanted to book an excursion or two.
She went over to sit on one of the blue upholstered sofas and stared up at a poster that was advertising Aqualand. It was a happy picture of excited children riding on an aqua slide, with a group of youngsters watching dolphins swimming in the Dolphinarium.
She wouldn’t be able to go on any of the excursions now, she thought wistfully. Not that Simon had been keen on doing any outdoor activities, he had only been interested in the ones confined to their bedroom. If only she had brought some money with her, but he had said she didn’t need to. He had plenty and he had been to the bank and got some pesetas.
That was it! she thought suddenly. Her father! He had a bank account, perhaps he would send her some money from England? Though by the time he had sent it, she would be on her way home, unless Lucy would lend her some and she could pay it back to her?
She sat for a while, feeling hesitant about asking the older girl for money. It wasn’t as if Lucy was a friend, she had just been doing her job as the rep’ for Periquito. Still nothing ventured, nothing gained was the advice her granny used to give her. Lucy could always say “ no” if she wanted to.
Jenni waited until the queue dwindled and Lucy glanced over her way and gave her a smile. “All right, Jenni?”, Lucy asked, after she had put some currency into a metal box and locked it with a key. “I’ll just take this to reception for safe keeping, then we can have a little chat.”
***
“I enjoyed that walk,” Cheryl said to Paul, as they came into the foyer with the children. “ Wasn’t it nice for Annabelle that she met up with the little girl from Kid’s club? Annabelle told me that they’re same age and they’ve arranged to go dancing together at the Mini disco, because she said the girl, her name’s Emily by the way, knows how to do the dance steps.”
“Yes, I heard them chatting, when they were taking a rest from the trampoline. You saw me talking to the father?”, Paul asked, as he tried to grab Jack who wanted to go dipping his fingers in the fountain again.” “Got yer,” he said, lifting Jack up into his arms in an effort to distract him.
“Emily’s father was saying that they’re only here for a week, because he has to go back for some meeting or other. It seems he’s been nominated to become a candidate for that U.K.I.P party that I’ve been hearing about in the newspaper. I asked him why he wanted to get involved in politics, as it seems a thankless task? It seems he was always writing letters to various politicians over things that got him mad, with usually no reply and then he heard about this new party. So, he’s joined them and he’s up for nomination.”
“I’ve never heard of U.K.I.P,” said Cheryl. “I wonder what they’re all about?”
“I don’t know, but I might have a chat with him over the next few days and sound the fellow out. I quite fancy myself as a politician.”
“Get away with you, Paul Cooper, stick to what you know something about.”
Paul laughed and they moved away to feel if the sun was warm enough to sit on the patio. It had suddenly appeared, as they were walking back from the sea front.
***
“Is Evan still asleep, Dad?, asked Sonya, after she had knocked on her parent’s door to see what her son was up to. The room was in darkness and she could just make out Evan’s form as he lay on top of the truckle bed. Her father nodded. “Your mother and I are going to have a nap as well, poor little chap is tuckered out with getting up so early yesterday.”
“I’ll go and lie on my bed then. Let me know when he wakes up and then I’ll give him a shower before dinner.”
“No, I’ll do that,” whispered Greg. “He’s my responsibility today. Let him stay with us while you have some time to yourself.”
“O.K, thanks Dad, I’ll see you later.”
Sonya wandered back to her bedroom and tidied up a bit. Although the maid had made the beds, she hadn’t done more than straighten up and Sonya had left the room in a bit of a mess. She got under the top cover to relax for a while, letting her thoughts wander to the waiter, who had been looking at her each time she was in the dining room.
He wasn’t bad looking in a flashy Spanish kind of way. She liked the way he had grown his very black hair, to just below his collar; the way his dark eyes shone with mischief when he passed her by. His height was good as well, as she usually attracted men who were shorter than her five feet eight inches and his body, well, she wondered if he worked out in a gym? Anyway, a little sleep would do her good, she thought, as she closed her eyes. It was her night off from Evan and she aimed to hit the dance floor later.
***
Fred and Mavis sat on the sun loungers by the pool bar, as the sun had finally decided to come out and lift some of the guest’s spirits. It certainly had lifted Fred’s, who had taken his light weight jacket off and was sitting basking in his short sleeved shirt, drinking beer out of a paper cup.
Mavis had finished writing her postcards and after purchasing two stamps from Reception had popped them into the yellow post box.
“I still think you should have let me buy a postcard for George and Ethel,” grumbled Mavis. “They’ll expect one and I won’t half get it in the neck if one doesn’t turn up on their doorstep.”
“Oh, tell ‘em that it must have got lost in the post,” Fred replied, jingling the pesetas she had given him in his trouser pocket. “ We’ll be seeing them this time next week, anyroad.”
“I wonder why that bloke is sitting with that couple over there?”, asked Mavis. “ He’s the owner you know. I was watching him while you’d gone playing boules? He were dashing about all over the place, giving someone rice on Reception, talking on one of them mobilly things every few minutes.
It’s that fella, who was
kicking off when we came off the coach yesterday, he’s talking with.”
***
“Senor Cooper”, said Mr Sanchez, as he came over to Paul and Cheryl, as they sat at one of the tables at the pool bar, drinking white wine. He held his hand out courteously for Paul to shake, as he scrambled to his feet in surprise.
“I got my receptionist to point you out, when I saw you and your charming wife coming through the foyer. Where are the children? Oh, I’m Ralf Sanchez, by the way. May I ?”
The owner of the hotel sat next to Cheryl and after Paul had got his voice back, after being struck dumb that the owner had sought them out, he replied that the children were playing in the kid’s park and it was very nice to meet him.
“Call me Ralf and you are?”
“I’m Paul and this is Cheryl. Our children are Jack and Annabelle.”
“Good, good. So, Paul, how are you liking my private quarters? Very exclusive, don’t you think?”
“Yes,” replied Paul. “We’re very privileged to be able to stay in them, thank you.”
“I allow them to be used by the more discerning guest. Tell me Paul, what do you do for a living?”
“I’m a sales executive for a Ford dealership.”
“And your wife?,” he said, looking at Cheryl in appreciation.
“Oh, no, Cheryl doesn’t work for a living. She’s a homemaker and does a very good job of it too.”
“Si, I agree with that too, Paul. My wife doesn’t work, she is too busy looking after our three children. So, what do you think of my hotel? Nice, eh?”
“Very nice,” said Paul, feeling brave now he had drained his paper cup of wine and was about to ask Cheryl to get another. “I think you have one or two petty regulations that are not necessary.”
“We have? Tell me about them.” Mr. Sanchez turned to the young waitress that was serving behind the counter of the bar. “Let me get some drinks first before you tell me. Rachael, (which he pronounced Rac-kel), two more white wine and a cup of black coffee, please.”
“Now Paul, tell me,” he said, beginning to sip the liquid as he listened. Cheryl was squirming in her seat, her husband could be quite bullish at times over mediocre things.
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