Lucy felt nervous after she and Kath had eaten lunch together and her supervisor decided to go back to the office.
“I’m not really needed here now,” she said stiffly. “If you could cover the rep’s desk until the visitors arrive, I would be most obliged.”
The heads of the German travel company were being picked up by taxi at the airport and providing the ‘plane was on time, they should arrive at the Valia by half past three.
Just an hour, Lucy thought, as she quickly dashed back to her apartment to change her blouse, then realized she’d have to do more washing as this was her last clean one. She brushed her hair and pinned it up into a gold coloured banana clip, brushed her teeth, washed her face and applied new makeup to it. Just a dab of her favourite perfume, Chanel No 5, then she dashed back through the foyer to await the owner’s call.
The swap box was a mess, so she put the books in order, flicking through the pages to check which ones she’d read. There were magazines for straightening in the rack, her folder of excursions checked, the wall shelf with the tourist leaflets. Anything until the Sanchez summons to keep the Germans’ visit off her mind.
The Walsh’s arrived, Norman and Betty, to check if they could go on the Mount Teide trip. Ten minutes passed, as they briefly told Lucy of the reason for the wheelchair, then decided to go to the sea front as it had cooled down a bit.
***
Uwe Shroeder climbed out of the taxi with his colleague, Heiko Rennsburger. Both men were hot and sticky from their travels and looked forward to a cooling shower in their bedroom.
“Such a difference,” he said in his native language to Heiko, after he had asked the driver for a business receipt and picked up his luggage. “I cannot believe that only five hours ago we were battling through the snow to get to the airport.”
“Me too, Uwe, though even if we do not do business with this Herr Sanchez, we can at least go home with a sun tan.”
“I hope we do,” said Uwe, “ I think that if we can find a small hotel such as this one, our customers will welcome it. Many people do not like the high rise hotel.”
“I wonder what our guide will be like and this Ralf Sanchez,” said Heiko, beginning to walk into the foyer.
“Probably the woman is ugly with a mole on her chin and Sanchez will be a hard headed business man.”
“Herr Shroeder and Herr Rennsburger,” said Uwe, as they were greeted by Isabelle.
“Guten Tag,” said the girl in reply, as she recognized the man had a German accent, “I will telephone through to Senor Sanchez and let him know of your arrival.”
“Good looking girl,” said Uwe quietly, as he appraised Isabelle’s warm brown eyes, long dark curly
hair and attractive mouth. “I wonder if she will be our guide on Tenerife?”
“Herr Shroeder, Herr Rennsburger, it is good we meet at last. So many ‘phone calls.”
Ralf hurried over to shake hands with his arrivals. “Did you have a good journey, it is probably warmer here than in Germany?”
“Ja, that is true,” said Uwe, who was usually the spokesman of the two colleagues. “We left the snow in Germany, so we look forward to the sunshine here.”
“Unfortunately the forecast is not good for tomorrow, but what am I doing letting you stand here?
Isabelle, order coffee and ask the waiter to bring it in here.”
He turned towards his office, then slapped his forehead ruefully. “Isabelle, where is the porter?”
“I am here, Sir,” said an older man, coming from behind the water feature, as he doubled up as a security guard as well.
“Isabelle will give you the key for the gentlemen’s bedroom. Take their baggage and put it in the room, then bring the key back to my office, please.”
“Si Senor.”
The three men settled in Ralf’s office, while they waited for the waiter to bring them refreshments. Heiko clung to his laptop carrying case, as if it was a protective shield. There was a silence while Ralf examined his finger nails.
“So, Herr Schroeder, Herr Rennsburger, you have a small travel company in Hamburg. How long since you started it?”
“We worked together as travel clerks with a large tour company, but early last year we decided to take loans from our parents and branch out on our own. We have had some success, enough to employ four travel clerks now,” said Uwe sounding proud.
“Good, good, just like me. I borrowed money from a member of my family to buy this place, five years ago now. Before, I too worked in the travel industry. So you know that with the right destinations, the right properties, good connecting flights, guests will use your firm again if they enjoyed their holiday.”
“Exactly our sentiments,” Uwe said.
Just then Miguel arrived with a coffee pot, sugar bowl, teaspoons and three little cups. “Thank you Miguel, leave the tray there and I will pour,” said Ralf pleasantly. The waiter bowed his way out and left them to it.
“In a few moments I will introduce you to the young lady, who will be your guide for the duration of your stay. Her name is Lucy and she is on loan to me from the travel company, who use my hotel. A pleasant girl, I am sure you will agree.”
Lucy tidied the leaflets under her desk top for the third time. She was dying to go to the Ladies, but didn’t dare leave her station as the security guard had told her that the V.I.P’s had arrived, when he had passed her with their luggage.
Soon the sound of Mr. Sanchez’s voice came to her ears and footsteps coming in her direction.
The words of her granny’s favourite actor Humphrey Bogarte came to mind, as she first set her eyes on Uwe. “In all the joints, in all the world ”… and somehow she was able to stop her hand shaking, as she took the hand that he held out to her. She had heard of falling in love at first sight, as she gazed into his pale blue eyes that held a hint of mischief, looked at his generous mouth as he said he was pleased to meet her; took in his medium height, his short straight brown hair, the squareness of his chin and his smart brown suit that had a lighter stripe running through it, but had always dismissed the saying as words of a romanticist.
It was as if she was sleep walking, when she shook the hand of someone called Rennsburger, a taller man wearing gold rimmed spectacles, but she smiled at Mr. Sanchez and followed the men to the foyer. Though here the call of nature overpowered her trancelike state and she begged to be excused.
“We’ll meet you by the pool bar,” said Ralf, thinking that the girl was probably going to repair her makeup, having certain knowledge that was what his wife and daughter would want to do.
***
Lucy washed her hands after using the toilet, then stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was flushed and the pupils of her eyes dilated. Pull yourself together, she told herself sharply. He’s here on business, not on the pull. Act like a professional, that’s what you’re paid to do.
The thought of being in his company though for the next three days, began to wash over Lucy’s senses subliminally, as she applied her rose coloured lipstick with a more steadier hand. He had said his name was Uwe, pronounced Oover. Uwe Schroeder what a lovely name. She pulled back the strands of hair that had escaped from her banana clip, yanked down her skirt that seemed to have got even tighter, tucked her blouse into her waistband; sprayed herself with the perfume vial that she kept in her handbag, then finally taking a deep breath and surveying herself. She walked from the Ladies at a lighter pace, as now she was the Periquito Travel rep’.
***
“Ah, here she comes. Lucy. I got you a wine spritzer, I didn’t know what you normally like to drink. Come and sit beside me over here.”
Ralf Sanchez patted the seat beside him, full of bonhomie and cheer. This was what he liked to do, it was the part of his job that he didn’t find exacting.
“Lovely perfume. Chanel No. 5, am I right?”
Lucy smiled and nodded, conscious of three pairs of male eyes looking her way. She was glad she had her jacket on, as a brisk cool
wind made her shiver or had that been the look from Uwe’s eyes?
“I think the weather is changing, gentlemen,” Ralf said, looking up at the dark clouds that were scudding across the sky. “You can never tell at this time of year, whether the sun will shine for us next day. We’ll drink up, then continue on your voyage of discovery and tonight we have Spanish dancers. Now that will be a treat for you.”
The two men smiled and sipped at their Carling, letting their host do the talking and feeling relaxed as the last of the sun disappeared behind the palm trees. They were sure they were going to like it there.
***
Brian and Anthea were dressing for dinner. They liked to keep up appearances and not let the side down. Brian caressed his wife’s shoulders, after he had zipped her into her low cut dress, a little black number with shoe string straps. He wore his lounge suit, a light grey single breasted one with a jazzy purple tie; he smelt of musky after-shave as he nuzzled her slender neck. She purred like a cat at his action, then kissed him as she turned around to face him.
This was a signal to Brian that his wife was after sex, but he’d already performed that afternoon and really could do with a rest.
“Save it for later, my own true love, when we’ve chatted up that couple that we spotted by the pool,” he whispered, before tenderly kissing her brow.
***
Paul and Cheryl were not really speaking. She had been closed lipped with him since talking to Kate. She had spoken to the children, made grunting sounds if he asked her a question, but Paul could tell he was in the dog house and felt full of misery.
What did Cheryl want from him, he wondered, as he stood in the bathroom toweling himself dry? She knew how hard he worked to support them, but she was always wanting that bit extra. Would it make her really happy if he tried to buy a villa? A fruitless question he knew, because she’d rarely bother to use the place, but it would boost her ego.
***
“My turn to look after Evan this evening, Mum. I want you and Dad to enjoy yourselves, stay up late and have a ball.”
Greg smiled at his daughter fondly, as she stood at the bedroom door talking to Kate, who was all dressed up in a black sparkly top and wide legged trousers to match. Stay up late and have a ball?, thought Greg, as Evan came to jump and climb all over him. He’d have to drink a lot of beer if he was expected to perform.
***
Lesley turned the last page of her book with a sigh, another romance with a sentimental ending. Did the authors live in a realistic world? This one had been about a wife who lived in her husband’s shadow, until the day she decided to find her inner self. But she ended up falling in love again, this time with a guy who wanted a trophy wife. Lesley sighed and went to close the bedroom curtains. The dusk had come but lightening was brightening up the sky, and the thunder overhead seemed too close for comfort. She decided to go for a shower and block out the noise.
Later, as she looked uncertainly in her wardrobe at the clothes she had bought to create her new look, she thought back to the woman in the novel and wondered if that was what she should do? Maybe she’d walked in Geoff, her husband’s shadow, trying to please his every whim? She hadn’t friends, or hobbies of her own and hadn’t a clue about her inner self. Though her heart still felt numb at the thought of his desertion, perhaps now what she needed was a companion in her life.
***
“Still feeling glum, Miguel?” asked Lucy, as she met the downcast waiter on her way to the dining room. “Would you like me to give Jenni a bell on my mobile, when I’ve finished in there?”
“No, Lucy,” Miguel said hastily, “I don’t want her to think that I asked you to do such a thing.”
“Well, I said I would keep in touch with her, what’s wrong with me ringing her later on?”
“There would be nothing wrong. I am sorry, please say that I am missing her.”
***
“Guten Harben, Lucy,” said Uwe admiringly, as she joined him and Heiko at their table. “ May I say you are looking very pretty, that shade of purple suits you very well.”
Compliments too, thought Lucy, as she settled in the chair that Heiko had quickly jumped up to pull out next to him. “Why thank you, kind sir,” she replied, smoothing down the front of her georgette dress in an effort to quell her thumping heart.
Both men were looking relaxed in shirts and trousers, though they each had a sweater over the back of their chairs. Uwe looked divine in beige and tan, whilst Heiko having chosen white and black, looked a bit more businesslike.
“I understand Sanchez will not be joining us this evening,” said Uwe, as Juan came with a wine list and hovered by his side. “The red I think. Lucy, do you like red wine or would you prefer a bottle of white and a bottle of red?”
“White for me,” said Lucy, looking towards the door as she saw that somebody was walking in, “but wait a moment, Juan, let’s see what Lesley prefers to drink.”
***
“Did you have a good day, Senora, Senorita?” asked Juan, dashing over to help put Chantelle in a highchair, as he saw the two women looking around for a spare. “ Here is a table with chair for el nina, let me help you with her.”
Denise smiled at his eagerness and wondered if he genuinely liked children, or was he trying to get into Vicky’s good books? If it was the latter, then he would be sadly disappointed as Vicky had never had a date after her child had been born. She hated men and could she say she blamed her, as the boy who had got her pregnant wasn’t paying for his sins.
***
“I wonder what’s the matter with Paul and Cheryl this evening?” Sonya asked, as she came back from the dessert section. “I’ve waved once and smiled twice, even the kids are looking down in the mouth.”
“They’re probably still fighting over this villa Cheryl wants to get. Me and your dad saw them in Las Americas this morning and she was looking in at an estate agent’s window.”
“And I bet you put the boot in,” Greg said dryly, “ and told her of your problems in getting your own way.”
“That will do, Dad,” said Sonya quickly, “I’m sure we don’t need to bring that old chestnut up again.”
“I’ll get some pudding,” her mother said huffily. “ It will give you time to talk behind my back.”
***
“Do you also work in the travel industry, Lesley?” Heiko managed to ask, once he had plucked up courage to talk to her.
“Oh no, I’m a teacher, Herr Rennsburger. I’m on holiday in Tenerife.”
“Please do call me Heiko. Would you like me to pour you another glass of wine?”
“That would be very nice, thank you.”
“Have you been to Tenerife before?”
“No, this is my first time. I only arrived yesterday, but from what I’ve seen it is very pleasant.”
There was a silence between them, as both busied themselves eating their meal, though Lucy and Uwe seemed to be getting on very well, leaving their meal to go cold as they talked.
Lesley snatched glances at Heiko, wondering why the man was so reticent? He looked a pleasant chap, fair haired with a firm jaw and smartly dressed in his casual outfit. She knew that the two men were partners in a travel agency in Germany as Lucy had told her the night before, but Uwe seemed the more outgoing of the two of them.
Heiko, for his part felt tongue tied. He had no experience with women at all. He was twenty nine, by now he should be married, but neither he nor Uwe had wanted to settle down. Their love in life was the firm they had created. Their small child that they hoped would grow and grow.
***
“How about sitting over there with that older couple?” asked Anthea, as she and Brian came to have their after dinner coffee in the Sunlight Bar.
“The couple with the lady in the wheelchair?” said Brian, looking rather puzzled and wondering what his wife was up to.
“No, the couple who are sitting with their daughter and grandchild with them, silly. I was thinking that the husband
seems rather nice.”
“Good evening,” Brian said politely, as he and Anthea hovered at the side of Kate and Greg’s table. “Would you mind awfully if we joined you, only the people we sat with yesterday seem to have disappeared tonight? Oh, you’re the young lady who sang for us. I hope you don’t mind me saying, but we thought you have a wonderful voice.”
“Do sit down,” said Greg, shifting his chair so that the couple would have a bit more space. They seemed quite a dignified couple and he thought the wife looked extremely elegant in her rather smart dress.
“I think we met at the pool bar, you had just arrived yesterday. Let me introduce my family, this is Kate, my wife, Evan, our grandson, Sonya, my daughter and I’m called Greg.”
***
“We’ll sit in that other bar tonight,” said Cindy, after she watched Anthea and Brian leave the restaurant. “ He knows that you know what he said to me, or he wouldn’t have ignored us throughout the day.”
Phil laid his spoon down after eating a portion of cherry cheesecake. Women, he thought, he liked Brian and Anthea. Okay, so maybe Brian had had a bit to drink and said something naughty, but whoever hadn’t when they were enjoying themselves?
“Cindy, chill will you, you probably misunderstood what he said? I thought him a good bloke. We had some laughs together and you’ll be doing us out of a freebie at their guesthouse if you carry on like this.”
“So why have they ignored us then, go on Phil answer me that?”
“Well, I don’t know do I? Perhaps they think we want to be on our own.”
“I do want us to be on our own, so we’ll be going to that quiet bar.”
***
“Lucy,” Miguel said anxiously, as he served her party with drinks,” did you telephone Jenni?”
“I did, Miguel, but sorry I couldn’t get an answer. Let me see,” she looked at watch. “It’s quarter past eight, perhaps the family have gone out to dinner. Shall I try later?”
“No Lucy, not for me. I will use the telephone card myself.”
***
“Lovesick young man?” asked Uwe, who couldn’t help but overhear the conversation.
“Oh, he seemed to form an attachment to a guest who went home yesterday.”
Clouds Below the Mountains Page 36