Clouds Below the Mountains

by Vivienne Dockerty

  “It is my opinion that holiday romances never work out,” said Uwe. Lucy wondered why she got that feeling that he was putting her in place?

  “So what do you think of the Valia, Uwe?” said Lesley, determined that she wasn’t going to sit all night toying with a gin and tonic. If she couldn’t get a peep from Heiko, then she’d try to chat to Uwe instead. Lucy up to now had talked him exclusively, but surely now it was her turn to talk to Heiko as well?

  “Early days, but first impressions are favourable. We had a tour of the hotel with Lucy and Sanchez earlier and we will be considering the Valia as a place to recommend.”

  “It’s little things though that someone like me considers,” said Lesley, pleased that Heiko was listening intently now to everything she said. “Like having to pay a supplement, because I’m on my own.”

  “Ja,” said Heiko enthusiastically. “ That is a wrong, we hope to put right soon.”

  ***

  “Thank you for my ice cream, Daddy and Jack says thank you too,” said Annabelle, hopping around her father, after the family came out of the little cafe just off the promenade.

  She was being on her best behaviour that evening, because her parents had looked sad most of the day and she had been quite alarmed by it. It seemed to have started around lunchtime when she and Jack had come out of Kid’s club. Mummy had said that she wasn’t hungry and she would sit with a book by the pool. Daddy had said that was fine with him and had taken them into the dining room.

  Mummy had sat reading her book all afternoon while Daddy had played with them, even taking them to the supermarket where he had bought them both a toy. Jack had chosen an Action Man and Annabelle had chosen a sparkly dress and handbag for her Barbie doll. Suddenly though after they had eaten dinner, Daddy had suggested that they find their umbrellas and macs and go for a walk along the sea front. That’s when things had started to get better. Mummy had kissed Daddy when he said she could have her blooming house, they’d get a mortgage or something. That was what she had heard anyway, when she listened outside the bedroom door.

  ***

  “So what do you do, Greg?” asked Brian, as the two men went up to the bar to get them some more drinks, whilst the Spanish dancers were on the stage.

  “I have a manufacturing company,” Greg replied, raising his voice over the tapping of the dancers shoes and the castanets clacking. “ And what line are you into?”

  “We have a small guesthouse down in Bournemouth. There are nine bedrooms and we provide bed and breakfast. We don’t do lunch or evening meals.”

  “Must be quiet in the winter months. Do you close it down until the weather gets warmer, Brian?”

  “Oh, we still keep it open. We have our regulars and our daughter steps in while we’re away.”

  “I’ve never been to Bournemouth,” Greg shouted. “You must give me your details, we may come for a week ourselves.”

  “Right Mum, I think me and Evan will get off,” said Sonya, who had noticed that Mikey was gesturing from the stage after the Spanish dancers had finished performing. “He’s tired and he’s no one to play with tonight. I haven’t seen Paul and Cheryl around, have you?”

  “Perhaps they’re having an early night or found somewhere else along the sea front. I think we should go out for a walk one evening. It’s certainly getting boring having the same routine every night.” Kate kissed her daughter and grandson then settled back into her seat again. Maybe this Anthea would like a womanly chat?

  “How long have you been here then, Kate?” asked Anthea. “ Unfortunately we could only manage seven days.”

  “It seems like a lifetime,” said Kate grimacing. “I’ll be glad when next Tuesday comes.”

  “So long have you two been married?” Anthea was quick to ask, once Sonya and Evan had gone from the room, after saying goodnight to Greg at the bar.

  “Too long,” said Kate.

  “Do I detect a note of resignation?” asked Anthea, feeling rather curious about the state of the couple’s marriage, especially as the woman was very attractive in her top and trousers that were certainly not bought from a high street store.

  “I wouldn’t call it resignation. It’s a case of if we were to split up, where would I go?”

  “Oh, but your husband looks such a darling,” said Anthea, looking over to the men. “ If I were you I would certainly want to hold onto him.”

  Kate smiled and began to polish off her drink.

  ***

  “Well ladies, would you excuse us from your company?” said Uwe, yawning behind his hand politely. “We have had a long day and as you know. Lucy, we need to have breakfast before we set off to, where did you say, Loro Parque?”

  Lucy nodded, the happy glow from her face leaving, as Uwe and Heiko stood up in readiness to depart.

  “So shall we say, that we will meet when the dining room opens at half eight? We must hope that your forecast of a showery day is incorrect.”

  The two men walked away leaving Lucy feeling thoroughly disappointed with the way the evening had panned, though what she had expected from Uwe, she wasn’t sure herself.

  “They didn’t get very excited over the entertainment, did they?” Lesley remarked. “ Though I suppose once you’ve seen a Spanish dancer you’ve seen them all.”

  “Well, I feel gutted,” said Lucy moodily. “The first time I’ve met a guy that gives me the butterflies and he’s off like a rocket and it isn’t even midnight.”

  “Yes, I thought you were getting on rather well. I hardly managed to get a word out of Heiko.”

  “Sorry about that Lesley, my job was to entertain both of them. Uwe and Heiko equally. It’s just that, well you’re right, Uwe and I were getting on extremely well.”

  “I didn’t mind, Lucy, it makes a change meeting new people. Once I’ve locked the door at home, I’m on my own until the next day.”

  “Oh, listen to me, when it’s you that has all the problems. Let’s take our drinks over there to my friends and we’ll maybe have a boogie.”

  ***

  “Would you like to strut your stuff, Greg?” Anthea asked, once Damion had started up the disco. “Would you mind, Kate? Perhaps you and Brian would like to dance?”

  Kate made a shooing gesture and took another sip of her drink. She knew she’d had too many, because now she’d lost count.

  “Would you like to dance, Kate?” Brian asked her politely. “ Why not?” she replied.

  To say that she was a bit unsteady was an understatement and Brian found he had to shuffle around with her instead of dancing apart, but it served it’s purpose. He got his kick from being close to her, feeling her breasts through the thin gauzy material of her top and the warmth of her body snuggled up to him. He would confess all to the love of his life later, when they lay in bed,in each other’s arms.

  ***

  Miguel walked gloomily through the foyer. He had managed to get an answer from the number that Jenni had given him, though it wasn’t Jenni who had picked up the telephone. She was out, the woman had said. Ring back tomorrow evening, who shall I say called?

  So where was she? Out with Simon or another lover? Suddenly Miguel was full of fear and doubts.

  He said goodnight to the young girl who Juan had said he was in love with. She was rocking her baby, who was crying very lustily. The girl looked tired, her large eyes luminous in her pallid face and Miguel wondered at her patience and the love she had for her child.

  Someone else was watching from his shadowy vantage point, but thought it was too early yet to show himself to her.

  Chapter Nineteen.

  Lesley decided that she couldn’t go down for breakfast at the same time, as Lucy was meeting Uwe and Heiko. It wasn’t her place to do so and listening to Lucy last night bewailing the fact that Uwe obviously didn’t fancy her so perhaps he was gay, had got on her nerves somewhat.

  Lucy was lucky that she was of an age and in a job where men could come and go in her life, whereas at thirty four as she was a
nd committed to teaching a class of seven year olds each day, rather limited her chances.

  Not that she could bear the thought at the moment of someone replacing her husband. She still had feelings for Geoff; mixed feelings that is of anger, betrayal and loathing, but at other times she thought of him with sadness and regret. The hardest thing to take was the fact that he had left her, because his bit on the side was pregnant. If the woman hadn’t been, maybe she could have forgiven his fall from grace with her.

  She dressed herself in a peach T’ shirt and cream linen trousers, after she had showered and styled her hair. It looked as if the weather was going to curtail any outdoor pursuits.

  ***

  Ray sighed when he saw the rain tippling down on their balcony. What a day to choose to go tramping around an animal park. Already Joanne was muttering that she didn’t want to go and Tricia was moaning that she’d only brought a jacket, no mac or brolly or decent walking shoes.

  “Maybe the trip will be cancelled and we’ll get a refund,” he said hopefully. “Come on, Joanne, get out of bed. I’ll go and see that rep’ while you’re dressing, though I’d put on jeans and a sweater if I were you because, I won’t hold my breath.”

  ***

  Lucy moaned to herself as she looked up at the sky, whilst she waited for a break in the downpour before she crossed the courtyard from the annexe. She had put her rep’s coat on. A dark blue gaberdine affair with a mandarin collar and tie belt, which she had only worn once since she was issued with it. She had unfurled her pink umbrella in readiness to dash across, but was worrying that the puddles would leave dirty marks on her legs. If it hadn’t been for the German men’s visit, she thought ruefully, she could have spent her day at her desk in the foyer. Boring certainly, but warm and dry. Still, looking at the up side, at least she wasn’t going to be sitting in a muggy coach like the rest of the punters. The three of them were going by taxi and could come back at any time.

  “Oh, good morning,” she said, as she slowed down her running pace whilst entering the foyer, having decided to make a dash for it. “I’m just on my way to breakfast, Mr. Keegan. Is there something I can do for you?”

  “Yes, you can,” Ray said gruffly. “I want a blooming refund. Neither me, my wife or my daughter are equipped with the right gear for going on the trip.”

  “Oh,” said Lucy at a loss, not knowing what to say because this problem hadn’t cropped up before.

  “I don’t think that we can give a refund, as the coach and driver have to be paid for and the admission tickets as well.”

  “I thought you’d say that. I said to my wife that I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

  “I’m sorry Mr. Keegan, but Periquito Travel cannot be held responsible for inclement weather. All I can say is that we must make the best of it.”

  ***

  “Any ideas for amusing ourselves?” asked Sonya, after she had knocked on her parent’s door to say that she and Evan were ready to go down to breakfast.

  “I want to go to Kid’s club and play with Jack,” said Evan, running past his mother to say hello to his granddad.

  “Nothing springs to mind,” said Kate. “Actually I’ve got a bit of a headache on me this morning, so I might just go back to bed.”

  “What do you expect? I had to virtually carry you back here last night.”

  Kate glared at Greg. At least he’d had an excuse to keep to his side of the bed and come to think of it, he’d been all over that Anthea like a rash, hadn’t he? She opened her mouth to say just that, but decided it would keep until they were alone again.

  “Maybe that Mikey you’re friendly with, will have some ideas, Sonya,” said Greg. “Surely that’s part of his job to keep the guests amused on a rotten day.”

  “I can ask him, but I don’t think he gets down here until after ten o’ clock. Perhaps you and I can do something, Dad, if Evan’s in the Kid’s club and Mum’s gone back to bed?”

  “Oh that would be nice, Sonya. I’ll have a think on what we can do.”

  ***

  “I think I’ll see if the beauty salon can fit me in this morning, Darling,” Anthea said, as she noticed that one of her nails had chipped and of course it had to be a colour of varnish that she hadn’t brought with her. “I’ll put my track suit on. It will be far more comfortable if we’re to lounge around all day.”

  “Then after breakfast I’ll go to see if they are organizing any indoor activities for our amusement,” said her husband, leering down the plunging neckline of her white tight fitting top. “Of course I can suggest other indoor activities, but I’m sure you’ll tell me you need a rest.”

  “Got it in one,” smiled Anthea, thinking that their idea of making each other jealous by making up with someone else, was working very well in the sex department, and last night they had decided to stick with Kate and Greg. The other couple were unsuitable. Phil didn’t have much going for him in the looks department, even if she had said he was attractive to his face. He certainly wasn’t as handsome as Greg, who had a very good body for a man his age. That wife of his wasn’t making the most of what she’d got.

  ***

  “Guten Morgan, Lucy,” said Uwe and Heiko in unison, as the two men stood up politely when the rep’ walked over to their table.

  “Good morning to you,” Lucy replied. “ Have you had a look at the breakfast buffet?”

  “Ja, it looks good,” said Uwe, enthusiastically. “Heiko has been taking notes.”

  “Have you got a note about me in there, Heiko?” asked Lucy playfully, looking over his shoulder as she passed him. Heiko reddened and snapped his notebook shut.

  “So, as you can see we are prepared for the bad weather,” said Uwe, pointing to the dark green trench coats and black golf umbrellas that lay on the spare chair. “We will not let the weather spoil our investigations, as Loro Parque will be on our list, when we give advice to our clients of where to visit.”

  “But hopefully not in the rain, Uwe,” said Lucy wryly. “ It’s quite possible though that this will have cleared by lunchtime.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” said Ray, who was sitting with his family on a nearby table, and he raised his coffee cup.

  “There is no sign of Lesley?” asked Heiko. “ Is she not to join us this morning?”

  “It wasn’t arranged,” replied Lucy, surprised that the man was interested enough in Lesley’s whereabouts to ask the question. “ I suppose she thought she would be in the way of any discussions we may have.”

  “Ja, I thought that. She is a very unassuming lady, a homely lady I would like to think.”

  Gosh, thought Lucy, an admirer for Lesley. She must tell her that as soon as she got back.

  ***

  “A quiz this morning and a tea dance this afternoon,” said Sonya, as she came back to join her father, who had been waiting in the foyer after putting his grandson in the Kid’s club.

  “Oh and I thought I could beat you at pool this morning,” Greg replied. “ You know we’ve not had a game of pool since we were in Pathos.”

  “I hardly see you in the evenings, Dad,” she said, settling on one of the settees beside him. “ You’re either late home from work or you’ve got some important meeting.”

  “Needs must if I want to keep the business afloat. I have to keep your mother in the style she’s become accustomed to.”

  “Are you and Mum all right, Dad?” Sonya asked, looking at her dad quizzically.

  “We get by, love. What do you expect of a couple who’ve been married as long as we have?”

  “It’s just I’ve noticed that you don’t hold hands like you used to or kiss each other when you leave for work. It’s since you had that row over the property in Cyprus, isn’t it?”

  “Well, that did cause me to evaluate our marriage,” Greg said looking a bit uncomfortable. “ But you know Sonya, this isn’t a conversation I want to have with my daughter. What goes on with me and your mother is best left alone.”

  “It does affect me
and Evan though. We live in the same house and at times the tension between you is quite strong.”

  “Yes, I know, even the child has picked up on it. We were taking a walk around the reservoir the other Sunday and Evan was walking between us, suddenly he stopped and said, “ you know Granddad, you and Grandma should be holding hands.” We laughed about it, but it’s true what they say, “ out of the mouths of babes”.

  “Perhaps after this holiday you’ll feel a bit more relaxed with each other. I’m beginning to, even though it’s a lousy day.”

  “Is that because you’ve just seen young fellow-me-lad? If I were you Sonya, I’d give him a wide berth.”

  ***

  “Looks as if you have quite a number of people going to Loro Parque today, Lucy,” said Ralf Sanchez, as he came into the foyer with a young woman who had been sheltering under his large golf umbrella. “The rain may clear by midday, it usually does. Good morning, Herr. Schroeder, Herr. Rennsburger, I trust you slept well and enjoyed partaking of an excellent breakfast?”

  The two men nodded and returned his greeting, though they seemed to have got enveloped within the group of passengers that were waiting for the coach. Ray and his family were amongst them, staring around moodily and a group of relatives making up the numbers, as well.

  “Let us move over to where we can talk by the fountain,” said Sanchez. “ See you later, Isabelle.

  Now, any complaints of our service? Was there a good selection at our breakfast table? Are you satisfied with our comfortable beds?”

  “Heiko?” said Uwe and Lucy had to smile as she stood apart from them, to see Heiko consulting his notebook.

  “The coach is here,” shouted one of the passengers and Lucy couldn’t hear what Heiko was saying, as she accompanied her clients to the waiting coach and stood in the rain while she counted heads.

  “I’ll be right along behind you,” she said to the driver, as she saw a taxi drawing up in the driveway.

  “V.I.P’s ,” she said, just loud enough for him to hear her and understanding, he nodded his head.