Clouds Below the Mountains

by Vivienne Dockerty

  ***

  “Herr Uwe Schroeder and Herr Heiko Rennsburger, my superior Kathleen Jones,” Lucy said making the introductions to a surprised Kath, who had been reduced to finding a paperback to read from the swap box.

  “Oh, pleased to meet you,” Kath stuttered in surprise, leaping up from her chair to shake the proffered hands. “I wasn’t expecting to meet you. I trust that Lucy has been a help in any decision you will be making, regarding sending your clients to the Hotel Valia.”

  “Most certainly,” said Uwe, smiling expansively in her direction. “ I am sure I do not have to tell you what an efficient colleague you have in Lucy. Even though the weather was detrimental to a pleasurable experience at Loro Parque today, she was determined to keep our spirits up and in as much succeeded. Don’t you agree, Heiko?”

  Heiko nodded. He was of the opinion that had Lucy spoken German he would have had no hesitation in employing her as their resort representative, but unless she was prepared to take a crash course in their language, there was nothing for it but to send out one of their own.

  “And what are your plans for the rest of the day?” asked Kath, hoping that they didn’t want to hang around the Rep’s desk, as she was feeling rather uncomfortable in the two men’s presence. It was one thing Ralf seconding Lucy from Periquito Travel, but as her nose had been but out of joint with the situation, she didn’t want to be answering their questions herself.

  “Did you know that the Animacion team have been very busy entertaining our guests today, Lucy?” she asked. “ They couldn’t carry out their usual activities because of the weather, so this morning they had a Quiz and this afternoon a tea dance.”

  “Oh, I thought I heard music coming from the Sunlight Bar,” said Lucy, “ but I thought it was just them rehearsing for something. Do either of you dance, gentleman? Would you like to go along and have a look?”

  “Certainly,” said Uwe, looking pleased at the opportunity of showing off his dancing skills. “ Do you mean old fashioned dancing, as both Heiko and I learnt to waltz when we were at school?”

  “Come with me,” said Lucy, beckoning saucily. “I’ve certificates from the Shirley Moss School of Dancing. Let’s see what you two are made of, eh?”

  ***

  They arrived, to see happy looking couples dancing the Quick Step to the music of Fred Astaire singing “ Cheek to Cheek.” Mikey, who had taken the trouble to dress up in black trousers, a dinner jacket, a white shirt and maroon dickie bow, clutched Sonya closely and was looking pretty in a dark green satin dress loaned to her by her mother. Heiko sat the dance out, as Uwe had grabbed Lucy straight away. He was pleased to just watch Lesley executing a rhythmic display with a military bearing looking gentleman and vowed to pluck up courage to ask her for the next dance.

  Sonya laughed up into Mikey’s eyes as they jigged about, not quite in step with one another. “ I thought you said you could do all these kind of dances,” she said, after he had stood on her toes a couple of times. “I’m better at waltzing,” he said grinning at her. “ That’s what my little old ladies were good at on the cruise ship, anyway.”

  “Well sit this one out then,” said Sonya. “ You stick to being the Master of Ceremonies and I’ll see if there are any dishy men wanting to dance.”

  Despite Mikey’s protests she whirled away, passing her mother who was dancing with Brian and her father who was dancing with an elegantly dressed Anthea, who was wearing a sparkly covered burgundy frock, and headed over to Heiko who she had spotted straight away.

  “Could I have the pleasure?” she asked, cheekily of the surprised German, as the music suddenly came to an end and Mikey announced a tango.

  “Of course,” he said, dazzled by the girl with the beautiful auburn hair and her flirty manner. Like an animal caught in torch light, all thoughts of dancing with Lesley disappeared, as Sonya took his hand.

  ***

  “You know, Gary, you’re a real party pooper,” said Tracy, who had been looking forward to dancing ever since Mikey had announced it at the Quiz.

  “You know I don’t like this kind of stuff,” Gary replied. “ I’ve two left feet when it comes to proper dancing.”

  “But you waltzed with me at our wedding,” Tracy pouted. “ Honestly, Cindy, you should have seen him smooch with me, when the D.J announced the celebration waltz. It was so romantic.”

  “Lucky you that you had that kind of wedding,” Cindy said, glaring at Phil. “ After all the marriages this one’s had, all we could afford was a meal for us and the witnesses at our local Indian.”

  “Ah, but you enjoyed the honeymoon darling. We spent the next twenty four hours in our hotel bedroom.”

  “Yes, we did,” Cindy acknowledged. “ But you were more out of bed than in it, keeping in touch with your extended family.”

  “Well, when we get home, Gary, we’re going to have dancing lessons. Whether you like it or not, next time we come on holiday, we’ll be able to do all the stuff like those couples over there.”

  ***

  “Would you mind if I sat down?” asked Heiko, after he and Sonya had finished dancing to “Can’t take my eyes off you”. “ I’ve had a rather busy morning and it would be pleasant to sit and talk with one another.”

  Sonya made a face, but followed him to a table, though her feet were still tapping as the music carried on.

  “Some enchanted evening, you may meet a stranger,” she sang quietly, after they had sat down and Heiko considered what he would like to say to her.

  He cleared his throat and said awkwardly. “ Are you a guest here?”

  Sonya nodded, with her eyes still fixed on the couples who were now smooching. Some times you make wrong choices, she thought. This guy may be handsome in a mannequin sort of way, but I’d sooner be dancing than sitting here.

  “I’m here on business,” he said.

  “ Oh, look I’m sorry,” Sonya got to her feet trying to look apologetic. “ But perhaps we could get together later. The dance is only on until four o’ clock and I’ve just spotted someone who I promised a dance with.”

  Heiko stood to attention smartly and watched her sadly as she walked away.

  ***

  “Thank you for that, Rita,” said Nobby, escorting her back to where Betty and Maureen were sitting. “Maureen, would you like to dance next with me?”

  “Just be careful of your ticker,” Betty said, noticing that her husband seemed a bit out of breath after his energetic tango.

  “Nothing wrong with me except old age creeping on,” said Nobby smiling, as he thumped his heart playfully. “ Come on, Maureen. She’s trying to treat me as if I’m an old codger, getting her own back for me pushing her in that wheelchair.”

  “If you’re sure,” said Maureen doubtfully. “ Maybe the next one after you’ve recovered a bit.”

  “Get on the dance floor, woman,” Nobby growled and pretended to give her a whack on her derriere.

  “Lesley and Harry seem to be getting on well together,” said Rita, as she sat down beside Betty and watched Harry trying hard to be a gentleman with the woman young enough to be his daughter. “He probably wants to grasp Lesley to him and whisper sweet nothings in her ear, but I think he’s a bit of a philanderer, making up for all those years as a married man. His wife died last year, you know.”

  “What makes you say that?” asked Betty, realizing that Rita was about to reveal some gossip.

  “Well, he came in at the same time as we did. We came off the Gatwick flight and he came in from Manchester. Anyway, at first he was rather aloof, went off on trips most days and usually didn’t make an appearance in the evenings except for his dinner. He didn’t try to make friends with anyone, a bit of a loner, you know. Then he started making up to these three women who came in the following week, sat with them in the restaurant and then in here at night. Never gave me and Maureen the time of day, until the three women went home and then he made a beeline for me. He’s tried it on with that young woman before. It was the nigh
t she came in while we were in the restaurant. She must have given him the brushoff, because he came over to us then.”

  “Doesn’t make him a philanderer though,” said Betty kindly. “ Just lonely. I hope that I don’t go first and leave Nobby to cope alone.”

  “Well I’m only saying,” replied Rita huffily “ and that young woman has her own emotional baggage. You can see it in her eyes.”

  ***

  “It’s a pity that they haven’t been putting these Tea dances on with more regularity,” said Harry, as he and Lesley waited for Mikey to announce the next dance. “I used to love spending weekends with my dear departed wife at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. We would have the whole afternoon brushing up our tango, fox trot, quick step and cha cha, because it was usually an annual event for us to go there and then we’d let it slide in the intervening year. Oh sorry, I’m monopolizing you and we haven’t even been properly introduced. Do you want to go back to Nobby and Betty, perhaps you would like to dance with somebody else?”

  “No, no,” Lesley said reassuringly. “ You’re such an accomplished dancer that I would prefer to continue dancing with you. It’s strange that when you’re only a novice like I am, how an experienced dancer can make you feel that you knew how to dance all along. And you know that my name is Lesley and I know that you’re Harry, so let’s leave it at that, shall we? Listen, isn’t that a Fox Trot? I must warn you that I’m not really very good at the Fox Trot.”

  ***

  “Well, after we’ve had refreshments I’ll go and collect Evan from the Kid’s Club,” said Greg to Kate, before Brian and he went to collect plates of cakes and cups of tea, when Mikey announced that the afternoon’s entertainment was over.

  “I enjoyed that, you’re a good dancer Anthea. I hope you could say the same about Kate, Brian?”

  “Cheeky sod,” said Kate, feeling perspiration trickling down her back and wishing she hadn’t lent her frock to Sonya, as she saw how cool looking Anthea appeared to be. “I should have put a dress on for all this exercise, instead of these pants and this blooming top.”

  “But your blooming top looks gorgeous on you, Kate. Primrose yellow can’t be worn by just anybody. It’s cashmere isn’t it?” said Anthea.

  Kate nodded.

  “I thought it must be. Everything I’ve seen you in shouts quality. You must get a good dress allowance from Greg.”

  “Sounds like I’m a kept woman,” said Kate silkily, though inside she could feel a certain rage. How dare this woman point fingers, just because she had a guest house in Bournemouth and a husband who you could see adored her? She was justified in what she received from Greg each month. It made up for his careless heart and different moods and look how he had already got Anthea eating out of his hand.

  ***

  “Is there anything to look forward to this evening?” asked Sonya, as she helped Mikey put the equipment back in order. She being his helper because Damion and Susanne had decided to have the day off.

  “Well, you could look forward to letting me share your bed again,” he said, smiling at her wickedly.

  “No silly, I meant what entertainment are you putting on?”

  “I think they’ve had enough in the way of entertainment, don’t you? I’m blown out and need to conserve my energy for pleasing you in bed. No, seriously, we’ll have the Mini disco for the kiddies, a game of Bingo and then I’ll just put some records on. There’s quite a few guests going home tomorrow, so most of them will be packing and want an early night.”

  “I noticed that two newcomers have arrived today,” Sonya remarked, looking over to where Lucy was sitting with the gorgeous looking blonde guy and his equally handsome friend.

  “Yes, I noticed too how you made a bee line for the blonde chap with the glasses. What was the matter, couldn’t he dance as well as me?”

  “He danced very well, but he was rather boring and foreign. I think he was having problems with his English ‘cos he didn’t have a lot to say. Lucy looks as if she’s coping all right, so I might go back and say hello.”

  “No you don’t, you little devil,” Mikey said, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her into the room behind the stage. “Got you,” he gasped, as Sonya wasn’t a lightweight, “ I’ll let you have a taster of what I have in mind for later.”

  ***

  Kath got up from the desk, put her coat on and tucked her list of guests, who were on the departure coach in the morning, back into the side of her brief case. She’d had enough for the day. Now that Lucy was back in the hotel, she could be on call as far as she was concerned; seeing as the rep’ was “Miss Ever So Professional” there wasn’t any need for her to hang around. She could see why Lucy had been chosen for the assignment with the German men. They had hung on her every word after she had introduced them before and couldn’t get away quick enough to have a look at the Tea Dance in the Sunlight Bar.

  Oh well, Lucy would come back to earth with a bang next week, once the businessmen had gone home. Head Office had ‘phoned to say that they’d had some late bookings. An extra ten from Gatwick and four from Manchester, all coming in on Tuesday besides the ones that were already in the pipe line. Maybe it was time to take a little sick leave, starting on Saturday when the Welcome Meeting was usually planned, right through until next Wednesday. She could actually feel a sore throat coming on.

  Kath walked into the foyer, glancing through the doors as she did so to check if the rain had stopped or not and straight into the sullen guests from the trip to Loro Parque that the coach had just dropped off! She ran to her car, nothing was going to stop her now that her mind was made up.

  “Did you see that?” said Ray angrily, as he and his wife watched the Periquito Travel rep’ speed off in her car. “I’ve a good mind to write to the company when I get home. Look at the state of us. Your jacket’s ruined and our Joanne’s hair is hanging around her like rat’s tails. It will be a wonder if we don’t all get pneumonia from hanging about in the rain.”

  “There’s not a lot she could have done about it,” Tricia replied. “ As the other rep’ said to you, the company isn’t responsible for inclement weather.”

  “Well I’m glad we’re going home in the morning. We’ll go up right now and start packing. Then after that I’m coming down to the bar and having a stiff drink. Now where’s our Joanne gone? Don’t tell me she’s cleared off with that Andy and Kevin again.”

  ***

  Denise and Vicky came back from their walk along the promenade, armed with umbrellas, macs and a plastic apron over the push chair, having braved the elements for most of the day. It had become embarrassing having to try and hush Chantelle up, as she screamed frustratingly from the pain in her gums. The Bonjela had eased it a little, but getting out in the fresh air seemed to have calmed the poor baby down.

  “I could do with a drink of something,” Denise said, as they came into the foyer. “ A proper drink, not the coffee that we’ve been swilling down ourselves all day.”

  “I just want to fall asleep, Mum. What with being woken at least five times last night and on my feet most of the day, I could do with a bit of shut eye.”

  “Well you go up and rest on the bed and I’ll push Chantelle into the Quiet bar. I know it says no kiddies, but I’m sure they won’t object to her.”

  Denise settled herself in a corner in the dimly lit bar, glad of the soft leather covered pew seat which she had perched herself on. Chantelle’s bright brown eyes looked around her and settled on a face that she had come to know well.

  “Good evening, Senora,” said Juan, having come over to Denise to take her order.

  “How is the little Chantelle, today? I heard her crying this morning. Is she better now?”

  “Seems to be, little rascal. She’s been sleeping it off while me and her mother are tired out from lack of sleep. It’s her gums, you know?”

  “Gums?” said Juan puzzled, staring at Chantelle who was smiling toothily at him. “What is gums?”

  Deni
se ran her finger round the bottom of her teeth. “These, where the teeth grow through.”

  “Ah, she is teething. Perhaps a little drop of whisky rubbed on to her, er gums, would help her?”

  “That’s what I thought,” agreed Denise. “ Make mine a double, will yer.”

  “So where is your daughter now?” asked Juan, coming back with a glass of whisky and settling himself down on a seat besides the push chair, so that he could tickle Chantelle. There were no other guests about for him to serve and he was due a break in five minutes anyway.

  “Having a lie down,” Denise replied, taking a great slurp of the fiery feeling liquid, then dipping her finger in the glass to rub on Chantelle’s gums. The little girl made a screwed up face, as the alcohol was absorbed for a moment, then smiled as if she wanted another rub.

  Juan and Denise laughed together, then the waiter decided to take the plunge.

  “Has your daughter got a husband?” he asked tentatively.

  “No, no husband, no boyfriend. Why, are you putting yourself forward as a candidate?”

  “Candidate, I don’t understand,” replied Juan, wondering if the woman was taking the piss out of him.

  “Are you putting yourself forward as a prospective boyfriend for Vicky?” asked Denise, speaking her words slowly.

  “I think she is very beautiful, she takes good care of her child. I think she would make someone a wonderful wife one day.”

  Denise held out her now empty glass and with her other hand took out a packet of cigarettes from her handbag.

  “Put me another double in my glass, get yourself a drink and then I’ll tell you her story.”

  Chapter Twenty.

  Lucy lay in bed, staring at the sun’s rays that were filtering through the crack in the curtains. She mulled over the day before whilst she savoured the warmth of her blanket. It had been cold last night when she had slid into her bed.

  Yesterday had gone quite well considering the rotten weather. Uwe and Heiko had seemed impressed with her knowledge of the various tours that their guests could have a choice of, She had especially recommended Raffles, as Kath seemed to think it was top class entertainment and they had asked could they try the place out for themselves and would she like to accompany them? But as they were returning to Germany the following Sunday, Heiko had put it in his notebook , under the heading of “future things to do.”