Clouds Below the Mountains

by Vivienne Dockerty

  “Well, don’t make a habit of that either,” said Vicky shaking her head in mock despair. “ You’ll have her an alcoholic before she’s much older.”

  “I used to rub whisky on your gums when you were teething. Not that me and your dad we’re drinkers, we used to have it in for folk when they visited. It never did you any harm.”

  “Let’s go down, Mum and then we’ll decide what we’re going to do today. The weather looks nice so perhaps we can play with Chantelle in the kiddies pool. I don’t think I can face another walk on the promenade again.”

  ***

  Andrea and Brian came off the tennis court, dressed in their whites and brandishing their rackets, flushed with their exercise in the heat which was gathering momentum, as the day wore on.

  “Morning everyone,” Anthea trilled, to the row of people on the sun loungers in various states of dress. Kate in her purple one piece swimsuit was looking very attractive in Brian’s eyes; there was hardly any cellulite at the top of her legs and didn’t she have a perfect pair of ankles. Greg was looking very fit in his khaki shorts and yellow polo shirt, but sadly spoiling the effect in Anthea’s opinion, by wearing grubby trainers.

  Sonya was paddling with her little boy in the kiddies pool, mindful of her father’s words that she had hardly been spending any time this week with Evan. They were accompanied by Jack who was splashing water everywhere gleefully.

  “You won’t have met Paul and Cheryl. They’ve been out and about looking for property,” said Greg introducing the couple who were sat with a pouting Annabelle, who had refused to go to Kid’s Club as everyone she knew had gone home.

  “Pleased to meet you,” said Brian, eyeing Cheryl, who was looking very sexy in a peach bikini with high cut legs. “ I’m sure we’ve seen you around the hotel.”

  “I think we ought to go and change Brian,” Anthea cut in, as she saw the lascivious look on her husband’s face. “We’ll take a shower together, then we’ll be back to join you later.”

  They loped off, leaving the two couples wondering had she really meant that they would both be going into the shower at the same time?

  ***

  “Anyone for stretching?” asked Susanne, as she walked around the swimming pool looking at the mostly empty sun loungers, as a large majority of the guests had checked out that morning. She glanced wanly over at the row of occupied chairs, thinking that she may as well give up now, as the couples there looked as if they were intent on soaking up the sun’s rays, not wanting to participate in even a mildly form of exercise.

  She wondered yet again what she was even doing in Tenerife? She would have been far better taking up a place at teacher’s training college in Esjberg, than taking a gap year like this. What fun had there been in lying in bed at her apartment yesterday, listening to the rain as it drummed against the window, then venturing out to eat in a cheap little cafe, where she made a cup of coffee last, so she didn’t have to spend so much of her day off in her chilly room? She hated the job, hated the two obnoxious men she worked with and couldn’t wait to board her flight home at the end of next month.

  “Fancy doing a spot of stretching?” asked Kate, feeling sorry for the girl who didn’t seem to be having any luck finding eager participants.

  “Who me?” said Cheryl, yawning delicately behind her hand, then pulling a face when Annabelle jumped up excitedly.

  “All of us,” said Kate encouragingly. “I think we’ve all put on a bit of weight since we got here. I know I have, with all the food I’ve been eating. Come on, we’ll have a laugh together. Sonya, are you coming with us to do a bit of stretching? Oh, I might have known you men would duck out. So Greg you look out for the kiddies, while us women get up and go.”

  ***

  “Have you heard from Jenni, yet?” Juan asked Miguel, who had brought a tray of clean glasses over to the pool bar, as Juan was setting up for the day.

  “No,” Miguel replied sadly. “I think she has forgotten me already or decided that her love is not strong enough.”

  “I am also feeling sad today,” said Juan dramatically, as he stacked the glasses on the shelf under the beer pumps. “My heart is broken for the beautiful girl that I told you I was in love with, there cannot be a future for us.”

  “Oh?” said Miguel, sensing some intrigue in his colleague’s statement. “ What has happened to make you say that?”

  “I cannot tell you. I am sworn to secrecy and I have taken a solemn vow.”

  In truth he had felt distaste when Denise had told him Vicky’s story and had spent most of the previous night trying to justify his conscience on why he should feel the way he did. He realized to his shame, that he was a very shallow person and didn’t want to pursue this girl who had lost her innocence in the way that she had.

  ***

  “It’s a pity that couple went home just as we were getting to know them,” said Phil as he and Cindy sat at a table by the pool bar, enjoying the sun on their faces.

  “She was so precious though, wasn’t she, Phil and she treated her husband like he was a lapdog?”

  “Serves him right though,” said Phil, looking in Juan’s direction to see if he was ready to serve the first drinks of the day. “Catch me waiting on your every whim as if you were some bloomin’ princess.”

  “Maybe that’s why you’re on your third marriage,” Cindy replied sourly. “ A bit of cherishing on your part wouldn’t come amiss, you know?”

  “Oh, come off it. If I jumped to your beck and call every time you snapped your fingers, you’d soon get sick of it and don’t go casting aspersions on my last two marriages. You don’t know the half of what I had to put up with them.”

  “Then aren’t you lucky I rescued you?”

  ***

  “I don’t suppose we could leave Jack and Annabelle with you for an hour this afternoon?” said Paul to Greg, as the two men sat up in their sun loungers, whilst keeping an eye on their two boys, who were sitting on a small lilo that some other child had left behind.

  “I don’t really like to ask, but we have to go to some office to meet the bloke who sold us the property. I believe there’s some papers to sign in front of an Official and I know that the children won’t keep quiet and it’s rather an important occasion.”

  “Can’t see a problem,” Greg replied, “ we hadn’t got anything planned as far as I know.”

  “Great, that’ll give me and Cheryl chance to savour the moment. Annabelle’s been so excited she’s been getting on Cheryl’s nerves.”

  “It’s a big step though buying property in a foreign country,” said Greg frowning. “ I got cold feet when we were in Cyprus. Seems a lot of money to lay out when it won’t be used more than two or three times a year.”

  “Oh, Cheryl’s had her heart set on it and unfortunately if I want to keep my wife sweet, I have to go along with her. Anyway, it’s only money and the chap was saying we could make some money by renting the apartment out.”

  “I don’t envy you the responsibility Paul, but go on, I know you’re dying to tell me. What’s the apartment like?”

  ***

  Denise and Vicky came out onto the patio with Chantelle in her push chair. They were piled up with baby paraphernalia, in readiness for their day by the pool. Vicky was wearing a long white cotton dress and a pair of brown sun shades.

  “It’s awfully quiet here, Mum,” she said, looking around at the mostly vacant sun chairs and the few women and a little girl exercising by the tennis courts. “ A lot of people must have gone home today.”

  “Better for us then,” said Denise. “There won’t be so many people to get annoyed if our Chantelle kicks off.”

  “Oh, Mum, she’s fine today. She only needs some good night’s sleep like she had last night. I’m sure there’s another tooth on its way through. Anyway, you go over with Chantelle to those palm trees so she’ll be in the shade and I’ll go to the pool bar and get a bottle of water. Will you tie those straps on her sun hat, they’re dangling down again?
”

  “No, Vicky, I’ll go and get the water,” said Denise hastily, as she had spotted that Juan was tending the pool bar. “I’ll not be few minutes and I’ll get us a drink as well.”

  “As long as it’s not alcoholic,” Vicky said, smiling to herself as set off with the push chair.

  ***

  “We have finished now, Ladies,” said Susanne, letting her arms go limp at her side, feeling her adrenaline fading after the twenty minute workout.

  “Good thing too,” muttered Kate, who had found she wasn’t as fit as she thought she was, after all the positions Susanne had instructed them to get into.

  “That was great,” said Sonya, “ will you be here tomorrow, Susanne?”

  Susanne nodded and said. “ Yes if it is not raining.”

  “Can I come too?” asked Annabelle, beaming all over her flushed face, as she was prone to plumpness. “ I’d much rather be doing this than having to go to Kid’s Club.”

  “We’ll have to see what your father says,” Cheryl replied, tying up her peach sarong again as it kept working loose during her workout. “ We might be going back to the apartment, as I want to have another look at it again.”

  “Oh, are you beginning to change your mind?” asked Kate, as the two women walked away from the tennis court, while Annabelle ran ahead to talk to her father and Sonya sloped off quickly, as she had to speak to Mikey.

  “To be honest, Kate, I’m getting worried that we’ve bitten off more than we can chew. I feel I’ve bulldozed Paul into handing over the deposit, because he knows what I’m like if I don’t get my way.

  I just need to go back and have another look to make sure I’m happy with it, but we’ve got an appointment at two o’ clock with the Notary.”

  “You know, Cheryl, if you don’t mind me saying so, you’ve got a real gem in that husband of yours. Greg and I nearly split up last year because I wanted to buy a lovely place in Cyprus and he didn’t want to. I’d go for it if I were you and if it’s the money you’re worrying about, I’m sure there’s plenty of people who would rent it from you. Anyway, I’ve heard the value of property is going up in leaps and bounds, so if things don’t work out, you can always sell it.”

  “Yes, I know you’re right, but sometimes I can be a real cow and he works such long hours to give us everything. Once Jack’s in full time school after Easter, I’m going to look for a job and start contributing. Anyway we’ll talk later, I don’t want Paul thinking I’m going off the place now.”

  ***

  “What happened to you last night?” asked Mikey, as Sonya ran up to him as he walked along with his archery equipment.

  “Oh, Dad had a benny on me. He said I wasn’t spending enough time with Evan. I don’t why he’s suddenly going on about it, because I took Evan to Loro Parque last week and I’ve done my share of the evening baby sitting.”

  “That’s families,” he said. “ But I was watching the door all evening in case you came in. Still, I got Tina and Anna to help with the Kid’s disco, then Tina went round with the Bingo tickets and we took it in turns putting the records on, so you not turning up didn’t put me out really. Except of course I missed you,” he said, putting the bow and the arrows on the floor and drawing Sonya into the snooker room doorway. “I hope your dad won’t put you on jankers this evening.”

  ***

  The two couples set off down the steps which took them to the sea front. Although they weren’t really couples, Uwe and Lucy walked together and Heiko with Lesley walked a few feet behind them. They stopped at one of the benches that overlooked the ocean and sat for a while watching the kiddies jumping on a trampoline on the black sanded beach below. Families hid behind wind protectors, having picnics or making sand castles, as although the sun was warm the breeze had a cold chill. They stared at the yachts that were dipping and bobbing, and the pirate ship on its way out to sea. Whilst a few hardy would be sailors, set out on pedaloes.

  Uwe and Lucy got up and wandered over to the sea wall, leaving Heiko feeling very nervous sitting alone with Lesley, as he didn’t know what to say. He felt tongue tied, especially as he had heard from Lucy that the woman’s husband had abandoned her recently; though he must have been a moron to forsake such a pretty lady. Inspiration came as he shifted uncomfortably.

  “Wie gehts dir? he said smiling tentatively at Lesley.

  “Es gehts mir gut, danke,” she replied to his amazement.

  “So you speak German,” Heiko exclaimed and they both laughed together, because now they had something to talk about.

  “ Heiko and Lesley seem to be getting on well together,” said Lucy as she heard them laughing. “ It’s so sad her husband leaving her, she seems a lovely lady. She’s had to take time off from her job as a primary school teacher to try to get over it, but she seems to be coping from what I can see.”

  “It is well that she has met Heiko then,” Uwe remarked. “A truer man you could never meet.”

  “Anyway,” said Lucy, changing the subject quickly in case relationships became a topic of conversation and she still had her job to do. “ What do you think? Is the promenade at Costa Adeje to your liking?”

  “Yes, I think there would be many German people who would like to walk along here for their morning exercise; the air seems invigorating and the little shops over there look interesting. The cafe’s we passed look clean and inviting, especially that one over there with the large tortes in the window. I think also that the older generation would feel safe in this environment, where they could sit or stroll in confidence with a marvellous view of the sea.”

  “Or they could go to the harbour and take a ferry to the island,” Lucy continued, “ or hire a yacht if they are brave enough. Then there are kiddies’ parks with bouncy castles, rope walks, little tunnels and trampolines. Of course there are pedaloes and plenty of sand to dig with buckets and spades. And over there at the end of the sea wall, is a path that leads to Playa del Duque where there’s an old fortress set in lovely grounds with palm trees full of brightly coloured canaries and further on is a man made beach with lighter coloured sand…”

  “You’ve sold it to me!”, laughed Uwe, holding his hands up in a dramatic gesture, then staring down upon her face with an expression on his that wasn’t remotely businesslike. “Come on,” he said patting her arm briefly. “ Let’s call Heiko and see if he has his notebook to hand.”

  ***

  Kath waited at the barrier outside the Arrivals lounge. She had her sign in readiness as the first trickle of passengers began to appear. Another two hours or so and she’d be sitting on the balcony of her apartment in Playa de las Americas, looking out to sea as she sipped on a cooling drink of orange juice.

  She had been on her mobile to Robert, putting on a hoarse voice as she had told him that she thought she might be coming down with ‘flu; that her head was aching and her throat was sore, sometimes she was feeling hot and sometimes she was going cold. He had been sympathetic, told her to take a Lemsip or a hot whisky toddy and get herself to bed. “Of course,” he had said. “Don’t hurry back, take your time in getting over it. Lucy will take over her duties again and the Germans will have to see to themselves.”

  ***

  Lucy’s mobile rang, just after they had decided to walk back to the hotel, having spent the time looking around the harbour, drinking coffee in one of the smaller restaurants, being pestered by the timeshare people who had seen the chance of earning double commission, if they could trap two couples in their net. Now an afternoon spent on the sun loungers, felt rather tempting.

  “It’s Robert here,” said the owner of Periquito Travel. “ Got a bit of a problem Lucy. Kath’s not well and needs a few days off to get over whatever is afflicting her. She’s accompanied the guests back from the airport, but you’ll have to take over at the hotel.”

  “Oh,” was all Lucy could utter in response to the change in her arrangements. His phone call had butted in on a perfect time with Uwe. It had got to one point when they were
climbing up some harbour steps, that he had actually taken her hand!

  Has she left a list was all she could think of and what do I do with Herr. Schroeder and Herr. Rennesburger?

  “Problems?” asked Uwe, who had heard some of the conversation. “Big ones,” said Lucy, pulling a wry face. “My supervisor has gone off sick and left me holding the fort while she’s away. I’m needed back at the hotel.”

  “Well, we were going back anyway,” said Lesley sympathetically. “ Is there anything that I can help you with?”

  “Maybe,” Lucy murmured distractedly. “ We’ll have a spot of lunch first and then we’ll see.”

  ***

  “There’s a comedienne on tonight,” said Sonya, as she sat with her parents and Evan by the swimming pool, following a latish lunch. “The management hasn’t tried her before according to Mikey, but she’s flown in from Manchester this morning and they’re putting her up in the hotel.”

  “Well, she must have a good reputation then,” said Kate. “ I can’t see them spending all that money on her air fare if she isn’t any good. So plans for this afternoon?” she asked, turning to Greg who was immersed in a John Grisham novel. “If we’re looking after Jack and Annabelle, do you think we should go to that park with all the things that kids can play on? I don’t fancy just hanging about here with them all afternoon.”

  “We could go on the little train again,” broke in Sonya. “ That would keep them occupied for an hour or so, while Paul and Cheryl are away.”

  “I don’t think it’s necessary for the three of us to look after them,” said Greg, as he looked up from his book and saw Anthea and Brian ordering drinks from the pool bar. “ You and Sonya go, Kate, I could do with a little me time. I’m up to an interesting part in my book and it would be nice to have an hour on my own.”

  “Okay then,” Kate replied, thinking that during their time away together she and Sonya could have a girly chat. She had been wondering how serious this thing with Mikey was and would it continue after her daughter got home? She hoped not, a second rate entertainer was not who she wanted for a prospective son-in-law.