One Summer in Spain

by Ian Wilfred

  Gemma sensed Craig was jealous. She smiled to herself, but in a way it also made her feel sad as she could tell that Craig wasn’t really happy with Claire, or even his job. Coming to Graingcia for a few days may not have helped either.

  “Come on, you two. Dario’s here. It should be Gemma and I who take the longest getting ready, not you chaps. It’s not as if we have to share bathrooms.”

  Rupert was the first to appear, dressed head to toe in white, but carrying a lemon coloured jumper. Craig looked lovely in his nice new shirt and trousers too, and this time Dario’s long face suggested he was now the jealous one.

  It didn’t take long to drive to the old town of Roncia. Dario explained that he had spoken to the owner of the restaurant who ensured they would all be looked after well. It was quite busy for the time of year, and Rupert, wanting to make a grand entrance strutted in like a peacock. Gemma noticed Dulcie take a step back, almost allowing him to take centre stage. It was obvious she was used to doing this, as Rupert and the waiter led the way to a lovely table overlooking the piazza.

  “Dario’s done us proud here. Isn’t it lovely? What a fabulous start to our holiday, don’t you think, Dulcie?”

  “Yes, Rupert, and if the food’s as good as the surroundings, I think it will be somewhere we might return to from time to time.”

  Dulcie was right, everything was perfect, the food was delicious and the waiting staff so friendly and attentive without being pushy. Craig seemed rather subdued, he joined in with the conversation when asked, but clearly didn’t feel comfortable. Dario had been booked to collect them at ten o’clock, and when it got to quarter to ten, Gemma mentioned that they ought to start getting ready to leave. Rupert asked for the bill but the manager returned with four large brandies – the last thing they really wanted after all the wine they’d drunk with the meal. However, it would have been considered rude not to accept them, so they quickly downed them, paid the bill and headed off down one of the narrow little streets to meet Dario. The fresh air hit them all and as it had turned rather chilly, Rupert put his jumper on.

  “Are you intending to direct traffic, Rupert? From where I’m standing it looks like you’re wearing a high vis jacket.”

  “Very funny, Dulcie. You just don’t understand fashion!”

  “That’s just the problem, lovey, I do… and today on the catwalk we have Rupardo modelling the latest creation. They are available in all sizes, not just the extra-large the model is wearing.”

  “I’ll give you extra-large, my dear. You just wait! If we’re going to be having a lot of nights out like this, I’m going to need a far bigger wardrobe. I can’t possibly be seen in the same thing twice, but one thing you said was nice. I quite like the name Rupardo. I think I’ll use that while I’m here.”

  They were all laughing at Rupert’s new name as they returned to the taxi. It had been a lovely evening and Gemma sighed as she glanced over at Craig, thinking it was a shame he had to return to England.

  Once back at the villa, Dulcie and Rupert both went straight to bed. Gemma wasn’t tired, but she knew that if she didn’t go to her room she’d end up staying up late and chatting to Craig. As much as she would have liked to, that might not be a good idea for either of them, so she said goodnight and went off to her room leaving Craig alone to pour himself another beer. She felt slightly guilty about him being by himself, but his life was complicated and she dare not become involved. This was an exciting start, working for Dulcie and Rupert, especially being in a new country. Yes, she needed to discover what she really wanted in life, but she didn’t want that to involve either a married man or a Spanish lad who she would have to say goodbye to in six months’ time.

  Chapter 12

  Tomorrow was Craig’s last day at the villa. If Rupert was not to be persuaded to fly home, it would be just under six months until he made the return trip to Graingcia to pick him up. Gemma was the last one up, and as she made a coffee she could see Craig and Dulcie chatting out on the patio down near the pool. Rupert was laughing with Maria.

  As Gemma waited for the kettle to boil, she decided to make a plan for the day. Before going to bed the previous night, they’d decided to eat in tonight, meaning that Gemma would have to put a menu together. Going out to the supermarket with a list of ingredients for their evening meal meant that she wouldn’t have to spend the day with Craig.

  “Morning, dear. I was just saying to Craig that it’s such a shame he can’t stay for a couple more days.”

  Craig looked embarrassed and as Gemma didn’t know what to say she changed the subject and talked about the weather, rambling that it wouldn’t be long before the sun came out and it would be hot.

  “Who’s hot? The lovely restaurant manager or the taxi driver? I’d say they both are.”

  “No, Rupert, or do you want me to say, Rupardo? Gemma was talking about the weather. Anyway, what are the plans for today? It’s Craig’s last day with us, unless I can persuade him to stay, that is, so we ought to do something nice.”

  This was Gemma’s opportunity to jump in and tell them that she was going shopping. She hadn’t realised that she now had no need to phone Dario for a lift, as Craig had his car. Before she could come up with an idea, Rupert suggested that he came along too. He fancied a little stroll around and it would help him get his bearings as he hadn’t been in Graingcia as long as the others. Gemma was relieved. At least she wouldn’t be left alone with Craig all day. That was sorted then, all four of them would go down to the promenade, take a little stroll along the coast and then go food shopping. They arranged to leave in about an hour.

  As Gemma headed back inside the villa, her phone rang. It was Jamie to see whether it was alright for him and Janice to come over and stay for a week. Gemma didn’t feel it was her place to answer that, so she handed the phone over to Dulcie. One thing was certain, they were dreading Janice coming over to stay.

  “That was a lovely stroll. I can see I’m going to enjoy staying here, although I don’t think I’ve got enough outfits for promenading like this. This holiday lark needs a lot of planning.”

  The three of them laughed at Rupert, he was always one for sending himself up, and of course loved the banter and attention. Before going to the supermarket Dulcie suggested a little lunch somewhere. This wasn’t the type of day Gemma had planned, but she was enjoying it nonetheless. She declared that she wasn’t feeling hungry, as did Craig, who seemed far more relaxed than the previous night. Today he was Craig from England, the chirpy little chappy she fondly remembered.

  “Look, perhaps we could have a little walk while Dulcie and Rupert get some lunch?”

  “Excuse me, Craig! I think you’ve forgotten something. It’s Rupardo from now on. Okay, then, you two go and have some fun and we’ll meet you back here in a couple of hours.”

  They headed down from the promenade onto the beach enjoying the gentle sea breeze. They must have walked for a good fifteen minutes before either of them spoke, there being just the odd look and smile which was actually quite awkward. Eventually Gemma started up a conversation.

  “You seem more your old self today, Craig. You were quiet last night and I wasn’t sure if you were enjoying yourself out here.”

  “Yes, sorry about that. I am enjoying myself, it’s lovely, but I just felt like a fish out of water. I’ve never been to anywhere posh to eat before, and I didn’t know how to act. Thank goodness Rupert was there to…”

  “…be the star of the show. Can you imagine how much fun he’s going to have here in Graingcia for the next six months. And I wouldn’t worry about feeling out of place, I do too.”

  “That’s nice to know, thanks Gemma. It would have been nice to stay out here, even if it was just for one more week. Sadly, I do need to get home, although to what I don’t know apart from work and more work in that taxi. What makes it worse is that I won’t have Rupert and Dulcie to take to places, and more importantly, I won’t be able to see you either.”

  “That’s enough of th
at, Craig. It’ll be good for you to go back and sort things out with Claire. Like her father says, you need to put your foot down a bit more. Let her know that a relationship only works if there’s give and take on both sides. Come on, I’ll buy you an ice cream to cheer you up before we head back to meet up with the others. I swear all they do while we’re here is party. I’ll end up on my knees trying to keep up with them.”

  Nothing more about Craig’s home life was mentioned, and they eventually met up with a giggly Dulcie and Rupert who had been the life and soul of the supermarket, introducing himself to the staff. Gemma laughed to herself. Dario would die of embarrassment if ever he goes shopping with Rupert. It suddenly crossed her mind that she hadn’t even given Dario another thought since he’d dropped them back the previous night.

  Back at the villa Rupert and Dulcie announced they were going to have a little nap while Gemma sorted out the shopping and made lists. She needed to be far more organised with meal planning, although as this was their holiday it seemed likely that each day would pass with little structure. She smiled to herself, realising she was beginning to sound like an old woman herself with her structures, lists and plans.

  “Need a hand with anything, Gemma?”

  “No, it’s all in hand, thanks. You relax, it’s your last day here and you’ve such a long drive back tomorrow. Dulcie was right, it would have been nice if you could have stayed longer.”

  Chapter 13

  Next morning the three of them waved Craig off on his journey home. They’d all enjoyed having him there for the last few days and last night’s meal and the card games were fun, but now it was time to start making a few plans for the rest of their time out in Graingcia. Although it was officially their holiday, Dulcie agreed with Gemma that they should have a better routine, although Rupert joked that if they were planning on implementing house rules, the only one he could think of was that none of them were allowed to sleep with each other’s man. Both Dulcie and Gemma had laughingly replied that there’d be no sleeping around for anyone.

  “Not even if a certain Spanish taxi driver knocks on the door? I’ll race you two ladies to get to him first.”

  “Enough of that kind of talk, Rupert! All joking aside, we do need to make some sort of plan, starting with organising a date for when Janice can come over, which I’ll have to admit is not something I’m looking forward to.”

  “But at least Jamie will be with her, and we know he’ll keep her in line.”

  “That’s not the bit I’m worried about. What happens when Jamie goes back to work and she decides to stay out here? You know as well as I do, that’s bound to happen.”

  Gemma hadn’t even considered that scenario, but she was confident that if Dulcie couldn’t handle Janice, then Rupert certainly could! She didn’t want to appear too bothered by Janice coming over to stay and decided to keep quiet. It wasn’t her place to make comment, she was an employee and as Janice was her employer’s daughter, life would be awkward if she said the wrong thing. Dulcie’s phone rang and Gemma could hear her say that two o’clock would be perfect. “See you then.” Obviously that was not Janice on the other end of the line!

  “That was Alexa from the letting agency. She wants to pop in to make sure we’ve settled in alright, have everything we need and that we’re happy with Maria’s work. Is there anything you two want to ask her?”

  They all agreed that they were more than happy with the villa, but as Rupert was looking forward to meeting Alexa, Gemma suggested that she should go for a walk as she wasn’t a tenant and didn’t want to be in the way.

  “Of course, my dear. We don’t expect you to spend all your time with us oldies. Go and have some fun.”

  It was all very well Rupert telling her to go out and enjoy herself, but she was there to work and that’s what she planned to do. Find herself little jobs which would help Rupert and Dulcie enjoy their stay in Graingcia. So, a quick shower, tidy up in the kitchen, take something out of the freezer for the evening meal, and she would go out.

  Three hours later as she sat in a café on the prom with a hot chocolate and sweet pastry, she reflected on how her life had changed so quickly. It was only a few months ago she had agonised over her decision to give up her university course, but of course she also remembered what her parents had told her before she left for Spain – she did need to consider the long term picture. What would she do if this housekeeping job came to an end or they needed personal care such as washing and dressing? However, perhaps she should just live in the present and not think too far ahead. This was a life experience for six months. There was no telling what the future held, and as Rupert was always saying, “We’re here to have fun.”

  “Gemma! Fancy seeing you here alone. Have you escaped from the party animals again? That Rupert’s a real character, isn’t he? I couldn’t believe how excitable he was in the taxi.”

  “Oh, hi Dario. Yes, he calls it ‘show time’ and he definitely knows when to switch it on. Alexa from the letting agency’s calling round, so I’ve decided to leave them to it and have another walk around.”

  “So does that mean your other taxi driver friend’s gone back to England? You must be missing him.”

  “Yes, Craig’s gone back to England, his job and his wife. He was only here to bring Rupert over as he didn’t want to fly. Dulcie suggested he should stay an extra day or two to rest up before the long journey home. That’s the only reason he was here.”

  Dario looked embarrassed, but Gemma didn’t care about that. She had cleared the air, and in explaining that Craig was married and Rupert being afraid of flying, she hoped that would emphasise the fact she had no further involvement with him. With that Dario’s mobile phone rang and he answered the call in Spanish. From the little she could understand, she realised that he needed to collect someone in the taxi.

  Dario said his goodbyes, she paid for her refreshments and headed off for a walk. Instead of continuing along the promenade and seafront, she opted to go up one of the busy side streets which was full of holiday apartments and small shops. Looking through the gates at some of the complexes, Gemma noticed how modern they looked. They couldn’t have been built long as they stood out amongst the older, more traditional buildings. She could see for herself the difference between these and the holiday apartments which Dario’s grandfather owned. There was no comparison. It was little wonder he was struggling.

  “Hello, can I help you?”

  “Oh, no sorry. I was just taking a look in. I’m staying in Graingcia for six months and interested to see everything in and around the area.”

  The woman explained that she was the caretaker / cleaner for the complex and would be happy to show Gemma around. She jumped at the chance, and followed the lady in. It was a block of eight apartments, four downstairs, and four on an upper floor, with a huge inter-connected kitchen / lounge and a communal pool behind the block. The woman asked whether Gemma would like to see inside one of the apartments.

  “So it’s just a bedroom and bathroom basically, a bit like a hotel and the cooking facilities are shared? However does that work out? If everybody’s a holidaymaker and they don’t know each other, surely there would be arguments about who’s using what and when.”

  “Oh, no, the whole complex is rented out as a whole. We couldn’t possibly rent it to individuals because as you say, that just wouldn’t be practical. We normally rent it to groups or eight couples at a time. It’s difficult for me because when they leave, I have to make sure the whole complex is clean and tidy for the new people arriving, especially if that’s the same day. While the holidaymakers are here, I do simple tasks like cleaning the patio, and changing the bed linen if they’re here for more than a week. Anything else is their responsibility.”

  Gemma went quiet. Her brain had gone into overdrive. She apologised to the lady and thanked her for showing her around. Saying goodbye and leaving the complex, she phoned Dario to see if he could meet her at his grandfather’s house at some point during the day
. He was busy until late afternoon with an airport run, but suggested they could meet in the evening and have something to eat. Gemma agreed and arranged to meet him at his home at around seven-thirty. That would give her time to cook Dulcie and Rupert a meal beforehand.

  It was only three o’clock now and Gemma didn’t need anything from the supermarket, so she decided to walk back to the villa by a different route. She had a map of the town on her phone and realised that if she walked slightly further up the hill she could cut down a path and come level with the villa. Hopefully then she could cut across, but as the map didn’t show a path she hoped that there was access. The more she saw of Graingcia, the more she loved it. It felt so much like home.

  Luckily, Gemma was right. There was a way across from the path to the villa, and from where she was now standing the villa was on her right, overlooking a magnificent sea view. She could see the whole of the beach from one angle, and then turning round, the ancient town of Roncia. Gemma was delighted to have found this new route, as although it would be too steep for Dulcie and Rupert, it would be a quicker way back for her when the main route was full of tourists and holidaymakers in the summer.

  Her mind was never far from her dilemma of what to do for the future, but for now she was content. She hadn’t been content at university, and the fun and adventure of the gap year wasn’t quite the same either. This was different, for the first time in ages, Gemma was content in life.

  She headed down a little wooded area and could just about see the roof of the villa. The pathway was fairly steep and she had to take care. It led to an old boarded up house which was fenced off. It looked like it hadn’t been lived in for years, but there was a gate leading through to the land where the villa had been built.

  “Hi, have you had a nice day, dear?”

  “Yes, thanks, Dulcie. I’ve explored more of the town, discovered inland cafés and I’ve found a new way back. How did you get on with Alexa?”