One Summer in Spain

by Ian Wilfred

  She spotted the water by her bedside, but to reach out for it would mean moving her head and she wasn’t too sure she could manage that. Suddenly she had a thought. Why hadn’t Dario brought them all home? Was it because he’d seen her kissing Craig?

  She wondered whether Dulcie and Rupert had also seen her and Craig. They would definitely have been positive about it, but what about Craig? Had he changed his mind about wanting to get back with his wife? What a mess!! Gemma just wanted to pull the bed covers over her head and stay there all day, but unfortunately she had work to do.

  It was now a quarter to one in the afternoon. She had fallen back to sleep, forgotten the time and her head still hurt. What would the others think of her still being in bed at this time? She had to get up and find out. A quick shower before venturing out of her room helped, but a quick glance in the mirror proved she looked as rough as she felt. Now to face the others…

  All the bedroom doors were still closed and the kettle was cold. Surely she couldn’t be the first one up. She was pleased to see there was no sign of anyone out on the terrace either. It made her feel a little better to know she wasn’t the only one worse for wear.

  Gemma made herself a coffee, put her sunglasses on and went out onto the shady terrace. It was lovely to feel the fresh air on her face in comparison to the air conditioned villa. It had been a long time since she had eaten, and hunger pangs were making her stomach worse. She felt as if she needed a bacon or sausage sandwich to settle it. One thing for sure, she vowed never to drink like that again. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d even been to a party like that. No wonder Dario had made his comment about it being the party of the year. What was it with Dorothy and Sid, and as for all those older women treating Craig like a toy to play with, it was all so bizarre.

  “Morning! Or is it afternoon or evening? Sorry, Gemma but I don’t feel too well.”

  “Hi, Craig. Don’t worry, I’m the same, and it’s afternoon now. Want a coffee?”

  “I don’t think I know what I want apart from a new head. How did I drink so much yesterday, and more importantly, why?”

  They both laughed. Neither of them could get over how they had managed to find themselves in such a situation. They were the youngest people at the party by far, but perhaps that was the problem? All the older people had years of drinking experience. Gemma was about to mention the kiss when she noticed Dulcie in the kitchen. Suddenly she remembered Dulcie had fallen out of the taxi the previous night. She ought to go and make sure she really was alright.

  “Never again I tell you. I’m never going to…”

  “I know, Dulcie. I feel the same. That’s me and alcohol finished for good.”

  “Oh not the drink, that party, dear.”

  “You go and sit down, and I’ll make you a coffee. How’s your knee today?”

  “My knee? Yes, it’s badly grazed. How did that happen?”

  Dulcie clearly couldn’t remember anything, so Gemma had to explain how she had fallen when getting out of the taxi, and Nico, Dario’s colleague, helping her in. It didn’t appear that Dulcie could remember much about the previous night at all, which wasn’t a bad thing, Gemma considered, as by that token she probably wouldn’t recall the kiss. The same thing couldn’t be said for Rupert. He certainly wouldn’t have missed anything as noteworthy as that.

  “Morning, and how are we all this morning? Wasn’t it a fabulous party? I hope they hold another one before we go back to the UK. Haven’t had such fun in ages.”

  “Oh, Rupert, please be a bit quieter. Surely you have a bad head and a hangover after all that drinking last night.”

  “Of course not, Dulcie. I’m feeling fine! What a fabulous time we had.”

  They all looked at each other in amazement. How on earth could Rupert be this chipper when they all felt like death warmed up? Gemma didn’t even know what time they had got back, as Rupert had said that they hadn’t even seen the party out. It was still in full swing when they left, but apparently Craig hadn’t felt too well having had far too much to eat and drink and they had decided to call it a night.

  “But what time was it?”

  “Probably around half past three. Do you remember falling out of the taxi, Dulcie? Thank goodness that taxi driver helped us to carry you in.”

  “No, I’ve no recollection of that at all. I must apologise to Dario when I see him.”

  “No, dear, it wasn’t Dario. One of his colleagues brought us home. Perhaps he was already booked and couldn’t fit us in, but I wonder why?”

  Rupert’s expression and the way he was looking at Gemma and Craig told them he knew exactly why Dario hadn’t taken them home. Gemma used that as her cue to go and make everyone some more toast and hot drinks. She felt so stupid. Firstly, for leading Craig on, and secondly for upsetting Dario. What a mess, and on top of that she still didn’t feel well – the heat and sunshine were not helping matters. She contemplated going back to bed when her phone loudly signalled a text message. Dario’s name flashed up on screen. ‘Just to say if you’re too busy with other things I can go to Ikea by myself. Dario’

  Although Gemma felt ashamed of herself, she was also none too happy about Dario’s attitude. If she had felt better she would have probably ignored him, but today she let her emotions overrule her head. ‘Craig is my friend. Very similar to the friend you spent a few days with, if you get my drift.’

  The rest of the day was spent in the shade with little conversation between the four of them. Even Rupert was quiet after his earlier comment about feeling fine, but as the day wore on, Gemma could tell that he too was suffering the after effects of the party. Before any of them realised it, it was time for an evening meal. Gemma prepared honey and mustard chicken breast with a salad, but this time everyone refused a drink. An early night beckoned for them all, perhaps they would be back to normal tomorrow.

  “That was lovely, Gemma, thank you. Let me clear the dishes away.”

  “No, it’s okay, Rupert. You stay there and entertain our guest. I’ll have it done in minutes. Can I get anyone anything while I make myself a cup of tea?”

  As they sat on the bottom terrace, the cool evening breeze made them feel a lot better. They chatted together, laughing about the party, but thankfully there was no mention of the kiss.

  “It reminded me of the good old days more than fifty years ago, when Rupert and I would party well into the night. We were young then, and it wasn’t uncommon to be out partying five nights a week. They’d just happened rather than being planned events. We’d finish a shift in a hotel or a large function, and then someone would mention a party somewhere and we’d all just go. More often than not the same crowd of people but with a few strangers added to the mix. In those days it was so simple, music, drinks, but no drugs and no electronic devices. Last night everyone was glued to their mobile phone, if you noticed. Oh, dear, I do miss the good old days.”

  “But, Dulcie, I think your memory is rather selective. Some of the parties were wild. We’d end up in some part of London; we’d have no clue where. I remember a troupe of dancers who were touring the world and spending a week in London. Come to think of it, they were Spanish. I clicked with one of them…’

  “Oh, yes, I remember that now. I worked all your shifts that week so you could be with him.”

  “He was lovely, and we got on so well in such a short period of time. We talked about seeing each other, but sadly it wasn’t to be. The thing with parties is that with the music and free flowing alcohol, one thing easily leads to another. Most of the time it’s all meaningless and forgotten the next day. Isn’t that right, Dulcie?”

  “True, but I’ve always said that everything in life happens for a reason.”

  Gemma could read between the lines. She knew Rupert was subtly referring to her and Craig’s kiss, meaning that she should move on. Dulcie, on the other hand, was saying it was meant to be and might lead to something.

  Chapter 27

  Craig’s holiday was nearly over, a
nd he’d spent most of the time since Dorothy and Sid’s party relaxing by the pool with Dulcie and Rupert. Gemma still felt rather awkward about everything. She sensed that he wanted to talk to her privately, but she had carefully engineered situations to make sure that didn’t happen. He’d tried to follow her into the kitchen when she was clearing up after a meal, but she’d managed to avoid being alone with him. Even to the point of staying in her room until she heard Rupert get up. If they hadn’t gone to the stupid party none of this would have happened.

  Today though, Gemma had planned her trip to Ikea with Dario. It was a six hour round trip, not including the browsing and shopping time, so Pablo had paid for them to spend the night in a hotel. Before Dario was due to collect her, she knew she’d have to ask Dulcie and Rupert’s permission to stay overnight.

  Dario was scheduled to arrive in about half an hour, so with breakfast things cleared away, this was Gemma’s only opportunity to mention it. Her mouth was dry, and she felt nervous, but why? It wasn’t as if she was seeing one man behind the other’s back. She shouldn’t even be worrying about it.

  “Are you sure you’re alright with this? You won’t need to take anything out of the freezer for tonight if you’re going out to eat, and there’re lots of snacks and drinks to see you through until tomorrow. Right, I just need to pack my overnight bag.”

  Craig’s face dropped. This was the first time Gemma noticed him actually looking sad since his arrival. She returned to her room and sat there quietly for a while. Her overnight bag already packed and on the bed ready to go, she realised she couldn’t stay in her room for too long. She would carry her things outside and sit on the terrace with the others until Dario arrived.

  “All sorted. Are you sure you don’t need me to do anything else before I go?”

  “No, we’re fine, dear, and it’s not as if we’re going to be doing any cooking while you’re away.”

  “There is one thing, Gemma. Could you show me how to work the washing machine, please? I’ve run out of clean T-shirts.”

  How could she refuse? As the utility room was at the rear of the villa, no one else would be able to hear anything Craig might say. If only Dulcie would step in and offer to show him, she thought to herself, but before she could reply, Craig had fetched his dirty laundry. She thought quickly. She could either set the machine to a wash cycle without having to speak to him, or she could take all his washing from him, leaving him with no need to go to the utility room. Before she could suggest that, Craig was heading down the corridor.

  “What’s wrong, Craig? Why the sad face?”

  “You know what’s wrong, Gemma. I thought you said there was nothing between you two, yet you’re off to spend the night together. I don’t understand why you need to stay overnight. Surely you’ve got plenty of time to get what you need and come back.”

  “I’m going to advise on what would make the complex look better. Look, Craig, this is nothing to do with me staying overnight, is it? Admit it, it’s about the kiss that shouldn’t have happened. It was a party and we’d both had too much to drink. Anyway, I thought you were all up for trying to get Claire back.”

  “I was at first, but since that kiss I’ve realised what a mistake that would be. It’s showed me what I really want in life, Gemma – you!”

  Gemma was speechless. Thankfully, Rupert saved the moment by calling her to say that Dario had arrived. It was wrong to leave without answering Craig though, as in all honesty she had been as much to blame for the kiss as he had been.

  “Craig, there’s nothing between Dario and me. He’s a friend, just like you are. Look, I’m not looking for a relationship, or even a one-night stand come to that. Let’s talk about it when I get back tomorrow, but the last thing I want is to give you the impression we could have anything more than a friendship.”

  With that she walked out to get her bag, leaving Craig with his laundry in the utility room. She was glad he made no attempt to follow her as she wasn’t in the mood for any atmosphere between him and Dario. She said goodbye to Dulcie and Rupert and set off with Dario on their trip to Ikea. The mood between them was still rather frosty, but Gemma had a lot of ideas and suggestions for the holiday apartments to discuss with him so she pulled her folder from her bag and started to ask him questions about home furnishings. The conversation was stifled. Dario didn’t seem at all interested which, as it was his and Pablo’s livelihood, Gemma thought was rather strange.

  “So, did you have a chance to look at all the kitchen equipment on the Ikea website? I think apart from a wok and a couple of new saucepans, you could manage with what’s there already for the guests. I don’t think they’ll need cups and saucers either. Mugs would do fine, and they’re far cheaper. Plus, the basic range of china and cutlery looks quite stylish. What do you think?”

  “I think you’re playing with my head, Gemma. What’s going on with you and that English lad? Didn’t you tell me he was married, so why were you kissing him the other night? You also said that you weren’t interested. I thought it was me you were interested in. Why would you be spending so much time helping us with the refurbishment and coming over to my house if you weren’t interested in me? Oh, and before you bring Maya into this. She’s something completely different. So, why did you kiss him? It meant something to you, surely?”

  Gemma now regretted her decision to go to Ikea with Dario. She didn’t have any answers as to why she kissed Craig, and she liked to think the refurbishment plan was to help Pablo too. She had now found out that his girlfriend’s name was Maya, a nice name, she thought, and wondered if she was as pretty as her name. She had to be, didn’t she? Dario was a handsome young man.

  “Look, Dario, we’ll talk about this later, not while you’re driving. I’ll tell you about the kiss, and you can explain more about Maya. Hopefully, that will clear the air a bit.”

  Dario didn’t respond, but a little while later started to talk about the refurbishment. Since Gemma’s last visit a week ago, all the bathrooms had been tiled and shower cubicles installed. The old door had been rubbed down and prepared ready to make into a headboard, and the kitchen and lounge were looking so much better with the furniture removed and a couple of coats of brilliant white paint completed. He seemed to be happier now, Gemma thought, so hopefully once they got to Ikea and saw all the modern kitchen utensils he’d be back to his old self.

  It was now nearly two o’clock, and as it was a three hour journey Gemma knew they weren’t too far from their destination. She was hungry, it hadn’t been a good idea to skip breakfast, and she’d hoped they’d break for a coffee and snack en route. She mentioned Ikea’s lovely restaurant and their cheaply priced meatballs, but Dario looked bemused. He’d never been to Ikea before so was totally unaware of the layout and facilities. It would be interesting to see what he thought of it – a Marmite experience, love it or hate it.

  “Nearly there. It’s on the outskirts of the city. What would you like to do first, Gemma? Go shopping, or check into the hotel?”

  “I was thinking Ikea might be a bit overwhelming at first, and as we want to buy quite a lot of things, maybe it would be best if we just go and browse around this afternoon, make some notes and then discuss it later. We can go back tomorrow and buy everything we need before heading back to Graingcia.”

  Dario agreed that would be a good idea, adding that he was grateful for her input into such a big project. If it hadn’t been for her, he and Pablo might have had to put the apartments up for sale. Gemma sensed he was regretting his earlier outburst and beginning to calm down. Perhaps this would be an enjoyable break after all.

  Six hours later and after a most exhausting day, Gemma and Dario went to the hotel bar to discuss their afternoon in Ikea and the items they would need to buy. All Gemma really wanted to do was sleep. Her head was aching after hours of matching colour schemes with bedding, cushions and towels, and then considering the styles for the bedrooms and continuing that through into the kitchen and lounge. Should everything mat
ch between the two areas, or should it be a little more funky? There were so many questions to answer and decisions to make and the vast number of items in Ikea had indeed been overwhelming.

  Gemma was also mulling over spending the evening out with Dario as she knew the topic of conversation would inevitably drift from the home furnishings to her and Craig. She wanted to convince him that there really was nothing between them, but then there was still the matter of Maya and how much importance she played in Dario’s life.

  “Are you hungry? I could eat those meatballs all over again. I’ve grown up on meatballs out here in Spain but never any like that, so thanks for introducing me to them. And I can’t believe how tiring shopping can be.”

  “I know! I could have easily fallen asleep on my feet, but yes, I’m still hungry and we’ve so much to discuss.”

  “Gemma, please! No more mugs, cushions, colours and styles. I don’t think I can take any more.”

  They both laughed as they headed off to the hotel restaurant to order dinner. They then started to go down Gemma’s list of ideas, ticking them off as they finalised their thoughts and debating whether a small wardrobe would look better than an open clothes rail. It would look far tidier and the guests could then store their empty suitcases, creating more space. Dario was impressed by the way Gemma had priced everything up, calculating how much money each room would cost to set up and also taking into account spare bedding and towels.

  “My dad would be so impressed with you, Gemma. As a businessman he lives and breathes boring things like profit, loss and return on investments.”

  “Dario, it’s far from boring. I’d say it’s essential. If you haven’t got a handle on the financial side of things, you’ll never be profitable. A few Euros here, a few there, and before you know it, you’ve overspent. Anyway, I think everything we’ve decided on does represent good value for money, and it can easily be replaced at the start of each summer season. You could order a dozen glasses, a few bath towels or cushions online quite easily.”