Clouds Below the Mountains (10 page)

***

“Well, it's almost lunchtime,” said Fred to Mavis, looking at his brown strapped watch as they came out of the Sunlight Bar.

“Do you want to eat already, Fred? My breakfast hasn't digested yet.”

“We've paid for it, we may as well have it,” her husband replied. “Tell yer what, we'll have a walk to the tennis courts. I'm sure I saw something about archery. We'll dander over and look what's going on.”

“Can't we sit down on one of those sofas and go through these excursions?”, asked Mavis.

“What do you think?, he replied and walked on towards the patio door.

***

Lucy and Kath came out into the foyer with almost empty boxes, having distributed most of the contents at the Welcome meeting.

“That went well don't you think, Lucy?”said Kath. “Though I think if the weather was better, they would have been quicker to make their minds up.”

“They'll probably come to our desk after lunch, Kath. Anyway we have a few signed up already for the evening trip on Sunday to Raffles. Will you be going on that one or do you want me to go this time?”

“We'll see what other trips get booked up as well,” Kath replied, who quite liked to go to the Raffles Cabaret, as there was a three course meal included whilst watching the show.

“Uh, oh, don't look now Kath, but that chap has come back. Do you want to speak to him or shall I?”

“We both will, it will be good experience for you, though I hope this kind of situation doesn't happen again.”

“Good morning, Mr. Reeves,” Kath said pleasantly, walking over to him. “Could you give us a moment of your time? Lucy put these boxes behind our desk, there's a dear.”

“I was hoping to get to my room to get these clothes off and have a shower,” answered Simon. “These are minging. There aren't any showers in jail, yer know.”

“Yes, I heard there was an altercation in the Sunlight Bar last night, Mr. Reeves. That is something we have to talk about, if you don't mind.”

“It was that little cow's fault,” said Simon, unrepentant. “If she had stopped with me in the bedroom like I told her to, none of this would have happened. Where is she anyway?”

“I'm sure she will be in the hotel somewhere. After we have had our little chat, I will ask Lucy to look for her. Meantime if you would step this way.”

Kath intended to speak to Simon in the owner's office, thinking that Mr. Sanchez would have probably left the building or had gone to lunch, but as she opened the office door without knocking, she found the owner busy with paperwork at his desk. Kath was thankful, she had to admit it, she hadn't been looking forward to telling the young man he had to go.

“Ah, the wanderer returns,” said Mr. Sanchez, seeing Simon standing sulkily behind Kath in the doorway. “Do come in, both of you.”

Lucy, who at that moment had returned to see what Kath was doing, was told by Mr. Sanchez, as she hovered, that she was to search for Jenni and bring her back quickly.

Her heart sank on behalf of the girl that she had befriended, this was the time of reckoning as far as Jenni was concerned.

“You what!,” shouted Simon, incredulously, “you're throwing me out? On what grounds? I've paid good money for this holiday. Gone without stuff so that I could give my bird a good time. What's she had to say about it, have yer spoken to Jenni?”

“Mr. Reeves, try to understand where I'm coming from,” said Mr. Sanchez. “ My hotel is full with holiday makers. They come to relax, get away from the stresses of life back home. Last night they were assured of quality entertainment, but little did they know that they would be entertained by you shouting abuse at your girlfriend and attacking a member of my staff. I cannot let you stay here in case there is a re-occurrence of your behaviour.”

“Well, you shouldn't allow people to drink themselves into oblivion,” Simon blustered. “It's ridiculous serving alcohol from morning ‘til night. They wouldn't stand for it in England. You're a load of greasy dagos' as far as I'm concerned, even the bloody police couldn't speak English.”

“Well, I certainly can,” said Mr. Sanchez, getting up from his chair, feeling insulted at the young man's words. “I probably speak English better than you can and once Miss Woods arrives, you will be escorted by my security guard to your bedroom, where you will pack your belongings.”

“I'll sue,” retorted Simon, though he was feeling that he wasn't on steady ground anymore. “You'll have to do something,” he said, rounding on Kath with a look of disbelief.

“I think that our company is only morally bound to see that you are safely on an aeroplane,” Kath said, hoping that she was right, because Periquito Travel couldn't afford a court case. “I don't think it is in our remit to find you other accommodation.”

“We'll see about that, I'll see my lawyer when I get home,” he said, though he was only bluffing, as he hadn't a clue about how he went about it.

“Fine,” said Mr. Sanchez. “I will telephone for my security guard to be on standby.”

Just then, after a knock on the door, Lucy stood on the threshold with a timid looking Jenni behind her.

“So there you are, you bloody bitch,” cried Simon. “This is all your fucking fault, did yer know that we were being flung out?”

“Simon……I…”

“That's enough, Mr. Reeves,” said Mr. Sanchez, coming around from his desk to stand by Jenni.

“I will not tolerate that kind of language in front of females. I have decided you don't have to go with him Jenni, you are very welcome to stay.”

“What! What have you been doing behind my back, that this ponce is allowing you to stay, while I'm being flung out on my ear?”

Simon moved towards Jenni, ready to grab her arm and tell her that she was going with him whether she liked it or not, but Ralf Sanchez, in his younger days, had studied self defence. His hand shot out to stop him and Simon found himself tottering back, falling over a chair.

“Get Security”, shouted the owner, to anybody that was listening and Lucy with Jenni found themselves in the foyer.

The security guard, a different one from the night before, had been casually hovering by Reception waiting for the call from Mr. Sanchez. On seeing the two girls falling out of the office, he pushed past them and rushed in through the door. There was a silence all around, as the reception staff, cleaners who had been working in the nearby toilet, people passing by, all held their breaths to await the outcome. There was a sigh of relief, when a tousled looking young man came out of the office, with the security guard holding onto his arm.

“You'll be sorry,” he said venomously to Jenni, as he passed her by with the security guard and Kath bringing up the rear, so that she could check there was no damage done to the room. “I'll be waiting for you when you get back to the airport next Tuesday and I'm taking all the money with me.”

He snapped his white wristband with his free right hand and threw it in contempt onto the floor.

“Oh no, what have I done,” whispered Jenni, even now feeling that all this had been her fault in the long run.

“Nothing,” said Lucy briskly. “Now come down to the bar and I'll get you a brandy.”

***

“Thank heavens we can get our meal in peace,” said Kate to Greg and Sonya, as the family sat eating their lunch in the dining room. “I thought for a moment you were going to agree to hiring a people carrier before, Greg. You know you like to do our own thing, when we're on holiday.”

“I was tempted I must admit,” said Greg, as he tied a napkin around Evan's neck, because the child wasn't looking where he was spooning his spaghetti.

“We couldn't have Evan and Jack together in the back seat of a car anyway, it would be bedlam. I know the little girl is quite sweet, but those two together would give me a headache,” Kate continued

“I wonder where they've go to?”, asked Sonya, looking around her.

“Probably gone to their suite,” answered Greg, putting the emphasis on suite.

“What was that all about?”, asked Kate. “Did you know there were suites for hire when you booked the hotel?”

“No, I didn't, Kate. I would have booked one instead of the two separate bedrooms, but apparently Paul emailed the company and asked was there anything he could upgrade to? It seems that the owner allows guests to hire his suite of rooms, when he's not using them.”

“Ooooh,” said Kate and Sonya in unison.

“Do you know what Paul does for a living, Dad?,” asked Sonya, as she tried to help Evan with a spoonful of his spaghetti, as the child wasn't being very successful.

“I'm not sure, we've only talked about what I do for a living, but whatever it is he must be making a lot of money.”

“I think I'll just have cheese and biscuits after my salad,” said Kate, “ or I'll not fit into anything that I've brought with me. By the way, have we got any plans for the rest of the day?”

“I think Evan's tired after being in the Kid's club. What say we put him in the push chair and have a walk down to the sea front?”, asked Greg. “He'll probably fall asleep on the way.”

“Then this evening?”

“ Well, after Evan has been to the Mini disco, this evening is your own, Ladies. Though I'll want you back by half past twelve, Kate. I can watch some T.V while Evan's asleep.”

“And what about me, Dad, what time do you want me back?” asked Sonya mischievously.

“The same as your mother,” Greg said sternly. “Half past twelve is late enough.”

***

“Well, that was really nice of you both to stand me a facial,” said Jean to Doreen and Milly, as they made their way along to the Quiet bar, after Jean had spent thirty minutes having her face massaged with wonderful smelling lotions and Doreen had been given a manicure. “What did you do, Milly, while we were in there?”

“I went back to the shop and got some more postcards. I've already written a couple while you were being
ministrated
to. And I've had a couple of drinks while I was writing them.”

“Oh, you alky you,” said Doreen. “Well, we've got to be quick, Jean, to catch up with her. Did you bring our postcards in your handbag, we could do with catching her up on them too?”

“I just want to say before we go into the bar, girls,” said Jean self consciously, as they stood at the door. “ I'm right chuffed with your birthday present and my skin feels lovely after it.”

“It's not your birthday yet, though,” said Doreen, going all mysterious on her.

***

Greg pushed Evan along in the push chair, looking over at the view of the sea and though it was still an overcast day, he could see the sun trying hard to push through the clouds far out above the horizon. Sonya had given her son a bottle of milk and his blanket to settle down with. Although Evan considered himself a big boy now, he still liked a little cosseting now and again.

Mother and daughter walked behind, still dressed in a leisurely fashion, but with their all weather jackets around their shoulders, in case a cold wind began to blow.

“I saw that waiter looking at you again in the dining room,” said Kate quietly.

“Which one?” asked Sonya airily, as she looked over a hedge at some apartments they were passing.

“The one called, Juan.”

“Oh, him,” said Sonya. “I thought you were going to say the handsome one called, Miguel.”

“They're both handsome,” insisted Kate. “A lot handsomer than some of the lads you've been out with recently.”

“That is true,” Sonya agreed, grinning at her mother.“Anyway are you applying for the position of my pimp, Mother?”

“Hey up!,” shouted a male voice, coming from somewhere a good few yards behind them. The two women turned around in surprise, but Greg who had recognized the voice began to push Evan along more quickly. When he reached a corner, he disappeared from view, leaving Kate and Sonya wondering whether to go after him, or wait for Paul and his family. They decided on the latter. Greg would wait somewhere for them, they thought confidently.

“We thought it was you,” said Paul as he, Cheryl and the children caught them up. “Where are you off to? Cheryl was just looking in the shop for some duty free perfume. We didn't know whether to buy it on the ‘plane when we we're going back.”

“And is it cheaper here?”, asked Kate.

“It's very similar in price,” Cheryl replied.

“So where are you off too?” Paul asked again.

“Oh, we're only having a wander around, trying to get our bearings,” said Kate.

“Where's Evan?,” asked Jack.

“I think his granddad has taken him for a walk,” answered Sonya. “He was tired and he's having a little nap.”

“Jack doesn't have a sleep in the afternoon anymore,” said Annabelle, “ and he's four now so we've got rid of the push chair.”

“It's a pity Greg has gone ahead,” said Paul. “When I was out for a run this morning, I passed some trampolines on the beach. All three kids could have played together. Never mind, we'll catch you later. See you at dinner then.”

They all walked together as far as the road junction, then the Coopers carried on and the two women turned left to see where Greg had gone. He was hiding in the entrance of another hotel a little further on, with Evan fast asleep in the push chair.

***

“Are yer coming over with me ter play boules, Mavis?”, asked Fred, after they had eaten their lunch and were sitting in the foyer on a sofa, letting their food digest.

“I don't think I want to,” answered his wife. “If you give me some money I can go and get some postcards and write them while you're playing. I really want to get our Valerie's off to Australia, it'll take weeks to get there.”

“Here,” he said, shoving a thousand peseta note in her direction. “Get two postcards, one for our Valerie and one for Lillian. The others can whistle and while yer there, get me a newspaper. And don't forget I want t'change when I get back again,” he said, as he ambled out of the door.