Clouds Below the Mountains (20 page)

Cheryl smiled to herself as she listened, get out of that one, Paul, she thought.

“I meant that we've done a lot today and I think that by the time the Karaoke is on at ten o' clock, you and Jack will be tired and need to go to bed.”

“Jack will be tired, I won't be,” his daughter declared. “So I think Mummy can take Jack to bed and you can listen to me singing. I shall sing “ Like a Virgin” by Madonna. My friends at school all say I sing it beautifully.”

“No, you won't be singing at the Karaoke, Darling,” said Paul, hastily. “We will have to get up early tomorrow, because we said we will go to Loro Parque. I'm sure you'd rather go there instead.”

***

“What an ill matched couple, Lucy thought, as she said goodbye to the minibus driver and shepherded the guests into Reception. There was the new bride tiptoeing along on her white patent leather high heeled shoes, while her new husband scurried behind her carrying two red suitcases, with a matching vanity case and the shoe bag under his arms.

He was sweating profusely, his lank brown hair slicked against his forehead, his black rimmed square shaped glasses perched on the end of his thin bony nose, while his white open necked shirt clung to his rather slim body and the bottoms of his dark blue denims flapped around his ankles. His wife was at least two inches taller than him, pretty in a doll like sort of way, but Lucy felt in her heart of hearts that the marriage was going to be doomed, if the young chap didn't start putting his foot down with her.

“Passports, Gary,” his wife said, after she had tottered up to the reception counter, where Maria was was waiting to greet the arrivals.

“Here they are, my pet,” he gasped, after he had put the luggage down and took the passports out of one of the side pockets.

“Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield,” announced his wife to Maria with a flourish. “I hope you have a nice room for us. We're newly weds, you know.”

“Si, Senora,” Maria replied. “Congratulations on your marriage, we have allocated room 203.”

“I hope it is a nice view,” the young woman continued. “ Me and Gary want to have a romantic view of sunsets over the horizon.”

“Si, Senora,” said Maria, not committing herself, hoping that the woman wouldn't be back to complain because the room was quite near a lift. “Here is your reservation form to fill out, Senor and your bedroom key.”

Then Maria brought out the dreaded wristbands.

“What's this?” said Tracy aghast. “ You want us to wear a plastic bracelet? I don't think so, nobody said we had to wear one of these.”

“I'm afraid it is hotel policy if you wish to have an All Inclusive tariff,” said Lucy, stepping up to the counter quickly, to try and diffuse a situation with Maria.

“It never said anything about wearing a plastic bracelet on the Internet,” said Tracy in an outraged voice. “Did it, Gary? You were the one who booked our honeymoon.”

“No, it didn't,” said Gary, his face paling when he saw his beloved wasn't happy. “Could my wife perhaps carry it in her pocket and produce it when we go into the restaurant?”

“Unfortunately not,” said Maria firmly. “It must be worn on the wrist at all times.”

“Please, sweetheart wear it for me,” implored Gary of his mutinous looking wife. “Look, we're holding up the other people. See I'll have mine put on. Look, it doesn't look so bad.”

“Well, I think it is a stupid idea,” pouted Tracy. “Surely everybody who is staying here will be on the All Inclusive tariff anyway. It won't co- ordinate with any of my jewellery that I will be wearing, Gary.”

“You have that nice watch with the white wristband, Tracy,” said her husband, desperately trying to find something that might bring a smile back to his adored wife's face. “ It would be very nice if you could wear them both together.”

Everyone gave a silent sigh of relief as Tracy held out her wrist.

***

“I suppose we had better go and get something to eat now,” said Doreen to Jean and Milly. “ Mop up some of this alcohol we've been drinking for the past hour.”

The three women got up from their seats in the Quiet bar, albeit a little unsteadily as three rounds of drinks had been consumed by then.

“I've had a lovely birthday,” said Jean, slurring her words a little. “So different than last year's.”

“The best is yet to come,” smiled Doreen happily. “Come on Sis', hold onto my arm.”

***

“You and Dad all right now? You've evidently decided not to go back home anyway?”, said Sonya, as mother and daughter dressed in sparkly tops and black trousers, waited for the lift together, as Greg had gone ahead with Evan using the flights of stairs.

“No, I'm not going to go back home, Sonya. I'm not going to play childish games like your Dad did in Cyprus. We talked about Andrew and I've decided he can come and stay one weekend and we'll get to the bottom of that man's aspersions. Andrew has never shown any sign of effeminacy in his life.”

“That's what I was thinking, Mum. He never wanted to play with my dolls or showed any tendency to have a feminine side. In fact he was always closer to Dad, wasn't he? Always wanting to mess about with bits of cars and do you remember that old television of Gran's he took apart?”

“Yes and what about that girl he took out, you remember? Franny Pilkington's daughter. I actually caught them together in his bedroom, when I came back from shopping one day.”

“It's probably just Dad making it all up as he goes along,” said Sonya sympathetically, “ and I know of another girl he had his leg over. That Janice Rawlings, whose parents bought that holiday home in Scotland.” Kate smiled at her daughter in relief, she could trust Sonya to lower the tone.

***

“I've an announcement to make,” said Lucy, as she joined Jenni at their usual table.

“Can you order me a vodka and tonic when Miguel comes for our drinks order? I know it would be better to have a glass of wine, but I've been promising myself a stiff drink all day.”

“That bad, eh?,” smirked Jenni, “ tell me all about it later, then I'll tell you about my wonderful day.”

Lucy pulled a face at her friend, then went over to see the Head Chef who had been hovering by the kitchen door.

“Your celebration cake is ready, Senorita. Would you like me to come and present it to the birthday girl?”

“Yes, wonderful, thank you and is this her champagne?”

“Si,” said the jolly faced fellow. “The very best for our English guest.”

“Let's do it then,” said Lucy.

She walked over to the dessert selection, carrying the bottle of champagne carefully. The Head Chef followed with a big smile on his face.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Lucy cried and tapped on the side of the bottle with a pudding spoon.

“Can I have your attention? We have a special celebration to announce.”

Mavis and Fred were finishing off their main course, as Lucy started to make her announcement. Mavis's heart leapt as she heard the words. No wonder Fred had been cagey with her, not mentioned their anniversary, hadn't produced a present. In fact he had hardly spoken to her all day. This was it, he'd been saving all he had to say for this moment. Eh, what a love, what a way to surprise her on their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

She put out her hand to cover his, in a gesture of gratitude for thinking up such a surprise for her, but her hand hovered in mid air as she heard the excited cry of the birthday girl.

“Oh, Doreen, Milly,” Jean cried, as she jumped up from her seat and rushed over to Lucy and the Head Chef to receive her surprise gifts and kisses, then listened with tears in eyes while all the diners in the room sang “ happy birthday” to her. She didn't notice that one of the diners, a sad faced white haired old woman with tears running down her face, was limping quite badly towards the restaurant doors.

***

“Excuse me,” said a tall white haired gentleman of slim build, wearing a navy blue blazer, blue shirt and black flannel trousers. “ I hope you don't mind me coming over to your table, Ladies, but I couldn't help but hear that one of you has the same birthday as my poor deceased wife. Jean, is it? What a coincidence, wouldn't you say? Would you mind if I sat down with you for a moment?”

“Not at all,” said Doreen, who recovered first from the surprise of a quite presentable man coming over to speak to them. She gestured towards the spare chair at their table, which just happened to be next to Jean.

“Would you like a glass of champagne with us?,” she said, her hand reaching out to the bottle that Miguel had just opened for them.

“Well, that is very kind of you,” the man said, settling himself in the chair. “May I propose a toast?” All three women nodded, taking in the subtle smell of his after-shave, his very clean fingernails and the fact that his attire looked smart and well looked after.

“A very happy birthday and may you see many more of them,” he said, as he lifted the glass of bubbly and smiled in a engaging way at Jean, who noticed that his eyes were a very pale blue.

She dimpled and suddenly felt shy, as she wasn't used to the attention of a rather attractive man.

“So, what have you ladies got planned for this evening?” he asked, then suddenly stopped in dismay as he realized he was acting rather forwardly. “Oh, I beg your pardon, I've foisted my company upon you and you don't even know anything about me. My name is Henry Wilkinson, Harry to my friends and I've been here since last Friday, having flown here from Manchester.”

“My name's Doreen and this is my sister Jean and over there is our cousin Milly. We are here until Tuesday and we came on a Manchester flight as well.”

“Well, pleased to meet you,” Harry grinned. “It's not often that I am in the company of such a bevy of attractive ladies, so may I take advantage of your good will and join you for the evening?”

“Oh, yes,” they said in unison, preening at his charming compliment.

***

Fred finished off his strawberry gateau and asked Miguel to bring him a coffee. He decided that he wasn't going to rush off after Mavis. She had been acting silly all day, waiting he knew, for him to say something about their anniversary. Well, he wasn't going to play the stupid games that women seemed to like to do. If she had mentioned it first this morning, then she would be wearing the eternity ring that he had got her from the pawn shop on St. Helens Road. He had spent a lot of money on it. Fifteen pounds was a lot of brass to pay out when you were a pensioner.

No, he'd finish his coffee, then amble into the Sunlight bar and get himself a brandy. If she wanted this ring, she could damn well say she was sorry for messing him about all day.

Mavis was sitting on the toilet in the Ladies, wondering what she should do next, now that she had left Fred in the restaurant. She never learnt, she thought. What made her think that Fred would make an announcement in front of the diners and present her with a lovely cake and a bottle of champagne? He never had made a grand gesture in all the time they had been married. It was like being taken on as a servant in your twenties and never being released from your contract, unless you or your master died. Fred had been a good looking man in his younger days and had been an attractive proposition for wedlock as he had a steady job; it was a job for life at the Post Office with a private pension at the end. Though she had kept Fred at arm's length when he'd started courting her. He had been forever trying to compromise her and in those days good living girls waited until they were wed.

Had she really ever loved him?, she asked herself, as she came out of the cubicle to wash her hands at the basin. Been in love with him, like all that sloppiness you read in these women's magazines or had it been the thing to do because she hadn't wanted to end up an old maid? She had to admit there had been a lack of suitors and Fred had seemed to be a very good bet at the time. Well, she thought logically, I'm too old now to be wishing for some knight in shining armour, or wishing on stars or rainbows for a man to worship the ground I walk on. There's no chance of throwing off my shackles unless Fred goes and pops his clogs. So, I'll have to go back and tell him that I've got a dicky tummy and had to run off to the Ladies to be sick.

***

“Oh, I nearly forgot,” said Lucy, as she shut off her mobile phone after giving Kath a potted version of her very fraught day. “I managed to get to the bank, Jenni and I withdrew your money from the A.T.M.” She took an envelope from her handbag and passed the money across.

“How much do I owe you, Lucy,” asked Jenni, delighted that she was now in funds and would be able to buy those shoes she had seen. “You gave me some bits and pieces that I needed, so I'd like to replace them if I can.”

“You're all right,” said Lucy, feeling a little embarrassed. “You keep your money. I'm sure you would have done the same for me if I had needed anything.”

“Well, if you're sure,” said Jenni, seeing her friend's discomfort. “ I don't know how I can repay you for all the help you've given me.”

“Buy me a drink later,” Lucy joked. “I'll have a large vodka and tonic, easy on the ice.”

“Are you going to sing at the Karaoke?” Jenni asked, smiling at Lucy's words because the rep' was given free drinks anyway. “Is there a Karaoke every Friday night?”

“The answer to your first question is no and the second is yes. Though each time it's different, because some singers are excellent and some just do it ‘cos their drunk”

“Then we'll wait and see the standard, shall we, then perhaps we could do a duo.”

***

“Come on, Mum, let's have a look in the book,” said Sonya, as half a dozen Karaoke folders were circulated amongst the tables in the Sunlight Bar.

“Oh, are you going to sing later?,” asked Paul, who had joined them at their usual table whilst Cheryl was up dancing with her children at the Mini disco.