Clouds Below the Mountains (52 page)

“The only thing I'm bothered about is the furnishings,” Cheryl replied frowning a little. “ If we rent it out we will need utility furniture, but how will we feel when our friends and family use it and see that we've only bought cheap and cheerful stuff? And us for that matter?”

“But Cheryl, if we don't put it on the rental market, how am I going to pay the mortgage on it? You said yourself you would find it very hard running a home and getting a part time job, so how am I supposed to pay for the apartment otherwise?”

“You'll just have to work harder and make sure you're front line when it comes to your commission, though how I'm going to manage with the children on my own I just don't know.”

“Oh Cheryl,” he groaned. “ I wish now we hadn't put a deposit down, it's going to be a mill stone around my neck.”

“So, you're saying now you don't want to be on the property ladder. You don't want us to have a own villa on Tenerife one day?”

“I don't know what I want now, you've got me so confused with everything, but I do know I'm going straight to that bar, smoke a cigar and have some time on my own to think.”

***

“Men, they're never happy,” said Cheryl to Kate, after they met up later at the kiddie's park, where Evan and Jack were swinging around like monkeys on the climbing frame.

“Do you know we've had a lovely day. Paul bought Jack a beautiful yacht that he can sail on the lake at Heaton Park; he bought Annabelle a Spanish dancer doll and a bottle of Chanel for me. We went to McDonalds and the kids had nuggets and fries and then coming back to the hotel he has to spoil it all by talking about that damn apartment again. I told him last night, that by renting it out through an agency, we going to get all sorts of people using it and do you know, I can't even have it furnished to my taste in case of damage. Damage! Our apartment! I don't know if I want to stay in a place that has utility furniture and people we don't know using it before us.”

“But maybe that's the only way Paul can pay for the place, by putting it through a management agency,” said Kate, not knowing the couple's finances and trying to be careful what she said.

“He's got shares he could sell, his father left them to him. If he was to sell them at the current value he'd be able to pay half of what the apartment costs, but no, we have to wait for a rainy day or keep them towards the children's education. I know what he'll be like when we get back home and has to work overtime before the management company starts the rentals, he'll be moaning that he's bitten off more than he can chew. If I had my way and usually I do, I'd rent it out to people like yourself and Steve and Fiona. Nice people who I know will look after the place.”

“Then you'll have to keep in touch then, Cheryl. Give me your phone number later, though I'm not sure Greg will go self catering after this All Inclusive holiday.”

***

Paul and Greg stood at the pool side bar, having a drink together before they got ready for their evening meal.

“When do you think we'll get our passports back, Greg?” Paul asked, still fuming over Cheryl's attitude and feeling glad to be going home in the morning, because soon he'd be back at work where he could have a rest. Selling cars was easy, compared to having a fortnight's holiday with the wife and kids. He drew on his cigar and blew a smoke ring, while he listened to Greg.

“I think you can go to Reception at any time today, providing you settle any outstanding account you have with the hotel.”

“And I suppose I'll have to wear this wristband thingy until after breakfast?”

“‘Fraid so, though I don't know if you noticed, but none of the waiters seemed to have bothered whether you wear them or not.”

“It's a tom fool idea, I hope that owner listened to my suggestion.”

“Well, you'll never know now you've bought that apartment, will you?”

“Unless we have to stay in a hotel while we're doing the place up. You know with furniture and the like, but I could go for the easy option. If I sign up with a management company, they'll give me a package deal, depending on how much I'm willing to spend with them.”

“And what does Cheryl feel about that? I know Kate wouldn't be happy if she wasn't allowed to choose the furnishings.”

“Beam me up, Scottie,” said Paul, shrugging his shoulders. “ I don't know where I am with her anymore. I wish I'd never taken her up that day to Mount Teide. It was when she saw those posh villas, that she started nagging about us buying one.”

“Know the feeling, mate,” said Greg, taking his glasses off and giving them a quick polish. “ I'm still in the dog house from all those months ago in Cyprus.”

***

Lucy's mobile rang, just as she and Lesley had decided to go and change for dinner. It had been a pleasant afternoon for both of them, as Lucy snatched a few minutes to chat with Lesley by the pool bar or Lesley had sat with Lucy in the rep' area. She answered the phone while Lesley went on ahead of her.

“Lucy Bromwich speaking. Oh, hi Robert, what can I do for you? Yes, they seemed to enjoy their excursion, well nobody complained anyway. Oh, you've managed to find a courier for the rest of the week. So where does that leave me and Kath if she comes back? Oh, she's not coming back for the time being, she's going to her sister's for a few weeks. So what's going to happen now, Robert, when will I get a day off? Time off in lieu, oh. If you don't mind me asking Robert, because Mr. Sanchez has already spoken to me about it, how will this all work out if the German company want to send clients to the Valia? Oh, Isabelle is going to help me. Well, yes, I can live with that, she seems very nice.”

***

Lucy and the owner of Periquito Travel spoke for a few more minutes and then Robert rang off, leaving her reeling with surprise at how things had turned out. She had only been an employee of the company for the past seven weeks and it looked as if she was going to be promoted!

It seemed that Kath felt she needed time to recover, though Lucy had a sneaky feeling that her supervisor had got all this planned anyway. She was so obviously miffed over the turn of events and not in her favour, that she was throwing in the towel. Meanwhile Isabelle, who had a huge knowledge of the island that she had lived on all her life, was being put forward by her father as a help mate. It seemed that help was going to be needed, as the Germans had reserved a large amount of beds.

“It's just a question of finding the right person to represent them,” Lucy explained as she and Lucy chose their starters from the cold buffet later. “ Their contract starts at the beginning of May, but I hope to see Uwe sooner.”

***

“All packed, Cindy,” said Phil, as he put his last T' shirt on top of the pile of clothing in his suitcase, then went to the bathroom to see if he had left anything hanging on the back of the door. “We'll have a few drinks with Toby and Laura and then after that woman's been on, we'll have an early night. Have you enjoyed it here, my love?”

He walked over to where Cindy was checking all the drawers to make sure that they were empty.

“I have to admit it's been nice that you took the hint and stopped using the mobile all the time, but I suppose it'll all start up again the minute we get home.”

“Cindy,” he said, putting his arms around her quickly. “ I thought you understood I can't abandon them just like that. If I don't have any input into my kid's lives, what kind of person would I be then?”

“I suppose, but it gets so annoying when you put them first.”

“Well, I'll try and put you first in the future, you know that you're the one I love.”

***

“You don't mind if I sit with you, do you?” asked Jim, as he saw Nobby and Betty sitting with Meggie at a table in the Sunlight Bar. “ Only I said to our Terry, I'd rather sit with the old un's, than sit all night listening to what ever young men talk about nowadays.”

“Less of the old un's,” said Meggie teasingly. “ You could give us a few years, couldn't he, Betty?”

“On tonight, are yer?” said Jim unnecessarily to Meggie, as the woman was all dressed up in a sparkly black trouser and blouse outfit, with a long silver jacket. She had put silver combs in her hair and wore big silver earrings that made her look like a fortune teller at a fair.

“Aye, I am,” she said, “ it's my romantic songs evening. I've decided to ditch the comedy act and put on a more refined kind of show.”

“My son was telling me you're from Blackburn. I'm wondering if I've ever been to any of the clubs you work in, but I have to admit I haven't been up to going to any recently?”

“Well, I used to sing at the The Weavers Working Men's about once a month and Hart's Common occasionally and sometimes I've sung at the Wellington. You know that pub' on Regent Road? So, what part of Blackburn do you come from?”

“I used to live near King William Street, but we got rehoused up Whalley way, back of Langdale Road.”

“What a coincidence, we're nearly neighbours! You must give me your address and I'll pop in fer a cup of tea.”

***

“Last go at Bingo?” asked Mikey, as Sonya came to buy some tickets for the family.

“Sure is, you never know we might just get the winning line.”

“Fond farewell tonight, Sonya, then are you and me going to get it together when I get back to Widnes?”

“I'll see you later, Mikey, we'll have a natter then.”

***

“Do we have to go to bed early?” whined Annabelle, as Cheryl began to pick up her handbag and cardigan and told Paul to get Jack, who was running around with Evan.

“I told you at dinner, Annabelle,” her mother said crossly. “ I've still got all our packing to do and your father has to get our passports from Reception.

“It's not fair, Jade and Olivia aren't going to bed and I'm older than they are.”

“Please yourself then. If you don't come with us now, you'll have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight, because we won't let you in.”

Annabelle followed after her mother meekly, she knew when she was beat.

***

“How's the nerves, Meggie?” asked Mikey, as the pair of them stood behind the stage curtain. “Okay.,” the woman said purposefully. “ You've got my list, are you sure you've got all the backing tracks ready?”

“Damion's on to it now. Right, I'll announce you then?”

Meggie nodded, the songs she had chosen would serve her well.

***

“She was a lot better than last time,” said Kate, as Meggie finished her act and those who were leaving in the morning got up to leave the Sunlight Bar. “ Don't be late, Sonya, we've an early start in the morning.”

“I won't, Mum,” Sonya replied, still humming “
How am I supposed to live without you?”
that Meggie had sung with great aplomb.

“I thought she sang my favourite,
“Crazy”
beautifully,” Kate continued. “ I remember you used to sing that to me, Greg, when we were courting.”

“ Did I?” he replied, picking a very tired Evan up in his arms and saying goodbye politely to the foursome on the next table, where Anthea was yawning delicately behind her hand. “We'll go via Reception and pick our passports up. I hope they give me Sonya's as well.”

***

“I suppose we'd better make a move,” said Nobby, getting up to pull Betty up from the chair and put her into the wheelchair. “ Might not see you in the morning, Jim, as we'll be having an early start. Enjoy the rest of your holiday, do you want to go back to your son?”

“Pleased to have met you both,” said Jim, standing up politely, “ and thanks for your company. No, I've arranged to have a night cap with Meggie. Ah, here she is, she's a right bonny un'.”

“Someone's clicked,” said Betty, as they waited in the foyer for the lift, “ and it seemed to knock years of him just being in her company.”

***

Kate came out of the bathroom later, Evan had been asleep for twenty minutes and Greg was sitting reading in bed. Her nerves felt shot at, even though she'd tried to calm them with a good quantity of gin and tonic that evening. Somehow life seemed against her and she was looking for a row.

She looked at Greg, a picture of complacency, sitting there smugly, not caring that when they got back to England tomorrow, it was divorce on the horizon time. What effort had he made towards her on this holiday to ensure that she'd enjoyed it? No hugs, no loving, no holding of hands. He hadn't even paid for an excursion, they'd just sat around for two whole weeks. She wanted to swipe that contented look off his face and let him feel a little hurt for a change.

She climbed into bed and hissed at him. “Do you know, I don't know why I bother buying sexy nighties. I may as well come to bed with a high necked winceyette on, for all the notice you take of me?”

“Don't start, Kate, you know when we've got Evan sleeping in here with us we can't make love.”

“Make love, is that what you call it? The last time you had a leg over was when we were in Cyprus!”

“Oh, not that old chestnut. When we get back home we'll sit and sort things out together, see how we're going to go forward in our marriage and don't forget you promised to invite our Andrew.”

“Leave him out of it,” she replied, feeling a little shaken as she had put her son out of her mind again. “ What do you mean, how we're going to go forward in our marriage? If you gave me a bit more attention, there'd be no need to sort anything out.”

“Kate, I'm tired. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Why don't you take one of your pills and get some rest?”

“I can't take one of my pills, I've had too much alcohol. Anyway I'm not going to settle until we're on that plane. And put that book down when I'm talking to you, you've had one eye on it since I started this conversation.”