Clouds Below the Mountains (11 page)

***

“I think I had better go and get behind the rep's desk,” said Lucy, after the two girls had eaten their lunch and were finishing off their coffees at the pool bar. “Are you feeling more relaxed, now that Kath has taken Simon to the airport?”

“Of course I am, Lucy. I don't know how to thank you, Kath and the owner for all your kindness. If Simon hadn't kicked off again, I could have been at the airport with him.” She shivered at the thought, then realized she was still wearing Lucy's cardigan.

“I hope you don't mind if I ask you another favour, Lucy, but what happened to Simon's key?”

“Oh, the security guard probably handed it back to Reception. Why, are you cold, do you want to go back to your room?”

“I'm still wearing your cardigan, Lucy. I thought I would go back and change out of this dress, put something on a little warmer.”

“Well, when you've got changed you can come back to see me at the rep's desk. There's a couple of sofas there and if you fancy a read, I've a box with books in that people donate at the end of their holidays.”

“Oh, that's nice of them, yes I'll do that. I'll bring back your cardi' too, but unfortunately I'm not able to wash it for you.”

“Don't worry about that, I've some hand wash liquid in my apartment. I can wash it on my day off with the rest of my stuff.”

***

“Come on, Milly, give us another song,” said Doreen, as the three women sat in the Quiet bar, after another round of drinks that the waiter had served them.

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey,” Milly sang.

“Oh, this is grand,” said Jean interrupting, who was on her third gin and tonic. A drink she had never had before.

“Somewhere over the rainbow,” she started singing. “No Jean, Milly's singing,” said Doreen, slurring her words. “We're practicing for Karaoke on Friday night.”

“Are we doing Karaoke?” asked Jean. “I've never been to a Karaoke before. Is that where you get up and sing with a microphone?”

“Yes, it is,” said Milly. “Now shut up and let me practice or I'll never get it right.”

“Senora, Senoras,” said Juan, who was now working behind this bar, having finished his work in the dining room. “This is the Quiet bar. People come here to enjoy the peace and tranquility, Karaoke is in the Sunlight Bar on Friday night.”

“Are you telling us to shut our mouths or leave this bar, young man?” asked Doreen, leering up into his face.

“No, Senora. How could I want your beauty out of my sight? You are like the English rose that I have in my garden.” Doreen laughed and looked around at the expectant faces of the other guests, who had been waiting for a row to break out.

“You little smoothie you. O.K, we'll be quiet, if you get us another round of drinks.”

***

Jenni walked along the corridor of the second floor, musing to herself that she might have been on a plane by now. Instead, she was having another six days in this lovely hotel with a room to herself, without having to share it with her highly sexed boyfriend. Next week would take care of itself. She would telephone her dad to collect her from the airport at Manchester, then Simon wouldn't have the opportunity to make a show of her.

She let herself in with the key she had picked up at Reception and was horrified when she saw the state of the room. Her clothes were strewn everywhere. Some were on the floor, some on the bed, some were hanging askew in the open wardrobe. The drawers that she had put her underwear in neatly, had been pulled out and emptied. And when she glanced in the bathroom, she found that all her toiletries had gone. The cosmetic bag that she had her makeup in was missing, along with her toothbrush, toothpaste, her shower gel and hair products and her favourite almond scented soap.

Jenni sat on the edge of the bath and started to cry. The tears she had only shed lightly before came streaming down her face, as she let her pent up emotion come to the fore. The bastard, the evil bastard, had paid her back for not going back to England with him. He knew she had no money and taking her things would cause her a lot of suffering.

She let herself cry, until there was nothing left for her to cry with. Though under all her pain there was an anger that he could treat her so. She wiped her face with a towel, then rinsed it with a little cold water, until the redness and puffiness had subsided. Then she set to work to bring some order to the very untidy room.

Jenni came down the steps to the foyer, then walked along the corridor to where Lucy was busy attending to the people who wanted to book an excursion or two.

She went over to sit on one of the blue upholstered sofas and stared up at a poster that was advertising Aqualand. It was a happy picture of excited children riding on an aqua slide, with a group of youngsters watching dolphins swimming in the Dolphinarium.

She wouldn't be able to go on any of the excursions now, she thought wistfully. Not that Simon had been keen on doing any outdoor activities, he had only been interested in the ones confined to their bedroom. If only she had brought some money with her, but he had said she didn't need to. He had plenty and he had been to the bank and got some pesetas.

That was it! she thought suddenly. Her father! He had a bank account, perhaps he would send her some money from England? Though by the time he had sent it, she would be on her way home, unless Lucy would lend her some and she could pay it back to her?

She sat for a while, feeling hesitant about asking the older girl for money. It wasn't as if Lucy was a friend, she had just been doing her job as the rep' for Periquito. Still nothing ventured, nothing gained was the advice her granny used to give her. Lucy could always say “ no” if she wanted to.

Jenni waited until the queue dwindled and Lucy glanced over her way and gave her a smile. “All right, Jenni?”, Lucy asked, after she had put some currency into a metal box and locked it with a key. “I'll just take this to reception for safe keeping, then we can have a little chat.”

***

“I enjoyed that walk,” Cheryl said to Paul, as they came into the foyer with the children. “ Wasn't it nice for Annabelle that she met up with the little girl from Kid's club? Annabelle told me that they're same age and they've arranged to go dancing together at the Mini disco, because she said the girl, her name's Emily by the way, knows how to do the dance steps.”

“Yes, I heard them chatting, when they were taking a rest from the trampoline. You saw me talking to the father?”, Paul asked, as he tried to grab Jack who wanted to go dipping his fingers in the fountain again.” “Got yer,” he said, lifting Jack up into his arms in an effort to distract him.

“Emily's father was saying that they're only here for a week, because he has to go back for some meeting or other. It seems he's been nominated to become a candidate for that U.K.I.P party that I've been hearing about in the newspaper. I asked him why he wanted to get involved in politics, as it seems a thankless task? It seems he was always writing letters to various politicians over things that got him mad, with usually no reply and then he heard about this new party. So, he's joined them and he's up for nomination.”

“I've never heard of U.K.I.P,” said Cheryl. “I wonder what they're all about?”

“I don't know, but I might have a chat with him over the next few days and sound the fellow out. I quite fancy myself as a politician.”

“Get away with you, Paul Cooper, stick to what you know something about.”

Paul laughed and they moved away to feel if the sun was warm enough to sit on the patio. It had suddenly appeared, as they were walking back from the sea front.

***

“Is Evan still asleep, Dad?, asked Sonya, after she had knocked on her parent's door to see what her son was up to. The room was in darkness and she could just make out Evan's form as he lay on top of the truckle bed. Her father nodded. “Your mother and I are going to have a nap as well, poor little chap is tuckered out with getting up so early yesterday.”

“I'll go and lie on my bed then. Let me know when he wakes up and then I'll give him a shower before dinner.”

“No, I'll do that,” whispered Greg. “He's my responsibility today. Let him stay with us while you have some time to yourself.”

“O.K, thanks Dad, I'll see you later.”

Sonya wandered back to her bedroom and tidied up a bit. Although the maid had made the beds, she hadn't done more than straighten up and Sonya had left the room in a bit of a mess. She got under the top cover to relax for a while, letting her thoughts wander to the waiter, who had been looking at her each time she was in the dining room.

He wasn't bad looking in a flashy Spanish kind of way. She liked the way he had grown his very black hair, to just below his collar; the way his dark eyes shone with mischief when he passed her by. His height was good as well, as she usually attracted men who were shorter than her five feet eight inches and his body, well, she wondered if he worked out in a gym? Anyway, a little sleep would do her good, she thought, as she closed her eyes. It was her night off from Evan and she aimed to hit the dance floor later.

***

Fred and Mavis sat on the sun loungers by the pool bar, as the sun had finally decided to come out and lift some of the guest's spirits. It certainly had lifted Fred's, who had taken his light weight jacket off and was sitting basking in his short sleeved shirt, drinking beer out of a paper cup.

Mavis had finished writing her postcards and after purchasing two stamps from Reception had popped them into the yellow post box.

“I still think you should have let me buy a postcard for George and Ethel,” grumbled Mavis. “They'll expect one and I won't half get it in the neck if one doesn't turn up on their doorstep.”

“Oh, tell ‘em that it must have got lost in the post,” Fred replied, jingling the pesetas she had given him in his trouser pocket. “ We'll be seeing them this time next week, anyroad.”

“I wonder why that bloke is sitting with that couple over there?”, asked Mavis. “ He's the owner you know. I was watching him while you'd gone playing boules? He were dashing about all over the place, giving someone rice on Reception, talking on one of them mobilly things every few minutes.

It's that fella, who was kicking off when we came off the coach yesterday, he's talking with.”

***

“Senor Cooper”, said Mr Sanchez, as he came over to Paul and Cheryl, as they sat at one of the tables at the pool bar, drinking white wine. He held his hand out courteously for Paul to shake, as he scrambled to his feet in surprise.

“I got my receptionist to point you out, when I saw you and your charming wife coming through the foyer. Where are the children? Oh, I'm Ralf Sanchez, by the way. May I ?”

The owner of the hotel sat next to Cheryl and after Paul had got his voice back, after being struck dumb that the owner had sought them out, he replied that the children were playing in the kid's park and it was very nice to meet him.

“Call me Ralf and you are?”

“I'm Paul and this is Cheryl. Our children are Jack and Annabelle.”

“Good, good. So, Paul, how are you liking my private quarters? Very exclusive, don't you think?”

“Yes,” replied Paul. “We're very privileged to be able to stay in them, thank you.”

“I allow them to be used by the more discerning guest. Tell me Paul, what do you do for a living?”

“I'm a sales executive for a Ford dealership.”

“And your wife?,” he said, looking at Cheryl in appreciation.

“Oh, no, Cheryl doesn't work for a living. She's a homemaker and does a very good job of it too.”

“Si, I agree with that too, Paul. My wife doesn't work, she is too busy looking after our three children. So, what do you think of my hotel? Nice, eh?”

“Very nice,” said Paul, feeling brave now he had drained his paper cup of wine and was about to ask Cheryl to get another. “I think you have one or two petty regulations that are not necessary.”

“We have? Tell me about them.” Mr. Sanchez turned to the young waitress that was serving behind the counter of the bar. “Let me get some drinks first before you tell me. Rachael, (which he pronounced Rac-kel), two more white wine and a cup of black coffee, please.”

“Now Paul, tell me,” he said, beginning to sip the liquid as he listened. Cheryl was squirming in her seat, her husband could be quite bullish at times over mediocre things.

“These plastic wristbands, Ralf. Would you like to wear one while you were on holiday? They get in the way and look rather silly when you are wearing an expensive Rolex, which I am.” He put out his wrist to demonstrate and laughed when Ralf pulled his shirt sleeve back and said, “ snap.”

“I know what you are saying, Paul, but what alternative do I have, when outsiders can walk in at anytime and purloin our All Inclusive and our entertainment?”

“Identity badges,” replied Paul, his eyes shining at being able to give this man the benefit of his advice. “A little camera set up behind reception, one of those encapsulating machines and everyone is happy. We have them at work and they would be far nicer than wristbands.”

“Go on,” said Ralf. “ It sounds good up to now and what is the other petty regulation?”

“Well, I wasn't happy that your hotel can keep our passports for the duration of our stay. What if I need mine at a moment's notice? I feel very uncomfortable that my passport is in your hotel safe.”

“Spanish regulations, I'm afraid.”

“Maybe so, but it is a petty regulation and I think it should be changed.”

“That is where you and I differ,” Ralf replied, finishing his coffee and leaning back in his chair.

“I can give you a scenario that will explain it. This morning we had to eject a guest because of his behaviour. Imagine if I had not sent my security guard with him to oversee the packing of his luggage, what might he have done to the bedroom in spite? Then there are the people who do not settle their accounts for payment of extra facilities used. We are a business Paul, not a charity. If you need your passport though, you only have to knock on my office door and I will happily hand it over.”

“Thank you,” said Paul courteously, but feeling like he was in his boss's office back at the garage.

“I will probably need it for car hire, if I don't book it through the rep'.”

“No, no,” replied Ralf quickly, pulling a black leather wallet out of the inside pocket of his jacket. “ If you want to hire a car, here, take my cousin's business card. He has a car hire business down in Las Americas. I will telephone him and he will give you a good deal. Now I must go, I promised my wife I would take her out for dinner. We must reward our women with some treats, eh, Paul?”

He bent over Cheryl's hand and kissed it, then after shaking Paul's hand, he walked away.

“Phew,” said Cheryl. “What a charmer, I wonder if he's like that with his wife?”

***

Jenni told her sorry tale to a horrified Lucy. “You mean he's taken everything? Not even left you a bar of soap?,” she gasped. “Oh, you poor thing. Come here, let me give you a hug. What a rotter. How on earth could anybody do that? What will you do? Have you got any money, ‘cos when I've finished here, we'll go down into town and find an A.T.M?”

“I have no money.” Jenni's tears began to well up again.

“What he's taken all the money too?”

Jenni nodded.

“Let me think. Well, you can have a use of anything I've got in my bathroom, though I suppose you won't want to use my makeup for hygiene reasons, of course. I have a spare toothbrush you can have, but oh, you'll need a hairbrush, shower gel and maybe personal things.”

“He took my tampons and I'm due on next week.”

Lucy raised her eyes in disbelief. This Simon wanted birching, as her granny would have said.

“Look, I'll let you have some money, I've a bit tucked away in my underwear drawer. You can pay me back when you get home, send me a bank transfer.”

“Oh, is that possible for someone to send a bank transfer from England to Tenerife? Is your bank in Costa Adeje?”

“Well, it's in Playa de las Americas, actually. Why, do you have someone who can send a bank transfer?”

“My father,” said Jenni, her eyes shining happily, “ he wouldn't see me stuck. Where can I ring him from? Oh, I forgot I haven't got any money, Lucy.”

“No need. Use the one on my desk, Kath will never know.”

Lucy sat down on a sofa, while Jenni was putting her call through to her father. My, this girl she had just got to know had been through the mill in the last twenty four hours. She looked at her watch and saw to her delight that her shift had finished. Time for a cool drink, a lazy bath, then see if Jenni would like to join the crowd tonight in the Sunlight Bar. Kath was going to be very pleased, that some more seats on the excursion coaches had been allocated. She wondered if Kath was going to send her on the one tomorrow, to the Jungle Park? She'd been there three times since she started the job and once you'd seen one parrot show, you'd seen them all, as far as she was concerned. Still, it was better than working in rainy old Manchester.

Her mobile rang, just as Jenni finished her call through to her father. It was Kath.

“Yes, sorry about that Kath, the telephone rang but I was dealing with a customer, so I left it off the hook for a while. Oh, you were trying to get through and it was engaged, well like I just said……

Oh, you poor thing, you've only just managed to get him away on a mutually aided flight? What did you have to do, sit with him in the airport? I bet it wasn't pleasant. According to Jenni, he trashed her clothes, left them all over the place and took all her things out of the bathroom. Didn't you go in with him when you went up with the security guard? Oh, you had a call on your mobile so you let the security guard go in with him? That's typical isn't it? Just like a man, I bet he didn't even notice that Simon had left the place in a mess. Oh well, what do you want me to do tomorrow, Kath? Oh, you're getting Heather from Los Christianos to go, while I stay here in case there are any more bookings. Do you want me to go through what I've taken today? Yes, the money's in the safe, half a mo.”