Clouds Below the Mountains (12 page)

***

Sonya woke up to the sound of Evan crying next door. He always did that when he awoke. It was as if he was having a nice dream and suddenly he wasn't anymore. She lay on the bed for a while, wondering whether to go and fetch him to her room, but the sound of her parents moving about decided her not to bother. They would probably be around in a minute asking for a change of clothes for him anyway.

She looked at the crack in the drawn curtains, which told her it had got dark while she'd been sleeping. She supposed she should get up and get a shower, in readiness for the exciting evening she was hoping to have. It had to be more exciting then the evenings she had at home anyway. Her parents were good, would baby sit at the drop of a hat, but she hadn't had a date with a guy for some time now.

There had been someone, that she thought was interested in her. She had met him a couple of weeks ago, when she had gone dancing with her friend Elaine, to a Manchester night club. He'd looked nice, a gentle sort of person. Not very handsome, but the type she perhaps could settle down with one day. They'd danced together, had a bit of a snog, while Elaine was busy being chatted up by someone who had kept asking would she like a drink with him. When it was time to go home, he had asked could she meet him the following week in there? She'd agreed and had been looking forward to it, even behaving herself when she went to Salsa dancing at the Copacabana club, a few nights later.

She was always being pestered for dates when she went to that place, but unfortunately when she had turned up on her own the following Saturday to the night club, the swine hadn't bothered to turn up to meet her and she was left to drink at a table on her own.

Of course, being a woman on her own, attracted a stream of nuisances wanting to know did she want a good time with them? She had left within the hour and gone back on the bus to Bury.

Sighing to herself, she went to look in her wardrobe. The pale blue knee length chiffon plunge neck dress was always a winner. It seemed to bring a sparkle to her eyes. It certainly did something for her self esteem anyway.

***

“Oh, good, Paul hasn't kept any places for us at the table,” Greg said, when the family walked in the restaurant later. “Let's sit over there by the kiddies' selection, then Evan can choose what he wants to eat this evening.”

“It'll be chicken nuggets,” said Sonya. “That's all he wants when he goes to Mc Donalds anyway.”

“Well, we'll see,” said Greg, disapprovingly. He had only been once to the fast food restaurant and then he had only had a coffee. Kate was a fan though, she liked their veggie burgers and a vanilla milkshake.

“Oh, look, it's Chinese this evening,” said Kate happily. “Spring rolls, barbecue ribs, fried rice and sweet and sour pork. Good job I only had a salad at lunchtime, I can make a pig of myself now.”

“Prawn crackers!,” said Evan, seeing a bowl of them on the children's counter. Greg sighed, that was all the child would probably eat now.

“Evan,” said Sonya, “there's Jack over there. They're sitting with another family though. Probably because Annabelle has found herself a friend.”

“Good,” said Greg. “I don't know what it is about Paul and his family, that I don't like.”

“I think the word is pretentious, Greg,” said Kate, as she walked away to get herself a plate.

***

“So, Steve,” said Paul, as both of their families sat eating their meals and the two little girls were happily chatting together. “How long have you been interested in politics?”

“Since I looked around and saw what a pig's ear our country has become.”

“Oh, I don't know,” said Paul, “ there doesn't seem a shortage of money in the line of business I'm in. Everyone seems to be changing their cars more than they use to do.”

“That's the feel good factor,” replied Steve, a dark blonde haired man in his late thirties. “It's what's going on behind our backs that frightens me. Things we have no control over, other than a say at the ballot box every few years.”

“But surely if most people have a good standard of living, a few luxuries like a holiday like this, a decent house, a nice car, what more should we be wanting out of our lives?”

“Ah, but what about when our children grow up, Paul? What kind of lives are our children going to have, when they have to carve a career out for themselves?”

“Oh, I don't know, same as us probably?”

“You hope so. I would be more worried than you are about your children's futures, especially now when we've got tangled up with Europe. All the member states, where one size cap fits all. Then we've got to start absorbing the new countries that have applied to join us well. The money we contribute amounts to billions, money that could be used for our schools, our hospitals, our roads, our children's futures. That's why I've joined U.K.I.P, who are all for us getting out of it.”

“Mmm,” said Paul, “that's something for me to think about.”

***

Jenni sat with Lucy at their table, thoroughly enjoying the food she'd chosen. Chicken with black bean sauce, fried rice and prawn crackers. Lucy was similarly enjoying her sweet and sour pork, with spring rolls and barbecue ribs all on one plate. Life had become so pleasant, thought Jenni. The nightmare was over and it was time to enjoy herself. How had she ever fallen for someone like Simon? Next time she'd be more careful, be a bit more picky? She wondered if Lucy had ever experienced problems like she had, though Lucy was older and more level headed. She couldn't see Lucy making a fool of herself. Perhaps she would ask her this evening, when they had got a few drinks inside them. She would probably be a bit more inclined to talk when she was more relaxed in herself.

Lucy had lent her the money to buy more toiletries. They had purchased them from the small shop upstairs, after Jenni's dad had agreed to send a bank transfer. Lucy had felt tired and hadn't wanted to walk down to the pharmacy. She had said that Jenni could borrow anything the shop didn't have.

It had been nice speaking to her father, though she hadn't gone into detail and said where Simon was. Just that she'd hit a problem and could he send some money through?

***

“What do you want to do tonight, Mavis?”, asked Fred, as they walked out of the dining room. “Whatever you like,” sniffed his wife, taking her glasses off and rubbing the lenses on the hanky she took out of her handbag.

“Oh, come on love. Do you want to watch the kiddies dancing, do you want to have a drink in the bar, or would you like to have a walk to the sea front and I'll treat yer to something in that cafe we used to go to before?”

“It's a big dark to go piking off to the sea front. Anyway, what about my leg?”

“O.K, so it's a drink in the Quiet bar first, then we'll watch what ever's on later,” Fred said, with gritted teeth. She wasn't going to give up blaming him for not booking the Antilla.

***

“It's a Spanish dance troupe tonight,” said Kate, as they passed the poster advertising La Mariquitas, which showed three pretty girls wearing red and black sparkly costumes.

“All castanets and foot tapping, I suppose,” replied Greg. “Still, Evan will probably enjoy it and then I'll take him off to bed. Now, take it easy with the drink, you two, while I'm not with you,” he warned. “I don't want to hear that you've been carted off for being drunk and disorderly.”

“Ha, ha,” said Sonya. “We're going to enjoy ourselves, aren't we, Mother, Dear?”

***

“I wonder whether we should make some space for Kate and her family?”, asked Cheryl, as she and Paul began to arrange armchairs around two tables in the Sunlight Bar. “Jack likes playing with Evan, but now that Annabelle has Emily to play with, Emily's family may want to join us as well.”

“Oh, we'll see what happens, Cheryl. We'll leave these as they are and then it's up to them whether they want to join us. I'm glad Annabelle has found Emily. Steve seems very nice and Fiona his wife is very pretty, isn't she?”

“She doesn't have a lot to talk about though, Paul. I think we exhausted cooking, holidays and shopping while you were talking to Steve. Though I guess there won't be much chance to talk tonight, with the dancers clacking their castanets.”

“Yes, I suppose you're right, though I was hoping to ask some questions later about this party of his. Perhaps I'll suggest we meet up tomorrow, take the kids on the trampoline again?”

“I thought you said you were thinking of hiring a car tomorrow?”

“I will. We can walk down to Las Americas via the sea front after and speak to that cousin of Ralf Sanchez.”

“Oh, do we have to go and sit with them?”, said Greg, as he and his family walked in through the entertainment bar door.

“‘Fraid so,” answered Kate. “It's obvious that they are expecting us to join them, they've set the tables up again.”

“Anyway, Dad, Evan and Jack will want to play together. Come on, get your bottom lip up and act as though you're pleased to see them.”

***

“Evening, everybody, good grub tonight wasn't it?”, said a smiling Paul, as the Lewis's joined them. “I like a Chinese now and again. We usually get a take away once a week, don't we, Cheryl? Usually on a Saturday night if we can't get a baby sitter.”

Paul leapt to his feet and stood back while everyone got comfortable. “You're looking very nice, Ladies. Cheryl, isn't that frock that Sonya's got on attractive? You've got one similar haven't you, the one you got from Selfridges?”

“This one isn't from Selfridges, Paul,” laughed Sonya, “ it's from Etam, so it didn't cost so much.”

“Well, where ever you got it from, it really suits you. Anyway, can I get any one a drink? Cheryl Darling, a coffee? Kate, Sonya, what will you have?”

“I'll come and help you,” said Greg, feeling a bit mean in his attitude towards Paul. The fellow meant well. He was just a bit full on, which Greg disliked in a man.

Paul lit up his cigar, after giving his order into the barman. “ Phew,” he said. “I've waited all day for this. I love a cigar after I've had my dinner.”

“Can't say I've ever tried a cigar, Paul,” said Greg. “I once tried a cigarette when I was younger, but it made me feel sick. Kate used to smoke, I think she would be a smoker now, if I didn't nag her.”

Paul nodded understandingly, as they watched the Kid's club rep's going around to the children who were a little shy of getting up to dance. Annabelle needed no coaxing and was standing by Cheryl, looking at the door, wondering where Emily was.

“I had a bit of a surprise today,” said Paul, as their tray of drinks arrived and he began to sip his lager. “Ralf Sanchez, the owner of the hotel, came over while Cheryl and I were having drinks at the pool bar. He spent some time with us chatting and we seemed to get on very well. In fact, he's told me to go to his cousin who has a car hire place down in Las Americas. I'm to mention his name and I'll get a discount. Are you sure you wouldn't like to come in with me on it?”

Greg shook his head. “Thanks for asking, but I honestly don't know what we're doing yet. Shall we get back to the others now? Oh, I see the other family's arrived.”

***

“This is Steve and Fiona, Emily's their little girl. That's Greg, Kate and Sonya, Evan is their little boy. And you know us anyway.”

Everyone shuffled their armchairs around, after Paul had made the introductions, so that the other family could fit in as well.

“You're looking very nice, Fiona, very pretty colours. The dress hides the bump too.”

Paul thought he would throw it into the conversation, as Cheryl had told him that Fiona was expecting in a few months.

“Congratulations”, was the muted embarrassed response of the Lewis's.

“Can I get anyone a drink?”, asked Paul, dying to finish off his cigar.

“No, you're all right, I'll get mine and Fiona's,” Steve said. “Emily, do you want a drink?”

The little girl ran to him from the dance floor. “A gin and tonic please, Dad. No, make mine a glass of orange,” she laughed. “Little minx,” said Steve, looking with something like adoration at his yellow haired child.

“Are you getting a little brother then?”, asked Annabelle, while she and Emily were waiting for the music to begin. “My mummy had a bump when I was three and I got Jack.”

***

“Right kids,” said Mikey, standing up on the stage and talking into the microphone. “We're going to play a game first tonight, does everyone know how to play statues?”

All the children shouted “ Yeeeessss,” except for Evan and Jack who didn't want to join in. They began to run up and down the room trying to catch each other.

“It's not fair,” said Annabelle, coming back from the dance floor later with a few exasperated tears in her eyes. “I moved my elbow because I was uncomfortable. It's supposed to be a Mini disco, not a time for games.”

“Never mind,” soothed Cheryl, “ it's only one game and then they'll have dancing. Go and sit on daddy's knee until the game's over.”

“Evan is going to be hot and sweaty again like he was last night,” said Greg to Kate in muted tones. “I'd take him back to the bedroom now, if it wasn't for the Spanish dancers, which I know he'd like to see.”

“Well, I need to go to the Ladies, I'll grab him while I'm passing and take him with me,” said Kate. “Excuse me, I'm just off to powder my nose,” she said, politely.

“Oh, I'll come with you,” Fiona replied. “You know what it's like when you're in the second trimester?”

Kate nodded, but hadn't got a clue what Fiona meant.

“You were very brave having Evan so late in life,” said Fiona, as the two women stood at the wash basins, with Kate trying to get her wriggling grandson to wash his hands. Kate smiled to herself, she didn't need a face lift when she was getting all these compliments. This was the third person who had thought that Evan was her son.