Clouds Below the Mountains (53 page)

“Oh, for heaven's sake,” he said, throwing the book onto the floor, causing their grandson to jolt in his sleep with the whack it made. “ I'm not going to get any sleep myself now, you've wound me up like a spring. I'll go and get our Sonya, she can sleep on a washing line. I'll get my eight hours now if I go and sleep in her bed.”

“Well, do that then, I don't care, but think on, we'll have all this out when we get home.”

“Whatever,” Greg replied, getting out of bed and putting his on dressing gown. He had heard his daughter flushing the toilet next door, so he knew she wouldn't be asleep. If he had to stay another minute there with Kate, he knew he would probably throttle her.

“ Sonya, are you awake?” he said, tapping softly on the bedroom door, while Kate stood with a furious face in their doorway, keeping the door open with her foot so it wouldn't shut.

“Sonya!” Greg said louder, rapping on the door irritably.

“What!” she cried, opening the door a crack so that she could speak to her father.

“I'm coming in,” he replied, pushing past her angrily.

“Why you bloody little…………”

He couldn't get the rest of his sentence out he was so dumbstruck, because there lay a naked Mikey on Sonya's bed!

There were clouds swirling below the mountain, as Lucy shepherded the passengers aboard the airport coach next morning. It felt chilly, with none of the warmth that had been enjoyed the last couple of days. She shivered with just her jacket and skirt on and wished she had remembered to bring her rep's coat with her.

“Good morning, everybody,” she said into the microphone after everyone had settled in their seats and were looking at her expectantly. “ I trust you have all picked up your passports, settled any outstanding accounts and given your key cards into Reception.” She noticed that Sonya turned around quickly to her father questioningly, but was met with a hostile stare as he nodded his head.

Trouble brewing there, she thought, as she turned back to the matter in hand.

“So now you can take the hated wristbands off, if you haven't done so already,” she said, looking meaningfully at Paul, who grinned back at her. “ It's just a case of bending the plastic back to the stud and then pulling hard, or you might like to wait until you get home and attack it with the scissors.” That brought a titter at her attempt at a joke and most people held their bare wrists up to show her.

“Now, I hope you have all enjoyed your holiday and are sad to be going back to rainy old England, but just think when you're staring out on a winter scene through your windows, you could always book on line with Periquito Travel and come back again.”

That brought groans or smiles from the passengers.

“Now I'll leave you to wish a fond farewell to Costa Adeje, as we travel down to the airport in the capable hands of Ramon and I'll give you details of check- in, later on.”

She let out a sigh, as she switched the microphone off and sat beside Lesley as the coach began to move, causing her friend to look questioningly at her.

“I forgot I promised Adam, I'd put in an appearance at his travel desk next time I was on airport duty,” she explained.

“So?”

“He'll be expecting me to go for a coffee with him, but I'd rather not, as I'll have to explain about Uwe.”

Lesley smiled sympathetically but said nothing. Lucy was lucky to have two men interested in her, when she would give anything just to have her husband back.

“Everyone looks a little glum, even Meggie, who you'd think would be the live and soul,” Lucy whispered. “ In fact, I don't think the Lewis family are speaking, because before when I was on the microphone, the father gave Sonya a dirty look.”

“Nerves maybe,” said Lesley, “ it must be difficult with a little one.”

“Yes, you're probably right, but do you know the kids on this bus have been no trouble? That little one with her mother and grandma has been a little sweetie, the Cooper children are charming and Evan, what a cutie. It makes me all broody when I see kids like that, not like some. Oh, Lesley,” she said, putting her fist to her mouth, “ I was only speaking generally.”

“No offence taken,” Lesley replied. “ You must remember I sometimes teach really horrible kids.”

They fell into a comfortable silence between them, while Lucy checked the list on her clipboard and Lesley looked out at the passing buildings and occasionally a glimpse of the turgid sea. “You will keep in touch and let me know how things develop?” Lesley suddenly said, as thoughts of taking up her old life came crashing into her mind again.

“Course I will, I've got your number and I'll ring you in a couple of days or so.”

Lucy stood up again a little later, as the airport came into view. She looked around the coach at all the faces she had come to know, before she began to speak into the microphone.

Mr. and Mrs. Christian were still holding hands, so nothing had changed there then. Norman Walsh and his disabled wife, Betty, looked better than when they first came; Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield, bronzed from their week in the sun, looking more like a loving couple than they had first done. Though that couldn't be said of the Lewis's, who looked angry and tight lipped as they stared ahead.

“ So, if I could have your attention everybody,” she said, as the coach pulled up outside the terminal. “ If you could just wait a few minutes, while I go to find out the numbers of the check in desks…”

The sound of overhead lockers crashed as she clambered down the steps.

***

Lucy stood outside the automatic doors of the Arrival Lounge