Clouds Below the Mountains (17 page)

“Don't ask,” she replied. “Let me get a vodka and tonic down me and then I'll tell you.”

“A vodka and tonic please, Miguel,” she said, as the waiter came over when he saw her sit with Jenni. “Jenni, do you want something?,” she said.

“I'll have one of those nice red and peachy cocktails you made me before, please, Miguel. Easy on the vodka again.”

He smiled knowingly, as if they had a secret together, which made Jenni wonder if he was just being friendly or there was more to that special smile.

“Oh, that's better,” Lucy said, after she had taken a big slurp of her drink and felt it calming her down.

“I meant to meet you in the restaurant, Jenni, but just as I was on my way, I got accosted by a very unfriendly couple.”

“Oh dear, do you get many of them?”

“Only when I ignore a guest's request, am I treated to a bout of unfriendliness and unfortunately I forgot that they had asked me for a change of room. Luckily Dania, the receptionist was very helpful, she pointed out that there would be vacant rooms tomorrow morning, because it is changeover day and unless the couple wanted to move to a room above here tonight, they would have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Oh, that was lucky, but why do they want a change of room, mine's very pleasant?”

“Their room is by a lift and the woman is a very light sleeper. I suppose with the entertainment being on late, some people are rather noisy at that time of night. Anyway, I won't be able to stay too long because my blouse wants ironing for tomorrow and I must be up quite early. I'm going to the airport with the departures on the Manchester flight.”

“I probably won't stay up late neither. I would feel a bit of a wall flower sitting on my own.”

***

“Eh, look at those little kiddies dancing Agadou,” said Jean, as the women sat watching the Mini disco, as a change from getting blotto in the Quiet bar. “They had nothing like this for us when we were children, nor for our Tommy when he was growing up.”

“Do you remember when we were little and our dads' took us to the Working Men's Club Christmas party?” asked Milly. “You were a bit older Doreen, so I'm not sure you were there.”

“If you're going to remind us of when our Jean was sick all over the stage after she sang, “ I'm a lonely little petunia,” I was there,” said Doreen. “ I was the one who had to clean her up in that outside toilet they had. It was snowing, there was no bog roll and I had to wipe her down with grass.”

“I was always sick when I got nervous,” said Jean gloomily.

“It's all very different for the children of today,” said Milly. “What with their foreign holidays, televisions in their rooms, all sorts of toys to play with, latest fashions for the little girls. We were happy if we went to a caravan in Talacre. Do you remember when we went that time to Frith beach, you remember when we went on that Sunday school outing, Jean? You were sick again, only this time from eating bananas.”

***

“Hello, little boy,” said Mavis, as Evan took a breather from running around with Jack, coming up to her table to look at her curiously. “Do you want to do some drawing again? Only this time I brought some proper paper and I could make you an aeroplane.”

Evan nodded and stood with his thumb in his mouth while she made it. She whizzed her creation into the air and was glad to see that it travelled a few yards quite effortlessly. Evan picked it up, then showed it Jack, then the two little boys ran away.

***

“We've decided to go up Mount Teide tomorrow,” Paul said to Greg and Steve, while the three women were watching the children dancing and talking amongst themselves. “I'll give the Espace a run, see what it performs like, have a spot of lunch somewhere, then toddle back here for tea. What car do you have back at home, Greg? Of course I have free run of any of the Fords, at the moment I'm driving a Mondeo?”

“I have a Merc' and Kate has a M.G,” Greg answered, fiddling with a button on his white polo shirt, because he hated being asked about the car he drove.

“Oh and what do you drive, Steve?,” asked Paul, suddenly thinking that he wouldn't be part- exchanging any car for Greg.

“I've got a Beamer and Fiona drives a Golf,” said Steve. “I need a big car because I travel thousands of miles each year with my job.”

“And what's that, Steve?,” Paul asked.

“I'm an auditor, I travel a lot visiting the outlets of the company I work for.”

“So how will U.K.I.P fit in with your job then Steve? You'd hardly have time for that if you were elected.”

“I can apply for a transfer to a different department. I'm thinking of doing that anyway, now that Fiona is expecting again.”

“Oh,” said Paul, feeling at a bit of a loss for words for the moment. “Can I get anybody a drink?”

***

“Come here and I'll show you this little mouse,” said Mavis to Evan, when he appeared again looking at her solemnly. “Look carefully.” She took her handkerchief from her handbag and scrunched it up to make it look as if it had a head. “Whoops,” she said, flicking the mouse as if it was alive and running up from her wrist to her elbow. Evan was delighted and asked her to do it again. She did that for about five minutes, then asked him if he could find a paper bag? He came back a little later with an empty crisp packet. Mavis pretended to borrow a coin from her husband, then magically threw the coin in the air, then it dropped into the bag making a plopping sound. “Again”, Evan cried, “again” and then he fetched his mother to show her so that she could do magic.

“I hope he isn't annoying you,” Sonya said, though she noticed the happy look on the elderly woman's face. “Send him back if he's a nuisance, but he seems to be having a lot of fun.”

Mavis nodded and hoped that Evan wouldn't run away.

“Go and get Evan will you,” said Greg to Kate, after Bingo had finished and the fire eating act was about to begin. “He's been helping that woman dot her Bingo numbers, but I prefer that he was over here with us now.”

Kate complied and brought a protesting Evan back to their table. He had loved sitting on Mavis's knee and shown how to use the dabber.

***

The dark haired fakir came onto the floor with great aplomb, devouring mouthfuls of fire, to spit out flames like a dragon back into the air. Children who had been allowed to sit cross legged in a row at the perimeter, ran back to their parents to cower in fear. Great whoops and yells came from the half naked fellow, whose only garb was a pair of yellow breeches and a red sweat band. His well oiled torso rippled with powerful muscles and his bare feet pounded on the wooden sprung floor.

“He'd be handy to have at a barbecue,” said Doreen. “The sausages would be done in no time if he was there.”

“Just what I was thinking,” said Jean, “ and useful if your gas was cut off.”

***

“Can I get you another drink, Senoritas?” asked Miquel, as he leant against a pillar watching the showman. “When he stops shooting those flames everywhere, I'll go to the bar if you wish.”

“Another vodka and tonic please,” said Lucy, “ and this will be my last one, thank you very much.”

“I'll have “Sex on the beach” please,” said Jenni and laughed when Tina and Anna, who had just joined them, looked at her with widened eyes.

“Then I'll have the same,” they both said in unison and giggled when Miguel went away with an embarrassed look on his face.

“He fancies you, you know,” Lucy said to Jenni. “He's been hanging around here all evening. Well certainly since I arrived.”

“I saw him first,” said Anna, pretending to be lighthearted, but she was as jealous as hell. She had been trying to get the waiter interested in her for weeks.

“I'm only here until Tuesday, Anna,” Jenni replied, seeing the guarded look in the German girl's eyes. “I don't think he's the type of man who would like a fling. Oh look, he's lifting that bloke up and walking on that bed of nails,” she said, looking over to the stage with fascination, but also taking the attention of the jealous cat away from her.

***

“Right, I think I'll come up with you,” said Greg to Kate, as the fakir left the room to tumultuous applause. “We'll take a couple of drinks up with us. My throat feels parched after watching that bloke. Come on little man, bedtime. Wave goodbye to that nice lady, did you thank her for making that boat?”

“Yes, Granddad, can I go and kiss her goodnight?” Evan ran off to kiss Mavis, who was so overwhelmed by his action that she nearly burst into tears.

“Sonya, half past twelve, I'll be listening out for you coming back.”

“Yes, Dad, see you in the morning. Night Mum, love you.”

Sonya hugged her little boy, kissed him goodnight and as the other two families were making tracks also, after she had said her goodnights to them, she wandered over to Lucy's table.

“Do you mind if I join you?,” she asked.

“Certainly, join us,” said Lucy, “ but I'm just finishing my drink and then I'm on my way.”

“We're staying,” said Tina. “Isn't that your little boy that comes to the Kid's club?”

“Yes, I'm Evan's mother,” said Sonya. “I hope he's being good for you?”

“He's a little treasure and he's very advanced for his age.”

***

Sonya looked around the room, hoping that Juan would appear before the disco started. She had seen him in the restaurant earlier, but had done what they had agreed to do, not to let on in front of her parents that they were more than guest and waiter. Sonya knew that her father would disapprove should she even flicker an eyelash in Juan's direction, but hey, she was on her holidays and out for a bit of fun.

The disco started. Mikey announced it was Susanne's turn to be the D.J, then made himself comfortable with Damion at a table next to the girls.

“I'm going,” said Lucy. “Will you be all right, Jenni, but if I don't shift myself now, I'll look a terrible fright in the morning? I've still got my blouse to iron.”

“She'll be fine with us,” Tina replied. “We'll get up for a boogie. Sonya, Anna, are you getting up with Jenni and me?”

They said goodnight to Lucy, then got up to dance to “Re light my fire” by Take That with Lulu.

It was a favourite song of Jenni's and she soon got into the swing. As the music ended, the girls made their way back to the table, where lo and behold, Miguel was standing with another tray of drinks.

“The bar has closed now,” he said seriously. “My last work of the evening is to bring you all a drink. For you as well, Senorita, I have brought you a drink from Juan.”

Sonya looked at him in surprise, as did the other girls at the table. “He will be in later,” said Miguel and sat down next to Jenni.

“What's this?”, asked Jenni, feeling rather forward as she asked the young woman, but she had drunk a lot of alcohol by then.

Sonya blushed as three pairs of eyes looked at her in curiosity. “Oh it's nothing,” she stuttered, feeling rather embarrassed. “He's probably just being friendly.”

***

The next disc that Susanne had chosen was “ Hot Stuff,” another favourite of Jenni's, so she looked around the table to see if anybody was getting up. Before she realized it a firm hand had gripped her elbow and had begun to propel her gently to the dance floor. Of course it was Miguel, who had been waiting all evening to be given this chance.

***

Sonya looked at her watch impatiently, it was a quarter past twelve. If Juan didn't appear soon she was going to have to go back to the bedroom. She looked over to Jenni and Miguel, where the young man seemed to be in his element, doing fancy dance steps like a matador.

What was Juan playing at, sending her a drink from the bar, then not appearing? She decided to go to the Ladies, then think what she should do.

She applied a fresh coat of lipstick, smoothed her hair, then made a decision to peek through the door of the Bar. He might be sitting with the others by now, but she would have to tell him it was time for her to go.

“Psst, Sonya, over here,” Juan's voice came to her from the shadows. He was standing behind a potted palm in a dimly lit part of the foyer, so that the night porter couldn't see him there.

“What are you doing?”, she asked as she joined him, wondering why all the subterfuge?

“The owner doesn't like us to, how you say, fraternize. If I was caught I think I would be out of a job. Sonya,” he whispered urgently, grasping both of her hands, looking deeply with his brown eyes into hers. “I must be with you. My heart is telling me that we must be together, so that I can show you the depth of my feelings.”

Sonya smiled to herself, after she had listened to the most romantic words that she had ever heard spoken to her. He must have read them in a Spanish novel somewhere and thought that she had come down in the last shower. She opened her lilac sequined evening bag, withdrew her bedroom key, then whispered, “I know where we can be alone.”

“Happy birthday Jean,” trilled Doreen, as her sister awoke the next morning.

“Yes, happy birthday, Jean,” said Milly. “Here's a card from me, I hope you have a lovely day.”

“Oh, thank you, Milly, that's very kind. I'm sure I'll have a lovely day.”

“Here's my card, Jean,” said Doreen, handing her a large white envelope, as her sister struggled to sit up in bed. “I've booked you a hair appointment at ten o' clock, got to look your best on your birthday.”

“Oh, Doreen, you shouldn't be spending all your hard earned money on me. That facial and manicure you and Milly treated me to was enough.”

“Think nothing of it,” said Doreen looking pleased. “Now you can have the first shower this morning and you can have a spray of my perfume if you like.”

“Oh dear, the weather doesn't look very good again, does it?”, commented Jean as she looked through the window on the way to the bathroom. “It would have been nice if the sun was shining and we could have another walk along the promenade.”

“No doubt by the time you'll have had your hair done, those clouds will have cleared and the sun will have come out like it did yesterday,” said Milly. “We'll see what it's like then, shall we?”

Jean closed the door of the bathroom, feeling really happy for once. This time last year her husband, Larry, had been dead a month and if it hadn't been for Doreen and Milly rallying round like they had and suggesting this holiday, she would probably be spending this birthday alone as well. It was no use expecting anything from her son, Tommy, he would have forgotten her birthday anyway. The last time she'd seen him was at his dad's funeral, when soon after the small buffet she had prepared back at her house, her son had jumped into his hire car and headed back to the airport at Manchester. Pressures of work prevented him from staying with her, or so he had said, seeing as he was a golf pro' now in a Spanish resort.

***

Lucy ran across the courtyard to the hotel, smoothing down her skirt as she went, making a mental note to cut down on her food intake or she would have to ask Kath for a larger size. She looked at her watch, to check that she had time for at least a bowl of fruit salad before waiting in the foyer for the guests, who were taking the coach to the airport. She would be responsible this time for both the Gatwick and Manchester flights, as both planes would depart for England within twenty minutes of each other. Kath would meet her at the airport to welcome the new guests as well.

Seeing Jenni sitting alone at her usual table, reminded Lucy that she had promised the girl to check at the bank, to see if her father's transfer had arrived. She would have to hope that the coach driver this morning would be amenable to dropping her off outside the bank.

“Good morning, Jenni,” she said, as she brought her tray across to the table, feeling smug that only a bowl of fruit salad and yoghurt with a cup of coffee was upon it. “How did it go last night? Did you enjoy yourself after I'd gone?”

Jenni nodded, hastily swallowing a mouthful of bacon before she spoke.

“You'll never guess who saw me to my hotel bedroom last night, Lucy,” she said, her eyes shining brightly as she confided in her.

“I can guess, it was Miguel, wasn't it? He had his eye on you all night.”

“Yes, he's so nice, isn't he? We danced for ages, because he said with it being a change over day he wasn't required until this evening, so he could stay up late. So around half past one, after the disco had finished, he walked me back to the bedroom and do you know, all he did was kiss my hand and say how much he had enjoyed my company. I couldn't believe it. When I first went out with Simon, he was all over me, wanted a snogging session on the first night. Anyway, Miguel said if I hadn't made any plans for today, we could go for a walk along the sea front together.”

“Oh, that's great,” said Lucy, pleased that Jenni looked so happy after going through a woeful time.

“What time is he meeting you, because as you know I'm on duty all day and I can't even manage a natter, I'm so busy?”

“Don't worry about me,” said Jenni. “He said he'd meet me by the roundabout at eleven. It will give him chance to have a lie in, but besides that, I believe it is hotel policy not to get too friendly with the guests. He won't want to lose his job because of me.”

“Yes, that's true, Periquito Travel has the same policy, though I've never come across a guest I'd be willing to give my job up for. The men try it on, even the married ones like a bit of a flirt, but nothing is ever serious in this kind of life. Anyway, I'll probably see you in the bar this evening, if not in the restaurant. I've an announcement to make over someone's birthday at seven, so I'll be in here about then.”

Lucy got up quickly, smiled at Rachael, who was clearing the breakfast dishes then dashed up the stairs to the foyer.

***

“I heard you coming in last night, Sonya,” said Greg, as he and Kate stood outside their daughter's door, while she picked up her handbag with the key card in it. “Do you think next time you stay out late, you could take off your heeled shoes before entering the room?”

“Yes, Dad,” said Sonya blushing slightly. Thank goodness, Juan had been wearing trainers. She turned to call Evan, who had found a packet of Quavers left over from their journey on the aeroplane, which she had left on the dressing table. The child looked crestfallen, when the packet was snatched from his hand.

“You can have them if you eat your breakfast,” Greg said, who had come into the room and had put the crisps back where the child had found them. “Honestly Sonya, why didn't you keep them in your holdall? Evan must learn he can only have that kind of thing as a treat.”

“Yes, Dad, shall we go down to breakfast now, I don't know about you two, but I'm starving?”

“I suppose you were dancing with all and sundry last night,” said Greg, as the family walked along the corridor to the lift.

“No, Dad, I met this fantastically handsome fella and we came back to my bedroom and we made passionate love all night.”

“Stop being so damn cheeky, Sonya. If you were ten years younger I'd wash out your mouth with soap and water!

***

“What do yer fancy doing today, Mavis?”, asked Fred, as they finished their breakfast and prepared to leave the dining room.

“I'm not bothered,” she answered curtly, not looking at him while she answered, or he would have seen the bitterness in her face. They had been awake for nearly two hours now and he hadn't even remembered their fiftieth wedding anniversary. No, “ thank you for all our wonderful years together”, even if he hadn't meant it, those words would have made their life together worthwhile.

She had the gold cufflinks she had bought him, neatly packaged in her handbag in readiness to give him after she had heard those kind of words. So sod him, let him get on with it. At the moment she didn't want to know.

“Well, I'd like to take part in the archery again, I'm doing very well if I do say it meself. I nearly got a bulls eye last time, yer know?”

“Very nice, Fred,” she said automatically. “Then perhaps I'll see if that stretching class is on again.”

They parted at the bottom of the stairs, Mavis to sit with her book for the time being in the foyer area and Fred sauntering over to the tennis courts.

***

“Everyone ready?”, asked Paul, as his family settled themselves into the Espace, in preparation for their trip to Mount Teide. “Yes,” everyone cried in unison, the children bubbling with excitement to be going out for the day.

“Can I look at the map, Mummy?” asked Annabelle from her seat behind Cheryl. “Daddy says I'm as good as you when it comes to map reading.”

“Is that right, Darling?”, said Cheryl, looking rather smart in her cream corduroy boot leg trousers and lemon mohair sweater. “Let's see how Mummy gets on and if I get us lost, then you can take over. I think you should go right at the roundabout first, Paul, then up the road to the motor way. It looks like we stay on that road until we've passed Playa de las Americas, then left onto a smaller road. Don't forget that they don't drive on the left like we do.”

“As if,” said Paul, smiling with good humour. “I'll take it nice and easy and we should be there in under an hour.”

***

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you could just bring your luggage out to the left of the portico, I'll go through my list to make sure you are all here for when the coach arrives,” said Lucy.

“Mr. and Mrs. Crowley, Gatwick flight. Mrs. and Mrs. Howard, James Howard and Madeline, Manchester flight.” She continued through her list, whilst the guests nodded to say they were there, until she got to a Mr. Flynn and a Mrs. Tucker. She repeated their names again, after a comic in the group declared that the people must have enjoyed their stay so much, that they didn't want to go home. “Not if they've only had three proper days of sunshine like we have,” said a pale looking woman, in a strappy T shirt that showed red bits around her shoulders. “This is the first time we've had such changeable weather in February and we've been coming to Tenerife for seven years.”

“I won't be coming again at this time of the year,” chimed in another guest, “ and yet a man who drinks in our club, says he comes in January and it's beautiful.”

“Does anybody know Mr. Flynn and Mrs. Tucker?”, asked Lucy worriedly. “Perhaps they didn't look at the departure time.”

“There was a chap on our flight here, who was disabled,” said Mr. Crowley. “I thought he'd have been given one of those wheelchair taxis, but he struggled up the coach steps before we set off for coming here. Have you asked at the desk if he's handed his key card in?”

“Of course,” said Lucy gratefully. “ I never thought of asking Dania. I won't be a minute, keep your eye out for the coach.”

“It's here,” shouted someone, as they all made a dash to get a good seat, dragging or carrying their suitcases. The driver got out of his compartment and started loading the luggage in the hold.

“Has Mr. Flynn and a Mrs. Tucker handed their key card in?”, asked Lucy of Dania, trying to keep her eye on the coach at the same time.

“Yes,” said the receptionist, “about ten minutes ago. He was walking with sticks and she had a folded up wheelchair.”

“I didn't see them,” said Lucy “ and I've been here for the past fifteen minutes. I'll just go and see the driver. If I don't, he'll think there isn't a rep' in accompaniment and he'll just leave without me.”

Lucy ran over to the coach, where the driver was leaning against the bonnet smoking a cigarette.

“Sorry,” she told him breathlessly. “ We seem to have two passengers missing. Could you possibly wait until I find them?”

“Si, Senorita. I will wait until I have finished my cigarette and then you must ask your Reception to telephone for a taxi. We cannot wait all day for them, as you know.”

“Thank you,” said Lucy, pleased that the driver could speak such good English and didn't mind waiting a little longer, though she didn't know how long it would take him to smoke a cigarette.

She ran back into the foyer, wondering where to start in order to find the errant pair. Just as she decided that perhaps they had gone to the restaurant for a final coffee, a woman in her forties came dashing out of the disabled toilet along the corridor, her face looking flushed and worried as she did so.

“Are you Mrs. Tucker?”, asked Lucy, wondering what had happened to make the woman and her partner late?

“Yes, I am. It's my father. I've left him in the toilet. He's got the trots. He said he had a bad stomach when he got up this morning, but I thought it was just nerves, you know about flying on the ‘plane. I've given him some Imodium, but what are we going to do, I know the coach will be leaving soon?

Oh yes, I can see the others have gone.”

Lucy had to think on her feet. This problem had not come up before and she wondered whether to ring Kath on her mobile, or take a decision herself? The latter won, as she knew that the driver would have probably finished his cigarette and the passengers would be anxious to be on their way.

“We have to be at the airport three hours before take off, Mrs. Tucker,” she said. “I suggest when Mr. Flynn has finished in the toilet, you come to Reception and ask them to telephone for a taxi, preferably a wheelchair one if it is possible. You will of course have to pay for the taxi yourself, but if you explain what happened to your health insurer, they may reimburse you. I'll be back in a minute and let you know, if the driver is prepared to wait for your father.”

Of course the driver wasn't, even though Lucy explained the problem without going into too much detail. So, there was no option for Mrs. Tucker and her father, other than letting the coach go.

“Sorry about that,” Lucy said, as she switched on the microphone after she had climbed aboard the coach. “Unfortunately a guest has taken poorly and will have to follow on in a taxi. Can I remind you to take off your All Inclusive wristbands, if you haven't already done so and I hope that you have made sure that you have your passports ready in your hand luggage?”

She sat down in the front passenger seat after signalling to the driver, whose name badge said Ramon, that they were ready to go.

“About time too,” she heard a disgruntled passenger from another hotel, who hadn't been a guest of Periquito Travel, say. “You'd think our travel company would have made separate arrangements for us to get to the airport, instead of having to share this bus.”

Lucy ignored him, she knew that the company she worked for, hadn't got the resources to always put on an exclusive coach.

She let her mind wander to the guests who were being met from the incoming ‘planes. Not so many this time. No one was going to Mountain View or San Lorenzo, just fourteen guests in total would be coming to stay at the Hotel Valia.