Clouds Below the Mountains (9 page)

“Yes, he did, but it was the drink that did it. With it being All Inclusive it just went to his head.”

“Ah, All Inclusive,” said Mr. Sanchez and lapsed into silence for a while.

The waiter came at that moment, bearing two large white plates with slices of ham and cheeses on one and sliced tomatoes, different coloured peppers, cucumber and onions on another. He placed them carefully on the table before them, then went off again to get little cartons of butter, bread rolls and more smaller white plates for everyone to eat breakfast from.

“I believe you call this Continental,” Mr. Sanchez smiled, showing even white teeth between his wide generous lips. “So much better for you than the English breakfast of bacon and eggs.”

No one dared argue with that, especially Kath and Lucy who felt they walking on egg shells!

“So, Kathleen, what will happen to these two guests if I ask Mr. Reeves to leave the hotel?,” asked the owner, after he had liberally spread his bread roll with butter and placed a slice of beefsteak tomato and some chunky yellow cheese upon it.

Jenni held her breath, while she was waiting for Kath to answer.

“We've never had this problem before,” she said quietly. “I suppose it will be something I will have to talk about with the owner of Periquito Travel.”

“Ah, Robert, (which he pronounced Roberre). Would you like me to speak with him? Of course I know him very well.”

Kath nodded and smiled in appreciation, she was feeling very much out of her depth at the moment. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembered that her boss had once said that he was a distant cousin of the hotel owner. She relaxed a little and speared a slice of tomato onto her fork, then transferred it to her plate. It was only a gesture on her part, as the other two girls seemed to have also lost their appetites too, with Lucy nibbling on her bread and Jenni looking distinctly ill at ease, in front of such an illustrious personage.

“Come on, you two,” said Mr. Sanchez smiling, noticing the girls were not tucking in. “Have something to eat. You are just like my wife, always trying to look after your figures.”

He laughed at his joke, then snapped his fingers for the waiter. Juan dutifully arrived again and was told to fetch a jug of coffee.

The owner drank his coffee black and after he'd had his cup filled, he told Juan to pour out a cup for each of his guests. After drinking some, then wiping his mouth with a peach coloured paper napkin, he got up suddenly from his seat and excused himself. Looking down at his Rolex watch, he said he would meet them all in the foyer at nine o' clock.

***

Kate, Greg, Evan and Sonya came into the dining room, to be greeted by a beaming Paul, who had put two of the tables together and was waiting for their appearance.

“Oh, this could cause a precedent,” whispered Kate to Sonya, as she had been looking forward to a peaceful meal without having to say very much.

“Cheryl and the kids haven't come down yet. I did say eight thirty but you know what women are like,” Paul said to Greg conspiratorially. “Sit down. Look, I've got two highchairs so that Jack and Evan can sit side by side. I've had my breakfast, pancakes with honey on, a sausage sarnie and I finished off with fruit and yoghurt. Does anyone want me to get them a coffee, I'm just off to get one for myself?”

“No, you're all right,” said Greg. “We'll get our own coffee. Evan let me put you in that high chair, Kate do you and Sonya want to get your food and I'll get Evan's and mine in a moment?”

The two women nodded and Greg and Paul sat down on the chairs.

“I've been watching what's been going on over there,” Paul confided. “I went for a run earlier, went as far as the promenade. It's a lot warmer down there by the way. Anyway, when I came in here, the two rep's and the poor girl that was attacked last night and that man with them, seemed to be having an in depth discussion. I assumed it was over what to do with young fella- me-lad. So I asked the waiter who the man was and he said the owner of the hotel. Just think, me and Cheryl are living in his penthouse!”

“Oh, are you,?” said Greg, more interested in the fact that Paul was staying in the penthouse suite, than what was happening over in the corner.

“That must have cost you a bob or two to hire the owner's suite.”

“No, it didn't really. I emailed and asked could we upgrade, because I really wanted a hotel that offered a suite of rooms, instead of just a family bedroom. The travel company emailed back and said that the owner allowed guests to use his penthouse suite. I jumped at the chance, because there wasn't a big price increase.”

“Lucky you,” said Greg dryly, thinking that this chap must have a good job to be able to afford the luxury. Even he as owner of a factory had to be careful with the money he spent.

“Evan, what do you want to eat? I think I spy some lovely sausages,” he said, in an effort to cover up his jealousy.

“You're looking very smart, ladies,” said Paul complimentarily, as Greg moved off to the hot buffet and Kate with Sonya came back to the table, with a bowl of fruit and yoghurt each.

“Thank you kind sir,” Kate said, who was wearing a pale pink tracksuit, while Sonya was wearing a cream hooded jacket over a thin cotton cream sweater and green camouflage pants.

“We aim to please,” dimpled Sonya.

“Well you have,” said Paul with a friendly grin. “Ah, here comes my lot. Cheryl, we're over here!”

***

“Oh, I'm so glad Mr Sanchez has gone,” said Jenni to Lucy, picking up her bread roll and forking some tomato upon it. “I couldn't think while he was here, my mind felt all clogged up.”

“And how do you feel now?”, Kath, broke in quickly. “If Mr Sanchez and my boss decide that your boyfriend can't stay here, what are you going to do?”

“I suppose it depends on Simon's attitude towards me,” said Jenni, miserably. “ If he apologizes, I suppose we will have to look for other accommodation. That or try to get a flight back home.”

“It seems a shame that you have to give up your holiday because of his behaviour,” said Lucy.

“Lucy,” Kath said, in a warning tone. “The decision must be Jenni's, you mustn't persuade her either way. Let's wait until we hear later what Mr. Sanchez wants to do. Now, to other things,” she continued briskly, “I have brought everything with me in the car for the Welcome meeting. Perhaps when we have finished here, you can help me bring the boxes in?”

“Shall we go and have a look around the shop that they've got on the first floor?”, suggested Milly, as the three women came out of the dining room. “I saw a sign in Reception with an arrow that pointed that way.”

“We may as well. It'll fill some time before we go to the Welcome meeting. There's no possibility of sitting on a sun bed, is there?” That was from Doreen, who felt a bit put out that there wasn't even a hint of blue cloud, as she looked out of the foyer's patio doors.

“Shall we walk up or take the lift?,” asked Jean, feeling very full because she had eaten a cooked breakfast.

“We'll walk it,” said Doreen. “It might shift some of the food we've eaten in there.”

They trundled slowly up the staircase, making room for people to pass who were on their way down to breakfast. Milly stopped at a display of postcards, in a tall plastic unit when they got to the foyer, saying that she must buy a few cards.

“They'll probably be cheaper in the shop upstairs,” said Doreen. “If they're not we can come back down and buy a few from here.”

“Isn't that the young girl who was involved in that trouble last night?,” asked Jean, who was looking at a solitary figure sitting in an armchair by the door.

“It looks like her,” said Milly. “ Poor thing, she should be enjoying herself on her holiday, not sitting there looking lost.”

“There's nothing much else for her to do, is there?”, said Doreen. “Except the meeting of course or going to have her nails done.”

“Oh, I'm sure the Animacion team will try to keep people occupied, there's a board over there,” said Milly, pointing to a large blackboard with posters on, proclaiming the activities for the day.

“Do you think I should go and have a word with her?,” said Jean, feeling very sorry for the young girl.

“No, come on,” Doreen answered. “You don't want to go getting involved with someone you don't know.”

***

“Lay out the packs like I showed you last week,” said Kath to Lucy, after they had both carried the boxes into the Sunlight Bar. “We'll drag that table over in front of the stage and then if a lot of people attend, I can plug the microphone into that hi-fi unit.”

“Do you want me to get chairs and arrange them in rows on the dance floor, or shall we let the guests do that when they come in?”

“Let them, Lucy. Some people like to sit as far away as possible. I don't know why, we're not going to eat them.”

“I wonder if Mr. Sanchez has spoken with Robert?”, said Lucy. “Jenni looked like a lost soul when we passed her by the door.”

“I'm sure he'll send someone if he wants to update us. I hope it's soon, because the meeting will be starting in twenty minutes. I thought when we met him in the foyer before, he was going to give us a decision, but like everything with the Spanish, it's manana time with him. If he sends for me during the meeting Lucy, I want you to take over. I'll begin like I usually do with welcoming everybody, then ask everyone to help themselves to a glass of wine or orange juice, unless we can persuade the waiter to take the glasses around on a tray. Oh, that's a thought, I don't suppose you remembered to ask for refreshments? No, I didn't either, it's this blooming problem with that Reeves fellow. Why can't people behave themselves?”

“Do you want me to go and ask Reception?”, volunteered Lucy.

“No, I'll go. While I'm up there, I'll pop into the owner's office and ask him if he's heard anything.

You'll probably see the waiter before you see me.”

***

“I'll just walk over with Evan to the Kid's club,” said Greg, after he had looked at his watch and seen that the meeting was starting in twenty minutes. “Do you want me to take Jack and your daughter, Annabelle?” he asked Paul.

“I'm not going,” said Annabelle, who had been sitting quietly beside her mother on the sofa

opposite. Cheryl chose to ignore her, instead of listing the merits of being in the Kid's club, because she would find the Welcome meeting boring. Once her daughter had made her mind up, there was usually no way of shifting her. She turned her attention to Jack, who was leaning over the fountain display trying to splash Evan.

“Come on, Jack, it's time you went to the Kid's club,” she said. “Oh, look Paul, go and get him will you, before we have to take him back to the suite and change him.”

Kate and Sonya looked at each other with their eyebrows raised a little. What was this about a suite, they had only a bedroom?

“I'll tell you later,” whispered Greg, as he passed them by to get Evan.

***

“Oh, look Fred, postcards,” said Mavis as they walked up to the foyer. “I promised Ethel I'd send her one and I'd like to send one to Val and Lillian.”

“What is it with you women and postcards?,” queried Fred. “Every year we send postcards and no one gets them until a week after we've got home.”

“Oh, go on, Fred, it's part of the holiday. It shows you're thinking of them while your enjoying yourself.”

“We haven't started enjoying ourselves yet. Why don't yer wait until we are and the you can start writing them?”

***

“Jenni, can you come into Mr. Sanchez's office please?” said Kath. “He's got something he wants to tell you.”

“Will you be with me?,” asked the girl nervously, “He makes me feel frightened.”

“As long as I'm no longer than a couple of minutes, the Welcome meeting starts at ten.”

“Thank you,” said Jenni gratefully and followed her along the foyer.

“Ah, Senorita Woods, come in and sit down,” said Mr Sanchez, standing courteously behind his desk, until Jenni had sat down.

“Is it all right if I stay for a couple of minutes, Sir,?” asked Kath, “ then I really must go to the meeting.”

“Yes, yes, sit next to Jenni.”

“Now, “ he said, looking at the girl with something akin to pity. “Mr Reeves has been released from police custody and should be making his way here. No charges are to be laid, because Miguel said it was a misunderstanding on your boyfriend's part and no bones were broken. We are taking it as read, that you do not want to press charges over his assault on you, but the problem lies in the fact that we cannot allow our guests to be witness to such a debacle. Therefore, the owner of Periquito Travel and I have agreed, that Mr Reeves will not be allowed to keep the room that was allocated to him. However, we realise that you are in a country that is strange to you, so you will be given every assistance by Kath here, to make arrangements for a flight back home.”

“Do you understand Jenni?” asked Kath gently. “When your boyfriend gets back, you and he will have to pack and remove your belongings from the bedroom?”

“Oh,” said Jenni quietly, wondering why Simon could not just apologize and then they could be allowed to continue with their holiday.

“I'll have to leave you now, dear,” said Kath, opening the office door, then backing out. “I'll see you after the meeting and we'll see what we can sort out.”

Jenni rose to follow her, then stopped and looked at Mr. Sanchez.

“Is there no way you would reconsider if Simon apologizes? He has spent a lot of money on this holiday and it was meant to be a treat for me.”

“Far be it for me to interfere, Jenni,” he said, “ but if Mr Reeves were to take a flight home as soon as possible, I can't see why you shouldn't continue with your holiday here.”

Jenni looked at him in amazement. Was that an option? Would Simon wear it if she suggested that to him? The alternative was to go home with him, put up with his whinging that the world was against him, watch him in a drunken state next time he came from the pub' to meet her, but most of all, have to put up with his sexual domination. Was she prepared to do that for the rest of her life?”

***

“Welcome everybody,” said Kath, as she stood with Lucy at the side of the table in front of the guests, who were clutching glasses of wine or orange juice and listening to her expectantly.

Kath's boney face had taken on an air of importance. She really enjoyed having a captive audience and she felt that the Welcome Meeting was the best part of her job.

“Firstly, I would like to talk to you about Health and Safety. Periquito Travel pride themselves on caring about the health and safety of our guests.”

She went on to tell them about only drinking bottled water because of the high mineral content in the local water, where the nearest pharmacy was and what to do if a doctor was required. She underlined the need for vigilance concerning parents with young children, both at the swimming pool and high floor balconies.

Then she asked Lucy, to distribute the packs with all the information regarding what she had just said and to note that there was a booking form in the pack, for any one interested in booking any of the excursions.

The guests started talking amongst themselves, as Lucy walked around handing out the information packs, which were within a folder showing a picture of a yellow and green parakeet emblazoned on the front.

“Are you thinking of going on any of the excursions, Greg?” asked Paul. “We were thinking of maybe taking the kids to Aqualand, Jack would love the dolphins there. Though we'll wait until the weather picks up a bit.”

Greg felt Kate's foot kicking him lightly under the table, which the two families had arranged the chairs around.

“We don't usually make our minds up on the first week, Paul,” he replied. “We wait until boredom sets in, then see if we can get on a trip later.”

“We'll probably hire a car,” Paul replied, feeling slightly disappointed that the other family wanted to do their own thing. “We'll listen to what the rep' has to say about the excursions and if there's anything we fancy, it'll probably be cheaper to do it ourselves. You know, we could hire a people carrier between us?” he ended hopefully.

Greg felt another kick on his shin.

“As I said, Paul, we don't like to make our minds up about anything just yet.”

“Could I have your attention please?”, said Kath in an effort to bring the meeting back under control.

“Lucy, will now give you the benefit of her experience on these trips, except for the boat trip. You haven't been on that yet, have you, Dear?”

“No, I'm not a good sailor,” Lucy said with a grimace, “ but I am sure when the better weather comes, I could risk it.”

She went on to describe the excursions she had been on, which hadn't been all of them, as Kath had said, nor had she been to the island of La Gomeras. She recommended the Jungle Park, a full day excursion to see crocodiles, lions and tigers, the Loro Parque with its parrots, penguins, gorillas and wild cats and she finished off with the trip to Mount Teide, either by a jeep tour or conventional coaching. Of course there were many other excursions to go on, but they could have been there all morning if she had been left to describe them.

“Thank you Lucy, well done. I will now run through the facilities of the Hotel Valia and then I think you will have all had enough of listening to us. Sorry to have to mention it, but your times of departure next Tuesday for both the Gatwick flight and Manchester, are on the notice board at the back of the rep's desk. You will find our desk in the corridor, just beyond the foyer on the way to the beauty room. There is always someone there from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, unless we are on airport duty. And before you go, I would just like to mention that out of those hours, Lucy and I would be grateful if you would respect our off duty time. We will not appreciate being disturbed during meal breaks or leisure time. If your inquiry is urgent, you can contact head office at any time.”

“We've only just got here and she's already reminding us we go home next Tuesday,” whispered Doreen. “We haven't seen the sun yet. I wonder if you can ask for a refund, if you don't see the sun on your holiday?”

“Don't be daft,” said Jean. “We saw it yesterday.”

***

Jenni went down to the Pool bar to get herself a drink. She hadn't been asked to give her wristband back, so she assumed she could still order. Though the clouds in the sky looked dark with the threat of rain, people were still sat resolutely on the sun loungers, though most had a cardigan or a thin sweater on.

“Buenos dios, Senorita,” said Miguel, who was working at the pool bar that morning. “What can I get for you?” He smiled at her sympathetically. He had heard that her boyfriend had been released from police custody and was coming back to the hotel.

“Will you be leaving, Jenni?” he asked, after he had filled a paper cup with the fresh orange juice that she had asked for and placed it on the counter.

“I don't know, Miguel,” she answered miserably. “ I would have said “yes”, if you had asked me earlier, but I have had time to think while I've been waiting for Simon and Mr. Sanchez has said that I can stay if I want to.”

“Without your boyfriend?”

Jenni nodded.

“Then why don't you stay? A pretty girl like you should not be unhappy, tied to a man who only hurts you. If I was your man, I would spend my life making sure that your happiness came first.”

“Oh, that's so romantic,” she said, laughing suddenly.

Then her smile faded and she sipped her drink sadly.

“You don't want to tell him that you want to stay here on your own. Is that it, Jenni? Will he take it badly?”

Jenni nodded her her head again. “I have to admit I am rather nervous. He'll go mad probably when I tell him that I want to stay here.”

“I would help you if I could,” said Miguel, “ but I have to stay here or I would be dismissed.

Perhaps Lucy could be there when you tell him?”

“I'll ask her,” said Jenni, “ but she is in the Welcome meeting. Let's hope Simon arrives after that.”