The Love Resort (21 page)

‘Is there somewhere here we can meet? Tonight?’ Todd knew he had to see Marcus again; reason had deserted him.

‘Tonight is no good, my managers will be watching me. Maybe tomorrow.’

‘Please?’

‘I’ll find somewhere for tomorrow and I’ll let you know.’

Todd went back to his villa and his wife, feeling full of anticipation. It was so long since he’d been able to be himself and he thanked The Love Resort for that.

18

What
You
Say
About
The
Resort!

Mr & Mrs Lewis stayed for two weeks in January 2004.

‘The Love Resort was the most wonderful place we’d ever been to. The accommodation, the facilities and the staff were all without fault. We felt that we were special to be there and that our relationship was special. Romance surrounded us and we fell in love all over again.’

Mr & Mrs Churchill stayed for three weeks in May 2004.

‘What can we say? Amazing! In fact, we loved it so much we extended our two-week break and have already booked to come back next year. We love The Love Resort!’

(These testimonials are true. However, for the sake of space, some editing may have occurred.)

Official
Love
Resort
Brochure

*

‘So, Jimmy, how did you and Emily meet?’ Lily asked.

The interview was taking place in the quiet garden, which had been cleared for the purpose. They sat at a small wooden table, a parasol keeping the relentless sun off their faces, and three glasses of water sat before them. In the middle of the table, as a reminder, sat Lily’s Dictaphone.

‘We met at my father’s pub. I was serving behind the bar and Jimmy was a regular. We’d seen each other, but Jimmy was quite shy, really, so I served him a pint and then he mumbled something. So I asked him to repeat it and he asked me on a date!’ Emily replied.

Jimmy nodded, although Lily thought he was a bit confused. In fact, thinking about these two, she guessed that Emily had asked him out. She couldn’t imagine Jimmy having the nerve to make such a bold move. Still, she was there to interview them, not to judge.

‘How lovely.’ Lily wondered what Anne-Marie would do with that answer or, more to the point, what she’d make Lily do with it. She was sure that flowers, and maybe even a Shakespeare sonnet, would be added to the story. ‘And what first attracted you to each other? Jimmy?’

‘She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know her at first, so I have to say that it was her looks that I was drawn to.’ Jimmy was blushing.

Lily thought he was such a sweetheart. She wasn’t sure that Emily deserved him, especially after her behaviour the other night. Imagine flirting with Neanderthal man Lee, when you had gorgeous, kind Jimmy.

‘That’s lovely,’ she said, instead of voicing her thoughts.

‘Actually, it wasn’t just that!’ Jimmy shouted.

Lily was startled at the outburst. As, it seemed was Emily. ‘Really? Go on.’ Lily saw Jimmy was as red as a lobster, and Emily was looking at him as if he were quite mad. Lily smiled, inviting confidence. This was getting interesting.

‘I saw her serving this drink behind the bar, it was the first time I’d ever seen her and she laughed and all of a sudden everything stopped, and her smile lit up the entire pub and it lit me up from the inside out.’ Jimmy looked at his shoes.

‘Wow,’ Lily said. She couldn’t believe that he’d come out with that. Anne-Marie’s editing skills would not be required there.

‘Really?’ Emily asked, in the softest voice she’d ever used.

Lily studied her. She seemed touched, and a bit embarrassed. Whether she was embarrassed by Jimmy’s words or by her own behaviour, Lily couldn’t say.

‘Emily?’ Lily prompted.

‘And I thought that he was a really interesting person,’ Emily replied.

‘What do you mean by that?’ Lily pushed. She wanted more for Jimmy as much as she wanted it for the interview.

‘Well, he had his own business and he’s quite young, so I thought that was good,’ Emily replied.

Lily was almost lost for words. She took a sip of water while she thought of a response.

She felt sorry for Jimmy. Emily obviously did too; she smiled apologetically at Jimmy but he didn’t seem to be looking her way. Lily couldn’t blame him.

‘What made you apply for the competition?’ Lily asked, willing Emily to stop being such a bitch.

‘Well, we wanted to go somewhere in the Caribbean, and we saw the resort in the magazine, and well, really we thought that we had to come here. I mean, it’s so romantic and exclusive, so we decided to try to win the competition and we said that if we didn’t win, we’d come here anyway.’ Emily smiled; Lily wanted to hit her.

‘Is that right, Jimmy?’ Lily asked, feeling desperately that it wasn’t. Jimmy nodded, but he looked sad. Lily wanted to hug him and tell him that he could do better. Although if she did that, Anne-Marie would probably kill her.

‘And how is the holiday living up to your expectations?’ Lily asked, putting on a fake smile.

‘Oh, the resort is so perfect, and so upmarket. It’s really—what’s the word?—really elegant. And the other guests are also so amazing. I really feel at home here,’ Emily replied.

Lily willed Jimmy to speak. To tell Emily that she was a shallow harlot and he was going to find someone else who was more deserving of him. Although Jimmy could sometimes seem a bit serious, Lily thought he was warm-hearted and had a lot going for him. If he learnt how to control his blushing, and sorted out his dress sense, he’d be a great catch. And she would put money on the fact that he was a much fuller person when Emily wasn’t around.

‘Lily, can I interject here?’ Jimmy said.

Lily looked at him hopefully. ‘Sure.’ She braced herself.

‘As I said before, Emily is the most beautiful girl in the world. I love her with all my heart. Em, I do. And this holiday, this setting is perfect.’

‘I’m glad you think so,’ Lily answered, a little scared about what might be about to happen.

‘No, you don’t understand.’ He was almost shouting as he stood up. Then to Emily and Lily’s surprise, he cleared his throat, dropped to one knee and held out a box.

‘Emily, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and you are my one true love. Will you do me the great honour of being my wife?’ He was red, and flushed, but also evidently proud of himself.

Was he insane? Lily was expecting him to tell Emily to get lost and dig gold somewhere else, but this...? Anne-Marie would be delighted, but Emily looked anything but. Lily fought the urge to rugby tackle Jimmy to the ground. Instead she watched as Emily took the box from him.

‘May I?’ She opened it. Jimmy knelt immobile as Emily looked at the ring. Lily leant in to get a closer look as well. It was pretty: a square-cut diamond set in gold with two smaller diamonds either side. Jimmy had taste in jewellery, if not in women.

‘Emily?’ Lily prompted, thinking that Jimmy would either fall over, or have very bruised knees if she didn’t answer him soon. She also couldn’t believe that she was examining the ring so thoroughly before answering. Actually she could; Emily was a horrible girl. Poor Jimmy looked on the verge of tears.

‘Yes!’ she exclaimed at last, and Jimmy let out a very relieved smile, while Emily looked like she’d been sentenced to death.

‘How wonderful that we are going to have these as our official engagement photographs,’ Jimmy said, as they walked back up the beach. Emily nodded; Jimmy took her hand. He was the happiest man in the world. Now he knew what people meant when they said that. At times in the interview he felt that she was being cold, but only because he hadn’t proposed. Her reaction when he did told him everything. She’d looked at the ring for ages, which told him that he’d picked well. She was emotional, as if she was fighting back tears, which is why it had taken her a while to answer him. But answer him she had, and now they were getting married. He couldn’t believe it.

‘Why have you taken your ring off?’ Jimmy asked, noticing her put it straight back in the box when the photographer had finished, and feeling hurt. As they made their way to the photographer he’d been on cloud nine. Now he’d sunk to cloud one or two. Something was wrong on what should have been a joyous occasion and he didn’t know what it was, but it scared him. When the photographer was taking the photos, Emily had had trouble looking at Jimmy. When the photographer had asked them to kiss, she’d given him a peck and was reluctant when they were asked to re-do it with more passion. She seemed distant, almost repulsed by him. She was behaving very strangely.

Emily was his first serious girlfriend and he adored her. It wasn’t just her looks, but she made him laugh and she was fun, always planning things. Learning to surf, eating out, and not just English food—she had opened a new world for him and he realised that without her he was really quite dull.

‘It’s a bit big, and I’m worried about losing it,’ she lied.

‘But you said earlier it was a perfect fit.’ Jimmy had been telling himself all holiday that he needed to act like a man. Hence the proposal. But what if that wasn’t enough? What more could he do?

‘Well, it is, but not quite perfect. Oh, Jimmy, I was trying to spare you. I need a tiny alteration and really that’s not your fault. I would never forgive myself if I lost it. Now, we need to wait for the others at the bar, so why don’t I just go and put this in the safe and meet you there?’

Jimmy watched his fiancée go and he wondered why, despite the fact that the woman he loved had agreed to marry him, he was feeling so unhappy all of a sudden.

*

‘So, Tim, how would describe your perfect romantic date with Thea?’ Lily asked, looking at the blond couple. They had arrived hand in hand, looking every inch the perfect pair. They were so damn good-looking, Lily reflected, as if they were made for each other. However, the interview wasn’t proving easy. Tim looked amused every time she spoke and Thea appeared petrified. Lily couldn’t figure these two out. Mind you, after Jimmy and Emily...

‘Well, it would begin with champagne, of course,’ Tim smiled. ‘Then I would take her for dinner, in a restaurant like the one you have here. Fine food, fine wine and such a perfect setting. Then we would take a romantic stroll, ideally on the beach here, and we would end the evening by sitting in one of your wonderful love seats and talking about our love.’ He beamed widely.

‘Really? That does sound wonderful.’ Lily wanted to tell him that he sounded like Anne-Marie, but she held her tongue. He was obviously insane.

‘Tim is very romantic,’ Thea added pointedly, looking at Lily.

‘I can see that. So, what in your opinion is the best thing about The Love Resort?’

‘For me, personally, it’s being with the one I love, so very, very much, in an idyllic place. Our love can’t fail to flourish here, no one’s could.’

Well, Lily thought, Tim was a writer. Perhaps he could be a romantic novelist, although Lily had a sneaking suspicion he was quoting the
Guest
Handbook
to her. She stifled a giggle. This was just too perfect and too awful at the same time.

‘Thea, what do you think?’ She tried to assume a reassuring face, as Thea looked lost.

‘I think the setting is wonderful, beautiful, and that’s really great. Really.’

Thea was evidently tired. Lily wondered what was going on. It was obvious from his behaviour that Tim was a bit of a handful, so perhaps that was it. Perhaps she was worn out from trying to keep up with him.

‘Thea, would you say this holiday has improved your relationship?’ Lily asked. Thea’s expression was horrified. Lily smiled encouragingly, wondering what it was with this pair.

‘It has brought us closer together. I think that Tim’s right. A relationship benefits from this resort.’ Lily didn’t believe her; but then she was pretty certain that Thea didn’t believe herself.

‘Lily, you see, I’m a writer.’ Tim leant in close. ‘A tortured soul. I need beauty around me to exist. Without it I would die.’ He swept his arms around to emphasise his point. Lily couldn’t believe what she was hearing; and by the look on her face nor could Thea. ‘I see myself as a bit like Anne-Marie in that way. So, that’s why I have the most beautiful girlfriend in the world and also why I appreciate this setting so much. A man surrounded by this kind of beauty cannot help but be inspired.’ With that he leant over, grabbed Thea and kissed her hard on the mouth. It was unclear who was the most shocked, Lily herself or Thea. Lily couldn’t wait to tell Anne-Marie. This interview was turning out to be incredibly interesting.

*

‘Tim, why did you say all that shit?’ Thea hissed as they sat, legs entwined on the love seat. Having got over the shock, she was angry with him. She felt that he was making a fool out of her.

‘You told me that I was ruining the holiday for you, so I tried to put things right. Why can I never win with you?’

‘Because you go too far.’

‘SMILE,’ the photographer shouted. They smiled.

‘What do you mean?’ Tim asked through his smile.

‘With the drink, with the romance, with everything. You can’t just be a normal boyfriend; you have to be something out of one of her novels.’

‘Thea, have I made you very angry?’ Tim asked.

Thea detected the fear in his voice and it cut her up as it always did. But why did he have to say what he did? It was so over the top; Lily’s face had showed that. But on the other hand, she knew that was who he was. He wasn’t a simple character, which was why his novel was taking so long. That, and because he drank a bit. He was a writer, a creative, tortured soul, and Thea was the only one who understood him. Wasn’t she? As the camera flashed again, Tim looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

‘Oh, Tim, anger has nothing to do with it.’ As a hole opened up in her and a great sadness washed over her, Thea realised she had no energy for anger. She wasn’t sure if she had the energy for anything any more.

*