Clouds Below the Mountains (29 page)

The three women simpered and blushed under his beguiling gaze and didn't know what to do with themselves for a few moments, Doreen broke the mood by lifting her amply covered body up from the chair she sat in and wandering over to the cake trolley to see what cake to choose.

“The meringue and morello cherry topping looks scrumptious to me, Jean, I'll have one of those,” she said, staring at Harry from her vantage point wondering if the man was too good to be true. Was he being smarmy or was he naturally a gentleman, a dying breed if he was? He seemed to be getting too close to Jean for her liking. Jean was a vulnerable person now that her son had left home and her husband had died. Was Harry zooming in with his own agenda, or were his charming ways the sign of a very lonely man?

***

“I believe there is a problem, Mr. Greenwood,” said Lucy, as she stood outside the couple's bedroom, with her heart pounding at what she might find beyond the open door.

“Oh, Lucy, I didn't recognize you without your uniform on. Oh sorry, please come in, thank you for sparing your time.”

“Well, it is my day off,” she said coolly. “ But I have been instructed to find out what is disturbing Mrs. Greenwood. I understand you wanted to call a doctor.”

“No, it's all right now,” Gary said quietly, “ Tracy has calmed down considerably since I ‘phoned your office.”

“Shall I come in then?” Lucy asked, as Gary hadn't moved an inch to let her pass.

“Oh yes, sorry.”

When Lucy walked into the room, it was to find Tracy Greenwood sitting in a corner by the window, with what looked to be an official document spread out on the table before her. She looked very whey faced, as she turned to acknowledge the rep's presence. She was wearing a very pale pink tracksuit, that seemed to make the pallor of her skin even paler.

“I don't know if you can help us,” she said in an anguished voice. “I seem to have done something very foolish, after reading this contract that my husband and I have signed. My fault entirely”, she said dolefully. “I got carried away in the heat of the moment and wouldn't listen to Gary.”

“Good gracious,” said Lucy, determined to be upbeat as she joined Tracy by the window. “ Have you signed your own death warrant?”

“No, of course not,” Tracy sighed, “ but we would like a third party opinion of what we have signed.”

“The plot gets thicker,” said Lucy, picking up the document and quickly scanning the page. “ Well, it looks as if you have bought into two weeks per year with a timeshare company.”

“Yes, we know that, but look overleaf at the terms and conditions.”

Lucy turned the page over, wondering why on earth the terms and conditions should make the woman so hysterical?

“It says that the basic timeshare allocation is to be taken in Switzerland.”

“Switzerland!, cried Tracy, “ what the hell is in Switzerland? I don't know anything about bloody Switzerland, except they make cheese and have lots of mountain goats with bells on.”

“Calm down, Tracy, Darling, let me explain the predicament to Lucy, “ said Gary in a soothing voice. “ It seems we were under the impression that we would have two weeks in a similar apartment to the one we were shown around, but unfortunately we didn't read the small print. Although to be fair, the man did say all this was subject to availability and the amount we had bought into. Reading the contract again this morning, we found that the basic £3,000.00 we paid has bought us two weeks in Switzerland and not in Tenerife. Finding this out has been the cause of my wife's hysteria, I'm afraid.”

“Can you help us in anyway, Lucy?” asked Tracy, in a very humble voice. “ Gary is trying to be very understanding, but unfortunately this is all my doing, as I railroaded him into buying the timeshare.”

“Well,” said Lucy, relieved that it was only her opinion being sought and not to have to try and calm down a frenzied woman, about to jump from the second floor balcony. “ I would have thought there was a cooling off period in this kind of agreement, though it doesn't say here that you are entitled to one. How did you pay?”

“By my credit card,” Tracy answered.

“Then perhaps you can talk to your credit card company and ask them to stop the payment. If you think you have been sold something that hasn't been explained properly.”

“Do you think so?” said both Tracy and Gary in unison.

“If it was me, I would telephone them first thing tomorrow and ask can they stop the payment? Say once you read the contract you realized it wasn't what you thought you were getting. I'm afraid that's all I can think of, other than hiring a solicitor when you get back to the U.K.”

“Well, thank you Lucy,” said Gary gratefully, clutching at this straw that the rep' had given them,

“All we wanted was for someone to come and give us a voice of reason. Now, are you feeling better, Darling, after Lucy's advice?”

Tracy nodded and gave Lucy a wan smile then uttered her thanks, so Lucy escaped from their bedroom as fast as she could.

Bloody hell, she thought to herself resentfully as she walked to the lift. When I became a rep' for Periquito Travel, little did I realize I was going to be a lawyer, a nursemaid, a diplomat and a confidante rolled into one. I'm not getting paid enough and I don't even get to relax on my one day off!

She said as much to Jenni, as she joined her at the pool bar later, as the last of the sun departed for the day. With her uniform now hanging in her wardrobe and her underwear neatly folded, she allowed herself a vodka and tonic as a reward for her increasing irritation with the job.

“I thought I would be stood looking pretty, welcoming guests at the airport, helping them decide on what excursions they would like to go on, then the rest of my time would be spent topping up my suntan. I don't even get to go on some of these trips they have. Do you know, I've never been to this

Raffles Cabaret, because Kath always manages to go to that. I've never been to the Stars on Broadway as that's another expensive one. I've never been on the Medieval Adventure or the Decades Show. Anything that costs a packet Kath always seems to go on?”

“Well, at least you're getting free accommodation and All Inclusive,” said Jenni, sounding envious,

“and the pay can't be that bad for someone who's learning on the job.”

“Whose side are you on, Jenni?” Lucy frowned. “ I'm on call from morning ‘til night and when do I really get to sit in the sun? On my one day off, that's when and I've just watched it disappearing below the horizon today. I'm wondering if I'm cut out for this kind of stress I'm under. I might be better off on the cash desk at Tesco's.”

“Oh don't say that, Lucy, from what I've seen, you're a marvelous rep'. Look how kind you've been to me and I'm sure that couple you went to see before are very pleased you listened to their tale of woe. Imagine having three thousand pounds, though Lucy. I couldn't believe what they'd done with it when you told me. Anyway listen, you're just having a down day, tell me what trips you're going on this week and I'll think of you when I'm back in rainy old England. Pity I'm only here until Tuesday or maybe I could have come with you. I would have booked for La Gomeras or Santa Cruz if I'd had the money.”

“Did you really fancy going to Santa Cruz?” asked Lucy, a plan beginning to form in her mind.

“Yes, I've just said so, diddle I?”

“Then you shall go, Cinderella. There's a coach coming to our hotel around ten o' clock in the morning and you and I, Jenni, shall go to the ball!”

***

“It's sorted, Mum,” said Sonya, whispering to Kate after her mother had opened the bedroom door in answer to her daughter's quiet knock. “ He wants me to rehearse tomorrow afternoon, if you and Dad will have Evan.”

“Of course we will, love. Actually, Evan should be awake in a little while, with him having that snooze on the way back from the way back from the harbour. He didn't really need much of a nap this afternoon.”

“Well, it's too late now for me to have a siesta, so would you let me get a shower and I'll change into my dressing gown, then I'll get Evan ready for dinner after? Oh, before I go, Mum, I came face to face with Cheryl when I was getting in the lift. They had been to Aqualand and they'd taken Emily with them. Anyway Fiona's back from hospital and Cheryl asked me would we like to sit together in the Sunlight Bar this evening? I couldn't say no, could I, it's an apology in a way?”

“Yes, whatever, Sonya. Your Dad said if I was to come across her, I had to paste a smile on my face.”

“I'll let you get on then, Mum. Shout me across the balcony when Evan's ready to come.”

She didn't confide in her mother, that she had also met Juan as she came out of the quiet bar where she had located Mikey and how she had binned the waiter off when he'd asked could he be with her again that evening?

“Are you sure you are not going to get into trouble for this, Lucy?” asked Jenni, as she and Lucy stood a little away from Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, a retired couple in their sixties who had booked to go to Santa Cruz.

“I told you last night, Jenni, there won't be a problem. It's an unescorted trip, but when I get on the coach with my uniform on, I'll tell the driver there's been a change of plan and now he's got a courier. He won't query it. Depending on his level of English he might think he's misunderstood. I'll act all official, saying “good morning everybody” into the microphone and then I'll sit back with you and enjoy the ride.”

“And you will pay in the money for my ticket, won't you, Lucy? I wouldn't like to think I was being dishonest in any way.”

“Yes, Jenni, it's safely in my breast pocket and I'll give you a receipt from my booking ledger when we get back.”

“Did you leave the note you said you'd write on your desk, giving out your mobile number?”

“Yes, Jenni. Honestly, you're beginning to sound like my mother. Why don't you just belt up and look forward to the day?”

***

“Jean, good morning, what are you doing here on your own?”, asked Harry Wilkinson, coming in from his early constitutional along the sea front, still dressed smartly in a white short sleeved shirt and well pressed fawn trousers.

“Oh, Harry, good morning,” said Jean, getting up from the settee in the foyer, feeling a little anxious to be with Harry on her own. “ Doreen and Milly, are doing some packing in the bedroom.

I didn't have so much myself, so I thought I'd give them some space and wait for them here.”

“Have you had breakfast?”

“No, not yet, that's why I'm waiting here, so that we can go in together.”

“Jean, I was hoping that I could manage to speak to you alone, before you go back to Manchester. How would you feel if we kept in touch, when I get back to England?” Harry gazed at Jean earnestly, hoping that her answer wouldn't be no.

“Oh, I don't know about that,” she said, dropping her eyes from his self consciously and sinking back onto the settee. “ I mean, why would you want to do that?”

Harry sat down beside her and took her hand in his tentatively. “Well, I was listening to your conversation last night with Doreen and Milly and I thought to myself, this nice lady needs a companion. From where I'm sitting, Doreen seems very self sufficient, seems happy with her own company and has quite a circle of friends. Milly, of course is married and obviously has a husband to look after, but you dear Jean, I think could do with a little male companionship, someone to take you out for dinner now and again. I could take you to the theatre or maybe we could go for a day out in my car. I have an old Jaguar, my pride and joy and I can easily make the distance from Buxton and your home.”

“Oh, I don't know,” said Jean, removing her hand from his hastily. “ I only buried my husband a year ago and I don't want people thinking I'm fast.”

“You, Jean?”, smiled Harry, thinking how guileless this little lady was. “ How could anybody think you were being fast? You're a lovely woman, everything that a widower like myself would be delighted to have in their life.”

“Well, let me think about it and of course it would have to be a secret between us. I don't want my sister and Milly putting their two pennies worth in.”

“Of course, my dear, I understand. So here's my card with my address and telephone number upon it and if you decide to contact me, I'll be delighted to receive your call.”

***

“I enjoyed last night,” Kate said to Sonya, as they took the lift together down to the restaurant. “That Mikey is a real hoot once he gets going. Did you hear what he got up to on that cruise ship? It's a wonder he didn't get a dose of syphilis.”

“Oh Mum, he just exaggerates. It's his front, a way of making people think he's been around a bit. I had a long conversation with him yesterday afternoon and it was the old biddies on the ship that used to throw themselves at him. He didn't take them up on their offers, but part of his duties was to attend the tea dances and give them each a twirl.”

“Well, he seems to have got his eye on you now. It's lucky that waiter didn't push it with you, wasn't it?”

“Yes,” agreed Sonya with feeling, remembering the name that Juan had called her after finding him lurking in the foyer, when she had come out of the Ladies. At first he had looked crushed when she had told him that she didn't fancy him anymore, then extremely angry, his arrogant temper demanding to know why? After a few vitriolic oaths in his native language he had called her a bloody damn whore. She had run back into the Ladies, shaking with fear at his onslaught, only coming out later when the coast was clear.

Sonya smiled at her mother who was obviously trying a bit of matchmaking. “ I only like Mikey, Mum, he's a laugh and that's all there is to it. Anyway, remember you and Dad are having Evan this afternoon for me.”

“Of course, love, we thought we'd take him back to that play area again. He loved those tunnels and the rope walk and I'll try to get him to do a bit more on the trampoline. Oh, there's your Dad, he took Evan to the shop to get yesterday's Sunday newspaper. I want to check the Lottery and see if we're millionaires.”

***

“How are you feeling this morning, Fiona?” asked Paul, when the two families met in the dining room, as they waited for somewhere to sit. “ We hoped we would see you last night, but Steve said you were feeling washed out when he brought Emily down for dinner.”

“I was, thank you for asking,” replied Fiona, caressing her hand over her stomach as they waited for a family nearby to vacate their table. “ Steve was very good, he rang room service and they brought me a tray up to the bedroom. Thank you by the way, for looking after Emily.”

“It's the least we could do,” said Cheryl. “I'm sure you would have looked after Jack and Annabelle if we had needed you to.”

They moved into the seats together and Paul went off with Steve and the children to choose what they wanted for breakfast.

“What was the hospital like?” asked Cheryl. “ I think you were very brave staying in a foreign hospital.”

“It was needs must. I couldn't have stayed in the hotel in the state I was in.”

“How did you manage? Did the nurses and doctors speak English?”

“Funnily enough the nurses weren't Spanish, they were Sri Lankan and hardly had a word of English between them. We were doing sign language most of the time.”

“Steve said you had a problem with your bowel. I can sympathize because the same thing happened when I was carrying both Annabelle and Jack.”

“Well, it's sorted now,” said Fiona, her face flushing with embarrassment at the thought of her husband discussing her bowels with people they hardly knew. “ I just need to see my doctor when I get home.”

***

“I'll just go over to see Cheryl and find out if Jack is going to the Kid's club this morning, Mum,” said Sonya, before she went to the breakfast buffet. “ I think we're on speaking terms now, although I felt we were all watching our p's and q's when we sat with them last night.”

“We can't really say we sat with them very much, Sonya. You and I were dancing most of the time to Candelaria.”

“I'll pop over anyway,” said Sonya, feeling that she had to get rid of this tension she still felt, as she wanted to feel clear headed when she sang on stage tomorrow night.

“Ask after Fiona while you're there,” said Kate.

***

“You know, Mavis, I've been thinking about that money yer won last night at Bingo,” Fred said, as the couple sat by the pool bar deciding whether it was going to be hot and sunny, as the clouds were quite low over the mountains.

“It was only a line,” answered Mavis. “ Around ten pound if you work out the pesetas, Fred.”

“Well I think yer should use that brass to buy summat for George and Ethel. They'll have been checking on the house while we've been away.”

“I would have thought that was your department, Fred, laying out for souvenirs. I was going to suggest I paid out for a pub' grub. Save me cooking when I get home.”

“Aye, well I suppose there is that, otherwise we'll have to go ter supermarket. Aye, all right, you stand us a dinner and I'll get summat fer them.”

***

“Thank you Lucy, for a lovely day,” said Jenni, as the two girls got down from the coach with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and Lucy said goodbye to the coach driver. “ We got some really cheap stuff as well at the duty free shops, perfume for Mum and a bottle of brandy for Dad.”

“We enjoyed that trip, Lucy,” said Mrs Anderson, who was carrying two bags of souvenirs, while her husband carried a bulging holdall “ and Santa Cruz was lovely. When we weren't shopping at El Corte Ingles, we had a walk around.”

“Yes, it deserves being the capital city, doesn't it?” said Lucy, “ with its historic buildings and squares. Now I think it should be a dash for the sun loungers and chill by the swimming pool. I don't know about you, but I found it sweltering walking around in the sun.”

Lucy went to her rep's desk, as the couple and Jenni went to deposit their purchases in their bedrooms. She'd just check that there wasn't any messages, then she planned to go back to her apartment, have a quick shower and change into a clean blouse. She had it all worked out what she would say if the office had been trying to contact her, but if they had wanted her they would have tried her mobile, wouldn't they?

There was a note on top of the desk, sellotaped down so that it wouldn't flutter away if

the outer door swung open. “ Lucy, it said, “ just to let you know that we contacted the credit card company and they are looking into it. We'll let you know the outcome when they ring back.” Tracy and Gary Greenwood.

So, no one else, good, thought Lucy, exhaling a deep breath as her conscience kicked in. I got away with it then. Well, why should I be worried? The company owe me time and I've enjoyed myself, though I'd best remember at the welcome meetings that I've never been to Santa Cruz.

***

“Right, I'm going to see the rep', Tricia and book us something to keep our Joanne occupied tomorrow. Look at her flirting with them lads again. If we don't keep an eye on her she'll be having another abortion.”

“Oh, I don't think she'll risk it, Ray,” said his wife, sipping on a gin and tonic that Juan had just brought her, while they were sitting by the pool enjoying the sun. “ I think she's learnt her lesson, but you're right, we shouldn't just let the holiday slip away without seeing something of the surroundings. Where do you fancy going?”

“I'd quite like to sail over to the island if we can, but I think we'll treat ourselves tonight and go in search of a Chinese. The food here is rather bland for my liking and I quite fancy a sweet and sour chicken or a Thai curry. It will get our Joanne away from the lads for a couple of hours.”

“There's not much here for teenagers anyway, is there, Ray? Unless you're inclined to be sporty and like to swim or play tennis, but I suppose if they did have a club for teenagers she wouldn't want to go to it.”

“Yes, I agree with you, Tricia, she's too grownup for fourteen. At least she thinks she is anyway. When I was her age I went to the Boys Brigade and we never had time to get up to mischief, they kept us well occupied.”

“Same with me. I was in the guides until I was sixteen and my free time was trying to pass my advanced this and that and looking after the younger members. You know I thought we'd brought her up the same as the other two.”

“I suppose it's all in the growing up,” said Ray, draining his beer. “ One day we'll look back on this episode in our life and see it in an entirely different perspective.”

“Let's hope so, Ray, let's hope so.”

***

Sonya, finished her rehearsal with her favourite song from Abba, “ I had a dream,” then looked over to Mikey for his approval. She knew she had sung well, running through “ Money, money, money,” “Super Trouper” and “Fernando”, finding out that her warm melodic voice suited the pitch of the backing tape.

“You know Sonya, you could take this up for a living if you wanted to,” said Mikey, his voice full of admiration as he came up to stand by her on the stage. “ In fact I wonder if I could be your manager and I could get you bookings at North west pubs' and clubs?”

Sonya giggled at his praise, looking at him carefully to see if he was being serious. “ I think we'd need another three people, Mikey. Freida, as far as I know, never tried to go solo.”

“Then you should look for a tribute band that has a vacancy. Honestly, Sonya, you've really got a voice.”

She looked at her watch, wondering if her parents had come back from the sea front with Evan.

“It's not even worth thinking about Mikey, I have a child, remember and also a job that keeps me occupied fully back home.”

“Well, it's a waste as far as I'm concerned,” he sighed. “ Anyway now I've heard of the range of songs you know of Abba's, I'll go and get Susanne.”

***

“I missed you Jenni,” said Miguel, as he began to clear up the plastic cups that people had discarded around the swimming pool, hovering around her sun lounger where she was reading a guide book on Santa Cruz. “ Did you enjoy your day with Lucy in the capital city? I wish I could have been with you.”

“It was lovely Miguel, though rather hot. We wandered about looking at the old buildings and there was a nice park that we sat in to eat our lunch.”

“You and I could have wandered through that park together and walked to the port to watch the ships coming in,” he told her wistfully. He was frowning unhappily, unusually for him as he always had a smile for Jenni, even when he was being serious.