‘It’s as well to know,’ replied Bill, ‘so that there’s no mis-understanding.’
She nodded. ‘I live on my own, and I’m single. By that I mean that I’ve never been married. Until about six months ago I was in a relationship, but that came to an end, by mutual agreement. I’m not completely on my own, though. I live with my dog, a chocolate Labrador called Monty. He’s a great companion, and just lately I’ve not wanted anyone else.’
‘So where is he now?’
‘My parents are looking after him; they love having him. My dad takes him for walks in the park, and my mum spoils him rotten. He’ll be glad to see me again, though.’
‘And what does he do during the day when you’re at work?’ asked Bill. He was yet to discover her form of employment.
‘That’s not a problem,’ she replied. ‘I have a dog parlour, you see, and I live over the premises. I’m able to keep an eye on him, and he likes to make friends with our clients.’
‘Good grief! A dog parlour!’ said Bill. He had imagined she might be an office worker or a librarian. ‘You mean you do shampoos and sets for pampered poodles?’
‘There are all kinds of dogs, not just poodles,’ she answered, a trifle curtly. ‘We do get a fair number of poodles because they need a good deal of care to keep them clean and tidy. But all dogs need a bath now and again, and a bit of a spruce-up. It’s something they can’t do for themselves, like cats do. Some owners like to bath their dogs themselves, but we’re kept pretty busy.’
‘So who’s looking after the business this week? Or are you closed?’
‘No, I have an assistant, Thelma. It’s my business, but she’s been with me for several years and she can manage very well if I’m not there. And we’ve got a young trainee girl now, Tracey. She’s only sixteen, but she’s shaping up very well … You look astounded, Bill. You didn’t see me as a doggie person, eh?’
‘I thought you might work in an office. I’d no idea really. But I’m sure it must be interesting work. Have you always done that sort of thing?’
‘No, I had an office job when I left school. I’d always liked animals, though, and I rather fancied the idea of being a vet. But I knew the training would be very long and arduous. I did get a job eventually, working in a veterinary practice, mostly in the office. Then my grandparents died, left me some money, and with help from my parents I was able to start my own business.’
‘And that’s in Didsbury, is it?’
‘Yes, that’s right. We get a good clientele round there; some very wealthy people, and others more like my family – just ordinary folk.’
‘You get some free time though, don’t you? I wondered if we could carry on seeing one another – you know – now and again, when we get back home? I don’t live all that far away from you – the other side of Manchester, but that’s no problem. I have a car, and I expect you do as well.’
‘You’re not at home though, are you? You’re over here working, most of the time.’
‘As a matter of fact, I have a week off when we get back. It’s just the way it’s worked out. So … do you think we could meet? We could go for a meal in Manchester or … whatever you like?’
‘But I don’t really know you, Bill, do I? We’ve only just met.’ Christine felt that she did like what she knew of Bill, so far, but she did not know very much. ‘What about you?’ she asked. ‘Do you live on your own? You haven’t told me.’
‘Yes, I have a flat in Chadderton, and I live on my own; have done for ages, in between tours, you know.’
‘And you are single, too?’
‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I’m single; and by that I mean that I’ve never been married. I can’t say that I’ve never had any relationships – you wouldn’t believe me if I did – but at the moment I’m as free as a bird; or else I wouldn’t be trying to persuade you to give me a chance.’
Bill was metaphorically crossing his fingers that Olga would take heed of what he had said and realize that it was for the best. He had suffered from pangs of guilt from time to time about his simultaneous friendships with Lise and Olga, and neither one knowing about the other. That was why he had decided to break with both of them and have a completely fresh start.
Lise had made it easy for him by her admission that she was already seeing someone else. But it was a different matter with Olga. He didn’t want to upset her. They had had some good times together, but he had never thought that she might be looking for something more permanent.
Christine broke into his reverie. ‘What’s the matter, Bill? That’s an ominous silence.’
‘Not really,’ he replied. ‘I’m wondering what you’re going to say, that’s all.’
‘As I said before, I’ve only known you for three days. I can’t say how I will feel when we get back home.’
‘But friendships have to start somewhere, don’t they? And we have the rest of the time here, in Germany, to get to know one another better. You said that your sister has made friends with two more ladies, so that leaves you free to spend more time with me, doesn’t it?’
‘You mean … during the day when we’re on our excursions?’
‘Yes, why not? We have a lot of free time at the various places we visit.’
‘Don’t you spend the time with Mike? What do you do, anyway, when you visit the same places time after time? Doesn’t it get boring, hanging around waiting for the passengers?’
‘Oh, there’s always something to fill the time. If it’s a bad day we might have a snooze in the coach. That’s when we feel sorry for the clients, having to turn them out in the pouring rain, but there’s usually somewhere they can run to – cafes or souvenir shops. But let’s hope we have a rain-free week. We’ve done well so far.’
‘But it must rain sometimes?’
‘Obviously, or there wouldn’t be all these forest areas. It doesn’t seem to rain as much as it does at home. They have long spells of glorious weather, but when it rains you think it’s never going to stop. We feel sorry for you lot then, when you’ve paid all that money for a summer holiday. You expect it to be fine all the time, don’t you, when you’re away?’
‘Yes, I suppose so, but it all depends on where you choose to go. If you want endless sunshine you should go to the Costa Brava or the South of France, not to the mountains of Austria or Germany. Where are we going tomorrow? I know it’s in the brochure, but just remind me.’
‘Well, we start with a leisurely tour of the Black Forest; the part where we’re staying, near to Freiburg is said to be the loveliest of all. Then we stop at a shop that sells cuckoo clocks, and lots of other touristy things as well, so make sure you’ve got plenty of euros. And you’ll see what is reputed to be the largest cuckoo clock in the world. Actually, there are a few of them in the area all claiming the same! Then we drive on to Lake Titisee – a silly name, I know – for a lunch stop, and then we’ll spend a few hours there before returning home. You’ll enjoy it, I’m sure, and if you’ll allow me I’d like to show you round the lake area. Not the gift shop – you can browse round there on your own. I’ve seen enough cuckoo clocks to last me a lifetime!’
‘What about Mike? Won’t he mind being left on his own?’
‘No, why should he? He’ll probably stay in the coach after lunch and read a book, or have a nap. We’re good mates, Mike and me; it’s just as well when we’re together such a lot. But we do our own thing when we want to. What we really need for tomorrow’s outing is good weather, so we’d best cross our fingers and say a little prayer.’
As Bill was looking round for the waiter, to order a second drink, he saw another couple from the coach at the other side of the garden. They nodded and waved to him, and he and Christine waved back.
‘That seems like another holiday friendship that’s going well,’ he remarked. ‘Mrs Redfern and Mr Falconer. They’ve only met this week, at least that’s what Mike and I think. We met them taking an evening stroll together in Rüdesheim the other night.’
‘It was last
night,’ said Christine.
‘Gosh, so it was! You tend to lose track of the days when you’re dashing from one place to the other.’
‘I noticed those two together,’ said Christine, ‘but I haven’t spoken to them very much as yet, only to say hello. Perhaps by the end of the holiday we’ll all have got to know one another, but with – how many is it? – thirty odd passengers, it takes time to recognize everyone.’
‘Thirty-six, to be exact,’ said Bill. ‘That’s one of the hardest things for us drivers, to recognize all the people from the coach. Especially with the older couples; they all tend to look alike, although we know that they don’t, not really.’
He ordered another drink for each of them. True to his promise, he had orange juice, and Christine had the same. She wasn’t, in fact, bothered about a second drink, but it was very pleasant sitting there in the twilight. She was enjoying being with Bill. He was an entertaining companion and they had not run out of things to talk about. She had decided – almost – that she would like to spend time with him this week. There could be no harm in it even if, at the end of the holiday, she decided she didn’t want to see him again. On the other hand, he might want to call it a day.
Bill was hoping that he would continue to play his cards right. Christine seemed to be coming round to the idea of spending time with him this week. He didn’t really know what it was about her that appealed to him. She was not what you might call beautiful, but she was very attractive. Fairish hair in a simple style framed a high forehead and a roundish face; her eyes were a sort of bluey-greyish colour. But when you got to know her there was nothing ‘ish’ or nondescript about her. She had a lovely smile and a gentle easy-to-listen-to voice. He decided she must be a very nice person because she liked dogs. He hoped she wasn’t too obsessed with them, preferring them to human beings as some people said they did. He liked dogs, too, and cats, but his job had prevented him from ever owning one. Anyway, time would tell. He must be careful not to blow it, after such a promising start.
As they strolled back to the guest house he ventured to put an arm round her, and she did not object. When they were just a few yards away he stopped and put both arms around her.
‘I’ll kiss you goodnight here, if I may?’ he said tentatively. ‘Just in case there are nosy people around. May I, Christine?’
‘Yes, of course you may,’ she answered. He kissed her gently on the lips, then let her go. ‘Thank you for a lovely evening,’ he said.
‘Thank you too, Bill,’ she replied. ‘I shall look forward to seeing you tomorrow.’
Bill gave a gasp, an inaudible one, he hoped, as they went through the door, he with his arm around her. There at the reception desk was Olga. She wasn’t usually there at this time of night; in fact, he had never known her to be there. He realized that that was because she had always spent the evenings with him when the tour was staying there. Anyway, there she was now, handing out bedroom keys to the guests. Most people left them at reception as they were too heavy to carry about.
Bill withdrew his arm from Christine as she walked up to the desk. ‘Room twenty-five, please,’ she said, smiling at Olga. Bill, standing to one side, saw her hand the key to Christine. Olga was smiling, but it was a sardonic smile. She raised her eyebrows as she spoke to Christine.
She pointed towards Bill. ‘I see that it did not take him long to find somebody else,’ she said, in her almost perfect English. ‘Let me warn you: that one, he has had me on a – how do you say it? – on a piece of string since last year. He will tell you all kinds of things, but you will be foolish if you believe them.’
Christine took the key without a word. She turned towards Bill. Her face was grim and her eyes like two grey stones as she hurried past him towards the stairs that led to the bedrooms.
‘Christine … wait,’ he called, hurrying after her. ‘I’m sorry. I should have told you; I can explain …’
‘You have already said quite enough!’ She almost spat at him as she dashed up the stairs.
Bill opened the door of the room he was sharing with Mike. His mate was sitting up in bed, engrossed in one of his usual thrillers. Bill flopped down on the other bed, his usually cheerful face a picture of misery.
‘I’ve gone and blown it,’ he cried. ‘What a bloody fool I am! And I really liked her, Mike. I really thought I was in with a chance.’
Mike put his book down and got out of bed. He was already clad in his pyjamas. ‘I’ll make us a nice cup of tea,’ he said. ‘Then you can tell Uncle Michael all about it.’
Ten
Mavis went to the window and opened the shutters. ‘Another lovely morning,’ she called.
‘Arthur, are you listening? It’s another nice day. Aren’t we doing well?’
She looked out on a pleasing vista of fields and wooded hills, a blue sky with a few fluffy clouds, and the sun already shining at seven thirty in the morning.
All she got from Arthur was a grunt as he turned over in bed. He would come round, though, after his usual early- morning grumpiness. But by the time they had washed and dressed, had their usual morning ‘cuppa’ and were ready to go for breakfast she realized he was not himself. He was rubbing at his stomach.
‘This damned indigestion again,’ he said. ‘Must have been those dumplings last night, and that roast pork. It was good, though, I must say that.’
‘I told you not to eat them all,’ said his wife. ‘Like my mam used to say, your eyes are bigger than your belly when you see something you like.’ She was pleased, though, that he was enjoying the food. He was enjoying everything about the holiday so far, despite being in Germany.
They dined with their usual companions. Jane and Dave were cheerful and happy. Ellen was rather quiet, and Shirley was looking a little downcast after her hilarity of the previous night and her vow not to let the matter of the suitcase bother her. She was, of course, dressed in the same clothes as she had worn the day before.
There was a good choice of breakfast food. Cereals, fruit, different kinds of bread and copious supplies of butter and jam. It looked like home-made jam – strawberry, raspberry and apricot – in glass bowls; far preferable to those pesky little cartons with the awkward tops that they served in hotels at home. There were slices of cold meat and cheese instead of the cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs that some of them might have preferred. But it was certain that no one should go hungry.
Mavis was pleased that Arthur ate sparingly, and after he had taken a couple of Rennies he said that he felt a lot better.
Shirley seemed fidgety and preoccupied. ‘I’m going to have a word with Mike,’ she said. ‘I want to know when I’m likely to get my case back. I’m trying to be patient, but I want to know and that’s that!’
‘Oh dear!’ said Ellen as her friend got up and marched resolutely to the table where the drivers were sitting. ‘I do hope she gets a favourable answer.’
‘Yes, so do I,’ said Jane who was sitting next to her. She feared that Shirley’s moods had an effect on her friend. She sympathized with Shirley, too, knowing how lost she would feel if all her belongings had gone astray. ‘It’s another lovely day, though,’ she added. ‘I’m sure we’ll all enjoy the trip to the lake.’
‘Shirley wants to find a shop that sells – you know – underwear,’ Ellen whispered confidentially. ‘I’ve lent her a couple of pairs, but it’s something you need a lot of on holiday, isn’t it?’
‘Of course,’ agreed Jane, trying not to smile. ‘A pair for each day at least.’
Shirley was having an animated talk to the drivers, and when she returned to the table it was clear that she was not too happy.
‘Saturday!’ she exclaimed. ‘Would you believe I can’t get my case back till Saturday!’
‘And today’s Thursday,’ said Ellen. ‘It could be a lot worse. It’s only two days, and at least they know that it’s turned up in Austria, don’t they?’
‘Only two days!’ Shirley was not mollified by her friend’s remark. ‘How wo
uld you like to wear the same things all day and all evening as well?’
‘No one’s bothered, though, about what you’re wearing,’ said Jane. ‘They’re all very sorry about what has happened. Why can’t they do anything till Saturday?’ she asked.
‘Because of all these excursions,’ retorted Shirley. ‘And they’ve to fit in with the driver of the coach from Yorkshire; there’s only one driver, apparently, and he can’t get away any earlier. We’ve got a long trip today, and a long one tomorrow to Baden Baden. On Saturday we go to Freiburg which isn’t very far. So Bill will take us there, and Herr Grunder has offered to lend Mike his car so that he can meet the other driver at a halfway point and swap over the cases.’
‘That’s very kind of the hotel owner, isn’t it?’ said Jane.
‘Yes, I suppose so,’ said Shirley a trifle grudgingly.
‘And the lady in Austria – at least I assume it’s a lady – she’ll be in the same position as you, won’t she?’ Jane went on. ‘She no doubt feels just as fed up as you do.’
‘Yes, of course she will,’ Shirley agreed. She gave a weak smile. ‘Sorry I’m such a misery, I’ll try to make the best of it, really I will. At least the sun’s shining and that makes all the difference, doesn’t it?’
They set off at nine thirty for a leisurely drive through the Black Forest. Bill was at the wheel with Mike giving the commentary. It was doubtful if anyone but the people concerned noticed that Bill was somewhat subdued, or that the lady who sat at the front of the coach did not speak to him – or he to her – as she sat down next to her sister.
Mike counted heads and they set off along a route which was one of the most beautiful in the area. At every turn in the road there was another eye-catching vista of the wooded hills and peaceful valleys. They passed rippling streams and waterfalls and an occasional mill wheel – still in use for providing electricity for the industry of the valley – beside a typical Black Forest house, the roof of which reached almost to the ground.
First Impressions Page 12
