by Anne Mather
Ally thought it was just as well Suzanne hadn’t seen her coming back, but she nodded. ‘It was wonderful,’ she said warmly, realising that, whatever happened, she’d always be grateful to the Davises for inviting her here. ‘The water’s so warm.’
Suzanne turned to thank the waiter for the coffee he’d brought her, and then gave her friend a rueful look. ‘It is delightful here, isn’t it? We’re so lucky to live in such beautiful surroundings.’ She paused to tuck her hair behind her ears and sighed. ‘I don’t know what I’d do if I had to leave. The idea of going back to England…’ She shuddered. ‘I just can’t imagine what we’d do.’
Ally frowned. ‘Well, there’s no question of that, is there?’ She gestured about her. ‘The hotel seems to be doing very well. It’s obviously popular and—’
‘Don’t be deceived by appearances,’ said Suzanne drily. ‘Oh—we make a fair living; I’m not denying that. In the season, anyway. But it’s not always as busy as this. When we first came here, it was a real struggle to survive.’
Ally stared at her. ‘But that was years ago. Surely now you’re in a position to sit back and enjoy it.’
‘You’d think so, wouldn’t you?’ Suzanne’s lips were tight. Then, with an impatient gesture, she dismissed the subject. ‘Let’s talk about something else.’
Ally bit her lip. ‘Suzanne, if you and Peter are in some difficulty—’
‘We’re not.’ She spoke brightly now. ‘I’m just having one of my blue periods. They happen from time to time. Just ignore me.’
But Ally couldn’t. Despite the fact that she was sure that this could have nothing to do with her, she had to pursue it. ‘Suzanne, we’re friends. We’ve been friends for thirty years. Surely you can tell me—’
‘It’s nothing, I tell you.’ Suzanne’s fingernails drummed a tattoo beside her cup. ‘Tell me about your day. What are you going to do this afternoon?’
‘Oh—’ Ally was taken aback at having the tables turned on her. ‘Well, I hadn’t really thought about it.’
‘Then you should.’ Suzanne was her old confident self again. ‘Have you been into San Cristobál yet?’
‘No.’ Ally shrugged. ‘That is, only when you drove through it on our way here from the airport.’
‘Pete will have to take you next time he goes to the market,’ said Suzanne firmly. ‘I’d offer to lend you the buggy, but it’s a bit temperamental and I’d hate for you to have an accident while you’re here.’
‘I suppose I could hire a car,’ murmured Ally, realising that it was unlikely she’d have the time to do either of those things. But Suzanne wasn’t to know that, and it was good of her to offer her husband’s services. ‘I’ll have to think about it.’
Suzanne was thoughtful. ‘Yes, well, I suppose it would be better if you went one morning. Afternoons can be a little enervating. Have you got over your jet-lag yet?’
‘Nearly.’ Apart from waking up early in the mornings, Ally hadn’t had any unpleasant after-effects of the journey. But then, she’d had more worrying things on her mind, she conceded tensely. Almost compulsively, she added, ‘Um—where’s Julia?’
Suzanne’s expression changed. ‘Don’t ask.’
‘Why?’ Ally was anxious. ‘She’s all right, isn’t she?’
Suzanne gave her a considering look. Then, she said tightly, ‘Oh, yes. I suppose so. I’d really rather not talk about Julia either.’
Ally’s stomach churned. ‘I—I don’t understand.’
‘That’s probably just as well.’ Suzanne finished her coffee and got abruptly to her feet. ‘I’ve got to go, Ally. You know how it is: things to do, people to see.’
‘Of course.’
But Ally wished she knew what had brought back that look of weary resignation to her friend’s face. Oh, God, she thought, it couldn’t have anything to do with Raul Ramirez, could it? But, no. She gave herself a mental shake. Suzanne was upset with Julia, not Raul. She mustn’t become paranoid. Suzanne’s problems were nothing to do with her. What had happened between herself and Raul had hurt no one but herself.
Ally had supper with the Davises that evening.
She had spent most of the afternoon trying to get in touch with her daughter, but without any success. She’d even considered trying to reach Ryan to see if he had any idea where his sister was. But her son lived with his girlfriend in Durham, where they were both attending university, and as Sam attended the university in Newcastle it was unlikely he’d know what she was doing. Besides, she reassured herself, she’d make contact with her daughter eventually; tomorrow, probably. If not, then surely Mark, Sam’s boyfriend, would know where she was.
To her surprise, Julia had joined her parents on the lamplit private patio that adjoined the Davises’ apartment. For the past couple of nights she’d been absent, spending the evening with Raul, Ally had assumed with a certain amount of suppressed emotion, but tonight she was perched on the low wall that edged the patio, nursing a cocktail and casting defiant glances in her parents’ direction.
She perked up a little when she saw Ally, however, perhaps seeing her as a possible diversion. Patting the wall beside her, she said, ‘Come and sit down, Aunt Ally. We haven’t had a chance to have a proper chat since you arrived.’
Ally managed not to wince at the girl’s greeting. It was many years since Julia had used the honorary title but she was obviously trying to be friendly. ‘All right,’ she agreed, and after exchanging a doubtful look with Suzanne she seated herself on the wall. ‘How are you this evening?’
‘Better in health than temper, as Daddy always says,’ replied Julia brightly. ‘How about you? Are you enjoying your holiday?’
‘Very much.’ Ally accepted Peter’s offer of a martini before continuing, ‘It’s just what you need in the middle of a cold English winter.’
‘I bet.’ Julia regarded her critically. ‘You’ve obviously been sunbathing. It suits you.’
‘Thank you.’ Ally smiled. ‘But I’ve got a long way to go before I can compete with you and your mother.’
‘Mmm.’ Julia gave Suzanne a guarded look. ‘Well, if Mummy’s brown, it’s not through sunbathing. She never relaxes. She’s always too busy, busy, busy!’
‘It’s just as well I am,’ retorted her mother before Ally could respond. ‘You wouldn’t have had the opportunities you’ve had if it wasn’t for the fact that your father and I have worked our fingers to the bone to support you.’
‘Oh, Mum—’
‘Suzanne!’ It was her husband who intervened as he came to hand Ally her martini. A tall man, with thinning sandy hair and a comfortably expanding waistline, he was looking rather harassed this evening, and Ally guessed that whatever had been troubling her friend earlier had spilled over into the evening. ‘I’m sure Ally’s not interested in our family squabbles.’ He forced a smile. ‘Is that all right for you, my dear?’
Ally tasted her drink. ‘Hmm, delicious, thanks,’ she murmured, aware that Suzanne was regarding her husband with a faintly resentful air now. She hoped she was not going to be a party to a full-scale family row. ‘It’s a lovely evening.’
‘Yes, isn’t it?’ Peter Davis propped one sandalled foot on the wall beside her, resting one arm across his knee as he looked out on the moonlit beach. ‘We’re very lucky living here.’
‘As long as it lasts,’ muttered his wife in an undertone, but everyone heard and Julia turned angry eyes on her mother.
‘Can’t you give it up?’ she demanded. ‘Just for one evening? As Daddy says, Aunt Ally doesn’t want to hear what a disappointment to you I am. She came here to get away from all that, didn’t you, Aunt Ally?’
‘Oh, please…’
Ally didn’t want to get involved and Peter straightened and turned to his daughter with reproving eyes. ‘That’s enough, Julia. I won’t have you being insolent to your mother or trying to involve our guests.’
‘But she—’
‘Your mother only has your best interests at heart.’
>
‘Your best interests, you mean,’ retorted Julia, springing up from the wall and spilling a little of her cocktail over the short skirt of her taffeta dress in the process. ‘Oh, look what you’ve made me do. It’s ruined!’
‘Well, don’t expect to get another one as easily as you got that,’ said her mother waspishly, and Ally stifled an inward groan. God, this was worse than she’d imagined and she was uneasily aware that, however much she might wish it wasn’t so, Raul must be to blame.
‘Why not?’ Julia had turned on Suzanne now. ‘I haven’t said I won’t marry Raul, have I? It’s not my fault that Carlos finds me attractive.’
‘It’s your fault for encouraging him,’ exclaimed her mother angrily. ‘I trusted you, Julia. God knows what the two of you have been getting up to while Raul’s been away.’
Julia gasped. ‘We haven’t been getting up to anything,’ she snapped. ‘We’re friends, that’s all. Friends! A concept you and Dad seem singularly incapable of grasping.’
‘Now that really is enough.’ Peter gave Ally an apologetic look. ‘I’m sorry about this,’ he said, ‘but I will not have Julia upsetting her mother all over again.’ He turned to his daughter. ‘If you can’t keep a civil tongue in your head, I suggest you ask Maria to serve your supper in your room.’
Julia sniffed. To Ally’s eyes, she looked perilously close to tears now. She was only a few years older than Sam and Ally wished she could tell the girl’s parents to back off.
‘I didn’t upset Mummy,’ she declared in a shaky voice. ‘That was Raul. I didn’t know he was going to be in such a filthy mood, did I? For heaven’s sake, I’ve hardly seen him since he got back and then for him to be so mean, so sarcastic—’
‘He was teasing you,’ said Suzanne irritably. ‘Haven’t you known him long enough to know when to take him seriously or not?’
‘Teasing me?’ Julia was indignant. ‘He was making fun of me, Mummy. He said I was spoilt. That I didn’t have the first idea of what went on in the real world.’
‘Well, you were rather unreasonable, weren’t you?’ her mother pointed out impatiently. ‘Raul has responsibilities, Julia. He can’t afford to spend all his time entertaining you.’
‘I thought that was why he’d come to the hotel,’ replied Julia defensively. ‘If all he wanted to do was talk to Daddy, I don’t see why he didn’t just use the phone instead of driving all the way here.’
‘I expect he had business in San Cristobál,’ said Suzanne at once. ‘Since his mother’s illness, his father has shifted more and more of the day-to-day running of the business onto his shoulders. You should remember that.’
‘Well, I don’t know what all the fuss is about,’ muttered Julia crossly. ‘Aren’t I allowed to defend myself? For heaven’s sake, all I said was—was—’
‘That sometimes you wished you were dating Carlos and not him,’ supplied her mother when she faltered. ‘My God, I’m surprised he didn’t tell you he’d had enough of you and your complaining.’
‘You’re exaggerating, Mummy.’
‘So why aren’t you dining with him this evening instead of spending a boring evening at home with your parents?’ demanded Suzanne, and then pulled a horrified face. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Ally. I didn’t mean that the way it came out. It’s just—well—’ she looked to her husband for support ‘—Julia knows we can’t afford to offend the Ramirezes.’
‘We haven’t offended anyone, Mummy.’ Julia gave an exasperated sigh. ‘You’re getting this out of all proportion. Good heavens, it isn’t as if Raul’s father owns the hotel. All right, so the Ramirezes are influential people, but most of our guests have never even heard of them.’
Ally saw the look Suzanne exchanged with her husband as Julia was speaking and wondered if there was more to her friend’s concern than met the eye. At face value, Suzanne’s reaction did seem a little extreme and Ally had the troubling notion that the girl’s parents weren’t being entirely honest with their daughter.
‘Well, we’ll see,’ Suzanne murmured now, seeming to realise that her own dinner party was in danger of dying a painful death. ‘Ally…’ She turned to her friend. ‘Let me refresh your drink.’
‘No. Really.’ Ally displayed her glass, which was still half full. ‘I’m fine, thank you.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Something smells nice.’
‘Oh, yes.’ Suzanne glanced back at the private dining room behind her and then seemed to mentally square her shoulders before coming to sit in a cane chair nearby. ‘Maria’s a wonderful cook. I don’t know what we—or the hotel—would do without her.’
Ally smiled. ‘Let’s hope you never have to find out,’ she commented drily, and then realised too late that that was hardly the most tactful thing to say. ‘I mean…’
‘I know what you mean,’ Suzanne assured her, leaning across to pat her arm. ‘We’ve been friends for too many years for either of us to take offence at anything the other might say.’ She gave Ally an appraising look, obviously trying to lighten the situation. ‘You’re looking very glamorous this evening. Have you arranged to meet Mr Adams in the bar later?’
‘No, I haven’t.’ Ally could feel the colour creeping up her neck and sought refuge in her martini. She refused to admit that she’d taken any more trouble with her appearance this evening than she usually did. Her ankle-length black dress was excessively plain, she reminded herself, and she hadn’t thought of Raul when she’d viewed her appearance in the mirror in her room upstairs. But she knew the dress complemented her height and shape, and she’d added a chiffon coat in shades of cream and bronze to accentuate the sun-bleached highlights in her hair. She licked her lips. ‘How did you know I knew Tom Adams?’
‘Oh, it’s Tom, is it?’ Suzanne was teasing. ‘I must say you don’t waste any time.’ And then, noticing that her friend wasn’t enjoying her banter, she gave a laugh. ‘Relax, Ally. He asked me who you were this afternoon.’
Ally sighed anxiously, uneasily aware that she was holding her breath. She wondered what else Tom had said, and whether he’d mentioned the fact that he’d been out-manoeuvred by a much younger, darkly tanned individual, who’d spoken with a slight accent and who had got into the lift with her as well.
She was about to make some casual comment to distract her friend’s attention, when she realised Suzanne’s interest had waned. The other woman was watching her husband and her daughter as they moved closer together and Ally guessed she was wondering if Peter would succeed where she’d failed. Feeling a guilty surge of sympathy, Ally touched Suzanne’s sleeve.
‘It will be all right,’ she said. ‘You know what young people are like.’ There was an awful irony in the words. ‘Half the time they don’t mean what they say.’
‘What?’ Suzanne turned to her with an absent expression. Then, comprehending that Ally had been sympathising with her, she shook her head. ‘Oh, I know,’ she murmured, as if impatient with herself. ‘It’s not the first time Julia and Raul have had words. I’m afraid she expects him to be always at her beck and call, but Raul’s nobody’s fool, is he?’ Then, as if realising Ally had never met him, she added apologetically, ‘Well, you’ll find out for yourself soon enough. As soon as Isabel Ramirez is feeling better, we’ll be expected to honour our invitation to Finisterre and you’ll meet him and his brother.’
‘Well, actually—’ began Ally, wondering if this might be a good opportunity for her to intimate that she might not be staying as long as she’d intended. But before she could finish what she’d been about to say, Suzanne interrupted her.
‘The trouble is,’ she exclaimed, in a low impassioned voice, ‘Julia doesn’t really understand. She loves Raul, of course, but she thinks that the only reason we want her to marry him is because of who he is; because of the advantages it will give her as his wife.’
‘And it’s not?’ Ally arched an enquiring brow.
‘No.’ Suzanne heaved a sigh. ‘If only it were.’ She paused, giving her friend a rueful look. ‘Oh, I might as well tell you.
Goodness knows, I need someone to confide in, someone I can trust.’ She blew out a breath. ‘We’re in debt, Ally. We owe Raul’s father a considerable amount of money, and if Julia doesn’t marry Raul, I don’t know what we’re going to do.’
Ally stared at her. ‘Suzanne! Surely you’re exaggerating?’
‘Now you sound like Julia,’ said Suzanne drily. ‘Believe me, I’m not. The situation—well, the situation is serious, and if we can’t resolve it this way we may have to sell the hotel.’
Ally was appalled. ‘But—why? What happened? I thought you said you were doing quite well.’
Suzanne pulled a wry face. ‘I’m afraid we’ve never done as well as we claimed,’ she admitted ruefully. ‘When we first moved out here, we honestly wondered if we’d bitten off more than we could chew. I mean, we knew the hotel needed updating. That’s why we got it so cheaply. But even then I don’t think we’d taken all the extras into consideration.’
‘Extras?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Suzanne grimaced. ‘Even just ten years ago you could get away with en suite facilities and a simple menu, but times have changed. Nowadays holidaymakers expect so much more. We’ve had to install a swimming pool, buy jet skis, arrange for entertainment in the hotel. God, it never ends.’
‘But surely you didn’t do everything all at once?’
‘Of course not.’ Suzanne shook her head. ‘The bank would never have stood for it. No, we just kept doing what we could, when we could, but it did mean that the loans we had just kept on getting bigger. And then we had the fire.’
Ally stared at her. ‘A fire? In the hotel?’
‘Just in the kitchen, thankfully.’ Suzanne pulled a wry face. ‘Unfortunately, we’d just spent a fortune on updating the cooking facilities and everything—everything was destroyed.’
‘Oh, Suzanne!’
‘But that wasn’t the worst of it.’ Suzanne hesitated. ‘You see, we hadn’t updated the insurance cover, and because they hadn’t approved the alterations they refused to pay up.’
