by C. K. Martin
She’d enjoyed being with Pablo and working on the hostel. It had been a long time since she’d had a project she could sink her teeth into. She knew the running of the bar by heart now, small engrained habits that allowed her to move through her day without problems or stress. But that was not the same as having a new challenge to get stuck into. Pablo was right about that. She could see why he went from project to project, seeking out a never-ending source of stimuli.
‘Please?’ it was quiet this time. Some of the bravado was gone. Hayley could see that behind the brash exterior, Pablo was starting to get worried. He knew she was right. Keeping the guests sweet with free food would work when it was a small number of backpackers with no cash and low expectations, but not everyone would be that way. Someone travelling on the bank of mom and dad or with their trust fund would expect the rooms to be finished, even if they were basic. It would only take someone with a malicious streak to completely tank the venture.
‘Okay. I’ll help. But only because you really need it.’
‘Tomorrow?’ At her acquiescence, Pablo brightened again.
‘I thought you wanted me to do it on my day off, not take an actual day off just to help you.’
‘Marco is a good boy. He can handle it. Besides, tomorrow will be quiet here. You work too hard. You deserve a break.’
‘Working for you is damn harder than working for myself.’
‘But the view is so much better, yes?’ he wiggled his eyebrows and she knew he was referring to Kate again.
‘I am only helping you because you are my friend. Nothing else.’
‘If you say so.’
‘Do you want my help or not?’
‘Si, si.’ He raised his hands in surrender. ‘I want your help. I will say nothing else.’
‘Good. Hey Marco,’ she waved to get his attention at the other end of the bar. ‘Do you want to do a full day tomorrow? Caterina will be in to help with the evening shift.’
‘Si.’ Marco went back to work without further discussion. It was a rare occasion he’d ever say no.
‘Thanks.’ She turned back to Pablo and ignored the smug grin on his face. ‘I’ll be up there in the morning. And you’d better not surprise me with any other jobs that need doing. Ladies bathrooms only. Nothing else.’
‘Of course. I am a man of my word.’
‘You are a man of many words, that’s what always gets you into trouble.’
‘I am wounded.’ He clasped his chest with one hand whilst simultaneously holding out his beer glass for a refill with the other.
‘One more. Then I’m cutting you off.’
‘That is good. I have a very big day too tomorrow.’
‘Dare I ask what you’ll be doing while I paint your bathrooms?’
‘I will be changing the hot water tank.’
‘Have you ever done that before?’
‘No.’
‘Have you ever seen one done before?’
‘No. But Javier explained to me. It sounds simple.’
‘I’m glad you trust Javier.’ Pablo’s younger brother had a reputation in the old town. He’d been the reason she and Pablo had met. Pablo had been clearing up after another one of Javier’s jobs had gone wrong. In her cellar. He had assured her he would be able to do the repair she needed and new to the town, she’d had no choice but to trust him. No one else was available and the job had been urgent. He had, of course, made it worse, then called his older brother to help him out.
She loved Pablo, but couldn’t deny that he was blind to the failings of other people. And himself, most of the time. But he was also right; it all worked out in the end. It was a way of life and community that had taken her the better part of a decade to get used to.
‘Javier has done this before. He will help if I need.’ Pablo accepted the topped up glass of beer with a smile. ‘Besides, you are good. It has instruction book. Ladies are good at reading those.’
‘I’ll ignore your rampant sexism for now.’ Hayley knew it wasn’t a battle worth fighting after years of trying. It was hard to even know if he was teasing her or not. ‘I’ll be up there in the morning at nine.’
‘Why so late?’
‘Because I will be working tonight for a few hours after you leave. I might be willing to help you, but I’m not going to do it on three hours sleep. I’ll be there at nine. Take it or leave it.’
‘Nine it is.’
‘Good.’
‘Besides, your friend gets up at eight. I am sure she will be please to see you when she is eating her breakfast.’
‘I have the legal right to throw you out of here, you know that?’
‘And lose my custom? You would not do that.’
‘Do you need me to check your tab before I do?’
‘Perhaps not. Hey, did I tell you about my sister Margarite?’ With that, Pablo skilfully changed the subject. The topic of Kate was laid to rest for the evening, even if the conversation carried on in Hayley’s mind until her eyes finally closed and she drifted to sleep that night.
Chapter Six
Kate closed her eyes, trying to block out the sound of conversation as she stabbed at her muesli. The two Swedish girls were doing her head in. There was no other way of describing it. They gibbered non-stop with uncontrolled enthusiasm and she didn’t have the foggiest what they were talking about. She’d learned enough Thai to get by and was picking up Spanish now she was here, but she had no concept at all of Swedish. Other than being of use if she decided to take a trip to IKEA, she could see no reason for learning it either.
The two of them had talked late into the night, which was one of the reasons for her grumpiness that morning. Her trusty earplugs had somehow worked their way free around 2am and it was at that point a piercing giggle woke her up.
For a few seconds, she had been disoriented. Her heart pounded, trying to place the sound that had woke her, the fear of an intruder sending her into panic mode. As her eyes adjusted to the dark and she became aware of her surroundings, the laughter came again, shrill even through the thick walls. The adrenalin subsided, leaving a shaky fury in its wake. She had finally managed to get back to sleep, but the bad mood had been hard to dispel when she woke up.
It wasn’t their fault, she knew. They were here on a normal, backpacking experience. The whole point was to travel and have fun without a care in the world. She was the one who was different. She’d grown used to living in a different way, that was all. A little bit older, a little bit wiser.
It didn’t help that she had a busy day planned. A day when she would have to use her brain. A brain that worked best when it had experienced a good night’s sleep. So, it was either murder Celia and Anneka, or find a different place to be for the day. She was briefly torn between the two, but decided that the hard rock surrounding the hostel would make it impossible to bury bodies.
She could always borrow Pablo’s jackhammer…
Kate let the thought trail off before her brain could complete its murderous plan. Going somewhere else for the day was better than the alternative. She could go to Hayley’s bar. Would that be too obvious? She was determined not to push things. But it really was better for her sanity. She could almost hear Hayley’s voice in her head and it was like sweet music compared to the babble that was surrounding her.
No, wait. That actually was Hayley’s voice.
Kate snapped out of her reverie, spoon halfway towards her mouth. She strained her ears. Yes, that was definitely Hayley. The noise of the corridor leading from the (allegedly soon to be finished) reception to the kitchen area always echoed. What the hell was she doing here?
Before she could answer her own question, Hayley walked into the room, her eyes finding Kate’s own with uncanny accuracy. Kate realised she was doing her best mannequin impression and hovered for a few seconds longer, unable to determine if putting the spoon down or actually eating the contents was the best course of action. She opted for the former. ‘Hi.’
‘Morning. Don’t let me
interrupt you.’
‘That’s okay.’ She paused. Pablo stood behind Hayley grinning like an idiot. Kate had a moment of panic. The two of them were friends. Had Hayley said anything about her? About what they had done together than night? ‘I was done anyway.’
‘I thought I’d just grab myself a coffee. I can wait until you’re finished though?’
‘No, really. Go ahead.’
‘I will leave you,’ said Pablo with another slightly crazed grin before he dashed back out into the hallway.
‘Is he always like this?’ Kate asked, picking up her bowl and crossing the kitchen. When Hayley joined her at the counter she caught a hint of her perfume and tried not to inhale. It flooded her memories with the soft scent. Citrus, with a hint of something else.
‘He has his moments. Once he gets his mind set on something, I usually have to give up persuading him otherwise.’ She picked up a cup from the draining board and checked it suspiciously before deciding it was clean enough to risk. ‘Which is how I ended up here again.’
‘You’re not here just for the coffee?’ Kate smiled as Hayley picked up the jar.
‘Definitely not. I nearly brought my own just in case. You don’t have a secret stash in your room by any chance?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Shame. This will have to do.’
‘So if it’s not for the coffee, then why are you here? Pablo said last night he was going to be working again all day.’
‘He is. And you’re looking at his faithful assistant.’
‘Oh.’ Kate’s mind began to whirr. Only minutes earlier she had been looking forward to packing up her stuff and getting the hell out of there. Now, perhaps, this could change her mind. ‘What does he need you to do?’
‘I have been promised it is nothing more than painting the female bathrooms. Two at the most. Of course, this is Pablo, so it could turn into just about anything.’ Hayley poured boiling water into her cup and wrinkled her nose in distaste at the dirty brown drink. Kate thought it was cute. Get a grip, she told herself.
‘Painting doesn’t sound so bad. I’m sure he could come up with much worse.’
‘Oh, he definitely could.’ Hayley turned around and leaned back against the counter, taking a first tentative sip of her drink. ‘This is not good. Seriously, next time I’ll bring my own. So what are your plans for the day? Heading out anywhere nice?’
‘Um,’ Kate hesitated, torn between what she wanted to do and what she knew she should do. ‘I’ve not really got any plans,’ she lied. It sounded convincing, at least to her own ears. As long as they didn’t make eye contact Hayley might believe her. The next words were out of her mouth before her brain had the chance to censor her. ‘I could help you with the painting if you want?’
‘I hardly think that’s fair. You’re paying to stay here, not paying to work here.’
‘It’s of benefit to me too. I have to use those bathrooms, remember?’
‘I’m still not sure that’s how it works.’
‘I’ll make you a deal. If I get bored, I’ll head out and do my own thing. But right now, painting sounds better than sitting around doing nothing.’
‘I thought you did a lot of work from your laptop?’
‘Day off.’ The lies were coming thick and fast. It surprised her how easy it was when faced with the prospect of spending the day with the woman she was seriously crushing on.
‘Advantage of being your own boss.’ Hayley pointed to herself. ‘It’s how he was able to rope me in for the day again. Not that I mind, really. But are you sure?’
Kate allowed herself a moment to fantasize Hayley looked hopeful that she might say yes. She was sure it was for more than the company. Kate desperately wanted to believe she wouldn’t be just as happy to have one of the Swedish girls helping her out. ‘I’m sure.’
‘In that case, I’d better go find Pablo and make sure he’s got some extra brushes. He’ll be grateful for the help too. The sooner he can get this place up and running properly, the better. Then he can stop calling in favours from me too.’ Hayley pushed off from the sink, laying a friendly hand on Kate’s bare shoulder as she walked past. It was a fleeting touch and she was sure it meant nothing, but her entire body thrilled in response. She was relieved that Hayley was already on her way out of the room and couldn’t see the colour flood her cheeks at the thought of those hands on her again.
She would need to go to her room and change into something more appropriate for painting. It was too much to expect that Pablo would have overalls to protect her clothing, but she did have a pair of shorts and a vest top she kept aside for some of the dirtier excursions she went on. The little denim shorts might even look stylish with a few paint marks on.
Before she could question just what lengths she would go to in pursuit of this woman, Kate washed her breakfast bowl in the sink - noting with annoyance there were already two dirty plates in there that someone had dumped. Part of her was looking forward to the next stage of her travel plan for the year, when she would have a small studio apartment to herself. The other part, the one that kept short-circuiting her brain, told her that two dirty plates were a small price to pay for a day spent with Hayley.
Back in her room, she tried on her clothes. The shorts seemed somehow shorter than she remembered, the bits of frayed denim at the top of her thighs concealing very little. She was sure that Hayley would appreciate the view, but was she being a bit too obvious? She checked the rest of her clothing choices. Over the years she had refined the art of travelling light. Packing for necessity didn’t usually mean including a spare set of items suitable for random DIY tasks that might be encountered along the way. Her original selection would have to stay, for lack of alternative, if nothing else. She tied her hair back and inspected the look one final time.
As she walked into the bathroom, ignoring the ‘out of order’ sign placed on the door, she felt a tug of satisfaction as Hayley looked up from her conversation with Pablo and did a double take. Some emotion darted across her face, too quick for Kate to capture, before it was shut down. One thing was certain; it was not a look of revulsion. Hayley was damn uptight, Kate could see that. Yet their first night together had shown a completely different side. The desire was there; she just had to bring it out again.
‘One inexperienced painter, reporting for duty.’
‘You really don’t have to do this,’ Hayley said again, but she was already extending a paintbrush in her direction. Eyes darted down once again to her thighs. Kate took it before anyone could change their mind.
‘I keep telling you, it’s no problem. Tomorrow I’ll be able to get in here without feeling like I’m walking into a prison shower.’
‘It’s not that bad,’ Hayley laughed, looking around her. ‘On second thoughts, I see what you mean.’ The first few layers of coat had been heavily applied to conceal the atrocity of colour chosen by the former owners of the house. They had given the walls a dirty grey look. With only a small window, it did nothing to reflect the natural sunlight coming through.
‘Exactly. So what colour have you chosen Pablo?’
‘Pink. For the ladies.’
‘Are you serious?’ Kate tried and failed to hide her disgust. Hayley laughed.
‘Of course not. Blanco. White for the bathroom, of course.’
‘Of course.’ Kate swatted his shoulder with the paintbrush. She had grown to like Pablo, even if she didn’t think he was capable of running this place. Hostels took a lot of work. She’d stayed in some of the best of them and some of the worst of them over the years. It took more than a big personality on the door to keep people coming.
She couldn’t tell him that though. It wasn’t her place to judge and he was clearly trying hard. Hayley seemed pretty emotionally invested in the place too. Kate hoped he hadn’t persuaded her to become financially invested at some point as well. The demand for the hostel was going to surge over the next year, she was sure of that, but with more people came more criticism.<
br />
And more competition.
She would try to ask Hayley about it when she got the chance.
‘I leave you two ladies to work,’ Pablo grinned, picking up a spare paintbrush off the floor. ‘I go to the men’s.’ Kate assumed he meant to also paint, but wisely chose not to ask any further questions. She was just keen for him to leave so that she could get on with what she really wanted to do.
Which wasn’t paint either, come to think of it.
‘So how are we going to do this?’ she asked, moving closer to Hayley and the tubs of paint on the floor. ‘A wall each? Start off on opposite sides of the same one and move towards each other?’
‘I’ll take this one,’ Hayley pointed at the wall with the sink and the toilet. ‘Might as well get the difficult one done first so we can take it easy this afternoon.’
‘Sure. Which one do you want me to take?’
‘Well, there’s only one tin of paint, so you might as well take that one. Fewer trips backwards and forwards to fill the tray?’
‘It sounds like you’ve done this before.’
‘I have.’ Hayley grabbed a screwdriver from the back pocket of her cargo shorts and began levering the lid off the can. ‘When I bought the bar, it was at rock bottom price. The owner hadn’t done anything in years. I was looking for a project.’ She paused and Kate wondered what she wasn’t saying.
‘And you had to paint?’ Kate prompted, wanting to hear more about Hayley and how she had got to be in this town.
‘Oh yes. Everywhere needed painting. Of course, I started with the bar and the kitchen downstairs. All the rooms I needed to get the place open and running again. Customers through the door had to come first. Then over the next few months I got the living area upstairs habitable again. For the first eight months, I lived in the bedroom and used the bar kitchen to cook. The bathroom made this shower look like a suite at the Ritz.’
‘Wow.’ It must have been bad Kate thought, looking at the soon-to-be-white walls.
‘It was hard work, especially as I was running the bar on my own back then. I quickly realised I needed help. I had a guy work with me for a while. He was a student studying Spanish back over in England and thought it would be a great way to spend the summer. He thought he’d spend it picking up chicks and of course, his parents were completely on board and willing to subsidise him because he’d convinced them it would be fantastic for his degree.’
