Clouds Below the Mountains

by Vivienne Dockerty

  “Can I have a go?” said a female voice, from a sun lounger a few yards away. All the men looked over in disbelief. Would you believe it, it was that comedienne.

  “This game’s not for judies,” said Mikey in a jokey voice, while the rest of the men nodded in agreement.

  “Get back to your knitting,” came another male voice, as testosterone driven ego’s were being challenged there amongst them.

  Meggie smiled, not offended, though Betty tutted at the side of her. Meggie was used to humiliation, she got it most of the time.

  ***

  Paul wandered back to Costa Adeje via the promenade that passed all the cafes and restaurants. He was hungry, having missed his breakfast and with walking all morning in the sea air, he felt he could eat a scabby dog with chips. His watch said eleven thirty, too early for lunch. He wondered if Cheryl was missing him. Had she made a big fuss when she saw that he wasn’t there beside her in bed?

  His talk with Tommy had enlightened him. As much as he loved his wife, it was time that he took control. He couldn’t live his life on a knife edge, giving in to her slightest wish. Although maybe the apartment could make him some money, not be a financial drain on him.

  ***

  “No new girl on the horizon, Juan?” asked Miguel, as the two waiters put the finishing touches to the tables, before opening the restaurant for lunch.

  “No,” he scowled. “ Not one woman can I say that I would fall in love with.”

  “Maybe you should take a vacation and see if your betrothed can bring a fast beat of the heart. Is she pretty, domesticated, will have many children if you wish?”

  “I don’t know, I never ask her. I suppose one day I could fall in love with her. She does not have two heads, she is not ugly, but my mother has chosen her. There is no excitement, no passion, it would have been different if I had found her myself.”

  “But arranged marriages are usually the best. It is our generation that thinks they have to be in love before they make a commitment. My parents have just celebrated thirty five years anniversary and they do not seem unhappy.”

  “You can talk. Who was the one who fell in love with an English girl? How would your family feel if you took a foreign girl as your wife?”

  “I didn’t think of that, my heart just told me I loved her. I was willing to go to England to be with her.”

  “But not now. It was another holiday romance as far as she was concerned,” Juan said gently. “Maybe you should ask your mother to find a girl for you.”

  ***

  “Telephone call for you, Lucy,” said Dania, who was on duty behind the reception desk. Lucy wondered who it could be phoning her? Her mother rang her back on the pay phone, once Lucy had got through and head office and Kath phoned her on the mobile.

  “Good morning, Lucy, or should I say good afternoon, now it is twelve thirty?” Senor Sanchez’s voice boomed into her ear. “ Our German guests seemed to enjoy their visit, with excellent reports given about you. Two reasons that I am telephoning you. I will be attending Senorita Mertola’s recital this evening, my family will come also and I would like to introduce you. And the other reason…”

  He stopped for a moment to consider his words and Lucy wondered what was coming next, at the same time wondering who the heck was Senorita Mertola?

  “We had a discussion on Friday evening when our German friends came for dinner. They indicated a wish for you to get involved with their plans. They would like you to train an employee of theirs, if they go ahead with sending their clients to the Valia. Of course, we realize that this could put a cat amongst the pigeons, to use an English metaphor. Your supervisor will not like you being chosen above her and Robert will think that I am taking advantage. Besides, we did not know if you would agree to such a proposition.”

  There was a silence then, as both Lucy digested the information and Ralf Sanchez considered what he had just said.

  “Well, I’m up for it,” Lucy replied, thinking what a doddle that would be, showing another girl all the things she had learnt in the past seven weeks and if she was to go forward in this new relationship with Uwe, well, then she’d earn some brownie points too.

  “We thought that you would probably agree, but first I must be in discussion with Robert. Call in a few favours as it were.”

  “Thank you for thinking of me,” Lucy said quickly, as Sanchez finished his call after saying he would meet her in Reception at eight o’ clock that evening. She couldn’t find Lesley quick enough to tell her the news.

  ***

  “I’ve been thinking, Brian,” said Anthea, as she changed out of her shorts and top into a bikini after lunch. “We may have got it wrong choosing Charles and Judith for our menage-a-trois, plus one. They’re very together, aren’t they? All we’ve talked about since we met them is their bistro, our guesthouse and the possibility of them starting another project into elderly care.”

  “Yes, I must agree with you there, Darling. You’re very astute when it comes to tuning in to people’s feelings. They’re very driven, aren’t they? Not a lot of time on their hands to consider an extra marital fling”

  “It isn’t an extra marital fling that we’re looking for Brian,” Anthea replied in a snappy voice. “ That wasn’t the plan. It was meeting couples that could give us titillation. I hope you haven’t been changing the goal posts and not informed me!”

  “Would I, Darling?” he purred. “ You know that you’re my own true love and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  “Then I think we’ll stick to watching porno movies in the future, Brian,” Anthea said, wriggling quickly into a long yellow sun dress, so that he didn’t start hankering after her, with her only having a small amount of clothes on. “ Come on, they’re keeping us some sun loungers and I haven’t had my first alcoholic drink of the day yet.”

  ***

  “Fancy a walk down to the Karaoke bar on the front, Cindy?” asked Laura, after she and Toby had finished their meal with her and Phil. “ I promised Toby I would serenade him, so you may as well come with us and hear me make a fool of myself.”

  “They have Karaoke here sometimes, but probably not while we’re here,” said Phil. “ I was talking to a chap when we first arrived. He said his wife and daughter like getting up and singing, but according to the poster it’s a piano recital tonight.”

  “I vote we go Chinese then,” said Toby grinning. “ I’m not up with these Shooberts and Motehearts, we’ll leave it to the highbrows instead.”

  ***

  “Where have you been, Paul?” cried Cheryl, as she opened the door of the suite that afternoon to him, when he couldn’t find her around the swimming pool.

  “I took the Espace back,” he replied trying to look sheepish, but happy that he was seeing her face again. “The place was closed when I got there so I had to hang around until someone came. Why have you missed me, Darling?”

  “Daddy!” shouted Jack and came running down the hall to him. “ Daddy,” shouted Annabelle, throwing her arms around his waist.

  “We’ll talk about this later,” Cheryl said, looking at him with mixed emotions of anger and relief.

  “I was going to send the dogs out. You got here just in time.”

  ***

  “I quite like a piano recital,” said Greg, as he and the family walked into the Sunlight Bar that evening. “I didn’t know they had a grand piano though, I could have had a go on it myself.”

  “You’ve never touched ours for months,” said Kate feeling better now, as she’d had a long lie in, then found a book to read in the swap box. “ The last time you played it, you were playing nursery rhymes.”

  “The talent never leaves your fingers though,” he said flexing his fingers. “ Oh, look at that, it’s a Steinway, fancy one of them being here.”

  He walked over to the stage and touched the keys lovingly, itching to sit down and play a piece of music, but Sonya frowned and pointed to Mikey who was standing watching them.

  “
Ah, well,” Greg sighed. “ Maybe when I retire I’ll take it up again.”

  “Did Paul say anything about where he’d been today?” Kate asked Greg, when they had chosen where they were sitting and Sonya had gone for their drinks.”

  “Oh, it was all a storm in a teacup, she just reacted foolishly. He’d taken the car back, but got there before the place opened and had to kill some time.”

  “He told you that? According to Cheryl, he must have left at seven o’clock this morning. He didn’t get back here until a quarter past three!”

  “Well, whatever Kate, it’s their business. Never come between man and wife.”

  ***

  “Ah, Buenos Tardis, Lucy. I would like to present my wife, Senora Sanchez,” Ralf said, as he met Lucy at Reception that evening. She’d been hovering there, all dressed up in her georgette frock and silver high heeled shoes for twenty minutes, in case he’d got there early.

  “And this is Isabelle, you may have seen her around the hotel.” His brightly dressed daughter nodded graciously and said she was pleased to meet her. “ And this is my son, Hernan. My eldest son that is.” A young man aged around twenty smiled and shook her hand. “ Introductions over, shall we adjourn?”

  The family walked ahead of her. Of course it was their hotel, so they owned every inch of the place. The plumpish Senora, dressed in a black box jacket over a white blouse and black ankle length skirt nodded her head to Maria who was on duty, said hello in Spanish to the porter and clung to the arm of her husband, as they swept into the Sunlight Bar.

  “Here comes royalty,” muttered a very smart looking Mikey to an equally smart Damion, as they saw the owner and his family coming in. “ Get Tina and Anna to form a circle with the kids and we’ll make a start with “Agadou.” The music started, the children danced and the rest of the guests came pouring in.

  ***

  “What, no Bingo?” said Betty, as she was about to ask Nobby to go and buy some tickets.

  “It’s because of the piano recital,” said Lesley, who had been invited to join them and Meggie, as Lucy was tied up with the Sanchez family. “See over there at the front of the dance floor. There on the left hand side, front row seats for the owner and his wife.”

  “So that’s why Mikey and his mate have got their suits on,” chuckled Meggie. “ He’s usually a scruffy little tyke.”

  “I wouldn’t let him hear you say that,” said Betty. “ These youngsters seem proud nowadays to go around in old jeans and shabby trainers. Ah well, I probably wouldn’t have won anyway, so I’ve saved a bob or two.”

  ***

  “In strictest confidence, I think Lucy is being looked over by the boss and his wife tonight. Some sort of promotion I believe,” confided Lesley.

  “Well, she’ll deserve it,” Nobby replied. “ She’s a real nice lass. On hand if you want her, but doesn’t get in your face.”

  ***

  “Are you sure you’re up to this, Dad?” asked Terry, as he and Bryce helped Jim hobble into the Sunlight Bar after dinner.

  “Of course I am, lad, I like a bit of classical. Me and your mum loved to listen to it on the radio. No, I only want to stay in my room at night, because of the terrible throbbing sounds they call music nowadays.”

  “Oh, there’s still some good bands about,” said Bryce, as they sat down at a vacant table. “ Well boy bands they call them now. There’s Back Street Boys, Westlife and East 17.”

  “Never heard of them,” sneered Jim. “ Nowt wrong with Val Doonican or Perry Como.”

  “Just a bit long in the tooth, eh, Bryce?” Terry laughed.

  ***

  “Well, I don’t know what’s happened to Charles and Judith,” said Anthea feeling irritated, as they had sat near the door reserving two chairs for their friends. “ I thought that rep’ was going to make an announcement. She’ll be making it and they won’t be here.”

  “No, Charles said he wasn’t bothered. He didn’t want them rushing back from the restaurant, so he didn’t go to see the rep’.”

  “Oh, well thanks for telling me that,” she replied huffily. “ Now I suppose we’ll be sat on our own all night.”

  ***

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, Senors and Senoras,” cried Mikey into the microphone. “ We have a treat in store for you tonight. By popular demand”…and here he gritted his teeth, because he was losing his income from the Bingo sales, “ we have a celebrated pianist to entertain us. Please put your hands together and welcome Senorita Mertola.”

  A very handsome looking woman with her glossy raven hair hair styled into a chignon, wearing a long midnight blue glittery evening gown with a knee high split, walked into the spotlight that Damion had ingeniously positioned earlier. She smiled at her audience, then settled herself onto the piano stool. Soon she began to weave her magic and the audience sat in rapt attention as she played.

  “Brilliant,” said Jim, as the first piece by Schumann came to an end. “ That’s proper playing, not like the stuff they put together by computer.”

  “Well, I know this one,” said Bryce, as Senorita Mertola began the introduction to Nutcracker Suite. “We had a picture on the wall outside the headmaster’s office when I was at school. I saw the ballet girls quite often!”

  “Shh,” said Jim.

  Two pieces later, “Serenade, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” which went down very well with Anna and Damion, who had both been forced to study Mozart at their respective schools, and then a waltz by Chopin, Senorita Mertola decided she needed a break. She made a bow to the audience and got down from the stage.

  A general hum of conversation filled the room, people dashed to the bar for top ups, the kids ran around the dance floor and Ralf and his family went over to compliment their fellow countrywoman, who was now standing at the side of the piano, sipping on a glass of sherry that Miguel had brought her.

  “Excuse me,” said a small boy, who had climbed onto the stage and was staring up at this grand lady. “Can you play “Twinkle, twinkle little star?”

  She looked down at the blue eyed little cutey and said in careful English, “ I am sorry, I cannot.”

  “My granddad can on his piano,” the small boy said, gazing at her confidently. “ Well, can you play “London Bridge is falling down?”

  “I am very sorry, I cannot,” she replied, shaking her head.

  “My granddad can on his piano.”

  “I can play “Chopsticks,” Senorita Mertola said and turning quickly from him she played a few notes.

  “So, you only play rubbish then,” he replied, glaring at her in disgust then walking away!

  “What was our Evan up to then?” asked Greg, when he saw his grandson stalking away from talking to the grandiose lady.

  “I don’t know,” shrugged Sonya, “ but she obviously hasn’t pleased him.

  Chapter Twenty Five.

  Jim stood outside the hotel doorway waiting for the coach to Santa Cruz to set off with Terry, Bryce and other guests aboard. It was a fine morning, the clouds from the mountain had lifted early on and already people were walking about in shorts and T’ shirts. Jim waved, as Lucy carrying her clip- board, told the driver that all that were going were accounted for and the coach began to pull away.

  “So what are you going to do with yourself today, Mr. Hunter?” Lucy inquired, as they both walked back into the foyer at the same time.

  “Dunno yet. I’ve had my breakfast and I’ve got a paper from yon man, so I’ll probably toddle down to sit in the sun awhile.”

  “It hasn’t really warmed up yet,” she said, worried that the elderly man might catch a chill, as the sun hadn’t come pool side yet. “Why don’t you sit over there on one of the settees and read your newspaper and there’s a game of boules at eleven. Maybe you would like to join in?”

  “Aye, that sounds grand lass, you’ve got me morning sorted. I told our Terry that I’d find plenty to do without him, he does worry about me.”

  “Terry’s your son, right? Gone to Santa Cruz w
ith Mr. Lennox.”

  “Yes, love. They met up while they’ve been here and kind of hit it off straight away.”

  “Well, I’m very glad to hear that. That’s what holidays are all about, making new friends and enjoying yourself.”

  “I’ll no doubt see you later then,” Jim said as Lucy smiled and went on her way.

  ***

  “I think I’ll go up and start packing,” Kate said, when the family came out from breakfast. “ Where will everyone be?”

  “What do you want to be packing for?” asked Sonya. “ I’m just going to throw mine and Evan’s in a suitcase this evening. It gets washed and ironed when we get home anyway.”

  “You know I get up tight the day before we go anywhere,” said Kate. “ I just want to potter. I won’t be able to settle on a sun chair.”

  “I was going to suggest we had a walk to the duty free shop,” Greg said. “ I’d like to get some litres of whisky and brandy and the exercise will do us all good.”

  “Can I come with you, Granddad?” asked Evan, who was fed up with going to Kid’s club and wanted to escape today.

  “Of course you can. What say we boys go to the shop and the girls do whatever they want?”

  “Yeah!

  ***

  “Good morning, Lucy,” said Ralf Sanchez, coming out of his office with a piece of A4 paper in his hand. “ I trust you spent a pleasant evening in our company. My wife was very complimentary regarding your appearance. She feels you represent Periquito Travel very well.”

  “Oh, thank you, Sir,” said Lucy feeling very flattered. “ Would you tell Senora Sanchez that I was pleased to be in her company last night and I thought Senorita Mertola played superbly.”

  “Yes, she did, didn’t she? The Senorita is a personal friend of our family. In fact the piano she was performing on used to reside in my suite, before I allowed certain guests to occupy it. I was an accomplished pianist myself at one time, but sad to say, I have let my talent lapse with all I have to do. Ah, but Lucy, the reason I came to find you, was to bring you this fax that your office has sent you. I see there are many people expected. When I was talking with Robert earlier, he was telling me that your supervisor has succumbed to a virus and will not be returning to work for the next few days.”