Eternity (5 page)

Let us know you arrived in one piece,

All our love Mum and Dad xxxxx

P.s your mum says to remind you to use sun cream.

Their email makes me smile, they fuss more than necessary, but secretly, even as an adult, I still love the attention they shower me with. I fire off a quick reply, assuring them I am fine, a quick description of the room, let them know I’m eating more than enough and return their loving sentiments, promising to write again soon.

Finally it’s Caz, I’m sure with much of the same.

From: Cassie Black

To: Kaitlin Mavers

Subject: Im so jealous!!!! 

Hi Kate you adventurous minx!

So glad you did this, but I’m already lost without you! Is it as beautiful as the brochures? You must send me some pictures as soon as you can.

Evie drew a picture of you on a beach in the sun today, I’ve put it up on the fridge for you to see when you get back.

The house sale is going great, everything is signed and it will be finalised in no time. And great news……your offer on the dream house got accepted!!! I’m dealing with it now to make sure it all goes ahead in double time, sorry but your parents just don’t have a negotiating bone in both their bodies put together!

If all goes well you will be in within a couple of weeks of your return to old blighty.

Love you, email me with all the gossip asap!

Speak soon,

Caz xxxxxxxxxxxx

That’s great news about the house, I never in a million years thought I would get it. Even though the asking price was well within my price range my agent, but more importantly Caz, insisted I offer well below it with a promise of a quick sale. Seemingly it worked and it means I will have more than enough left to do the few renovations I wanted AND newly furnish the whole thing. I have explained to Caz that it’s all well and good moving to a new house, but if everything inside it is the same old memory inspiring crap, it won’t make any difference. So we were going to forgo the decorating in favour of furnishings, but now I can have the best of both worlds, hopefully with money to spare!

Ever since my life exploded in on itself I have had nothing but good luck, I guess after months of misery karma is finally coming round for me.

Tapping out and email back I congratulate Caz on her savvy negotiating skills, and tell her to thank her daughter for the picture. Caz is convinced Evie, (her five year old) is an aspiring artist, but in all honesty the pictures just look like any other kids drawings to me?

Promising to firstly take pictures and secondly send them to Caz, I sign off and shut down the laptop.

It’s just past 14.30, plenty of time for some more sunbathing I think. Slipping off my sundress I put on one of my new sarongs on, a hot pink little number that suggests I have more confidence than I feel. Tying it higher than my bikini bottoms in a failing attempt to cover my tummy, still bloated from lunch, I head back out to the poolside.

To my surprise there are very few people about now, maybe they are still at lunch, or perhaps having a siesta. I understand why, my head feels heavy with sleep, but I want to make the most of the glorious weather; so I figure I can just sleep on a lounger. Picking up a cocktail from the bar on the way past, I go for a tequila sunrise, I remember these from my student days and it seemed the safest option as I didn’t recognise any of the others on the list. Then I saunter over to the poolside, I get to take my pick of the prime location loungers, spreading my towel out over the best one, it’s sporting a plastic side table and an umbrella should I want to get some shade later.

I take a few swift mouthfuls of the two tone beverage, its refreshing right up until the kick of alcohol that follows. Then settling down on my front, I let myself drift off; snippets of images infiltrate my slumber, mostly of Jake, dark areas, a general feeling of dread and anger and trying to run but not being able to. The usual stuff nightmares are made of. I wake with a start an hour later, glad to find myself surrounded by the beauty of the sea and blue skies, which quickly washes away any lingering memories of the dreams I had.

Sitting up on my knees and knocking back the rest of my cocktail I wave a hand at the barman signalling for another, then wipe the sweat from my brow and turn to lie on my back for a while.

The sun is blazingly hot, every inch of my body feels like its sizzling, the tinkling of ice on glass tells me my second cocktail has arrived, this holiday is just what I needed, I couldn’t be more relaxed right now. I can feel the heat slowly relaxing me into a semiconscious state when I’m become vaguely aware of a shadow over my eyes, a cloud maybe?

"Excuse me senorita" a low husky voice penetrates my day dreams, I cautiously open my eyes, letting them re-adjust to the light.

He's tall, but still unfocused; blinking my eyes back to life he slowly takes shape. His tanned skin, his toned body, his wet tousled black hair hanging in curls to just above his shoulders, the water from them dripping down his chest glittering against the bright sun.

He's wearing the smallest pair of Speedo’s I’ve ever seen they are straining to contain his manhood. I quickly look back up to his fine chiseled face, blushing profusely when I realise his dark eyes have been watching me clearly while I have been checking him out.

"Err...yes?" is all I can manage.

"Is this taken" he purrs motioning towards the sun lounger next to me.

"Um...no, I err... I don't think so" I sound like I blithering idiot, the slowly reducing blush returns full force as he shoots me a dazzling smile. God this man is hot.

With perfect elegance he drapes himself down onto the lounger, stealing a sideways glance I can see that his whole body is wet and glistening under the sun, what I wouldn't give to run my fingers over it. Peeking up at his face our eyes meet, oh no he has seen me biting my lip and ogling over him like a horny teenager.

Quickly averting my eyes before I embarrass myself anymore, I can do nothing but return to my sunbathing. My mouth is dry but I can’t bring myself to move let alone sit up and sip my cocktail which is tantalisingly close. At least when I’m lying down it creates an illusion of a passable body, if I stretch out and breathe in and have my arms reaching above my head....

I stay like this for what seems like a lifetime, feigning relaxation, but in reality I’m so stiff and uncomfortable, with my eyes shut my other senses are in overdrive, I can actually hear his deep rhythmic breathing. It’s probably all in my head but I swear I can feel his eyes burning into me. Don’t be stupid I scold myself; it’s more likely the sun burning you.

This is ridiculous, I’m an adult, I’ve come away on holiday on my own to get away from it all and relax and right now I am anything but. Just get up and walk away my mind says, but my body is reluctant to follow.

Finally I force my eyes open, at least while I’m blinded by the sun for a few seconds I can pretend I’m the only one here.

Standing up, quickly, on second thoughts too quickly as I have to put my hand out to the back of the sun lounger to steady myself, with my other hand I grab my towel and in a flash wrap it around my body concealing my imperfections, reaching for my cocktail my stupid shaking hands nearly knocking it over, god that would have been mortifying! Clutching it tight now, I can’t resist and take a quick glance over at the Adonis who is eyeing me intently with a glint of amusement playing across his beautiful face. It takes everything I have to turn and saunter away in what I’m hoping looks like a nonchalant / confident manner.

I’m halfway across to the hotel when it hits me...shit! I’ve left my sandals behind....

It’s too late now, I can’t bring myself to return for them, so I continue to sashay as best I can till I’m round the corner out of sight.

Oh my god, I’m such an idiot, how can an attractive man reduce me into a quivering mess? Pull yourself together Kaitlin, for heavens sake. I should really go back and get my shoes, but the more time that goes by the more stupid I will feel going back, no it’s just too late. I resign to returning to my room, shoeless, I’ll just get another pair and then maybe head to the spa for a massage now my afternoon sunbathing has gone awry.

The Spa is busy, not surprising considering all the treatments are free, it’s quite possible I may spend the next 3weeks here.

They show me to the pool room equipping me with flip-flops and an unbelievably soft towelling dressing gown. Changing in the locker room, I’ve got about an hour, which is good as it will give me time to choose what treatment I want. As soon as I step foot back in the pool room a woman dressed in Spa Uniform presents me with a platter of fruit and cheese and an iced tea. Thankfully its non-alcoholic, I can still feel the effects of the day time drinking I have done so far. 

Stripping my robe and flip-flops off and draping them over my chosen lounger, I head for a quip dip in the heated pool first. It’s a little crowded, but everyone speaks in hushed tones to maintain the illusion of a relaxing atmosphere. The pool isn’t huge so I spend most my time weaving in amongst the loved up couples, displaying far too much affection for a public place. I give up soon after, this is all too depressing, I’m the only single person here and consequently, the only person actually trying to swim rather than use the water to cover their indiscretions, to no avail might I add.

Leaving the pool I return to my lounger and pick at the platter, mmm it’s actually really good, each piece of fruit has an accompanying piece of cheese chosen specifically to complement one another. If I know the fruit I don’t know the piece of cheese it is with and vice versa, but the taste sensation is to die for. Before I know it I’ve finished the lot, and these platters are clearly made for two. Washing it down with the iced tea, I pick up the Treatment “menu” they have provided.

They offer everything from massages to facials to manicures and waxing! Waxing? Who wants to do that on holiday?

You can have a maximum of two treatments before coming back to the pool room and letting the next lot of people have a turn. That seems fair. I opt for a full body massage and a facial, before heading to the sauna.

Inside I am met with two fat, hairy old men; I have literally never seen so much hair on a man, front and back! I have to stop myself from retching at the sight, but I can’t exactly turn and walk back out, that would be too obvious. I’m so glad it’s a sizeable sauna, so I can sit on the opposite side and not have to be close enough to be touching them. Right on queue fat guy 1 reaches over and pours another ladle of water on the coals, within seconds fat guy 2 lets out a throaty and appreciative “aaaaahhhh”.

My stomach tenses, I’m going to be sick, steady now, just hold it together for a few minutes and then you can escape without causing offence, this is so gross.

I haven’t even noticed the heat on account of the nauseating stench of sweat invading my nostrils, the heat just intensifies it that much more. I must think about something else, looking around for something to take my mind off the god awful smell and I see it, fat guy 1 leering at me, licking his lips, oh god I should have bought my towel in with me, sick, sick, sick, sick!

I’m just about to raise my hand to show my wedding ring and tell him where to go, when I realise I don’t even have that, Caz persuaded me to take it off and leave it at home, ‘this holiday is for you, not him’ she had said, bloody Caz!

I’ve got to get out, as much as the smell of my vomit would actually improve this stench, I can’t take Fat guy 1’s roaming eyes on me a second longer.

The cool fresh, lightly perfumed air hits me with welcome relief as soon as I open the door, shutting it hurriedly behind me to keep the smell of tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum inside, I head straight for the ‘cold experience’ shower.

It does exactly what it says on the tin; Ice cold strong jets of water assault you, I stand under as long as I can hack it, ferociously rubbing at my skin, please don’t let that smell stick to me, please, please I say to myself as I go. Jumping out when the jets start to feel like they’re turning into icicles stabbing at my skin, I return to my lounger and shrug on my robe. On second thoughts maybe I won’t spend all my time here!

While I’m laying out on the lounger I subtly lift one side of my robe and take a sniff, I can’t detect a trace of the stench, good now I can relax; I feel a presence at my side, I look up and the immaculately groomed woman who delivered my platter is standing next to me, smiling warmly “you are ready, yes?” she asks sweetly. Blushing from being caught smelling myself, I quickly try and regain my composure “yes, yes I’m ready” I say, standing to attention.

She leads me out of the pool room, down a beige coloured hall, lit softly with upwards pointing wall lamps and into one of the side rooms. The lighting in here is even lower and there is a quiet, gentle classical piece of music playing on hidden speakers. A painting hangs on the left wall, a large yellow flower on a black background, simple, but beautiful.