The Love Resort (23 page)

Thea tried to forget everything that she’d been thinking. She took a long swig of her drink and decided that there was no harm in trying to have fun. She deserved it. This wasn’t the time to confront Tim; she decided to make an effort. They would have time to sort everything out when they got home. But she didn’t want to think about that yet.

*

‘Emily, can we talk?’ Jimmy said when they were in their room, getting changed for dinner. He wanted to tell her that he knew they had a big problem; if he was being honest with himself he’d known it before he’d proposed, but he’d carried on regardless. At first he thought that it would solve all their problems, but then he knew he was doing it because he was jealous of Lee. He wanted Lee to know that she was his, and to stop looking at her in
that
way.

‘Jimmy, let’s just enjoy tonight. I think it’s best.’ Jimmy thought about saying something, but instead he went to shower. They would just have a good time; he’d worry about everything else later. He had to keep remembering that he was still on holiday and he would have a good time with his fiancée if it killed him. After all, why would she have agreed to marry him if she didn’t love him? Perhaps he was being paranoid.

*

‘What do you think about Emily and Jimmy?’ Carla asked Lee when they were getting dressed.

‘She didn’t look thrilled,’ he replied absently, as he concentrated really hard on choosing a T-shirt.

Neither did you, Carla wanted to say, but she held her tongue. What was it with him and the country harlot? She decided to leave it. She knew that she had every right to be furious with Lee, and she was. But she would have plenty of time to confront him later. For now, she needed to turn his attention back to her. She stood in her bra and knickers in front of the wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear.

‘Hey, Carla, I think you’re the best. You know that, don’t you?’

She looked surprised at his unprovoked compliment. ‘Thank you,’ she replied but went back to the task in hand with the same sense of resolve.

*

‘Can you believe he asked her to marry him?’ Tim asked.

‘She’s gorgeous. Although I think he’s too good for her,’ Thea replied.

‘Yeah, he’s decent and she’s a princess. High maintenance, mark my words.’

‘Wow, Tim, you never fail to surprise me. How do you know about high-maintenance women?’

‘I read your
Cosmopolitan
. Anyway, Thea, I’m glad you’re not like that.’

‘Oh, great, Tim, you’re glad I’m easy.’

‘No, not easy. But not a demanding woman like Emily. Poor Jimmy will have a stroke or a heart attack if he marries her.’

‘Do you think you’re being a bit harsh?’

‘She’s quite good fun and I like her, but I wouldn’t want to marry her.’

‘Well, that’s one thing I can be glad about. Come on, let’s get to dinner.’

They met in the Coral Restaurant, and arranged a table on the terrace, overlooking the sea. Tim held court, basically because no one else seemed able to speak. Thea tried to think of something to say—Tim hated silence; it scared him—but the atmosphere was oppressive.

Emily picked at her food, while her low-cut green dress was drawing Lee’s eyes to her chest. Thea wanted to reach out and comfort Carla. She was so pretty; why was her boyfriend looking at Emily? She felt like taking a swing at him. Thea knew that the day had been trying, but events were now scaring her.

‘I know, we could play cleavage ball,’ Tim announced, before quickly flicking a pea at Thea’s cleavage. ‘Bullseye,’ he shouted, getting up from his chair, as Thea, giggling, wrestled it from her bra.

‘Tim,’ she chastised good-naturedly.

‘Well, if you girls will wear those low-cut things, what do you expect?’ Suddenly the atmosphere diffused and everyone laughed. Thea was grateful to Tim, and kissed his cheek.

After dinner they decided to go to the entertainment bar. For once, Anne-Marie wasn’t there to keep an eye on them, and Lily and Ed didn’t seem to be around either. The entertainment for that evening was a limbo show, and then couples’ limbo dancing. Tim, of course, led them, but Lee was hot on his heels as they drank more and more. They started with the resort cocktails, but soon moved on to shooters.

‘Six tequilas,’ Tim ordered.

‘Followed by six Lover cocktails,’ Lee shouted.

‘Oh God, I’m drunk,’ Jimmy slurred.

Thea was hot on his heels. Seeing the overweight couples trying to squeeze themselves under the bar was almost too much for her to bear. ‘Oh my God, if that woman gets under that bar, I’ll eat my hat.’

‘You don’t have a hat,’ Carla pointed out, as they saw the woman collapse on the floor.

‘They’ll need a crane to get her up again,’ Tim predicted.

‘That’s mean, Tim.’

‘But true.’

They all fell about laughing, until Tim decided that they should participate.

‘I can’t do that,’ Lee protested.

‘Oh, don’t be so boring. We’ll go first.’ Tim grabbed Thea’s hand and led her to the floor. They were quite good, until he fell over and pulled her on top of him. They both collapsed laughing, as the audience cheered them.

‘Sorry, Thea,’ he gasped breathlessly.

‘Don’t be. I don’t think we’re cut out for this. Oh God, Jimmy and Emily are up, look.’

Thea looked but she cringed as she did so. Poor Jimmy tried his best but was awful, which just made Emily angry. Thea and Tim laughed but it was clear that Emily wasn’t happy; Jimmy looked defeated.

‘Couldn’t you have tried harder?’ Emily hissed.

‘No, I couldn’t. It’s just a stupid game,’ Jimmy hissed back, surprising both Emily and Thea. Thea resisted the urge to cheer. Carla and Lee went last, but it was clear he wasn’t interested; he was less than half-hearted about the whole thing. Thea felt angry for Carla, who looked really embarrassed by the whole situation. She went over to her.

‘It’s just a dumb thing.’

‘A bit like my boyfriend,’ Carla replied.

Finally, they all agreed limbo dancing was stupid, and they went to the ‘Enchanting Evening’ bar, where the jukebox played and they were the only ones in there.

‘Those other guests were so competitive,’ Thea shrieked when they sat down. ‘And the prize was one of Anne-Marie’s bloody dresses, not even money or anything useful.’

‘But the dress was signed,’ Carla giggled.

‘I guess you could auction it on eBay,’ Jimmy mused.

‘Shit, why didn’t we think of that? I might have tried harder,’ Tim finished.

Only Lee and Emily remained silent.

Tim’s impressions of the couples, especially as he stuffed the sofa cushions up his shirt to emphasise the point, kept them amused for ages, and the drinks kept flowing.

‘You didn’t make any effort at all,’ said an American voice.

They looked up to see a couple walk into the bar. The woman was wearing a dress not dissimilar to Anne-Marie’s, floaty and pink, and the man was wearing a pair of slacks with a smart shirt tucked in.

‘Fresh blood,’ Tim said before going over to where they sat. ‘Hello, may I introduce myself? My name is Timothy; I am from Great Britain,’ he enunciated.

‘Hi. Patricia.’ The American woman held out her arm. Tim took her hand and kissed it. Her husband looked surprised.

‘Charmed, I’m sure.’

‘Oh my God, he’s priceless,’ Carla whispered to Thea, giggling.

‘He bloody well is,’ she replied, shaking her head.

‘My husband is called Anthony,’ the woman continued.

‘Nice to meet you, old chap. I say, why don’t you come and join us?’

‘We’re fine,’ Anthony growled.

‘We would love to,’ Patricia answered, glaring at him. They stood up and went to join the others.

‘I would like to introduce you to Patricia and Anthony. This is Thea, my beloved, that’s Jimmy, Emily, Lee and Carla.’ Tim sat down and summoned the barman over.

‘Where are you from?’ Thea asked politely.

‘California, where the sun always shines,’ Patricia replied.

‘If you can ever see it,’ her husband snapped.

As the drinks arrived, the atmosphere dropped. Lee kept looking at Emily. Jimmy was staring at his drink. Thea engaged Carla in conversation, and Tim started working his ‘British’ charm on Patricia.

‘Of course, being British is wonderful.’

‘I just love your accent.’

‘Oh, thank you. Well, I am rather well educated. Eton, just like the princes.’

‘Do you know them?’ Her eyes were like saucers.

‘Oh, my dear, no, I was at school a while before them, but I have met the Queen on quite a few occasions.’ Thea choked on her drink.

‘You have? What’s she like?’

‘Really rather tiny, actually. But I never miss one of her garden parties.’

Anthony looked at Tim as if he was going to kill him, but instead he stood up. ‘I’ve had enough of this resort for one night, or for a lifetime. I’m going to bed.’ He looked daggers at Tim and at his wife.

‘Well, you go on. I’m staying here with these charming English people.’

Anthony scowled at her and left.

‘Thea, let’s go choose some songs,’ Carla said. They went to the jukebox.

‘What the fuck is he doing?’ Thea asked.

‘Who? Tim?’

‘Yes, all that rubbish about knowing the queen, and that accent. It’s not even close to Hugh Grant’s.’

‘He’s funny, though.’ Carla looked confused.

‘Fucking hysterical. Anyway, we’ve got a choice between Mariah Carey and Elton John.’

‘Elton. Someone should take the song choices here in hand.’

‘Are you going to tell Anne-Marie?’

‘No, but I might send her a postcard.’

When they returned to the table, more drinks had arrived. Jimmy hadn’t touched his; Emily was downing hers, as was Lee. The awkwardness in the atmosphere was evident, but Patricia and Tim were in a world of their own.

‘If you ever visit England, I will personally introduce you to the Queen.’

‘You could do that?’

‘Oh, yes, quite sure. She’d love you.’

Thea looked at him and snapped. ‘Tim, I need to go to bed,’ she declared. Patricia looked mortified.

‘I’ll follow you later,’ Patricia looked relieved.

‘But I don’t want to go alone,’ she replied. He whispered something to Patricia and stood up.

‘Listen, Thea,’ he said as soon as they were outside, ‘I’m not ready to go to bed yet and I’m not really happy with you insisting on babysitting me.’

‘Oh, really? But you’re happy enough at home when I make sure the rent and the bills are paid, and when I feed you and work my sodding socks off to ensure you don’t have to.’ She felt unusually satisfied for speaking her mind.

‘I never ask you to do anything for me; you’re the one that insists on it all the time. Thea, you are always suffocating me,’ Tim shouted.

Thea recoiled in shock, turned on her heels and stormed off in tears. She found herself, ironically, on the love seat they’d been photographed on earlier. Then she sobbed her heart out.

‘Where’s Thea gone?’ Carla asked suspiciously.

‘To bed. She’s tired. I’m not. Simple.’ Tim’s good nature seemed to have left him. He was angry.

‘Is she all right?’ Carla asked.

‘She’s fine. Will you leave it?’ Tim snapped.

Jimmy and Carla exchanged a glance.

‘I’m glad you didn’t have to go,’ Patricia said.

‘And leave your fine company?’ He was all smiles again. ‘Not when we were just getting acquainted.’

Carla’s eyes were wide as she noticed that Tim’s hand was on Patricia’s leg. She felt sick and looked at Jimmy. She then saw Patricia curling her hair around her fingers, and pouting provocatively.

‘Perhaps it’s time to call it a night,’ Jimmy said quickly. Without a word, Lee and Emily stood up and followed them out.

‘You go, I’m staying,’ Tim said, barely glancing at them.

‘That was weird,’ Lee said, shocked.

‘What on earth is he doing?’ Carla asked.

‘As if anyone would want her when they had Thea,’ Lee continued, and Emily took a sharp intake of breath.

‘Oh, look, Thea’s over there,’ Carla said, pointing to a love seat. She moved towards her, Jimmy hot on her heels.

*

‘You know that we could be in big trouble,’ Lily said as she and Ed made their way towards the bar.

‘I know.’

‘I hope they’ve been behaving themselves.’

‘You know, Lily, I don’t care if they haven’t. Anne-Marie has had us doing her dirty work for her for far too long. If they’ve caused trouble tonight, then good.’

‘But we’ll get the blame.’

‘She can’t hurt us. She can shout or scream but she can’t change the way I feel about you.’

‘Still, it was a bit bad that we fell asleep. Shall we go and check that everything’s OK?’

‘Sure, if we must.’ Ed took Lily’s hand and led her towards the entertainment hall. Despite all his bravado, he knew that they would have to tell Anne-Marie something about how the competition winners had spent the evening.

‘Shit, isn’t that Lee and Emily?’ Lily asked. Ed nodded. They crept closer, but also stayed out of sight.

‘Wait,’ Lee was saying, as Emily started to go after the others.

‘Why, so you can tell me who else you fancy?’ Ed and Lily looked at each other in the darkness. Ed felt a sinking feeling; this wasn’t what they were hoping for.

‘Emily, don’t. I don’t fancy Thea.’

‘It didn’t sound like it.’

‘Oh, listen, I was making a valid comment. There’s only one girl for me.’

‘Carla?’ Emily almost screamed.

‘You know full well it isn’t her.’

‘Holy shit,’ Lily whispered.

‘I’ve wanted to do that from the moment I saw you,’ Lee said, after he’d kissed her.

‘Me too.’

‘But this is wrong.’

‘I know. But it feels right.’

‘Oh, shit, what now?’

‘Please don’t make me go back to Jimmy.’

‘Well, what else can we do?’

‘Let’s go to the hammock and spend a bit more time together. Please.’

‘OK, but then we have to go back to our rooms.’

‘I know.’ They kissed again, before walking off.

‘Where are you going?’ Ed asked Lily, as the sound of Lee and Emily’s footsteps faded.

‘To the hammock to drag them back to their rooms. If Anne-Marie finds out, she’ll kill them. And us.’