The Love Resort (40 page)

‘That’s right.’

Ed thought the man looked a bit shifty but he didn’t have time to deal with that. ‘So, where is the place the keys belong to?’

‘At the top of the resort.’

‘Oh my God. The Americans’ bungalow that we secured?’

The security guard nodded.

‘I forgot all about that.’ Ed felt terrible; it hadn’t even crossed his mind.

*

Lily dived on the phone, as soon as it rang. ‘Hello,’ she said breathlessly.

‘Lily, it’s Security. We have a problem.’

Lily felt her heart sink as she looked around at the others.

‘What is it?’

‘We have about a hundred journalists here. They’re all at the main gate and they’re demanding to be let in.’

‘What do they know?’

‘I spoke to them; they say they know that the famous film stars are there.’

‘Are you sure that that’s it?’

‘Yes, that’s all they said. But we need some help, Lily.’

‘Don’t worry; I’ll call you back in a minute.’

‘Holy shit. What do we do?’ David asked when Lily had explained.

‘I’m going to have to call the police. The resort is private property, but although we have all our men at the front gate, some might get in. And they’re going to be trying to find other ways in too. Hold on, I’m going to get Ed.’

‘What for?’ Ed asked as he appeared from the kitchen.

Lily explained the situation again; he in turn told her what he’d recently discovered.

‘OK,’ Ed shouted, looking at the panic in everyone’s faces. ‘We know where they are. Mary, David and I will go to get them. If we see any press we’ll hide.’

He was asserting himself wonderfully, Lily thought proudly.

‘You deal with the press. Get the police here, and then get them to stand at the gate, while the rest of the security men sweep the grounds. I think you should also tell the guests to stay in the resort today. You realise that we’ll probably end up having to refund these guests, the problems that they’ve incurred.’

‘Ed, does that really matter?’ Lily asked, shocked.

‘No, I guess not.’ Ed found old habits hard to let go of.

‘Anyway, Harriet, maybe you should go and give a statement to the media,’ suggested Lily. ‘Tell them that Todd and Katie are honeymooning here but they need their privacy.’

‘It might be too late for that,’ Harriet replied. She turned to Ed. ‘Look, you go to the house, and I’ll call the Studio. I need to speak to them before I speak to the press.’

The sun was just warming up as Ed drove David and Mary in the golf buggy.

‘I can’t believe she did this,’ David snapped, after being given all the information.

‘David, at least we know where they are, and we’ll be there in a second.’

‘She could go to jail.’

‘She’s mad, David,’ Mary pointed out. ‘They don’t put mad people in jail.’

‘I’m sure she’s suffering enough,’ Ed said sadly. Although maybe the world she was in now made her happy.

*

‘Yes, Bernie, they’re all here. We have called the police, but only about the journalists. What do we do?’

‘Release a press statement. Dictate it to one of the secretaries, and you read it to the mob there, while we send it out here.’

‘Do you want me to make sure they’re safe first?’

‘No. Just say that they are here on their honeymoon and ask for the press to respect their privacy. Then as soon as Todd and Katie are safe, fly them back with you. We’ll deal with the rest when they’re in LA.’

‘Shouldn’t we check with Katie and Todd first?’

‘No. Do it now. I want it out within the next half-hour. If you get news of them in the meantime, then let me know, but stick to the plan.’

*

Lily got all the managers together to make an announcement. She hoped that the guests would find the press invasion exciting, and that they wouldn’t make too much fuss. Although, thinking about it, it was the least of her problems.

The doctor came and went straight to Anne-Marie. She wondered what they should do about that. They would have to release a statement about her at some point. She had had a number of telephone conversations with Abigail (who seemed quite delighted about all the developments, which Lily felt was a little callous of her), and they’d come to the conclusion that she was sectioned they wouldn’t be able to keep it quiet. She would be glad when this whole episode was over—when she and Ed could be together properly. If they could be together, properly.

*

‘My God, they’re in there?’ Mary asked, pointing at the little bungalow, which had prison-like locks.

‘I don’t know, but this is what the keys are for.’ Ed rushed to the door and began undoing the locks. David stood beside him, fidgeting nervously. Finally he opened the door and the three of them burst in.

‘Oh, thank God,’ Emily cried.

‘What did she do to you?’ Mary asked. Ed stood rooted to the spot. They were all half dressed and dirty; dust and dirt clung to them. And there was a mass panic going on.

‘It’s not me,’ Emily cried. ‘It’s Tim. We can’t wake him. Please help us. We need an ambulance.’ Ed immediately radioed to security, giving them orders. At the same time he rushed, superhero-like, to the bedroom.

Tim was lying on the floor, under a lot of clothes, which explained the nakedness of the others. He was breathing, but also sweating profusely. Ed, who knew first aid, checked his pulse, and his breathing, and finally his pupils.

‘He’s unconscious but his breathing is steady. I’ve called an ambulance. Is everyone else all right?’ They all nodded.

‘Oh my Katie, my Katie...’ Mary rushed to her and took her in her arms.

‘It’s been so awful, Mary. Tim is so sick and she didn’t care. She locked us up here. Anything could have happened to him.’

‘Thank God for Katie,’ Todd said. He was holding on to Thea, who was shaking. Mary looked from Todd to Katie and she smiled.

‘Todd,’ David said, rushing up to embrace him. ‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine. Dirty, tired and hungry, but fine. What are you doing here?’ Todd asked.

‘And how did it take so long to find us?’ Jimmy asked.

‘She’s gone mad. Oh God, it’s a long story.’ Just then the ambulance arrived and the paramedics rushed in.

‘Are you going with him?’ Katie asked Thea.

‘Yes, but would you come? I mean, you might not want to, but I’d like it.’

‘Of course.’ Katie put on Todd’s T-shirt, took Thea’s hand and followed her into the ambulance.

‘We’re only allowed to take one person with the patient,’ the ambulance man said.

‘Do you know who I am?’ Katie shrilled, but as she did so she gave Thea a massive wink.

Ed left the buggy there and led them down to the bungalow that Abigail had been staying in. He was leading them in a way Tim would have been proud of, Lee noted, as he ensured that they didn’t come across any members of the press. Once in there, after Ed had left, Mary got on the phone and ordered clean towels, lots of soap, and clothes from their rooms to be brought. She then ordered them a feast for breakfast.

‘So, you’re telling us that Anne-Marie has flipped?’ Carla said, as they all sat around eating.

‘Yes, they are deciding today if she’s going to be sectioned. She didn’t know her own husband.’

‘I hope Tim’s going to be all right,’ Emily said. Lee stroked her arm.

‘They’ll call us as soon as they know. But he will be,’ Mary tried to assure them.

‘And Mary was right about you lot, so you should listen to her,’ David pointed out.

‘At least we’re free,’ Todd said. ‘My God, I can’t believe it. Three days holed up there and I’m acting like it’s been ages.’

‘It felt like ages,’ Carla added.

‘Oh, and the food left a little to be desired,’ Lee laughed.

‘You know, I think that somehow I’m going to remember this holiday for as long as I live,’ Emily giggled. They raised their coffee cups to that.

*

‘So, you know where you are?’ Dr Jonas asked.

‘Of course. I’m in London.’

‘You’re in the Caribbean, Anne-Marie.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’m in London, the book is called
Love
Me
,
Doctor
. You’re Dr Dirk Davidson, and I’m Ella, and I am so in love with you but you feel torn between your professional interest in me and the brain transplant you are going to perform, and your romantic feelings towards me.’

‘That is not the case.’

‘Oh, you doctors, you always are so very difficult.’

*

Ed signed the papers confining Anne-Marie to a psychiatric hospital. Lily stood behind him.

‘We need to make a press statement.’

‘Ed, I’ll draft one, we’ll read it at the same time as Harriet, and I’ll fax it to Abigail for her to deal with the UK press.’

‘We have no choice, do we?’

‘No, honey. They gave her the most time they could. She needs professional care.’

‘That leaves us in charge, you know that. I feel so guilty, but then I feel so angry. My wife didn’t even give me the chance of leaving her.’ He knew that even if Anne-Marie recovered she wouldn’t want to be with him. She never really had. And he wanted to be with Lily. He wasn’t going to deny himself the chance of happiness now.

‘She’ll get better.’

‘You think?’

‘Yes, in time, and in the meantime we will do whatever is best for all of us.’

‘I love you, Lily, and as of now we are officially a couple.’ He gave the papers back to the doctor who was looking at them oddly.

*

‘He’s going to be fine,’ the doctor declared after tests had been conducted.

‘It’s just normal withdrawal?’ Katie asked.

‘Yes, his system went into shock without alcohol. Now, we’re going to give him something which should stop the shaking and the vomiting, but in the long run he needs to go to AA.’

‘We’re putting him in a rehab unit; I’m going to book him in as soon as we leave,’ Katie said.

‘He’s very dehydrated, so he’s on a drip and we’ll keep him overnight. I suggest you go back and change.’

‘I don’t want to leave him,’ Thea said. She was relieved but also thought if she left Tim then something bad might happen.

‘Look, he’s sleeping, Thea,’ Katie pointed out. ‘Let’s go back, shower, change and eat and then you’ll be far more use to him anyway.’

They sat in the back of the taxi, ignoring the odd looks the taxi driver was shooting them through his mirror. It was only when they pulled up at the resort they saw the press.

‘Oh shit, they found us.’

‘Great timing.’

‘How come we didn’t see them when we went in the ambulance?’

‘We came out of a different entrance, remember?’

Thea barely remembered anything; she’d been so worried about Tim.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll get you through.’ The taxi driver hit down on his horn, causing some of the journalists to jump and the photographers to pick up their cameras.

‘Katie, put your head in my lap.’ Thea pulled her head down.

The policemen waved the crowd back, and one of the security guards with the actions of an expert lifted the barrier but slammed it down the minute the car was through.

31

And
Finally
—
Returning
To
Us

Of course we hope that you enjoyed your stay so much you will return again. Not only do we offer you attractive discounts if you do decide to come back, but we also have an exclusive loyalty club which you will gain membership to if you return.

All the benefits of return visits are available to you by asking Guest Services. Register with them now.

We hope you enjoyed your stay and look forward to seeing you again.

Guest
Handbook

*

Harriet and Lily stood side by side. The press looked at them expectantly. Harriet, who was due to go first, smiled, but Lily felt nervous about her forthcoming performance.

‘As you know, Todd and Katie Cortes are honeymooning here. It isn’t a secret, as you’ll have read it in
Movie
World
. The honeymoon has been a time for them to be together in peace and they would like you to respect their privacy over this period. As soon as the honeymoon is over, I will call a press conference and you can talk to them yourselves.’

Lily prayed they knew nothing about the fact that they’d been missing, and, as per Ed’s call, that they’d been found safe. Harriet nodded as a hand shot up.

‘I just want to know if the person in the taxi that came in was Katie. It sure looked like her.’

‘I cannot confirm that at this time.’

‘Is there anything else you can give us? Can we have a photograph of the happy couple?’

‘No, not at the moment. As I said, they are together, in the resort, but they’re on honeymoon and want to be left alone. That’s all I have for you right now.’

Lily couldn’t hear because questions were being flung at Harriet from all directions, so she just smiled and kept quiet.

‘I, however, do have something to say,’ she shouted finally, causing the crowd to quieten. ‘I am Anne-Marie Langdale’s publicity manager and it’s my duty to inform you that she’s very unwell. She will shortly be taken to hospital, and we will keep you informed of her progress.’

‘What’s wrong with her?’

‘She is, I am sad to say, being sectioned. She’s suffering from a breakdown of some sort. Again, I would like you to respect her privacy at this time.’ Lily and Harriet looked at each other, and with the questions starting again, they walked away.

‘When they get the full story they’ll have kittens,’ Harriet said.

‘They’ll be having tigers—big, fat, tigers.’

*

That evening there was a rare sight at The Love Resort. Katie Ray and Todd Cortes walked into the dining room, going up to guests and greeting them. It had been Mary’s idea, as a way to keep the guests pacified. She was turning out to be some sort of genius, Ed reflected. He watched as his wife’s resort came to life with their presence. Everyone was so excited to meet them, and they seemed to be excited as well. He smiled. It was kind of like the magic that she had always talked to him about creating.