Then December 24, 1973
Then
The hotel dining room is filled with a festive hum of conversation when Monica walks in at about seven o’clock in the evening, carrying a tray of cocktails for the round table with a view over the extensive mountain landscape.
The group consists of eight people, four children and two sets of parents. Children are usually served earlier, but because it is Christmas Eve, they are allowed to stay up and eat with the adults.
Monica sets out the tall V-shaped cocktail glasses. Dry martinis with green olives for the gentlemen; rusty nails mixed from Drambuie and whiskey for the ladies.
“At last!” exclaims the nearest woman with a coquettish smile as she reaches for her glass. “I’m dying of thirst!”
Her hair is up, and she is wearing a moss-green silk dress that looks ridiculously expensive. Her long, pointed nails are dark red, and the eternity ring on her left ring finger is sparkling.
“Chin-chin,” she says, toasting her friends. “Here’s to a wonderful vacation together!”
Her husband smiles contentedly and takes out a slim gold lighter, which he uses to light a Marlboro cigarette.
Monica stares at him in fascination. In his elegant smoking jacket, he looks just like the actor Sean Connery. He must be twenty years older than her, but Monica has never seen such an attractive man before.
As if he is aware of her silent admiration, he glances up and gives her a warm, almost flirtatious look.
“Are the other drinks for our friends?” he asks in a jocular tone of voice. “Or are they staying on the tray?”
Monica tugs at her dress in embarrassment and quickly serves the other couple. The children each get a bottle of Christmas soda.
“Are you new here?” the stylish gentleman asks when she has finished.
Monica blushes. “This is my first week,” she mumbles. Her cheeks are burning; she can’t look him in the eye.
He blows a perfect smoke ring. “How charming. Everybody here is like one big family.”