Chapter Ten
Friday, 2 nd June
‘ A nd here we are, back at base camp.’ Alan turned left into the Lakeside Hotel car park and pulled up in a staff space.
‘Thank you!’ said Emily. ‘That was a fabulous trip. I’ve never visited three different countries in one day before!’ And she probably never would again, would she? This would be the holiday of a lifetime for her, as far as Switzerland was concerned.
‘It was glorious.’ Stacy got out and waved a hand at the two large vans parked outside the entrance. ‘Look! They’re not wasting any time getting the kitchen floor fixed.’
‘Good,’ said Alan. ‘I was worried they’d end up having to close the kitchen for days on end. That would have meant even fewer punters.’
Emily pulled herself out of the car and gave her leg a shake. She’d been sitting for a while. A couple of careful steps eased the stiffness, and she beamed at her knee. Wow, this was a definite improvement, even if she did have a bit to go before she was running for buses again. And how awful, this time tomorrow she’d be back in sunny Cheshire with good old English buses to run for. This had been their last outing in lovely Switzerland.
Alan had borrowed Claudio the waiter’s Nissan, and they’d taken the car ferry across to Friedrichshafen in Germany, where they’d walked – at least, the others had walked and she’d been pushed – along the lakeside promenade. The best bit had been when a tourist Zeppelin started off from the nearby airfield – the memory of the huge airship gliding almost silently over their heads at what seemed like an incredibly low altitude would be imprinted on her brain forever. It was like something out of a science fiction movie; Stace had taken some fab pics. Back in the car, they’d headed further along the German bank to the old town of Lindau, then after a picnic lunch and a bit of shopping, the day was rounded off by a drive home along the Austrian end of the lake.
Emily limped across the car park – but she was limping better, wasn’t she? And boy, all that sightseeing hadn’t half made her hungry for their meal out tonight. She’d been looking forward to it for hours now.
Alan lifted her shopping and walked beside her into the hotel. ‘Quick drink on the terrace, girls? It can even be alcoholic – Rico’s driving tonight!’
Emily smiled at him. Why not – he’d been the perfect gentleman all day, and the perfect tour guide too. ‘Drinks are on me, then.’ She turned to Stacy. ‘You’ve both been so good, wheeling me about the place.’
Stacy shook her head. ‘I’ll check that Rico can still make it to dinner tonight, after last night’s drama. I need to get hold of David, too, and give him the details about our arrival time tomorrow.’ She smiled vaguely, then slid away across the hall and into the restaurant, presumably to look for Rico.
Emily rolled her eyes. If that wasn’t a blatant attempt at tactful matchmaking, she didn’t know what was. It was doomed to failure, too, because there was nothing to be tactful about. Except – oh, help, the look of relief now etched across Alan’s face was telling. Emily grasped her determination with both hands. She’d given him no reason to think they’d ever be anything more than – than friendly acquaintances. Or distant friends, perhaps. She’d have a quick drink with him, but that was all. She tottered across to a table at the end of the terrace and flopped down, staring out over the lake. She should make the most of this. Tomorrow, Switzerland, and Alan with it, would be nothing but a memory.
He came over with two glasses of prosecco. ‘Your holiday’s done its job, you know. You look ten times better than you did last Saturday.’ He raised his glass, and they clinked.
‘That sounds like a pretty backhanded compliment. I must have looked awful.’ Emily sipped. ‘I feel better, anyway. Yay for Dad and the Golf Club draw!’ She smiled at him, and he leaned forward.
‘I’d like to think we can keep in touch. You’ve been so helpful with all your teaching advice, and – um, I’d like to see you again.’
Shit. He was going to end the week the same way he started it, hankering after something she could never give him. Emily took a huge gulp of her prosecco, and nearly choked as bubbles fizzed up her nose.
She cleared her throat. ‘Sure. And who knows, we might both be on some training course or other one day. I’m sure you’ll soon settle into teacher training, you know. You don’t need anyone to hold your hand.’ She smiled, then turned back to the lake. Surely he wasn’t going to go all mushy on her on their last evening .
Thankfully, he took the hint. ‘I’m looking forward to getting started.’
Emily dived in with a story about her first week on her training course, then stood up. ‘I’m off to get ready for dinner. I’ll see you and Rico in an hour or so.’
He gave her a look that was halfway between humorous and cynical, and Emily walked off as quickly as she could with her stick. He knew what she thought, and hopefully he would leave it there.
***
Stacy snapped her make-up bag shut. She was ready for the last supper… She’d have a final sit-down on the balcony while Emmy was getting ready, and see if she could work out why her head was in such a muddle. Her phone buzzed and she grabbed it, but it was only a reminder from the airline. David still hadn’t replied to her text about their arrival tomorrow. Stacy flopped into a balcony chair and stared at the geraniums. Something was screaming at her that she and David were in trouble, but no one else seemed to think so. Even Mum had found it perfectly normal to see David in the pub and it was normal, but… Stacy heaved a sigh. No matter how she looked at it, it felt as if he wasn’t being straight with her. It wasn’t a good feeling, and the other feeling that she was being a controlling cow didn’t help. He was allowed to go out. Heck – she should put it to the side for the moment, and enjoy what might be her last evening ever in this part of the world.
The two men were waiting at reception when she and Emily arrived downstairs at seven o’clock.
Stacy laughed as she looked round their little group. ‘We’re the black trousers brigade!’
‘At least we all have different shirts,’ said Alan, hope shining in his eyes as he inched closer to Emily.
Stacy gave herself a mental pat on the back. Nothing she’d seen this week would persuade her that Alan wasn’t a man with serious intentions towards her friend. Emily didn’t seem to be sharing the joy yet, which was a pity, but there would be loads of time between now and Alan’s return to the UK in September to work on her friend. And oh, this had been such a great week for Emmy, look at those rosy cheeks and glowing eyes. Mission accomplished, and fingers crossed she and David would be able to have an equally magical holiday someday soon. Stacy’s middle jolted as realisation struck. Jeez… Here she was, feeling all hard-done-by because David had gone to the pub a couple of times without telling her, yet how many times this week had she been hanging around with Rico and Alan? Had she told David about that? No. She was the biggest ninny on the planet and she was going to snap out of it before she was a minute older.
She turned to Rico. ‘What’s the news on the kitchen floor?’
‘We were given the all-clear – sort of. A minor fire they had in the kitchen about twenty years ago damaged a couple of floorboards. They should have been replaced at the time, but they weren’t. I suppose we can be glad it’s only a few boards and no one was badly hurt.’
He still didn’t look too happy about it, and Stacy changed the subject. ‘Tell us about the restaurant we’re going to.’
He brightened. ‘It’s about six kilometres down the lake, and right on the waterfront. The food is amazing. I’ve booked a table outside as it’s so warm.’
Half an hour later they were sitting behind bowls of fried fish pieces with different sauces to dip them into, and white wine to wash it all down. Stacy sighed happily – this was another lovely place. Their table was right at the edge of the terrace, and occasional little waves slapped gently against the stone construction every time a boat went by further out. Lights were beginning to twinkle along the lake bank as a low sun cast long orange shadows on the water. It was lovely – the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. Stacy almost giggled. Cupid could forget it tonight… unless Emmy had a change of heart in the next hour.
She lifted her glass to Rico and Alan. ‘Here’s to you two, and to Lakeside, Rico. I hope you get things sorted with the new business plan.’
They clinked, but Rico’s mouth was drooping. ‘I’m sure we will, but it might not be our hotel at the end of it. Fingers crossed, though.’
Stacy stared. Were they selling up? That could be the reason Rico was so despondent. She reached across the table and touched his arm quickly. ‘Good things are worth fighting for.’
‘Amen,’ said Alan, looking significantly at Emily, who glowered back.
They each had their own fight in front of them, thought Stacy. She had a relationship to save and Rico had his family business; Emily’s battle was with her health, and Alan’s – she hoped – was for Emily.
Emily raised her glass. ‘Getting way too serious here, people. Let’s have another toast – to us, and to good luck!’
Stacy clinked glasses all round, and sipped. That thought she’d had there, that she had a relationship to save? Bollocks. She was turning into a real moany cow. She had a perfectly good fiancé she was crazy about and she’d see him tomorrow .
They finished the meal with stracciatella ice cream, and Rico suggested coffee back at Lakeside.
‘I won’t see you tomorrow,’ he said, when they were back in the terrace bar. ‘Dad and I are going to the Ticino for the weekend, and we’ll be off at the crack of dawn to avoid the traffic. I’ll leave it to Alan to see you off in style.’ He left them soon afterwards, striding across the terrace, then turning in the doorway to give them a final wave.
For a moment, regret swamped Stacy. Goodbyes were the pits, and it was odds on she’d never see Rico again.
‘Wonder if we’ll ever be back here,’ said Emily, a shadow falling over her face.
‘I hope you will,’ said Alan, his gaze fixed on Emily.
Tears came into Stacy’s eyes. She could wish as much as she liked, but realistically, a holiday here wouldn’t be affordable for a long time. But this was where she should woman up and start saving for her fortieth birthday treat. Or their tenth wedding anniversary. Nothing like a long-term project to focus on. She lifted her bag and stood up. It was time to leave these two alone, even if Emily did kill her for it later.
***
Emily glared after Stacy. Blatant tact was one thing, leaving her to end the evening alone with Alan was another. If she’d had any intention of starting a holiday romance, she’d have done it a week ago.
‘Fancy a drink?’
Emily hesitated. One drink, then she’d be off too. ‘A small one. I’ll have a Bailey’s, if you – they – have it.’
He signalled to his colleague. ‘’Course we do. I’ll join you. ’
The drinks arrived, and Emily sipped the creamy smoothness. Sitting here, she could almost forget her knee was still wonky and her life was still in tatters. Well, not quite tatters any more, but not what it had been. Yet.
Alan leaned forward. ‘Don’t worry, Emily. I’m getting your “please do not make a move on me” signal loud and clear. But – can we stay in touch?’
Well, it was better than ‘when can I see you again’. Emily twirled her glass. This time tomorrow she’d be hundreds of miles away. A text or two wouldn’t hurt, and no doubt he’d get tired of that as soon as other, fitter in every respect, girls on holiday arrived in his life.
‘Sure,’ she said brightly. ‘You’ve got my number. At least, the hotel has.’
He sat back, nodding, then started telling her about how his parents were coming for a week in August. Emily listened idly, smiling in the right places, but letting the words wash over her as she soaked in the atmosphere on the terrace. This time tomorrow…
***
Rico stood on the balcony off the living room, staring down to the terrace. Alan and Emily were alone now, so Stacy must have left them to it, and by the looks of things they were getting on together just fine. Lucky Alan – at least he could hope Emily would include him in her life, even if it was a slim hope.
He moved back into the living room. Ralph had gone to bed, and it was time he did the same. The kitchen floor was fixed, and tomorrow the hotel could limp on in the same old way, except now they could look forward to a thumping great carpentry bill at the end of the month. And another to replace the lino in half the kitchen. They’d have to tell any prospective buyers about all that. Would Grande buy Lakeside? They would probably give them a good price for it, if they did – and a big company like that wouldn’t let a minor detail like a couple of floorboards get in the way. Hell, if Grande bought Lakeside, it was odds-on they’d replace the entire kitchen.
Rico turned the lights off and headed to his room. In a few hours’ time he’d be in his uncle’s home, speaking Italian as they discussed Ralph’s Grande query. Maybe it was best to let the past go, and move towards his own future. If only Stacy could be part of it.
But that was the impossible dream, so he wouldn’t dream it.