Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
R ebecca stretched her arms above her head.
‘And deep breath, one last circle.’ She watched as the class followed her final movements.
‘And thank you.’ She stepped back, feeling the calm sink over her body as it always did after a Pilates session.
There was nothing quite like it for soothing the mind and easing the tension in the body.
She always found she was so busy thinking about her breathing and checking her position that there wasn’t room for anything else in her head; teaching was the same– keeping an eye on everyone and checking each person was in the correct position or that they weren’t struggling with the exercises.
‘Thank you so much. That was brilliant,’ said the woman who’d clearly been doing Pilates for a long time. ‘You’re an excellent teacher. I’ve been doing classes for fifteen years and you’re one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.’
‘Thank you so much,’ said Rebecca, feeling a hot rush of pleasure and hoping that stern-faced Inês was taking this in.
It was the end of her first full week and very intimidating to realise that halfway through the first class of the day, Inês was standing just outside the shaded sun terrace watching her every move.
Better late than never , thought Rebecca, who’d been wondering why her boss hadn’t observed a class before.
If she were running the place, she’d have been there on the first day.
‘That’s really kind of you to say.’ Aside from hopefully gaining Inês’s approval, it gave Rebecca a huge amount of satisfaction when someone said they’d got a lot out of her class.
It made her feel like she was doing something really positive.
‘If you wouldn’t mind, it would be great if you could leave a review on the hotel website.
Plus word of mouth is always appreciated, so please do tell other people. ’
‘You bet. Thanks again. I’ll be back tomorrow and I think I’ll bring my husband.’
Inês gave the barest of approving nods before turning and walking away without a word. Rebecca decided there and then that she’d do her absolute best to get the woman to crack a smile.
Gathering up all the mats, she stacked them away and decided to hunt down some breakfast. Maria had told her last night that breakfast was very informal and everyone came and went as they pleased and helped themselves.
She checked her rota on her phone, using the app that Inês had told her to download.
For all its rustic charm, she’d already realised that everything in the hotel ran very smoothly.
This morning, as every day, there was time for breakfast before starting in the spa at nine, where she’d be on reception and light cleaning duties for the morning before helping service bedrooms from twelve, and then today she had a final class at four o’clock.
Her stomach rumbled as she entered the kitchen.
‘Hey, Rebecca,’ called Cristina with all the bouncy enthusiasm of a twelve-year-old. ‘Did you have many people turn up?’ She glanced at her sister and Rebecca got the impression she was missing something.
‘Four, which is okay.’ She wasn’t expecting a huge turnout. Not every guest would be interested in taking part. She’d have liked more participants, but it was early days.
‘Ha! Inês said no one would go.’
‘Did she?’ Rebecca straightened, wondering why she’d been employed if that was the case.
‘Yes,’ said Katerina with a smile reminiscent of Felipe, and the two girls high-fived each other. ‘Inês is cross. Felipe made her do it. She said it was a waste of time and that he was making a big mistake.’
‘Well, she was wrong.’ And Rebecca would prove her wrong. Although she still didn’t know what to make of the news that it was Felipe who had insisted on offering Pilates. Clearly, he wasn’t above throwing his weight around the place.
‘Why don’t you come along sometime? Give it a try?’
The two of them looked a little dubious.
‘I’d like to try one day,’ said Ana, coming into the kitchen carrying a plate of pastries that smelled so amazing, Rebecca almost groaned out loud. ‘But I’ve never done it before.’
At her diffidence, Rebecca was quick to reassure her. ‘That’s no problem. I tailor the exercises according to people’s experience. Come try it.’ She winked. ‘If you don’t like it, I’ll give you your money back.’
‘But we don’t have to pay,’ Cristina pointed out.
Her sister poked her. ‘It’s a joke, stupid.’
‘I’m not stupid,’ wailed Cristina. ‘You’re mean.’
‘I’m just pointing it out for your own good,’ replied a very superior Katerina, who clearly felt her two-year seniority keenly.
Ana raised her eyes heavenward. ‘I’ll come if it gets me away from these two arguing all the time.’
‘We don’t argue all the time, do we?’ Cristina linked her arm through her sister’s, and the two became a united front.
‘No!’ said Katerina, indignation colouring the vehement word. ‘Come on, we’ll be late for the bus.’
Ana sighed and ignored them as they gathered up their belongings, ready for school. ‘Would you like a pastry, Rebecca? Fresh from the oven.’
The two girls departed and Ana boiled the kettle to make them both a cup of green tea. They sat in companionable silence, munching the still-warm pastel de nata .
‘These are amazing,’ said Rebecca, holding up her half-eaten tart, the rich vanilla custard melting on her tongue. ‘How do you stay so slim when you cook these divine pastries? And it’s such a lovely way to start the day. Much nicer than boring old cornflakes.’
Ana smiled shyly. ‘Good metabolism, I guess, and it’s quite physical making bread and pastry.’ She raised her arms to show off firm biceps.
‘Hard work, I imagine.’
Ana lifted her shoulders in a self-conscious shrug. Rebecca got the impression she didn’t like talking about herself or being the centre of attention. ‘I don’t see it as work. It’s a passion. I’m so fortunate to be able to do what I love and live here with the people I love.’
‘That’s a lovely way of looking at life.
’ Rebecca couldn’t imagine that. She loved her family because they were family, but she didn’t love spending time with them, and she certainly didn’t love her job in the brewery.
In fact, now she was here, it was a real eye-opener and made her feel a little ashamed for just accepting things without making any effort to change her life for so long.
Part of the reason in the last few years had been to stay close to Will.
Although she missed him with a keen ache, she already knew that coming here had been a good move.
She was going to embrace it and make the most of being here.
How could she not? She was already longing to go back to the beach and explore.
Felipe had told her that you could walk all the way to Vilamoura, a good five kilometres with a further two into the town centre.
She planned to do that on her day off next week.
The spa was Inês’s pride and joy. The reception area was painted in the familiar crisp white with little alcoves painted in the traditional Algarve aqua blue, each containing a stylish piece of driftwood that reflected the overall theme of the room.
Even though she sat here every day, Rebecca couldn’t help her hand straying to touch the wonderful lines of the front desk and marvel at its beauty.
Made from a huge, thick slice of an oak tree, the wood had been carved and polished so that the natural rings were exposed, their hues of brown, cream and russet polished to a soft sheen.
She loved how the design focused on natural elements, with the sea’s waves reflected in the curves of the sofas upholstered in pale, pale lemon velvet adorned with blue silk cushions.
They’d been arranged in small groupings around irregularly shaped wooden coffee tables, the highly polished grain similar to the dramatic piece of the front desk.
Rebecca sighed happily and stepped behind the desk, switching on the sleek computer and turning on the soothing music filled with birdsong.
It felt like her personal domain as she pottered about, setting out towels in the treatment rooms, ensuring that the vases of flowers had fresh water and giving the wooden floors a quick sweep to remove any lingering dust that might have settled overnight.
With all the chores done, she settled down behind the computer to look at the day’s bookings.
There were several therapists available, as well as Inês, but they came in as needed.
It was her job to advise them of appointments.
This morning, Inês had three clients booked in, two for facials and one for a massage.
Inês swanned in at two minutes to nine, immaculate in a white tunic trimmed with the spa’s signature aqua blue, her long, glossy dark hair sleeked back in a bun. She looked smart and professional.
‘Morning,’ said Rebecca, deliberately cheerful.
Inês frowned at her.
‘What are you wearing?’
‘Morning to you too,’ Rebecca said under her breath and looked down at her gym kit which she’d worn to teach.
‘You should be wearing the spa uniform. I’m sure I told you yesterday that it had arrived.’
Rebecca genuinely couldn’t recall if she had or not.
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘There are two tunics hanging up in the staffroom in your locker.’ She flicked a glance at her watch. ‘You’d better hurry. The first client will be here soon. Go on, hurry.’
Rebecca scurried off. Not a great start to the day.
She’d already discovered that Inês was a prickly character.
She found two tunics in one of a bank of lockers which sheknew the other woman had pointed out on her first day– but had she said the uniform had arrived?
Rebecca didn’t think so. And what was wrong with the woman? Why was she so hostile?
Pulling off her yoga pants and sports top as quickly as she could, she grabbed the nearest tunic and slipped it on, wriggling as she tried to get comfortable in the crisp cotton fabric, which was far too tight across her broad shoulders and if anything a little loose in the bust and hips.
Inês’s tunic came to her knees and looked neat and tidy, but she was nearly a foot shorter than Rebecca.
Glancing at herself in the mirror, she pinched her lips tight, wondering what on earth Inês was going to say. On Rebecca, the tunic finished halfway between her knees and hips. She could guarantee Inês would not be pleased with the amount of leg she was showing but what else could she do?
Hurriedly stuffing her feet back into her smart white trainers, she went back out to the reception area. Inês was studying the computer, but at the sound of a long, low whistle she looked up, and Rebecca whirled around to find Felipe lounging in the doorway.
‘Nice outfit,’ he said.
‘Thank you,’ said Rebecca, doing a quick twirl. Something about the sight of him immediately cheered her up, which was just as well because Inês looked as if she might start spitting tacks.
‘Sexy nurse vibes.’ Felipe’s amusement was in direct contrast to Inês’s narrow-eyed scowl.
Rebecca grinned at him, remembering the kisses from the other night. She hadn’t seen him since.
‘You’d better make sure you stay behind the reception desk,’ said Inês, shooting a filthy look at Felipe. ‘And you need to make yourself scarce. I have a client arriving at any moment.’
She started to shoo him out of the door. Felipe called from the doorway, ‘Maybe you can wear that dress next time I take you out to dinner.’
Inês bared her teeth at her brother. ‘I don’t think…’ She shut her mouth abruptly, although it was clear she didn’t approve. Great , thought Rebecca. How many black marks could she amass in one day?
Felipe’s cheery wave was cut short as Inês crossed the floor and shut the door firmly in his face, unfortunately, at the same time as the expected client tried to come through it.
Inês’s face changed completely. ‘Senhora Soldades.’ She greeted her with a warm smile.
It was a shame she didn’t smile more often.
When she wasn’t scowling, she looked very much like Felipe.
Speaking in Portuguese, Inês took the woman through to the treatment room, ushering her in and then closing the door before returning to Rebecca.
‘A word of warning. My brother gets through women quicker than he changes his socks. I wouldn’t get too cosy with him.’
‘Thank you for your interest in my welfare. I’ll be sure to take care,’ replied Rebecca with honeyed sweetness. ‘But we’re both grown-ups.’
It probably wasn’t wise antagonising Inês, but Rebecca wasn’t one to back down from anyone. She’d learned early on to stand up for herself.
‘ Olá ,’ called a voice from the doorway ‘Am I in the right place for the spa?’
Rebecca looked over at the woman poking her head around the door and smiled.
‘Hello again, can I help you?’ It was the complimentary lady from her earlier class.
‘Yes, you can. I was so impressed with the Pilates, I thought I’d try a treatment. Have you got any vacancies for a facial today or tomorrow?’
Inês’s mouth tightened, but Rebecca kept her mouth shut even though she wanted to say, ‘ Did you hear that? ’ and instead gave her full attention to the computer screen.
‘Let me check and see what we can do for you. We have an appointment at…’ While she booked Mrs Adams in, Inês disappeared back to her client, and Rebecca smiled to herself, feeling that she’d inadvertently triumphed.