The water in Majorca

Chapter 10

 The last day had arrived. Night had passed and the sun was shining. Charity woke earlier than usual and lay staring at the ceiling.
The holiday fun was to come to an end that evening and real life was going to take her away back to The Woolpack kicking and screaming.
Chas had text to say that it was dry but miserable at home and that the family were all looking forward to her and the kids getting back safely, and were wanting to see all the photos of happy memories made in the sun.
She replied with a thumb and tossed her phone aside.
"What are we going to do today?" Noah asked as he roused, still half asleep and rubbing his eyes. Charity shrugged.
They had to finish their packing and check out of the room, then they were in for a long day of hanging around, just waiting to go to the airport.
"You can do whatever you want" Charity replied when she noticed Noah was waiting for an answer.
"I was thinking about going out to the shops and spending the last of my money. I have around fifty euros left. I might get a handbag" Sarah mentioned casually as she applied a layer of suncream.
"I have sixty euros left" Noah teased, always trying to one-up his niece.
Sarah pulled a face but continued getting ready without a fight, which Charity was grateful for.
The whole day was going to feel like a lead balloon for her.
On one hand she was looking forward to catching the last rays of sun before returning to the windy dales, but knowing that the last day of the holiday was also the last day she was going to get with Vanessa was overriding everything else.
She thought that if she stayed curled up in bed that she could pretend none of that was going to happen, but that was wishful thinking and there was a lot to put away before breakfast so she needed to get a shift on.

Once all her clothes and accessories were packed and any remaining liquids were put in the bin, Charity zipped up her suitcase, only leaving out a warm jumper and her trainers to wear home.
Moses was feeling generous and decided he was going to gift his pool toys before they left and was making it his mission to seek out a child who he deemed worthy to receive them, only after he'd played with them one last time himself, though.
Before the fun of the last day could begin, their stomachs were calling out to be fed, and as they'd done for most days that week, the two families met in the lobby so that they could eat together.
As the Dingle's stepped out of the elevator, Charity's first instinct was to look for Vanessa, who was found sitting silently in an armchair, staring into space. As the commotion of their noisy arrival alerted her to her surroundings, Vanessa turned to face Charity, but her smile was small and weighed down by a sadness that only the two of them could feel.
Charity blinked ferociously to keep her emotion at bay and plastered on a fake grin that covered up all of her true feelings.
"Good Morning," She announced cheerily.
Tracy grinned back at her. "Someone's in a good mood" she breathed, cocking her head in silent questioning as to why.
"Yeah, well, it's another glorious day in Majorca, might as well make the most of it. It's miserable and grey at home" Charity groaned, dragging her heavy suitcase to a halt at her side.
"Isn't it always?" Tracy replied, rolling her eyes. "We've already checked out. There's a room just over there where you can store your cases. You have to pay a euro per case but you get it back when you leave" she blabbered on.
Charity only half paid attention as she tried to catch Vanessa's eye.
"Our transfer is picking us up just after midday" Vanessa breathed, trying her hand at false positivity.
Charity's smile instantly fell from her face as she scrambled to check her watch.
"What? That's only three hours from now".
She felt sick.
Vanessa's eyes glazed over as she watched Charity try to remain calm.
"I can't wait to sleep in my own bed" Tracy announced, groaning in delight at the thought of stretching out under the comfort of her silk sheets, whilst Charity and Vanessa stared at one another in silence, their sad faces doing all the talking.
Sarah glanced at Noah, noticing their exchange and nudged him.
"Moses wants to go to the beach to collect shells before we leave, we said we'd take him after breakfast. Johnny can come with us too, if you like?" Sarah smiled, ruffling the little boy's hair, looking up at Noah to back her up.
The teens knew that Charity and Vanessa were going to need some time to themselves this morning, and now that Vanessa had dropped the bombshell that they were leaving earlier than the rest of them, whisking the little ones off would give them some childfree time to come to terms with the end of their holiday romance.
Johnny was still on the shy side but nodded enthusiastically at the invitation.
"Wow, what do you say Johnny?" Vanessa coaxed, giving her blessing for the two little boys to have a last hour together before they had to say goodbye.
"Yes, please" Johnny smiled, jamming his fingers into his mouth to hide behind his contagious smile.
"Alright, now how about you go dump your stuff in a locker and we go and grab something to eat before there's nothing left but cold beans and veggie sausages?" Tracy suggested, jumping to her feet and patting her growling stomach, completely oblivious to the strained atmosphere before her eyes.
Charity nodded and smiled as Noah took her suitcase and began wheeling it to the hold room across the lobby.