Starting Over

Chapter 9

Ellen had kept a low profile most of the day, she was tired, emotionally tired and she needed rest. She missed dinner, purely because she didn’t want to make small talk with anyone else who might be placed on the same table as her. Around nine, she headed down to the small bar she’d hidden out in earlier in the day, then ordered a beer and a cheeseburger. Cisco was the barman and he tried to strike up a conversation, Ellen smiled politely then backed away to a small table in a secluded corner. They may have had a few exchanges of conversation on their mutual night out with Jan and Amelia a few days earlier, but she wasn’t in the mood for talking.

An hour later she headed to the pool terrace, a ‘Talent’ competition was in full swing, and Klaus – the dart winner from earlier in the week was showing his amazing talent that was balancing a spoon on his nose whilst singing in German. ‘Overwhelmed’ Ellen ordered a beer then sat in her usual hidey hole at the back of the patio, away from everyone. Ernie was hosting the event, but every now and again Amelia would assist. It was only when she recognised Jan’s voice coming over the speakers that she realised he was organising the music for the event, multi talented! She thought to herself.

The contest was eventually won by Gloria, a middle aged woman from Manchester who could gargle four different National Anthems (God Save the Queen, La Marseillaise, Deutschlandlied and the Star - Spangled Banner), then the whole place erupted into a drunken disco. Ellen chuckled at the various escapades occurring. Now she knew she was meeting Jan and she didn’t feel so lonely, so out of place, she could actually laugh along with the other residents. 

Once the Animacion team had cleared up, the music continued to blare, and the people dance. Ellen looked at her watch, it was only 11.15, she had forty-five minutes until Jan was meeting her. At that moment he appeared with Amelia and Ernie, and suddenly they were all mobbed, the kids wanted to dance with them, the men shake hands and share a joke, and the women, in particular with Jan, wanted to throw themselves at him.  He danced with two young girls, probably twelve, twirling them around to the music in a jive style before he spotted her, his look was apologetic, she smiled, she knew he’d chosen the two kids as a safer option than any of the older predatory women.

Finishing her drink she smiled discreetly at him, then made her way down to the beach, this was tantamount to torture sitting, waiting. She’d barely reached the bottom of the steps to the sand, when two arms slid around her and a mouth breathed in her ear, “it’s dangerous walking in the dark on your own you know?”

She chuckled, turning in his arms to receive his gentle but promising kiss.

“I thought you were working til midnight?”

He nodded, “I am, but I got Ernie to cover for me, I couldn’t let you go out here alone...” he kissed her nose, “without me!”

Letting him take her hand she followed him down onto the sand, then he paused, disappearing behind the stacked and bound sun beds that were stored every evening, emerging with a rucksack.

“I planted this earlier!” He took a hand again, “didn’t want to think about lying on cold sand.”

She dragged her toes through the dry warm sand, “it’s definitely not cold!”

Away from the steps where an outcrop of rocks gave them some privacy, he spread out a large fluffy blanket. With a sigh she sank on to it, then grinned as he also bought a bottle of red wine, two glasses, and a small candle lamp which he then proceeded to light, providing a romantic glow to their special intimate little space. She lay on her back, watching him provide the basics for their interlude, then he sprawled out next to her, on his side, facing her, his head supported on his upturned hand.