I have tried to ensure all sailing references are correct, I apoagise for any I may have got wrong, had I let my husband check it you would now be reading a 3000 word story on setting a spinnaker. I am always grateful for constructive comments to improve my writing.
We met James and Caroline in the check-in queue at Gatwick Airport. Like us they had arrived early hoping to avoid the throngs alas we had all been thwarted, the queue was long its tail growing longer as it snaked its way around the barriers with us getting no closer to its head. I dislike airports I hate the waiting, the queues, my humanity stripped now just a number not a person just one of ten thousand packages slowly being processed through the various cogs of the airport. I wanted to leave to get out.
I became cross with myself, I shouldn't be thinking that way I knew there were many people who would swap with me right now, perhaps it was a slight of claustrophobia I didn't like being closed in. I was lucky once through this melee, we would be starting our holiday the normal pressures of life would be forgotten if only for a short but enjoyable time.
John, my husband started the normal grumbling that seems to be obligatory in any airport wait. Caroline, standing in front of us turned explaining the delay being due to a fault on the baggage belt. I thanked her; soon we struck up a conversation, where are you going? Where are you staying? They had booked a last minute holiday, Caroline had lost her mother earlier in the year it had been a very distressing time and this holiday a chance to get away hopefully relax to rebuild her life. I could see the sorrow in her eyes, as we talked, my own mother had passed away no more than two years ago, I understood her pain with my own mothering instincts taking over I wanted to comfort her to wipe away the sadness deep within her turquoise eyes. We talked more steering the conversation to happier subjects; I explained we were off on a sailing holiday.
John was a competent sailor; his parents had had a boat for many years and he grew up around boats and sailing. We had our own yacht but being berthed in the UK meant we could get plenty of sailing but not the warm weather to go with it. John loved sailing in rougher seas for me though I had more enjoyment in a calmer warm blue sea with the hot sun on my back a gin & tonic not far from hand. John understood and tolerated my loves so most years we would spend at least a week sailing in the Mediterranean maybe the Caribbean, This year ten days sailing around the Balearics would be our Avalon.
The queue hadn't moved for about half an hour, stress levels increased and tempers were getting close to fraying however the four of us were getting on well managing to keep smiling, conversation flipping between subjects the guys had gone off on an expedition, as they had called it, and returned with coffee and pastries. We found out we were staying in the same resort, we had one night on land before picking up the boat. We agreed to meet up this evening for a drink, that's if we ever arrived! Eventually the problems were fixed and an hour and a half late we landed in Mallorca, we swapped phone numbers, having carried on our chat through the flight agreeing to meet for a drink this evening a hug and a kiss we said our goodbyes to find our respective hotels.
We got to our hotel there was no point in unpacking everything, we were only here for one night, I wanted to freshen up after the journey as I went to the shower room I smiled John normally he was a hardnosed businessman someone that did not suffer fools gladly now he was a child before Christmas Day near skipping as he headed excitedly to the marina the boat being his present from Santa. I showered feeling human again I dug out my bikini there was still plenty of the day left and I intended to enjoy it.
Stretching out on the balcony I reclined the lounger near flat closed my eyes feeling the heat from the sun penetrating my body. I thought of Caroline and James he seemed to be a nice guy Caroline was certainly a lovely lady, I prayed she would find peace, her closure her happiness. It would be a long road for her not always easy occasionally taking the wrong turn, long periods lost in dark tunnels, never quite sure whether you'll find your destination not knowing if there was an ending I hoped she would find her journey's end. I closed my eyes and thought of my own mother, I smiled happy memories of her floating through my mind.
John returned about an hour later. "We've got a result." He said waking me from my slumber, with a big smile on his face. "We've got a free upgrade, there are some issues with a pump on our boat and the only other one they have free is six berth 44 footer." I wasn't as excited as he was, it meant more work for me, he was captain, and muggings here were classed as crew. John could sail it solo but I'm sure at times he thought his name was Nelson. He liked to bark out the orders he liked to be the captain of his own craft, however it did mean we would have more room though which is always a plus. John joined me on the balcony.
I soaked up the sun as John went over some charts. The afternoon soon went I crunched the last ice cube from my cocktail and parted myself from the lounger and with John constantly reminding me we were late and telling me to hurry up we dressed to meet James and Caroline, it was going to be a lovely first night, I was looking forward to the evening an aperitif followed by a lovely meal with our new found friends then John and I ending the evening together as one in love. We arrived at the agreed bar, we were a little late and expected them to be waiting for us. Looking around, we couldn't see them, they must be running late. "No problem," I thought, "we were on holiday there was no rush."
"I'll order some drinks." John offered, before I could reply, he went in search of a waiter being too impatient for the waiter to find us.
Sitting down my phone buzzed a text from Caroline. 'Sorry we're running late please don't wait for us we'll be there as soon as possible.' I replied to her text asking if there was a problem but received no answer. Soon John appeared with a waiter following quickly behind, with drinks ordered he sat down next to me. "Just had a text from Caroline, they're running late and said don't wait for us."
John looked at his watch, "It's still early, I'm not hungry yet, and shall we wait for them?"
"Yes I want to, I'm worried about her, and I know how I felt when mum died.
"Yes I know." John answered putting his arm around me. "We'll wait; they've probably got lost getting here, nothing to worry about." He smiled, a smile I had seen a thousand times a smile I found comforting a smile that said, "No need to be worried, I'm here for you."
We were on our third drink by the time they had arrived, we had started to wonder whether they were coming, I wanted to send Caroline another text John said not to worry. "I Told you they would be here." John said smiling. I turned my head and could see James and Caroline walking towards us.
I called "Hi guys," but got a muted answer, something wasn't right with them. John went to look for extra chairs and James followed. "What's the matter Caroline?" I asked patting the chair for her to sit down. It was easy to see she was upset her makeup disturbed from tears.
"Our hotel the tour operator has messed it up," she was close to tears," we got to our supposed hotel and they had never heard of us, said we didn't have a reservation, we spoke to the holiday rep the hotel manager we even tried calling back to their offices at home none could help the hotel was fully booked we've been put in a flea ridden smelly two star hotel that should be demolished, it's horrible Susie, I hate it."