The flight took little more than an hour, and as the wheels of the light aircraft bumped along the tarmac at Reus Airport, Amie mentally pinched herself to make sure she was not dreaming.
This time yesterday she thought, I was sitting in dreary lodgings, facing the winter with no prospects, no work and very little money. Now twenty-four hours later, she was alighting into the warm Spanish sunlight, with everything to look forward too.
She sank back into the comfortable back seat of the chauffeur driven limousine feeling very special, wondering what her grandmother would have made of all this. Once off the motorway and on to the coastal road towards their destination, she enjoyed the lovely views along the way.
Palm trees lined the route they were taking, allowing glimpses of the ocean here and there. Shops with brightly coloured awnings, offered an array of goods to the passer by, and around a bend in the road she got her first real good look at the ocean and its long sandy beach.
On her right, a magnificent structure of Fungi stood, reaching way above the palm trees, its feet encircled by a bed of red, blue, and white flowers and a sign nearby let her know she was in La Pineda.
The limousine continued, winding its way up the hill and eventually turned off the road, in through two large wrought iron gates, its wheels crunching on the gravel driveway. There were neatly kept lawns on either side, bordered by low growing plants in full bloom, which were unfamiliar to her. The limousine came to a halt in front of an imposing three-storey residence. Two large terracotta urns, filled with geraniums and trailing lobelia stood on either side of the concrete steps leading up to the veranda which ran across the front of the house. Two smaller urns, containing miniature palms, had been placed on either side of the large oak front door, which had heavy brass fittings gleaming in the sunlight.
The Spanish chauffeur came to the side of the limousine, holding the door open for her to alight. Removing her suitcase from its boot, he stood patiently to one side, allowing her to go ahead of him. Filled with trepidation, Amie slowly preceded him up the steps to the veranda.
To the right of the door; seated at the patio table, drink in hand, sat a young woman, her peroxide blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing a red halter-neck top and white shorts which set off her long tanned legs. She sat with a ‘flip-flop’ dangling from the toes of her right foot.
Beside her sat a small boy with brown hair, wearing a white tee-shirt with a picture of a monkey on the front. His eyes were downcast, concentrating on the glass of orange juice in front of him, rapidly sucking it up through a straw.
Setting her glass on the table, Melissa Proctor rose to her feet swaying slightly as she approached Amie, holding out a heavily jewelled hand. “Welcome to La Casa con Rojo Tejado,” she said, then seeing the puzzled look on Amie’s face, she realised she did not speak Spanish.
“Oh, it just means, ‘The House with Red Roofs’,” she laughingly translated,
“I’m Melissa Proctor.” Turning towards the boy she said, “Peter, come and meet your new nanny,” and taking the boy by the arm, she drew him forward. “Well say hello then.” she ordered as the boy stood silently before her, nervously rubbing the toe of his right shoe against the back of his left leg. Clinging to his mother’s hand he looked up at Amie with frightened blue eyes. Amie’s heart went out to him because she understood his fear and kneeling down she smiled at him.
“Hello Peter, my names Amie, I hope we can be friends. I like your monkey,” she said pointing to his tee-shirt and trying to win him over.
“Run along and play or do some colouring-in, in your book, there’s a good boy,” said Melissa releasing herself from Peter’s grip.
She pushed the child to one side, and pulled another chair up to the table, inviting Amie to have a seat. Picking up her drink, Melissa swallowed it down in one long mouthful. Refreshing her glass from the near empty bottle on the table, she took two or three sedate sips, before setting the glass back down on the table. Turning to Amie she said, “Sorry, I would offer you a drink, but there is only one glass I’m afraid.” Reaching for her cigarettes she lit one up and tilting her head away from Amie, she blew out a cloud of smoke and commented, “ well, we had better get you settled in. Rojo Tejado is a private residence, and the owner is in America on business, so we are renting it from him whilst filming here. When I say ‘we’ I am referring to the two other members of the film crew who are also staying here.” Melissa took a long drag on her cigarette before continuing. “I have the master suite, and the two men have an en-suite each, so we have put you in the part of the house the owner’s mother used when she lived here.” Throwing her cigarette down and putting it out with her foot, Melissa continued, “We have two local cleaners, who don’t speak a word of English, and a chef and three kitchen staff. Enrico Garcia the chauffeur, you have already met, and that leaves Millie who is my personal maid.”
Melissa stood up and turning, led the way into the house saying,
“I will get Millie to show you to your rooms, and we can go over your duties later. Enrico has seen to your luggage,” she said, calling out to Millie as she left to go and find her.
The ‘rooms,’ as Melissa had called them, turned out to be a small self-contained apartment, having its own entrance hall with three doors leading off. Opening the first door, on her left, Amie discovered a bathroom, which to her delight had both a shower and a bath tub. The large mirror over the sink had its own light above it and a cupboard under the sink had ample storage space for toiletries. Next to the toilet stood a bidet and a large chrome rack beside the door held several white fluffy towels. Closing the door to the bathroom, she opened the one directly in front of her.
It was the bedroom, dominated by the big bed in its centre. Amie ran her hands over its satin throw, admiring its deep gold colour and the pattern of small pink rose buds forming a circle in the centre, with matching curtains hung at the window. How clever, she thought, noticing that the bedside cupboards were actually built into the headboard of the bed. On them stood two beautiful onyx-based lamps, with pale cream shades and crystal beaded fringes. The wall beside the door was completely taken up by what looked like a huge cupboard. On opening its doors, she found there were rails for hanging clothes, four very deep shelves, six drawers and a built in shoe rack. Two shelves contained spare bed linen and there was a storage space for her luggage.
Amie crossed the room, pulling back the curtains in order to see the view, and to her surprise she found the ‘window’ was actually a sliding glass door, which opened onto a balcony with its own patio table, complete with umbrella, two matching white chairs and a sun lounge. Leaning over the balcony, she looked down onto a large kidney-shaped swimming pool, fringed with palms, and to her surprise it was empty. Long white sun lounges and small white metal tables had been placed in various spots around its edge. The entire area had been tiled in bluish-grey stone forming a herring-bone pattern. She would have loved to don her bathing suit and go for a swim in the pool’s turquoise blue water, but alas that would not be today. Behind the third door was a large lounge, whose sliding glass doors also led out onto the same balcony. Two large sofas had been strategically placed to give the best view out across the gardens beyond the swimming pool, and beyond this was a small area of wasteland, with a few bushes and the odd tree pushing up here and there through the sparse dry grass.
In the distance lay the ocean, and she could just make out three ships lying at anchor in the dock while a large crane loaded the nearest one.
A long low coffee table had been placed in front of the two sofas, and a sideboard containing a plain white china dinner service with a set of silver cutlery, stood along one wall. A water colour painting of children at play hung above it. A small television set and a dining table with four matching wooden chairs made up the rest of the furnishings in the room.
In the corner by the door was a tiny alcove with a beaded curtain. Parting it, she discovered a small refridgerator and a cupboard with an electric kettle on its top. The cupboard contained a set of dishes, plates and mugs, a small cutlery drawer in one half, and a frying pan and saucepans in the other, under a small hob cooker. A notice was taped to the wall above the kettle, issuing a health warning.
HEALTH HAZARD.
DO NOT DRINK THE LOCAL WATER! USE ONLY BOTTLED WATER.
DO NOT TAKE CHANCES WITH YOUR HEALTH!
Amie read the notice out loud, and wondered what else was ‘hazardous to her health.’ Rats like Ralph Newman came to mind!
It did not take her long to unpack her few belongings, for they made a sorry looking display in the huge wardrobe. She made a mental note to buy herself one or two pairs of shorts, and some ‘flip-flops’ as soon as she was able. Not daring to take the time to shower, she went into the bathroom and quickly splashed some water onto her face to freshen up, promising herself a long shower later when she had found out from Melissa what her duties as nanny entailed. She ran a comb through her hair, clipping it up at the back, and then making her way downstairs, she found Millie in the hallway deep in conversation with Enrico. I may need to have lessons in Spanish she thought.
Excusing herself for interrupting their conversation she asked where she could find Melissa. Millie smiled letting her know she did not mind the intrusion and said, “She is in the dining room, first door on your right.” Thanking her, Amie went and knocked on the door before entering.
Melissa was seated at the large mahogany dining table, a mug of coffee in her hand and sitting with her were two men. The younger one with bright ginger hair was hastily making notes on a pad, the sleeves of his dark green shirt rolled up at the elbows, exposing his heavily tattooed arms. He wore a skull ear stud in one ear. “Hold on Charlie, give me a chance to write it down!” he exclaimed, “You’re like a bloody express train when you get started and I can’t keep up with you.”
Charlie sat puffing on a cigar, beads of perspiration running from his bald head down his face. The blue shirt he was wearing bore heavy sweat marks under the armpits, and it was open almost to his waist exposing his hairy chest. He sat with legs spread on either side of his chair, his huge stomach resting on his thighs, reminding her of a picture she had once seen of Buddha.
“Well, ‘ow long are yer gonna’ take ter bleedin’ sort it owt?” Charlie asked him. “I told yer ter strip the whole fing dahn, but nah, yer fink yer the cat’s bleedin’ mie-ow.” Pulling a grubby handkerchief from the pocket of his shorts, he mopped at his sweating brow.
“We wouldn’t be sitting ‘ere now wiv no air conditioning, sweating our balls orf, if yer ‘ad listened ter me in the first place! Charlie gave up mopping at his brow, and crammed the grimy cloth back in his pocket. “Bleedin’know-it-all,” he muttered under his breath. Spotting Amie standing hesitantly in the doorway, he grinned at her and said, “‘Ello darlin’ come an ‘ave a seat.” As Amie approached the trio, Charlie did the introductions; rising from his chair he wiped a sweaty palm on his shorts before offering it to her. “I’m Charlie Makepeace, and that bleedin’ ginger-nut there’s Jimmy Brown,” he said, nodding his head in Jimmy’s direction, and shaking it when he looked at him, “Mel’s just bin’ telling us abaht yer.” “Don’t mind this big ox, he always carries on like this if things go wrong,” said Jimmy, giving Amie a roguish wink.
Amie joined them at the table, seating herself next to Melissa, who had taken no part in the conversation up until now.
“Help yourself to some coffee, while it is still hot,” she said, pushing the pot towards Amie. Amie poured the strong dark liquid into a mug, adding two spoonfuls of sugar and some cream, stirring it in silence as the two men took up their conversation again.
Melissa reached into her handbag and removed a small flask, and unscrewing its top, she poured a liberal amount into her coffee.
“We start filming the night scenes on Friday,” Jimmy was saying, “that gives us two days to sort out the lighting. When will the rest of the gear arrive?”
“‘Ow the ‘ell do I know, I ‘ave ovver fings ter fink abaht, you sort it mate.” Stubbing out his cigar, Charlie stood up, looking across the table at Jimmy, who was doodling on the note pad and paying no attention.
“Well are yer comin’ wiv me ter sort out the air conditioning, or are yer gonna sit on yer bleedin’ arse all day doin’ nuffink?” He asked Jimmy.
Charlie reached under the table, and withdrew a tool box while Jimmy made no move to get up, and continued with his doodling. Seeing this, Charlie’s voice raised, the heat of the day getting to him and shortening his temper.
“WELL, are yer comin’or wot, yer bleedin’plonker?” said Charlie, as with a shrug of his shoulders and a shake of his head he made for the door.
“Hold on you miserable old git.” Jimmy called after Charlie and draining his coffee cup, he snatched up his note pad. “Catch you later ladies,” he said, winking at Amie. He made his way to the door behind the waddling Charlie. “Yeah, see yer darlin’s,” said Charlie, shouting back over his shoulder.
The two women sat in silence for a few moments, sipping their coffee.
“Where is Peter?” Amie asked Melissa, topping up her coffee mug.
“He is lying down, because it is siesta time for him. Every day at noon until two o’clock, he has a nap. God, I could do with a drink, something stronger than coffee, would you care to join me?” Melissa laughed out loud at Amie’s raised eyebrows.
“No thank you,” said Amie, “I am not much of a drinker and anyway, it may harm my baby.”
“Oh, whatever,” said Melissa making her way across the room to the well stocked bar, where she poured herself a large drink, before heading back to the table on unsteady legs. “Now, about your duties,” she said, “you will have a virtually free reign, but I do insist Peter has his nap at the same time every day, and always make sure he has sun block on when he goes outside. Also, make sure he has plenty of fluids and by- the -way, you know not to drink the tap water don’t you?”
“Yes, there is a notice on the wall in my apartment.” said Amie, as she
finished her coffee and set the mug on the tray, wondering how she could broach the subject of her wages without appearing crass. She need not have worried. Melissa reached for her cigarettes and flipping the top of her lighter, she lit the cigarette and inhaled deeply, drawing the smoke into her lungs, then exhaling, head tilted back, she blew a perfect smoke ring. She had another drink from her glass, then said, “The job pays one hundred pounds per week, and it will be up to you to change your currency according to your needs. You will also receive a small clothing allowance of fifty pounds a month, and anything else you require you will have to provide for yourself, and of course you will be responsible for your own insurance stamp. I hope these arrangements are agreeable to you?” she said looking at Amie, and waiting for an answer.
One hundred pounds a week was a small fortune to Amie who could not remember seeing one hundred pounds in a lump sum in her whole life.
“Very much so, thank you,” she said politely, and then asked, “Are there any places of interest around here, parks or the like, that Peter might enjoy?.” Amie thought Peter might overcome his shyness quicker if he was in a different environment with her, where he could relax and enjoy himself.
Melissa took a long drink from her glass before saying, “Well, there is a small zoo in La Pineda, which is a couple of miles down the road you passed through it on your way here, and then there’s the beach of course. Port Aventura is a place I keep promising to take him to, but my busy schedule has not allowed me the time yet. We are unable to film today and tomorrow due to technical problems.”
She stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray, her hand catching Charlie’s cigar stub and scattering ash across the table’s polished surface. Melissa bent her head, and blew at the ash dispersing it.
“Where was I, oh yes, technical problems? You may have gathered that from listening to Charlie and Jimmy. What a pair.”
“What is Port Aventura?” Amie asked, as Melissa made for the bar again more than a little unsteady on her feet.
“Port Aventura is a theme and water park not far from here. There are some leaflets here somewhere,” said Melissa, going over to the sideboard and rummaging in one of its drawers. Finding what she was looking for, she dropped them onto the table in front of Amie. “Port Aventura Park is here,” she said, leaning over Amie’s shoulder, indicating the spot on the map with a polished finger nail..
Melissa reeked of a mixture of alcohol and cheap perfume, mingled with cigarette smoke. Amie, trying not to gag, held her breath until Melissa moved away from her. Picking up the leaflets, Amie now realised she had the ammunition to win Peter’s trust, hoping Port Aventura would do the trick.
“When would you like me to take up my duties Miss Proctor?,” she asked, looking at Melissa, and noticing her eyes were looking past her, as if seeing double images of her.
“Call me Mel, she said, everyone else does, and you can start tomorrow morning at eight o’clock sharp. You can make Peter his breakfast and help him to get dressed.”
Melissa stood swaying slightly, her eyes not focusing. Amie mentally counted the drinks she had seen Melissa down since her arrival, and aside from the hip flask, she made it four. She remembered that Melissa had been drinking out on the patio when she arrived. Had she been drinking all day?
Amie felt the pangs of hunger, and glancing at her wristwatch, she was surprised to see it was three pm. She had not eaten since those two biscuits that morning in her lodgings in Ireland. It seemed so far removed from her now as she felt at home already, and could not wait to take up her position here and enjoy the sights.
“I’m sorry Mel, but I don’t know the lay-out of the house yet, or how to get to Peter’s room.” Melissa held her empty glass out to Amie.
“Fix me another ‘G’ and ‘T’ and I will take you on a guided tour,” Melissa said, her speech slurring as she leant against the table for support.
“I’m sorry,” Amie said apologetically, “But I don’t know what is in a ‘G’ and ‘T’.”
“Its Gin and tonic water,” Melissa said, explaining the mix to Amie,
“But I want more ‘G’ than ‘T’, comprendo?” she added sarcastically.
Yes I do ‘comprendo’ Amie thought resentfully, and I am neither stupid nor your servant. She wondered if it was wise to pour Melissa another drink considering the state she was already in. What the hell, it was her liver and her business Amie thought, pouring a large gin and tonic into the glass and handing it to Melissa.
Leaving the dining room, Melissa took on the roll of a tourist guide, mimicking a circus Ringmaster’s manner of speech as she declared, “Milord’s, ladies, and gentlemen, on your right ish a schmall library, and a on your left ish the kitchen.” Flinging out her arm she indicated the rooms, slopping her drink over her fingers in the process, and hiccupping loudly.
Then ‘Milord’s’ became “Me lads, ladies ‘n’ gen’lemen, you have before you a lift.” Melissa jabbed at the button to open its doors, and followed by Amie, staggered inside.
“Presh number free,” she ordered Amie, as she propped herself up against the side of the lift, her speech becoming even more slurred. Amie pressed the button, and the lift rose stopping on three with a slight judder. Staggering out, Melissa spilt more of her drink over her fingers, and with a loud ‘whoops a daisy,’ she handed her glass to Amie.
“Hole thish, ‘n’ don’ schpill it, and don’ drink it.” she said, wagging a finger in Amie’s face. Melissa stood swaying on her sandaled feet, and then putting her fingers into her mouth sucked on them noisily. “Mush’nt waste any,” she giggled drunkenly at Amie, and then put her finger to her lips to make a ‘shush’. Melissa tried to retrieve her glass from Amie’s hand but her legs buckled under her and with a final, ‘me lads, I feel pisshed,’ she passed out cold on the tiled floor. Amie might have found the situation funny if it had not been so pathetic.
A door opened and a female’s head appeared round it, the eyes widening when she saw the body on the floor.
“Se ha producido un accidente, Haga el favor de llamar a un medico!”
Millie came out of the room; a wide-eyed Peter hitched on one hip.
Setting Peter down inside the doorway, she bent down to examine Melissa and then gave Amie a questioning look. “Borracho?” she asked, and then realising Amie did not understand her she said, “Drunk?”
“Very much so,” said Amie nodding, “I’m afraid she has been drinking since I arrived this morning.”
Millie reached for the in-house telephone and swiftly dialed a number, saying, “Don’t worry I will get Enrico, and he will carry her to bed to sleep it off. She will have a mother of a headache when she wakes up.”
Later, having showered and changed, Amie sat with Millie and Peter in the dining room. They had just finished their meal when Charlie and Jimmy joined them, appearing to have resolved their earlier differences. Charlie sat down beside her, smiling at Millie, and tickling Peter under the chin.
“‘Ello darlin’,” Charlie addressed Amie, “‘Ow’s it goin,’ you settlin’ in alright?”
“I haven’t found my feet yet Mr. Makepeace, and it has been a most unusual day to say the least.” Amie replied wondering what tomorrow might bring.
“Call me Charlie as we use first names around ‘ere,” he said, taking an apple from the bowl of fruit and biting into it noisily.
“‘Ow’s it goin’ wiv Mel?” he asked her, chomping on his apple, “she can be a bit ‘ov a cow at times, but ‘er ‘earts in the right place. Where is she any ‘ow?” he asked. He reached out to Peter ruffling the boy’s hair, and patting him on the head fondly.
“She is resting, for a while,” said Amie, being discreet.
Charlie looked across at Millie, and she raised her eyebrows at him. Amie saw the look that passed between them, and knew this was not the first time that Melissa had been drunk.
“She ain’t bleedin’ rat-arsed again, is she?” said Charlie, directing his question at Millie, who just raised her eyebrows again, and gave a sidelong glance in Peter’s direction.
Millie took a banana from the fruit bowl and peeled its skin, before handing it to Peter. Charlie just shook his head and finished off his apple in two bites. “RESTIN!’ ….nice one,” he laughed, patting Amie on the thigh.
Jimmy came over to the table carrying a plate of paella, and settled himself down opposite Charlie. He gave Amie a cheeky wink.
“Well, what do you think of the place then, some set up eh?” he said, shoveling a forkful of paella into his mouth, his attention on the plate of food before him.
“I have not had a good look round yet Jimmy,” said Amie, but I’m sure I will be very happy here, and from what I have seen on the drive up, it is a beautiful place to live. How long will they be filming at this particular location? I could stay forever in Rojo Tejado, and never get tired of the view.”
“Oh, for around another six months at least,” said Jimmy, “but Melissa will not be here that long, as her character gets killed off before the end of the film.” Finishing his meal, he pushed his plate away and eased back in his chair rubbing his stomach and letting out a loud belch, causing Peter to laugh at him.
My baby could be born here thought Amie, if the filming of Melissa’s part went on long enough. Realising her baby would be Spanish if that were to happen, she sat daydreaming, wondering what kind of a life they would have if they lived here in Costa Dorado.