Christopher Lee - For The Love Of Sara

That was it. He’d said his piece. He’d got it all out and he felt purged.

She sat there not saying a word, looking at him forlornly, not capable of understanding his wrath, wondering what she had done that was so terribly wrong. All she wanted was his attention, his affection. All she wanted was for him to care for her a little, love her a little. A tear rolled down her cheek and she sniffled. He knelt down beside her and put his hand on her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” he said, his voice now tender. She flung herself to him and hugged him, her golden brown arms wrapped around his back.

“I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered.

For the first time since her father had died she felt safe, but these were not the arms of her father, she knew that.

“Come on, we must get back to the children,” he said quietly. “They’ll be worried sick. Can you walk or do you need me to carry you.”

“You Tarzan, me Jane,” she coughed, wiping the tears from her eyes. “No, I’m okay. I just need a drink. I’ve got this horrible taste in my mouth.”

He pulled her to her feet. The climb back was tricky, but they were soon reunited with Emma and Ben.

“Are you okay, Sara?” Emma asked her friend. “You look awful.”

“I swallowed a load of water and your dad had to save me.”

“Did he give you the kiss of life?” asked Ben dramatically. “You know, like on Baywatch?”

“He sure did,” said Sara. “I was about to join the mermaids.”

Grant’s dream flashed into his mind, had it been some weird premonition.

“Come on, we’ve got to get the pedalo back or Pedro will charge us a fortune.”

“He shouldn’t be called Pedro, his name should be Pedalo,” joked Ben and they all laughed.

When they got back to the beach Ben was out of the boat running to be the first to tell the others of the rescue. By the time the others had got back to Jill, Ben had told everyone the story.

“You poor thing,” said Jill motherly. “Do you think you should see a doctor?”

Sara knelt down on the picnic blanket. “No I’ll be fine, I just need a drink.” Jill handed her a can of coke which she swigged.

“How did it happen, Grant?” asked Jill in a tone of admonishment. “I thought you were supposed to be looking after them.”

“She got caught in a rip tide off the point,” said Grant.

Sara took the can away and wiped her lips.

“He saved my life,” she said looking at Jill. “It was my own silly fault.”

She turned to Grant and looked into his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she said, then burst into tears. Jill moved forward and put her arms around her.

“There, there, love, you’re okay now.”

The tears continued to flow, her eyes puffed up, her cheeks turned red.

“Please don’t tell my mum, she’ll go mad. Please don’t tell her.”

“Okay,” comforted Jill. Sally handed Sara a handkerchief to dry her eyes.

“You should have seen dad,” said Ben wanting to tell the story again. “He dived in and saved her, just like Baywatch.”

“Okay, okay, that’s enough,” said Grant. “The sooner we forget about this the better.”

The rest of the day was spent sunbathing. Sara didn’t go in the water again, neither did Grant. Jill had a game of volleyball with the children, but Grant and Sara just sat and watched, neither saying a word.

When they arrived back Grant wondered if he should say something to Sara’s mum, but decided against it. Grant parked the car and the children got out. Sara was last.

“Thank you for taking me out today,” she said turning to Jill. “I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.”

Jill touched her arm in a motherly gesture. “Don’t be silly, it was just an accident.”

Sara turned to Grant who was biting the inside of his lip wondering whether or not it had been.

“Are you all going to the disco tonight?” asked Sara.

“Not tonight,” answered Grant.

“Are you going for an early morning swim tomorrow?” she persisted.

“I think I’ve done enough swimming to last a fortnight,” he said.

Her shoulders slumped. “Well, I’ll see you around them,” she said and walked slowly back towards the apartment.

“You were a bit abrupt with her,” said Jill returning from the back of the car where she had been unloading their things.

“I don’t know about her,” he said taking two bags from his wife. “I just think she’s trouble.”

When Sara got back to her apartment it was empty. There was a note from her mother on the table.

“Dear Sara, we didn’t know what time you would be back so Alan and I have gone out for dinner. There’s some money on your bedside table for a pizza or something. Don’t wait up. Mum.”

Sara didn’t want to eat. She went straight to bed.

CHAPTER 9

The rest of the holiday seemed to fly by. During the day they went site seeing. The island was covered in talayots – megalithic rock mounds that date back to the second millennium BC. The children climbed the taulas – huge T-shaped stone slabs and played inside the navetas, stone slab constructions which look like inverted loaf tins.

They visited the early morning fish market at the Plaza Espana in Mahon reached from a twisting flight of steps from the quay. They shopped in the municipal market housed in the cloisters of the Carmelite church behind the Plaza Carmen, and they visited the ice cream factory in Alayor.

During the evenings the children disappeared off to the hotel while Jill and Grant played cards on their patio. Grant saw Sara around the hotel, often on the space invader machine, but apart from a polite hello, had no further contact with her. He took his swim later in the morning with the rest of the family.

“It’s our last night tonight dad,” said Emma. “Are we doing anything special?”

“I think it will be good in the disco tonight,” said Jill applying some mascara. “There are a lot of people going home tomorrow and I think they are having a party night.”

“Way to go, man,” shouted Ben. “I’m a party animal, dude.”

Sally laughed. She was already, dressed in a pink and green jumpsuit with matching hair ribbons.

“That’s settled then,” said Grant picking up his Rolex watch from the table. Party time it is then.”

Dinner was ‘scrum’ according to Ben, burgers and salad. Grant thought Jill looked particularly nice in a plain white dress cut just above the knee. It showed off her deep tan to perfection. They finished their meal with ice creams served with lighted sparklers. Aware of having to drive back to the hotel, Grant limited himself to two glasses of wine. Jill finished the bottle and giggled all the way back. When they got to the disco, the bar was already heaving and they had to settle for a table by the patio. It suited Grant as it was a hot and humid night. Jill insisted on a large cuba libre despite Grant’s warning that she had already drunk a lot of wine. The children ordered cokes, but had disappeared into the melee by the time Grant got back from the bar.

“Come on let’s dance,” said Jill pulling her husband to his feet. “It’s the Lambada.” She pushed her hips against him, threw her head back and laughed out loud.

“Come on Grant,” said Jill thrusting her knee between his legs, “You’re not partying.”

The fact was Grant was becoming embarrassed by his wife’s antics.

“Maybe we should sit this one out,” he said trying to steer her away from the dancefloor. But she was having none of it. Jill wanted to party. He managed to manoeuvre her back to the table and sat her in her chair.

“Is mum okay?” Emma had appeared from nowhere.

“She’s fine,” slurred Jill, “let’s party.”

“Let’s get her back to the apartment,” said Grant putting his arm around her waist and pulling her to her feet.