One Summer in Spain Read online

  One Summer in Spain

  Ian Wilfred

  One Summer in Spain

  Kindle edition

  Copyright © 2020 by Ian Wilfred

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously and any resemblance to persons living or dead, business establishments, events, locations or areas, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the author, except for brief quotations and segments used for promotion or in reviews.

  Cover Design: Avalon Graphics

  Editing: Nancy Callegari

  Proofreading: Maureen Vincent-Northam

  Formatting: Rebecca Emin

  All rights reserved.

  For Ron

  Acknowledgements

  There are a few people I'd like to thank for getting One Summer in Spain out into the world.

  The fabulous Rebecca Emin at Gingersnap Books for organising everything for me and who also produced both kindle and paperback books. Nancy Callegari for all the time and effort she spent editing the book, Maureen Vincent-Northam for proofreading, and the very talented Cathy Helms at Avalon Graphics for producing the terrific cover.

  Finally for my late mum who is always with me in everything I do.

  Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 1

  Gemma was faced with the awkward dilemma of explaining her decision to her parents, but why was she feeling so anxious about it? As a 25-year-old, she could hardly be described as a young girl, but she had been in this position a few times already. Once was acceptable, twice was just about forgivable, but this was the third time, and Gemma knew full well they would not be happy.

  “Right, Mum, that’s the last box of decorations back in the loft. Christmas is over for another year.”

  “Yes, Gemma, it is, and it’s been such a lovely Christmas, hasn’t it? Now, I’ll go and put the kettle on for a nice cup of tea and then you can tell me what’s on your mind. I know something’s been worrying you since you came home from university three weeks ago.”

  Oh, dear, she thought, Mum’s known the whole time, and there I was thinking I’d hidden it so well. I’ve been dreading this moment for so long, but I guess it’s time for to me to spill the beans. At least Dad’s not here though. I’m really not looking forward to telling him, but I suppose I’ve got to just bite the bullet and be honest about things.

  “Tea’s ready and here’s a slice of Christmas cake to go with it. Would you like me to make it easier for you, darling? You don’t want to go back to university, do you? Am I right?”

  Gemma spent the next hour explaining how she was feeling. Mum was right, she didn’t want to go back to university at all. The main issue was that she was finding it all rather tedious, and being a mature student when the rest of her group were teenagers certainly didn’t help matters. The first year had gone well. It had been fun getting to know everyone, socialising and having a good time. She felt as though she was their equal, but now the cracks were beginning to show. Ever since the new term had started in September, Gemma had realised things were different. She didn’t want to party with the other students and studying was no longer holding her interest. Dad had warned her that this might happen. Giving up a good job to go to university would never be easy.

  Thankfully, Mum was a good listener, realising there was little point in getting angry or rubbing Dad’s comments in even further with ‘I told you so’. However, there was no getting away from the inevitable question. “If you’re not going back to university, what do you plan on doing with your life?”

  “I don’t know, Mum. At twenty-five I know I should have some ideas about my future, but I just don’t have a clue other than knowing that I don’t want to go back to my old job. Working nine to five Monday to Friday really isn’t for me, and as I spent my gap year travelling and having fun and adventures, it’s safe to say I’m past all that.”

  “Well, darling, you know we’ll support you in whatever you decide to do, but before your dad gets home from work it might be a good idea to have some answers ready. You seem to be quite sure of what you don’t want to do. I’m not asking you to commit to any thoughts you may have, but don’t forget that Dad only wants the best for you. He won’t be angry, Gemma, it’s just that he doesn’t want you to make hasty decisions and waste your life. Like I say, we’ll always be here to support to you in your choices, but we do need to know exactly what they are.”

  Three hours later, emails had been sent to the university to confirm that she wasn’t going to be returning for the new term and rough scribbles had been made on a piece of paper. None of them made much sense and they weren’t really firm ideas, but for Dad’s sake Gemma thought she should at least make an effort to think about her next step in life.

  I’m so fortunate to have such understanding and supportive parents, she thought to herself. At least they’re not putting any pressure on me to go and get a well-paid job or try and be successful in a chosen career, but I do need to do something. Dad will be home from work soon, so perhaps I ought to go and get some fresh air and begin to put a plan of action together.

  “Gemma, if you’re going out, would you do me a favour? Drop off a birthday card at Mary Stuart’s for me, please, darling? She lives in one of those large houses over at Thorngate. It’s rather chilly out there, so make sure you wrap up warm for the walk.”

  I’ve not been to that part of town for years. It’s quite an upmarket area, but there’s a lovely park to walk through so hopefully I might come up with a few ideas for my future. I can’t be living with Mum and Dad forever. We all need our own space and it won’t be too long before Dad retires so it’s time for them both to enjoy life without having to worry about me.

  Gemma had now walked to Thorngate and posted the birthday card through Mary’s letter box, but had failed to come up with any bright ideas. It was now three-thirty and beginning to get a bit colder. Soon the daylight would be fading, and she ought to be heading home. As she approached the park a taxi drew up, and Gemma noticed an elderly lady get out of it and pay the driver. Unsteady on her feet, she suddenly tripped over one of her shopping bags and fell to the pavement. Gemma immediately ran
over to help her. The lady was very frail and shaky, and her leg was bleeding from quite a nasty graze.

  Gemma carefully helped the lady up, and carried her shopping into the house. It was one of the largest and most expensive in the whole street, although the elderly lady said that she only lived in the basement flat. Safely inside, they both were aware that the lady’s leg had quite a deep graze and was bleeding more profusely than they’d first thought. Gemma found a first aid box in the kitchen and set to cleaning up the wound and bandaging it.

  “I’m ever so grateful, dear. Thank you so much for coming to my aid. Whatever would I have done without you? I’m Dulcie, by the way, and you are…?”

  “I’m Gemma. Now are you sure you’ll be okay, or would you like me to ring for an ambulance?”

  “No, no, dear, I’ll be fine, although I doubt I’ll be able to say the same for the contents of my shopping bag.”

  She was certainly right about that. There had been at least a dozen fresh cream cakes in the bag, but unfortunately the box had broken during Dulcie’s fall and now it contained a lump of broken cake and a soft mass of oozing cream.

  “I’m so sorry, Dulcie, but I’m afraid these aren’t in any fit state to eat. Would you like me to pop out and buy you some more? Are you having some kind of tea party being that there’s about a dozen here?”

  Dulcie explained that she was interviewing several people for a job the next day, and had thought it would be quite a welcoming touch to offer them tea and cake. Perhaps biscuits would do instead. Dulcie wanted to pay Gemma for her time and trouble in helping her home after her accident and dressing her wound, but they came to an agreement that if Gemma could buy some more cakes before the candidates arrived, she would then accept payment for that. They struck a deal.

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking, Dulcie, but what is the job you’re interviewing for?”

  “Oh, I’m looking for a housekeeper / driver. Someone to do things for both myself and my best friend, Rupert, who lives in the flat upstairs. It’s a live-in position, with the flat on the third floor being available. We’ve never had a housekeeper before, so we’re new to all this but our circumstances have changed and I think it’s the answer to our needs. That’s why I’m holding the interviews tomorrow.”

  Gemma promised to be back with the cakes by ten o’clock the following morning, in time for the first applicant. She checked Dulcie’s leg again before leaving, and when she assured her she was fine and didn’t need any hospital attention, Gemma said her goodbyes and headed home, forgetting that while she had been playing the Good Samaritan, she hadn’t addressed her own dilemma.

  “I’m back, Mum. Sorry I took so long, but I helped an old lady who’d fallen over in the street.”

  “Oh dear, hope she’ll be okay. By the way, Dad will be home in half an hour. Have you thought about what you’re going to tell him?”

  Gemma thought it best to be totally honest. She wasn’t in the habit of telling lies to her parents, and certainly wasn’t going to start now.

  “Right, so let me get this straight, Gemma. You’re not going back to university because the work’s too easy and it’s all getting boring. You don’t want to go back to your old job, which I have to say, you were very successful at, and you don’t have any ideas about what you do want to do, apart from buying and delivering a dozen fresh cream cakes to an elderly lady. I suppose that makes you a PA.”

  “Yes, Dad, I think that sums it up, but I promise I won’t let you down. I’ll soon find something I really want to do, and I’ll make you and Mum proud of me.”

  “I know you will, darling. Even if it’s shopping for cream cakes, we know you’ll do it in style and give it your all. We love you, Gemma, and only want the best for our daughter, the cream cake PA.”

  That had gone a lot better than she imagined, although the process of finding a job or a career would be a daunting task. Looking at all the job sites, all the available vacancies were similar, and the last thing she really needed was to spend years working her way up in a new company. After all, she wouldn’t say she was a particularly ambitious person – large cars, showy houses and designer clothes really were not things which interested her.

  Taking a notepad and pencil, Gemma began to make a list of industry sectors and areas of work to consider working in. Three hours later and she had only written down the hospitality industry as a possibility. There was a vacant position for a wildlife warden on a remote island which sounded quite appealing, but unfortunately when checking the qualifications and application criteria, Gemma realised she didn’t quite fit the bill for that.

  Gemma even wondered whether she was slightly odd as she didn’t seem to fit the general norm of the school, college, work, marriage, family timeline. She knew she wanted more in life, but couldn’t work out exactly what it was. It felt as though her heart was saying something completely different to her head, a gut instinct thing. Switching her laptop off, she thought about her father’s comment about being a cream cake PA. Perhaps that’s what she should have been looking for on the job sites!

  Chapter 2

  Next morning Gemma was up bright and early ready to buy the cream cakes and deliver them to Dulcie before the first of her candidates arrived for their interview. She also bought some milk as she wasn’t sure that Dulcie would have any fresh supplies.

  As she approached the large, multi-storey house, a quick glance at her watch showed it was only 9.15am. The first applicant was due at ten o’clock, so there was plenty of time for Dulcie to arrange the cakes and prepare for the interviews. Gemma rang the doorbell and waited. Surprisingly, instead of Dulcie opening the door to greet her, she was welcomed in by an elderly gentleman, who Gemma took to be in his 70s. Every item of his clothing, even down to his socks and shoes was burgundy in colour. Gemma considered this to be a little quirky, definitely a real character.

  “You’re far too early. I’m sorry but we’re not ready for you yet. The first interview isn’t until ten o’clock, but I suppose you’d best come in and wait.”

  “Oh, no, I’m not here for an interview. I’m Gemma, and I’ve brought some cakes for Dulcie.”

  “Sorry, my dear, I do apologise. You must be the kind young lady who rescued Dulcie yesterday. Do come in. She’s woken up this morning with a badly swollen leg and she can hardly walk on it, so I’ve had to help her get dressed. What a day! Today of all days. I’ve tried to persuade her to go to the doctors or the hospital, but she’s not having any of it, perhaps she would listen to you, dear.”

  Gemma followed the man into the flat. She presumed he must be Dulcie’s friend, Rupert. She couldn’t help looking at his colour co-ordinated outfit and wondering whether he had similar in other shades. Perhaps a lime green or a baby blue? The thought made her smile to herself. As she entered the lounge, she caught sight of Dulcie sitting on the sofa with her leg raised onto a stool. Rupert was right; Dulcie’s leg had ballooned to twice its normal size and Gemma felt slightly concerned. She handed Rupert the bag of cakes and explained that she had also brought some extra milk.

  “Hello, my dear, how lovely to see you again. Oh, it’s no use giving those to Rupert. He won’t have the faintest idea how to lay them out. Just leave them in the kitchen and I’ll sort everything out in a minute. Rupert, will you please stop fussing about? He’s such a drama queen, Gemma. The slightest thing that happens and he makes a meal out of it. Now, what do I owe you, dear?”

  “Dulcie, if you don’t mind me saying, your leg looks dreadful. Don’t you think you ought to get it seen to?”

  “See! I said exactly the same thing, but she won’t take a blind bit of notice of me. I might be a drama queen, but that leg needs medical attention.”

  “Okay, okay. Point taken. Let’s get the interviews over with first and then I’ll see to it. Now, Gemma, dear, could you just help me up and into the kitchen to sort the cakes out, please?”

  Gemma really didn’t think that was such a good idea and suggested that it would be best
if she took over the hospitality duties, making tea and coffee for the candidates too. Rupert jumped at the idea and Dulcie agreed. It would make things so much simpler. She could also answer the door when they arrived and lead the applicants through into the lounge. Dad would see the funny side of this, she thought to herself. She wasn’t just a cream cake PA, but also a tea and coffee one.

  “That’s a marvellous idea. There’re five candidates, aren’t there, Dulcie? If they all arrive at the same time, perhaps you could show them into the dining room to wait. Now, where’s that list? We had a list of the applicant’s names, my dear.”

  “Calm down, Rupert, you’ll give yourself a heart attack if you’re not careful. Everything he does, Gemma, is done with such drama. Such a pain. Do you know, he hasn’t changed one bit over the years! He was exactly the same fifty odd years ago when we first met as drama students. I wish I could film him and show him the footage. Then he’d see what I mean.”

  “Yes, dear, but you’re forgetting that when we first met it actually was a drama. We were both actors in a film, you see, Gemma.”

  “Rupert, there you go again with the dramatics. We weren’t what you would call actors, just film extras with such minor roles that when the film came out, no matter how many times we watched it, we couldn’t even spot ourselves. Anyway, that was the start of such a wonderful friendship. Now, I think that’s quite enough of the old days, we must get ready to meet these women. They’ve come from one of the most reputable agencies in the country, you know, so we need to compose ourselves and ensure we pick the right person for the job.”

  The banter between Rupert and Darcie continued. Gemma found it all rather amusing as they were more like a comedy act, each finishing the other’s sentences in a jovial manner which highlighted their longstanding friendship. God help the person who was to get this housekeeper’s job, Gemma thought as she sorted out the refreshments.