Summer Evenings at the Seafront Hotel: Exclusive Short Story Read online

  ‘Delicious,’ Liliana agreed, savouring a mouthful. ‘I need that after today.’

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘A couple of young guys left their rooms in chaos, and when I let Stuart know, they accused me of stealing from them. Nightmare.’ She rolled her eyes wearily.

  ‘That’s terrible.’

  ‘Luckily Stuart took my side. He’s not bad, as bosses go – and I’m lucky he’s been so patient with Giovanni.’

  ‘Yes. He’s fair. What about your acting work – have you had any auditions lately?’

  ‘I’ve got one coming up. An car advert. Keep your fingers crossed for me.’ Liliana pressed her fingers together and held them up. There was hope in her eyes.

  ‘I will.’

  A knock came at the hotel room door and Cally jumped in her seat.

  ‘It’s OK,’ Liliana smiled, putting a hand gently on her arm. ‘Another surprise. A good one. Go on, you open it.’

  Cally walked cautiously over to the door, not knowing who to expect.

  She twisted the brass handle and opened the door to reveal Joe, holding out a silver tray with two tall cocktails on it.

  ‘Your order, signorina,’ he said, with a smile. ‘Two Sea Breezes.’

  ‘For us?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said, with a warm smile. ‘I hope they’re OK, I only just learned how to make them.’

  ‘They look great,’ Cally said. ‘Come on through.’

  Joe walked in with her and brought the drinks out to the balcony. He had an easy confidence and as always in his company, she felt more relaxed.

  ‘Hey, Joe,’ Liliana said. She took one of the cocktails off the tray and took a sip. ‘Quite nice,’ she said, with a subtle nod. ‘You could almost get a job making these.’

  Cally laughed and took a sip of her own. Sweet and fresh, the fruit flavours danced on her tongue. After a long day, the cool drink revived her.

  Liliana put her glass down, took a box of Camel Lights out of her bag and sparked one up. She took a drag, blowing the smoke slowly out through her lips.

  ‘You look like an actress.’ Cally said. ‘A young Isabella Rossellini.’

  ‘Ha,’ Liliana smiled. ‘Thank you. Well one day, I hope. You’d never guess I spent my days cleaning toilets, right?’

  Cally sipped from her drink. ‘Never. Far too glamorous.’

  ‘I’ll get there,’ Liliana said, her full lips pressed together, determined. ‘That was always the plan. Leave home and go to Rome, see my name up in lights.’ She smiled wryly. ‘Instead I fell in love and ended up here.’

  ‘Do you regret it?’ Cally asked.

  ‘I regret him, yes. But not coming here. How could I?’ She motioned to her two friends and smiled.

  ‘Well, you two, I wish I could stay,’ Joe said, ‘but the bar was getting busy downstairs when I left. Those Spaniards certainly like a drink.’

  Cally offered him the plate of sweet things. ‘For your trouble.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Joe took a macaroon from the plate, and put it in his mouth.

  ‘See you down there later,’ Liliana said. Joe nodded goodbye and left.

  ‘Later?’ Cally said, looking from Liliana to the now-closed hotel room door. She felt a pang of jealousy.

  ‘I go to the bar for a drink sometimes, when my shift’s finished and it’s empty.’

  ‘Sounds cosy.’ Cally tried to ignore her feelings of being left out, but they nagged at her. ‘Is something going on between you two?’

  Liliana laughed. ‘With Joe? No. He’s sweet, but …’

  Cally waited.

  ‘Just a friend.’ Liliana said. She lowered her thick dark lashes and ground out her cigarette stub on the floor of the balcony. ‘Romance isn’t for me.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘It complicates things,’ Liliana said, picking a slice of sachertorte, and eating it with visible delight. ‘These days I like my pleasures a little simpler.’

  Cally laughed.

  ‘Anyway, what about you?’ Liliana asked. ‘Young, pretty and single.’

  ‘Ha. Thanks. But I’m only a couple of years younger than you, and not half as pretty.’

  ‘Oh, whatever,’ she waved her hand dismissively. ‘You don’t realise your own charms. So, what’s the story?’

  ‘The story,’ Cally considered the question. ‘I’m guess I’m taking a break too.’

  ‘A broken heart?’

  ‘Something like that,’ Cally said. ‘I broke up with my boyfriend Ryan back in March, just before I started working here, and he’s in Australia now. He wanted me to go with him.’ She recalled the fraught late-night conversations they’d had and tried to stop the emotion coming into her voice. ‘But I couldn’t. Actually, for a couple of reasons, I didn’t even want to.’

  Liliana nodded for her to continue, at the same time passing her a plate with a slice of rich chocolate cake. ‘Have some. This stuff is healing, believe me.’

  Cally took the plate. ‘It sounds stupid now, but we’d been together so long I just assumed it would be for ever. But I guess it wasn’t.’

  That night Cally walked back along the seafront, silent apart from the sound of the waves coming onto the shore. The bars and restaurants were closed, but up on the cliffside she could still see a glow of light from the Seafront Tea Rooms. She remembered the sweet comfort of Letty’s scones and tea, and craved them.

  Talking to Liliana had stirred up thoughts of Ryan again. He was over in Sydney, starting his new life. She’d seen the pictures on Facebook – he looked different, his hair sun-lightened, drinking beer on boats and beaches with new friends. It pained her to admit it, but he looked more relaxed. Happier.

  When Cally had told her about Ryan, Liliana had urged her to move on. She’d made it sound easy – but it wasn’t. At the touch of a screen, that familiar blue square on her iPhone, she could watch his life unfold in real time. Cally kept meaning to hide his updates, or unfriend him, but something held her back. It seemed so final, to cut off that last strand of contact and then know nothing about his life any more. But at the same time, she knew it was bad for her, an addictive kind of torture – seeing him with new friends, some of them women in bikinis. She couldn’t help but scrutinise the images, wondering if he’d moved on, and if so, who with. She didn’t like the side of her that it brought out.

  Did Ryan even still think of her? They’d spent so many nights walking together along the shore. But she was walking on her own now, and maybe Liliana was right – it was time to get used to that.

  Chapter Three

  Saturday 6th July

  ‘There’s some quiche in the fridge for your lunch, and Auntie Sue said she’d pop around this morning …’ Cally poured out some Cheerios into a bowl, and added milk.

  ‘That’s good,’ her dad said gently, looking up from his tea. Behind his wire-framed glasses, there were shadows under his eyes, but apart from that, he looked the same as he always had; relaxed, at ease.

  ‘You’ll be all right until I get back?’

  ‘Of course. I’m fine. You do know that, love, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Cally got a spoon out of the drawer and sat down opposite him at the kitchen table with her cereal.

  ‘These new meds are agreeing with me a lot better. I can cook, go to the shops – everything apart from work.’

  ‘I know that. But I like doing things for you.’

  ‘Thank you, love.’ Her dad was still looking at her, as if there was something else he wanted to say.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘It’s just … I don’t mean this unkindly. But I don’t need you fussing.’

  ‘Fussing?’ The word stung.

  ‘Sorry, that didn’t come out quite how I meant it to.’ His brown eyes were kind. ‘But you’re young, love. You don’t want to be running around after an old codger like me. You deserve to have your own life.’

  ‘Is this about my course? I told you, I wanted to leave – I don’t know if I was really cut
out for being a midwife anyway.’

  ‘But you’ve talked about it since you were young, back when your mum was alive,’ he said.

  ‘Things change.’ Cally shrugged.

  ‘I’ve worked hard so that you’d be free to do what you want to do. Now I feel like I’m standing in your way.’

  ‘You’re not, Dad. And you never will be. I promise you.’

  ‘Good Morning, South Cliff Hotel.’

  Cally listened to the new guest’s requirements and added details to the bookings database on autopilot. It was nearly lunchtime, but her dad’s words were still ringing in her ears. She’d just wanted to help make his life a little easier, but maybe she’d been doing the opposite. Had she really been fussing, like he said?

  ‘It’s your anniversary? Lovely. Well the Duchess suite is really generous, if you wanted somewhere special. Shall I book that for you?’

  She clicked update on the bookings screen, then finished the call.

  ‘Hi, Cally.’

  She looked up to see Valerie, her chestnut hair swept back in a sleek chignon and a glow in her cheeks.

  ‘Have you got five minutes?’ Valerie asked.

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Some almond slices downstairs I thought you might be interested in.’

  ‘That sounds worth a trip,’ Cally said, getting to her feet.

  Over the past week, Cally and Liliana had met every night up on the balcony of Room 14, trying out Joe’s new cocktail creations and the treats that Valerie put aside for them. The evenings were still warm, and each time they met up there was something new from the kitchen to taste – mini Battenbergs, chocolate-covered candied orange peel, or salted caramel brittle.

  As the sun set on the sea, Liliana and Cally talked over the comings and goings in the hotel. The Spanish group had left, and after a sole quiet evening, two coaches of Chinese visitors had arrived, filling almost the entire hotel. The building work exposed new damp, and the first floor rooms remained uninhabitable – Cally tried to calm her bosses’ nerves by ensuring everything else at the hotel went smoothly. Liliana hadn’t got the acting work she’d been hoping for, but it had only taken a sip of Singapore Sling before she was over that. One night, they’d persuaded Valerie to join them, but she’d sat quietly and seemed a little distant. Perhaps she was just one of those people who preferred to listen to others talk.

  Cally and Valerie took the back stairs down to the kitchen.

  ‘In there,’ Valerie said, pointing to the storeroom.

  ‘Why don’t you come join us tonight?’

  ‘Oh, no,’ Valerie said, dismissing the idea with a wave of her hand. She straightened her black dress, which seemed a little tight on her. ‘I have to get back to work. But enjoy them.’

  The women exchanged smiles, and the kitchen door swung open, and Anton appeared in his chef’s whites. Valerie startled.

  ‘There you are, Valerie. You vanished.’ He noticed Cally, and acknowledged her with a nod. His eyes were dark grey, and his gaze lingered on her a moment longer than was comfortable. It sent an unexpected shiver over her skin.

  He spoke to Valerie quickly in French, but the meaning of the words was lost on Cally.

  Valerie walked past him into the kitchen, whispering a hurried goodbye to Cally. Anton remained standing in the doorway.

  When he finally spoke, his voice was softer. ‘Are you distracting my staff?’

  ‘I’m so sorry – yes, it was my fault.’

  ‘I’m joking,’ he said. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. ‘And yes, I do know about her sideline in petit four smuggling.’

  Cally felt her cheeks colour. ‘You don’t mind?’

  ‘I like to think I have more important things to worry about.’

  Cally breathed out, relieved.

  ‘But listen. I’m glad you came down, actually. I was hoping to talk to you.’

  ‘You were? Is it about the new tour group? They said they wanted to try out typical English dishes, so I guess …’

  ‘No. It’s not about work, actually.’

  ‘It isn’t?’

  ‘I was wondering. I’ve seen you every day for months now, and yet we hardly know each other.’

  He glanced behind him into the kitchen, then met her gaze again.

  ‘I’d like to change that. Let me take you out for dinner. How’s Thursday?’

  Cally stared at him, unsure what to reply. Was he actually asking her out? On a date? Surely not.

  Anton was sophisticated, talented. In other words – totally out of her league.

  ‘Thursday’s your night off, right?’ he prompted her.

  She opened her mouth to make an excuse, but stopped herself. Who was she saying no for – Ryan? Her dad? Ryan was long gone, and her dad had made his feelings clear that morning.

  She looked at Anton and nodded.

  ‘Yes, I’m free then,’ she said. ‘And I’d like that.’

  Liliana took an almond slice from the plate. She and Cally were sitting on the balcony of Room 14 in the early evening sunshine.

  ‘So I think the audition went well this morning,’ she said. ‘They’re looking for an Italian woman, it’s a speaking part – a woman who comes into the hospital looking for her friend who’s been in a car crash … anyway, most of the other actresses were English and they seemed really interested.’

  ‘When do you hear back?’

  ‘Tomorrow. If I got it … it would be amazing. Even though it’s just a small part, you never know – it might lead to other things.’

  ‘Anyway, what’s new with you?’ Liliana asked.

  ‘You’re not going to believe this, but I’m going on a date.’

  ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Yes. Dinner. Next Thursday.’ It gave her a buzz to say it out loud. A date. She hadn’t been on one of those since before Ryan, when she was still a teenager. And back then, it had been sharing Ben & Jerry’s at the multiplex, or drinking cider on the beach, not eating dinner at a proper restaurant. Somewhere she’d never normally be able to afford to go.

  ‘The other night, when you told me I should move on – well, I thought about it, and you’re right.’

  ‘I’m always right,’ Liliana laughed. ‘So who’s the lucky guy? Anyone I know?’

  ‘It’s Anton, from the kitchen.’

  ‘Anton?’ she echoed, wrinkling her nose.

  ‘Yes. Look – I know what you’re going—’

  ‘Are you sure? Is that such a good idea?

  ‘I know you don’t like him. And everyone’s entitled to their opinion. But I think he’s nice.’

  ‘You do,’ Liliana said, flatly.

  ‘Yes,’ Cally couldn’t help feeling disappointed by her friend’s response. She’d been looking forward to sharing the news with her. ‘You were the one who said I shouldn’t waste any more time thinking about Ryan.’

  ‘And I stand by that. You should move on, just not with him.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Clearly it’s something,’ Cally said, feeling irritated.

  ‘Look, go out with him if you want to. You’re a free woman. I’m sorry I said anything.’

  Monday 8th July

  ‘Giovanni,’ Cally said, raising her voice slightly to get his attention. He was sitting in his usual spot by the bay window in reception, holding his phone. ‘The group from Whitby are coming in any minute, and they’re going to need help getting settled. You’re ready, right?’

  ‘Of course,’ he said, nonchalantly. ‘I’m always ready.’

  ‘YES!’ His shout rang out in the lobby and Cally turned to see him punching the air. ‘Level seven, Cally. I’ve done it.’

  Cally took a deep breath and walked back to her desk, shaking her head.

  She checked her mobile phone again for a reply from Liliana. She’d texted her the day before, and again this morning to ask if she had any news about the acting job, but hadn’t heard anything back. Since their conversation about
Anton, Liliana hadn’t come down to the lobby at all, either.

  Joe was walking down the stairs and stopped by the counter. ‘Everything OK?’ he asked. ‘You look …’ He paused, trying to make out her expression.

  ‘Frustrated?’ she said. ‘Like I’m treading the thin line between sanity and madness?’ She tilted her head in Giovanni’s direction, to explain.

  Joe laughed. ‘I’ve got something that’ll cheer you up. I’ve perfected a new drink for you and Liliana to try. Strawberry mojito. Alison just showed me how to make it. Tastes incredible, if I do say so myself.’

  Cally smiled. She’d love to stop for a cocktail break right now.

  ‘When are you next rendezvousing with Lili?’ he asked. ‘I have a bit of time before the Whitby pensioners come to drink the bar dry.’

  ‘Joe,’ she said, dropping her voice to a whisper. ‘You can’t talk about guests like that.’

  ‘I’m not kidding, I’ve never seen anyone drink like the over-seventies we get in here.’

  She laughed, in spite of herself. She missed working alongside Joe.

  ‘So when would you like your mojitos?’

  Cally hesitated. ‘Oh … I don’t know.’

  Joe looked puzzled, waiting for her to elaborate.

  ‘It’s weird. Liliana’s gone sort of quiet.’

  ‘Quiet? Liliana?’

  ‘I know,’ she paused. Cally had been so excited about her date with Anton, which was coming up in just two days, but her friend’s silence had cast a shadow over it. ‘I think we might have fallen out.’

  ‘Oh,’ Joe said, surprised. ‘I’m sure she’ll get over it soon enough. The mojitos will be waiting when she does.’

  Chapter Four

  Thursday 11th July

  ‘Don’t hurry back tonight.’

  ‘Charming,’ Cally said, laughing.

  It was Thursday night, and Cally’s dad was standing in the doorway of her bedroom as she laid out clothes on her bed, deciding what to wear for her date with Anton.

  ‘I mean stay out if you want to.’

  ‘Sure. Yes.’

  Red or silver. Silver or Red. Her gaze flicked between the two dresses laid out on top of her duvet.