Rebecca Hillary . net

Abby woke the next morning with a splitting headache, and she felt sick. That made no sense, as she had only drunk the sherry that she and Donna had shared, and then had three Southern Comfort and Cokes during the poker game, after which she had switched to lemonade, as she always did.
She looked around her room. Everything seemed to be where it should be. Donna had stayed in with Devon last night, and Miro had walked Abby back to her room at one thirty, as he always did. Didn’t he? He must have done. Why couldn’t she remember?
She took a shower, dressed casually in a pair of jeans, a pink spaghetti top and a black shirt, and headed out of the room. She thought she saw something out of the corner of her eye, but decided that she had imagined it.
She headed out to reception and smiled as brightly as she could at Donna, who looked at her quizzically.
“Are you ok?” Donna asked.
“Yeah, I’m just a bit under the weather. Just a bit hung-over, I guess.”
“That’s not like you. You don’t get hangovers.”
“Yeah, I know, but there’s a first time for everything, isn’t there?”
“I guess so.” Donna didn’t look convinced. She leaned in close to Abby and whispered, “You don’t think you could be, you know…”
“No, it’s highly unlikely.” Abby whispered back. “We’re always careful.”
Donna stood back, and smiled at her. “Good girl! Seems I have taught you well, grasshopper.”
“Damn straight!” Abby laughed. “Although what about you? Anything happen with Devon last night?”
“That’s a story for another time, and another room, my friend.” She said, inclining her head towards Miro, who was sloping in their direction, his head hung low, and dark circles under his eyes. “Not for certain ears to hear.” She whispered. “Miro, how are you doing this fine morning?”
“What’s so naffing fine about it? I feel like Hell!’ Miro winced as the sun briefly broke through from behind the clouds. “Who in the name of the holy roll of duct-tape decided to let that idiot Frenchman play bartender?”
“I seem to recall that it was yourself, Miro.” Donna laughed.
So that’s why Abby felt bad this morning. Everybody who knew her was well versed in the knowledge that she only drank half measures of Southern Comfort in a highball glass, with plenty of coke. She vaguely remembered having been drinking from a highball glass, but if it were Pascal who had been on the bar then he wouldn’t know how much Southern Comfort to put in. Knowing that made her feel much better.
Before she had a chance to offer Miro some headache tablets, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned sharply and came face to face with Pascal.
“Hey-up, talk of the Devil and all that!” Donna laughed behind her, which seemed to catch Pascal off guard.
“Huh?” He questioned. “What is this about the devil?”
“Ignore her.” Abby said cheerfully. “She’s just a little high-spirited this morning.”
“You English girls are certainly strange. I’ve never known girls drink so much as the two of you did last night.”
“Yeah, well, that’s a Yorkshire girl for you. Tough as old boots, with a bladder like a football, and we can drink any man under the table. Was there something you were wanting?”
Pascal took a moment to work out what Abby had said, and eventually decided that it was not an insult against him. She sincerely hoped that he didn’t notice the imitation that Donna and Miro were doing behind her of cogs turning inside his head, as that definitely was meant as an insult.
“Yes!” He said so suddenly that Abby jumped and Donna was instantly silenced, although Miro seemed to be in a little world of his own and was still making mechanical noises whilst doodling flowers on a hotel notepad. “I wanted to apologize for my unbelievably childish behavior yesterday, and would like to offer to pay for your dinner tonight.”
“Well it’s nice of you to offer, but my meals are paid for by Bradley and Donavan. It was a very kind thought though. Thank you.” She felt for him really, as he had a definite childlike quality about him, and she just wanted to mother him. “And of course, your apology is accepted. We both said things that were perhaps a little harsh, and I shouldn’t have been so hasty. Your uncle made that very clear when he phoned yesterday evening.” Miro let out a squeal of laughter, which Abby supposed was something to do with his hangover.
“I suppose you think me an awful crybaby, don’t you?”
“No, of course not.” Abby lied, but it was no use, she couldn’t lie to him when he was being so kind and apologetic. “Well, actually, yeah I do, but only because I know your uncle was busy when you phoned him and he was pretty narked when he phoned here to speak to me.”
“Oh, I had no idea. I should have thought, I didn’t want you to get into trouble, I just wanted let off some steam, and he was the top of my dial list on my mobile phone.”
“Don’t worry about it, Pascal. And compliments of the hotel I would like to offer you a bottle of wine to be brought up to your room. Do you prefer red or white?” As if she really needed to ask! The guy was French!
“Red, please.” He said, too quickly. It was almost as if he had expected the question before it was asked.
“Certainly. I will get Devon to bring it up to you this afternoon. You remember Devon from yesterday? He’s our concierge. He showed you to your room?”
“Ah, yes. The young Hispanic looking boy.” Pascal recalled. “I like him. He has a pleasant face.”
“Yes, that’s the one. He’s everybody’s favourite ‘Manuel’ out here. The difference being that our ‘Manuel’ isn’t from Barcelona. I think his parents are, but Devon was born in Finchley.”
Abby knew immediately that she had lost him with her little talk on a British television character from so long ago, but in all honesty she had always thought that anyone who had never seen an episode of Faulty Towers was a philistine, and she had no intention of changing that view just because this particular philistine happened to be from a different country.
Pascal shook his head and walked away. All of that pleasantness must have worn him out though, as he went up to his room and nobody saw him for the remainder of the day.
The morning was fairly uneventful, and come lunchtime Abby had had enough of being all smiles, especially as her headache had never really dissipated, and was now bordering on what could only have been described as deleterious. She decided that she just wanted to hide up in her bed with a cup of cocoa and a good book. She had just convinced herself that nothing could stop her from just curling up and dying when she heard the phone ringing again at the front desk.
Wearily she walked over to the desk, looked around for Donna, and when she couldn’t see her, answered the phone herself.
“Hello, Grace Mount Hotel, how can I…”
“Donna, get Abigail for me would you?”
“Dan? It’s me Abby.” Her weariness of a moment ago forgotten, she tensed herself. There was something in his voice that made her nervous. “Dan, what’s the matter?”
“I’m coming back, now, tonight. I’m already back in the country; just make sure that my idiot nephew has that bloody helicopter of his waiting at the airport.”
“Dan, you can’t do that, it’s too dangerous. You have no idea what the weather’s like out here. It’s too risky, so you can’t come back. Just tell me what’s wrong, and I’ll try my best to sort it. There’s no need for you to go risking your neck just to get back here.”
“Look, I can’t explain. Just phone a message up to Pascal’s room, tell him what I asked and make sure that Donna, Miro and Devon stay in their rooms. Get the shift workers to cover for them and someone to cover for you. It’ll have to be Jon or Dania. Then go up to your room and wait for me. Don’t leave that room, no matter what you do. Have you been in contact with the guests at all today?”
“No, they had an impromptu party last night and I think they’re all hung-over. I haven’t seen them all day.” Abby looked around her. She hadn’t noticed before now, but the whole foyer was deserted. Miro was usually skulking in some corner, trying to hit on some unsuspecting female guest, but right now he was nowhere to be seen, and Donna still hadn’t returned from wherever she’d disappeared to. “Dan, there’s something really wrong here, isn’t there?
“Not if you do exactly as I’ve asked. I can’t go into it right now, because I’m waiting for my train and there’s no private lounge, it’s exposed, and it’s not a very discrete place to be having this discussion.” He hesitated for a moment. “How are you feeling?”
“Ok, I guess. A bit tired, maybe. I’ve had a stinker of a headache all day, and I keep feeling like I want to throw up, but I think that’s just because I had so much to drink last night. Donna asked if I was pregnant, can you believe her? I told her there was no cha…”
“God, I really hope you’re not.”
Abby frowned. That was a bit uncalled for. “Now wait a moment, Dan. That’s a bit harsh isn’t it? I mean, I know we haven’t had a discussion about this, but to just come right out with a comment like that is a bit excessive.”
“No, Abby, I didn’t mean it like that. I want to have children with you, I really do, and I want us to have a midnight wedding on a tropical beach if you’ll let me marry you after what I just said, but right now we have more pressing concerns. I love you with all my heart Abby, and I want you to know that. I’ll be there soon, ok?”
Despite being totally blown away by his last comments, Abby managed to murmur back, “Ok. I love you too.”
She heard the click as the line was disconnected, and she dialed through to the annex where the shift workers were bunked down. She knew they would hate this, because they weren’t even supposed to be here, but she had to do it. The phone rang twice, and a voice answered groggily, “You had better have a bloody good reason for waking me up.”
“Jon, it’s Abby. How many of the shift workers are available to work today?”
“Depends what you mean by available.”
“Jon, I don’t have time for word games just at the moment. I need cover for Miro, Devon, and Donna. Can you sort that for me?”
“Something up?”
“You could say that. I just had a call from Mr. Levine, and he asked for the shifts to be covered for the day.”
“Uh, yeah. I’ll get Dave, Alexandria and Lorna over there for you. They’re all up and about anyway. Was that all?”
“No, but I’ll get round to that in a moment. When you speak to them, make sure you tell them they’re on double pay, and anyone else who wants to volunteer gets the same.”
“Can’t see why that should be a problem. What was the other thing?”
Abby steadied herself as a wave of nausea hit her. “Jon, as my direct junior I need you to cover for me. The hotel is yours. I have a lot of stuff I need to sort out, and you’re the only person I can trust to run the place for me. I know Dania’s older than you, and it’ll really grind her that you’re going IC, but you have to do this for me, ok?”
“Yeah, ok. I’m on manager wage for today right?” He was trying to sound cocky, but Abby could tell that Jon knew that something was seriously wrong.
“Sure thing.” Abby laughed, and knew straight away that it had been a bad move. “I’ll be in reception when you get over here. Just get as many over here as you can.” She clicked off the line as quickly as humanly possible, and ran for the ladies’ room. She had only just reached the toilet when her stomach lurched and a torrent of thick yellow bile erupted out of her. She sank to the floor, clutching at her head, which felt as though it was on fire. She had never been this sick before, and she couldn’t understand what was happening. What had happened between now and yesterday? Why did she keep seeing things out of the corner of her eye? What could be happening that would make Dan so eager to get back?
Dan.
He had said that she couldn’t be allowed to be pregnant, and that was in no uncertain terms. Not now at least. She rested back against the wall, her blazing head against the cold, icy window. She allowed herself a few moments to compose herself, then stood up and walked over to the washbasin. Her eyes were red, and her skin was deathly pale. No hangover could have done this. Miro had looked the same this morning, but Donna looked fine, and Devon…
Where was Devon?
“Never mind.” She said to herself, shaking off the cloudy feeling in her head, and splashing cold water on her face. “He’ll be up in his room, glorying after last night’s liaison with Donna.”
“Who had a liaison with Donna?” Came a voice from the door. Lorna strode in, all breasts and freckles. She had a way of moving that could bring grown men to their knees, and if Abby was perfectly honest, it had that effect on her, too. “Don’t tell me it was that randy little Spaniard?”
Abby smiled. She couldn’t wish for a better surrogate sister. When Abby had first moved here to work in the hotel, it had been Lorna who had been the one person who always looked out for her. Having no older sister of her own, Abby had ever since seen Lorna as the one who could fit the role, and she loved her dearly.
“You know he’s had just about every girl who works in this hotel, don’t you?” Lorna grinned cheekily. “All except for you, that is. Now, I wonder why that could be?”
Abby carefully opted to remain silent.
“And our siren, Donna, has managed to get into the bed of every male member of the junior staff, of course.” Lorna brushed a stray wisp of Abby’s hair back from her face. “I believe she’s loved and left the majority of the senior staff as well.”
Still Abby held her tongue, but she knew what was coming.
“In fact,” Lorna proffered, “I think there is only the dashing Deandre Levine who has remained resistant to her feminine wiles.” She gazed intently at Abby, her eyes appearing to probe into the very depths of Abby’s mind. “Having it away with the boss, are we?”
Abby rolled her eyes. Nothing could ever be romantic or sensual with Lorna. “If you want to look at it that way, yes. But would you mind keeping it a bit hush until we’re ready to announce it?”
“Announce it?” Abby wished she had a camera, because Lorna’s face was a picture. “You don’t mean…?”
Abby grinned, her cheeks flushing, and she felt more human than she had all day. Lorna scooped her into a crushing hug, and Abby had to twist her head quickly to avoid being suffocated by Lorna’s gargantuan bosom.
“Hurray, my little sister is getting married!” Lorna cheered, as quietly as she could, and for Lorna it was quite an achievement not to cause an avalanche every time she cheered, so Abby had to stand amazed at the fact that nobody came rushing in to see what all the commotion was about.
Suddenly, and without warning, Abby’s body was forced back, and Lorna stared at her. “You look like holy Hell, sweetie. This isn’t going to be a shotgun wedding is it?”
“No. It’s not because I’m pregnant.” Abby laughed. “How could you even think I’m that stupid. Just because I share a room with Donna doesn’t mean I suffer from Colander Johnny Syndrome.”
The pair of them creased up with laughter and Abby felt almost as if she was back to normal. Her head was still slightly fuzzy, and her stomach was churning, but at least the burning sensation in her brain had died away, and her heart rate had normalized. She grabbed a glass from the medicine cabinet and drew herself some water, which she gulped down quickly and headed out to face the shift workers.

* * * *

Bailey was furious.
Just as she was paying for the most perfect outfit she could find, she had heard her mobile phone ringing in the depths of her clutch bag. Flipping it open she read the name on the call ID and knew it couldn’t possibly be anything good. Her uncle only ever called when there was something that he wanted, and it always, always meant that she would be leaving the country. Little surprise then, that she had been forced to drop her plans and fly out here to meet him.
The perfect evening with possibly two of the best looking men in the whole of Yorkshire, and he’d had to go and ruin everything. Not to mention the fact that he’d given her just two hours to get back to the cottage and say a quick goodbye to Alistair and Evan.
Ah, come on, you know you just would have ended up messing it up with one or other of them… or both! You know what you’re like, Bailey.
She ignored that nagging voice in her head and stared out of the window. Planes flew in and out with amazing accuracy, and she swore to herself that she was just going to do whatever it was that he wanted to do, and then leave. There was no point in wasting good vacation time just because he needed her opinion on something, which was probably the only thing he wanted her here for anyway.
She heard the sound of running feet behind her, and turned to see her uncle approaching at a near terrifying pace. When he drew level to her, he grabbed her by the arm and almost screamed in her ear “We have a helicopter waiting outside, come on.”
I know what you’re thinking… if there are no fit blokes out there then he’s for it!
“Shut up, Brain!” She muttered under her breath, but her uncle was too busy to notice.