I push the bowl of olives in her direction. ‘But…you’re also on holiday. I don’t think you’ll be completely relaxed if you’re hungry.’
Jess smiles and takes an olive.
‘I make everything fresh here, no crap, so please don’t deny yourself. Do you like seafood?’
She nods.
‘I saw some amazing prawns at the market. Grilled with lemon, garlic and chilli, lots of olive oil. I was thinking of making that for lunch tomorrow.’
She allows herself to smile again. ‘That sounds bloody delicious.’
I put a hand to my chest. ‘I’ll ensure it is.’ I see a glimmer of light return to her face. I’ve grown up with women who’ve battled on the daily with new roles, new lifestyles and changing bodies. I watch her as she fiddles with her kaftan, trying to coverup her legs. ‘There’s a blackboard in the kitchen so write down what you like and what you don’t. I’ll cater to that.’
‘Really?’ she asks, surprised.
‘Really. Make that your mood board, not just about food either. Write down music, activities you want to do, places you want to see.’
‘I’m a big reader. I’ve come with the latest Emily Henry,’ she tells me.
‘Then you should read. Relax. I found a whole shelf of Mills & Boon in the living room. There are some brilliant titles:My Spanish Billionaire’s Lover’s Secret…’ I don’t know why I say this in a deep, Zorro-style accent but it makes Jess laugh.
‘I’ll have a look,’ she says, smiling.
We hear a loud splash from the pool outside. I look and see that Zara has jumped in, joined by Chloe who is wearing a burgundy one-piece swimsuit. Well, at least she’s left her room, but I keep an eye out for Miguel, who bursts into the kitchen, thankfully clothed.
‘Benjamin, I tell them the pool is safe,’ he announces. ‘Now they are in the pool. Hello,Señorita!’ he says smoothly as he approaches Jess and takes her hand to kiss it. ‘I am sorry I scared you. I tell Benjamin I will clean the pool, but I mix up the times. I did not expect people to see me.’
‘Do you do all your cleaning naked?’ Jess asks.
He laughs raucously, with the sort of volume that makes Jess’s eyes widen. ‘No, my darling. I swim naked because I like to be one with the water, but I do all my other duties in clothes. Unless you know, you prefer?’ He points at Jess jokingly.
She giggles, choking on her sangria. ‘I like how free you are with your body but clothed is fine. Otherwise, my blood pressure might not be able to take it.’
‘I know my lovely, the temptation would be too much.’ Miguel comes over and slaps my bum playfully. ‘Oooh,piñas.You know I lovepiñas, don’t you, Benji?’ he says, taking a piece of pineapple. I shoot him a look as he shrugs at me. ‘¿Qué?’
‘I think I’ll take my leave and head out to the pool,’ Jess says. ‘I’ll take the sangria out to the girls.’
‘I’ll be out in a minute with the fruit. I’ll bring somejamóntoo,’ I tell her. She nods and exits the doors into the courtyard.
‘They are nice girls, Benjamin. I think this will be a lovelyvacaciones,’ Miguel says as I turn around to see him spying on them in the pool.
‘That’s if you haven’t scarred them for life,’ I tell him. ‘We bought that machine to clean the pool. Why were you in there? Naked?’
‘The machine is no good. I like to use the hand,’ he says, making a strange motion with his hands. ‘And I was wearing the flippers.’
‘The flippers didn’t cover your penis.’
He laughs that big laugh again. ‘Imagine, a flipper for your penis! So it could swim like a fish.’ Miguel makes a strange bodily motion like a drunk dolphin. ‘Again, I am sorry. I thought you told me they arrive at nine in the evening, not the daytime.’
‘Well, thank you for doing such a lovely job with the pool and explaining everything to Zara.’
‘The lady with the big hair? I like…she is friendly. This girl in here, also very nice. What about girl number three?’
I laugh, watching them through the window. Chloe dives underneath the surface of the water and re-emerges at the other end of the pool, leaning her arms against the side. ‘I don’t think we should be referring to them as numbers, Miguel. Her name is Chloe,’ I say, still watching her.
‘Bonita,’ Miguel remarks.
‘I don’t think she’s totally convinced by me though,’ I say. He follows my gaze as I stare at the water droplets on the backs of Chloe’s shoulders. ‘She’s an enigma, that one.’
