Page 48 of The Runaway Wives

I’m proud of you!

Bab’s reply pinged back.

I’m proud of me, too,Dee thought.I’m finally fighting back.

32

BABS

Sunday afternoon

‘Exactly how far out is this house?’ Babs asked from the back seat of the dusty four-by-four which was bouncing along the dirt track up and down mountains. She looked out of the side window and felt dizzy, she hadn’t realised they were that high up. She hoped there was no oncoming traffic because there was nowhere for Santiago, the estate agent, to do a turn and the thought of him having to reverse down this narrow mountain path was terrifying.

Santiago’s eyes met hers in the mirror. ‘A few more minutes,senora.’

‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it, Babs? So peaceful. Look at all these olive trees. No traffic or noisy neighbours here,’ Geoff said excitedly.

No life either, Babs thought but she didn’t want to say anything. Geoff had looked so happy and relaxed since they’d arrived in Spain that she didn’t want to burst his bubble. It was because he was on holiday, people always relaxed on holiday, she told herself. He was enjoying the adventure of it all. He’d promised he wouldn’t move if she didn’t want to, so she was trying to be fair, to give it a chance. They were going further and further up the perishing mountain, she noticed in panic. Why did people build houses so high up?

Finally, they came to a stop. ‘Here we are!’ Santiago announced.

Babs stared at the huge pale yellow house in front of them, what she could see of it anyway, as most of it was surrounded by a crumbling wall and big iron gates. This looked like a mansion. Surely it couldn’t be in their price range. Geoff was out first, racing around to open the door for Babs, much to her surprise. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d done that. ‘Isn’t this amazing!’ he exclaimed.

Amazing isn’t the word she’d have chosen to describe it but before she could express her opinion the gates opened and an elderly Spanish man stepped out, smiling broadly.‘Buenos dias.’He kissed Santiago on both cheeks.

‘Buenos dias,’Santiago replied, turning to Babs and Geoff.‘SenorandSenora Marston.’

He indicated the man. ‘This is Miguel. He is the owner.’

‘Bienvenido,’Miguel kissed Geoff on both cheeks.‘Bienvenida.’Welcome. He did the same to Babs. Then he indicated for them to come in.

‘Come,senora, come and look around. You will be… how do you say—?’ he thought for a moment.

‘Dazzled.’ Santiago finished for him, leaving the car outside and following Miguel through the gates.

Dazed is more what Babs felt as she looked at the orange and lemon trees scattered about the huge garden which seemed to stretch on forever.

‘Come! Come!’ Miguel beckoned. He’d locked the gates behind them and was leading them over to the huge, sprawling house. Pushing open big wooden doors he beckoned them inside, leading them through the lower level of large, high-ceilinged rooms at top speed. Babs barely had time to notice that they all had tiled floors and were filled with dark wooden furniture. Talk about a whirlwind tour!

‘This is a typical Spanish home,’ Santiago told them as they followed Miguel up narrow spiral stairs to the upper floor, to more huge, dark rooms. He flung open heavy wooden blinds and the sun poured into the room.

‘The Spanish leave the blinds closed in the daytime to keep the houses cool,’ Santiago explained.

Miguel stepped out onto the balcony. ‘Come!’ he beckoned.

They all followed him out. Babs gazed at the expanse of land around them, the mountains rising up at the back. They must be about halfway up the mountain, she realised.

‘It takes your breath away, doesn’t it?’ Geoff exclaimed.

It certainly did, but not in the way Geoff meant, Babs thought. ‘Where’s the nearest village?’ she asked.

Santiago spoke to Miguel in rapid Spanish then turned to her, a big smile on his face. ‘Only a twenty-minute drive.’ He held out his hands. ‘Look at the wonderful view. You will wake up to this every morning.’

‘It’s marvellous,’ Geoff agreed. He turned to Santiago. ‘Muy bonita casa.’He enunciated the words in what he thought was a Spanish accent. ‘That means “very pretty house”,’ he informed Babs.

Babs rolled her eyes. ‘Do you have anything a bit nearer civilisation?’ she asked.

Santiago sighed and exchanged a knowing look with Geoff. ‘Always, the ladies, they want the shopping, the cafés…’ He shook his head as if Babs was being frivolous. ‘Do you not think this is beautiful?’ he asked. ‘The mountains, they are majestic.’

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