Page 78 of Benidorm Again

Gah!

‘I need my beauty sleep too,’ agrees Tash. She has bounced back from her unconfirmed sickness bug extremely well. ‘Sister Kevin flies in to meet us tomorrow. I need to look glowing. So, FYI, I am staying in bed all day. Do not disturb.’

I’m surprised to see Ged and Liam not rolling their eyes. I suppose they have bigger fish to fry, what with them being the colour of ripe pumpkins.

‘We’ve only got one day left to get sorted,’ says Liam, lighting up. ‘It’s Voices tomorrow night, and then we’re all off to Vegas, baby!’

There’s a sudden shift in mood as we all realise that in a day’s time, we’ll be flying to the party capital of the world.

The following day, I rise early to go for a jog along the beach. Just before I leave, I catch my reflection in the mirror. I look surprisingly vibrant. My skin and hair are sun-kissed. My body is firm and healthy. I put my hand to the locket that houses the image of my mother and trace its delicate engraving. My mind flashes back to last week. It feels like months ago. Almost like it’s an alternate life. Luke’s sudden appearance has me rattled. My two worlds are colliding. On the one hand, we are work colleagues. He and I will tour with the Sinfonia together. We must retain a polite, professional relationship. But on the other, there are so many questions left unanswered from the last tour. Dolly told me that the Maestro is his godfather. This locket isa precious family heirloom that must be returned to his family. Surely, he has no right to give it away so carelessly. And the rumours in the press about us. What do I do about them? How much of what Luke told me about his royal connections and arranged marriage is true? None of it? And his behaviour at the hotel. Expecting to sleep with me just because he was high on drugs, proposing a fake marriage and switching hotels without my consent. He’s not shown himself in any great light. No wonder the Maestro seems fed up with him.

A sudden pang to speak to Dolly comes over me. She picks up immediately.

‘Hello, love,’ she says. ‘How’s it going in sunny Benidorm? It’s hoiking it down here. It’s rained non-stop since you left.’

After a few minutes of weather-related chat, I tell her about Luke turning up.

‘He’s what?’ she bellows down the phone. ‘That is too far. He’s crossing a major line there. What’s he playing at?’

‘I was hoping you could tell me,’ I say. My hand is still on the locket round my neck. ‘Why do you think Luke wanted me to have this locket?’

Dolly remains quiet for a few seconds before I hear her sigh. ‘It wasn’t just Luke’sidea.’

‘What do you mean?’ I ask.

‘It actually belonged to the Maestro. He is Luke’s father’s cousin. Their grandmother gave him it because Luke’s parents had a Royal marriage of convenience. Or so I believe the tradition goes.’

‘What tradition?’

‘It is handed by the men in the family to the woman they love, who in turn, hands it down to a male in the next generation to hand it to whoever they fall in love with.’

‘I’m confused.’

Dolly sighs gently. ‘I think the Maestro was saving the locket for his true love but didn’t get the chance to give her it.’

‘Her? Don’t you mean him?’

‘Bernard was his rebound.’

‘Oh, that’s sad. What happened?’

‘She died.’

It’s like a penny dropping. ‘My mother? The Maestro was in love with my mother? For how long?’

‘From the day they met until the day she died.’

‘But what about Bernard?’

‘I think Bernard knew he’d always be second best. That’s probably why he cheated on him so much. But your mother only ever had eyes for your father.’

‘Poor Maestro. So, he was the one who wanted me to have the locket?’

‘Yes.’

‘So that’s why Luke said it was a family heirloom?’

‘Yes. I have to say, even though Luke charms every woman he meets, he’s been acting very out of character since the day you arrived.’

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