Shattered Dreams

By Maureen Curtis

Elahe lives with her brother and parents in east end of London. Elahe has always dreamed of being a wife and a mother. After marrying James she starts to see her dream come true , all she wants is a baby and when she is denied this she takes drastic steps. As James lies in a coma his secret life unfolds this turns Elahes mind as she takes on an alto ego of an evil aggressive entity who wants revenge leaving tragedy and mayhem in her wake destroying the lives of family and friends around her. While on holiday with her best friend Sandi she knows the only way to rid the demon watching her is to confess her secret to Sandi, who is only to willing to listen not knowing its to big even for her to keep. Elahe has murdered once so would knowing her secret make Sandi her next victim

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481794763

Maureen Curtis

I have always loved writing I have written poetry so decided this book would be my next adventure. I moved to Spain from Essex 12 years ago with my husband and mum, I have twin daughters and a granddaughter, I have a dog Rosie and 5 cats who decided the food and accommodation was good here so moved in. I am a spiritual healer and work medium mystically with spirit.

Book preview

Part one

The Untold Story

CHAPTER 1

SPAIN SUMMER 2003

‘How did it happen? How can three lives end so badly, okay, only one died but the other two are ruined? I was so happy, I thought nothing like this could, or would happen… not in a million years’ sobbed Elahe. ‘It wasn’t your fault, but I am so glad you came to me after all, what are best friends for. Lets open a bottle of wine, we have three glorious weeks to ourselves. No one to interrupt us and you can tell me the whole story. Who knows maybe it will help you to talk about it. I can help to put some perspective on it instead of you blaming yourself; you really must pull yourself together’. Sandi said looking at her friend in distress, putting her arm around her giving her a big squeeze.

It was decided between them that having a holiday and being on their own would give Elahe a chance to open up to Sandi. Sandi knew what Elahe had been going through and wanted to help her friend, she knew Elahe had blamed herself and thought this holiday would help her. Sandi only knew a part of the story, only through what others had said and what was in the papers. She hadn’t wanted to ask outright or seem like she was prying. It wasn’t like that; she was truly worried about her friend. If Elahe wanted to confide in her she was only too happy to listen. Yes she was itching to know what happened any normal person would, but she would never, ever betray Elahe’s confidence, wild horses would not drag it out of her. She loved Elahe like a sister.

‘I was going out of my mind. You know what Sandi, I’m so glad I have you for a friend’. ‘You know I am here for you… and you are not going out of your mind El, it’s just you have had such a lot going on, no wonder you are so jumpy, any one would be.’ Smiled Sandi trying to put her friend at ease.

‘I’m sure I keep seeing things out the corner of my eye, but when I look there’s nothing there. So now tell me I’m not going out of my mind eh.’ ‘Well we are here now so you can just relax El; take it easy, this is just what you needed.’

They had finished breakfast and were relaxing in the front room, Sandi got up from the chair walked over to the window that looked out over the citrus trees, the sun was up high in the sky, burning down to ripen the large fruits hanging heavily laden on the branches. A start to another very hot day. ‘Well let’s get the rest of our things unpacked, I did some last night but I think we were both to tired to do it all. We need to get out there and sit in this gorgeous Spanish sun. Don’t bother to shower, let’s go in the pool have a dip and get that wine open’. ‘Sounds good to me boss’ Elahe said, jumping to her feet, trying to put the thoughts and images out of her mind for a bit.

She still wasn’t sure what the outcome of this holiday would bring but one thing she knew for sure was she could in no way continue as she had been, was she going mad? Would going through it all again really help? and the most important thing is would she be able to tell Sandi the whole truth? She wasn’t sure yet, if fact she wasn’t really sure of anything.

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Elahe and Sandi had been firm friends since the day they met which was six years ago in Stratford, when they were both nineteen. They had met when they had shared the only taxi that was waiting outside Stratford station in the East End of London. They didn’t have far to go but it was late and dark so the two girls agreed it was the sensible thing to do. ‘My names is Sandy, what’s yours?’ ‘I’m Elahe,’ Sandi replied ‘Oh I have an aunt called Ellie’ ‘My name sounds like Ellie but spelt E L A H E, that’s because I was named after my god parents Elaine and Henry the first three letters of my aunt and the first two of my uncle.’

‘That’s brilliant I bet they were chuffed’ Sandi replied, both girls laughed. Chatting away on the short journey they discovered that they lived quite near each other in Plaistow. They exchanged phone numbers and arranged to meet that Wednesday for a drink. They had only just met but seemed so easy in each others company and there was an instant bond.

They stayed local and had a drink at the Carpenter’s Arms in Stratford; they got on so well and found they enjoyed the same things the evening went fairly quickly.

Stepping from the warm pub they hailed a taxi home. The taxi dropped Elahe off at her house in Edie Lane, in Plaistow. Sandi waved goodbye to her new friend, as the taxi pulled away. It then went on for about half a mile, down the to Barking Road, past the Green Man pub and into Potts Road, where Sandi lived. Sandi was the middle child of Joan and Ross Gubbins, she had a sister Roz three years older and a brother Perry two year’s younger. Both girls were now twenty five. Elahe was a tall five foot nine, with full breasts that tapered down to a slim waist and hips, with a beautiful face, long dark eyelashes that framed deep blue eyes, and always a smile on full lips. She always had an answer for everything which made people laugh, she was a warm fun loving young lady, always ready to help anyone who was in need. She came from a loving family her parents Marion and Jim and her older brother George, They lived in a happy house where there was lots of laughter.

Sandi was five foot six and just slightly slimmer with big green eyes almond shape eyes that sparkled, her shoulder length red hair was the colour of copper that gleamed, and a personality that bubbled. The two girls got on so well, they became inseparable at once.

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They had arrived at Alicante airport late Monday night, they hired a car and were staying at Sandy’s Aunt Eva’s finca near the Crevillente Mountains, on the Costa Blanca. Aunt Eva was her mum’s youngest sister, a young looking forty eight year old, she had no children, and she never felt the need for them in her life. It wasn’t she didn’t like them she adored her nephews and nieces but she always preferred to be able to give them back. Eva enjoyed herself to much. Having no children also meant she kept her slim figure. She had seen what having children did to her sisters and friends and she was having none of that. Sandi seemed to take after Eva in her looks and personality. Although Sandi was married, she was in no rush to have kids, though she didn’t rule it out altogether.

Eva lived with her third husband Eduardo. She had been living in Spain for ten years after the divorce from her first husband Tim. Eva and Eddie, as she calls him, had gone to France to visit Eddie’s mother, something they did every year. The finca, although not completely isolated, had only a few dwellings near, so they were glad to have someone stay to keep an eye on the property. It was a modest size place, the usual white painted house with a naya, a large patio which held a large table and six chairs and still had plenty of room. Bougainvillaea in full bloom of red, pink, orange and mauve made its way climbing up the side of the house, with its blossoms heavily hanging down; it was a mass of colour. On the roof of the house, was a solarium, or roof terrace, from where you could see across the vast land with its orange and lemon groves on one side, and the mountains on the other. In the evening the smell of the citrus blossom mixed with the Galan De Noche and the Jasmine was very heady and intoxicating. The finca had, as would be described by a property consultant, as three bedrooms, two bathrooms, large kitchen leading to the dinning room, front room, up the stairs which led to the solarium was another sitting room, with a balcony, from which the views were breathtaking and so tranquil. The mature garden was full of coloured flowers all in bloom. Solar lights followed the path to the pool at the back with palm trees to one side of it which made a welcome shade.

To see the two friends, splashing around in the pool, laughing like children, you would think, they had not a care in the world. How very wrong you would be!

Emerging from the pool. Sandi wrapped a towel around her, then running up the path to the kitchen, grabbed two bottles of wine; put them in a chill bag. Hurrying back again she flopped down on the sun beds in the shade of the palm trees. Sandi opened the wine and poured two very large glasses, handing one to Elahe, as they sat drinking their wine. Sandi settled down looking at Elahe she said. ‘Well, do you want to begin Elahe?, after all that is what we came here for, And yes I know what you are going to say’ holding her hand up to stop Elahe from saying anything she continued, And, no I shan’t tell a soul you know that’. Elahe pondered. ‘Yes I know, but where shall I begin. Oh I know you’ll say the beginning but where is that, when James and I first met? but you know that’.

‘Yes but you can tell me again.’ Sandi replied.

‘Start from when you both met. It always makes me laugh’

‘Oh thanks.’ Elahe laughed ‘That makes me feel just dandy.’ Stop dithering girl and just get on with it.’

CHAPTER 2

Elahe lived with her parents Jim and Marion or Mal as some people called her, and her brother George, who was eighteen months older than herself.

Mal and Jim had been childhood sweethearts their relationship was always full of laughter they seemed to banter off each other and it made people around them laugh Mal stood Jim well, Jim was the one who always seemed to put his foot in things with Mal reprimanding him, all done in good humour.

They lived in Plaistow not far from the train station. It was a row of two up and two down but, as they lived on the corner, they had three bedrooms upstairs with bathroom, a large through lounge and kitchen down stairs. The back garden was laid to lawn with flower beds running along the edge, and a large shed at the bottom where Jim could escape to if it looked like Marion was going to get him to do any chores around the house.

The front garden was paved and had large plant pots holding a host of coloured flowers. Marion and Jim loved to spend their time attending their garden, a hobby they both shared. They have lived in the house for over twenty years; they considered themselves very lucky to get a nice three bedroom semi. When they had first got married they had been in a little one bedroom, ground floor flat in Silvertown. It was very clean and well decorated, but with two small children life was becoming increasingly difficult, until they heard of the opportunity of an exchange for a three bedroom house in Plaistow. It belonged to Mavis, an elderly woman on her own and it had become too much for her.

Mavis loved the flat when she viewed it and so they exchanged with no problems. Through their early years of marriage, Mal and Jim had continued to save hard forgoing most luxuries so they could one day own their own house. So years later, with Maggie Thatcher’s option for council tenants right to buy, the opportunity came along Mal and Jim bought their home from Newham Council at a good price, they considered themselves very lucky.

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Elahe had met James through her brother George. She had fancied him when she first met him, didn’t fall in love at first sight, but whenever he called round, she found herself making sure her makeup was just right and her hair brushed, just little things. Most of all he made her laugh. James was taller than Elahe, at six foot, not what you might call drop dead gorgeous, but there was something about him, the way he held himself the was he walked sort of sexy. Girls seemed to notice him. he had a nice fresh face with jet black hair and deep blue eyes that always seemed to sparkle, when he had a wicked grin on his face, He wasn’t right slim but had broad shoulders and a cute bum as Elahe put it. When he spoke his voice was warm and soft which Elahe loved to listen to. He was always smart even in jeans and tee shirt he looked smart and sexy.

James had first met George when his car blew a tyre on the A13. George’s car swerved and nearly hit James’s. They stopped and had a fag, both shaking, that was almost a year ago, but they started to go for drinks together every Tuesday and Thursday nights. That was the two nights George and his girlfriend Sal didn’t see each other, Sal went out with her friends. James had met Elahe a few times. And he liked what he saw.

Unbeknown to Elahe, James sometimes came on the pretence to see George but secretly hoped that Elahe would be there.

One such evening James came on the pretence to see George, knowing he was not at home he knocked on the door feeling a bit nervous wondering if his plan would work.

‘Hang on’ shouted Elahe as she ran down the stairs and, opening the front door, and seeing James standing there she wished she had brushed her hair smoothing it down with her hands she thought he looked so handsome and smart in his navy suite. ‘Oh James come in, George is working the late shift, didn’t you know? come in the front room, mum and dads in the kitchen’.

James followed her through to the front room which was well decorated and furnished. James thought she looked fantastic. He felt a little shy but he had planned this and was going to see it through. ‘Oh no, I don’t remember him saying anything’. He lied, trying to look forlorn. ‘What’s the matter James, looks like were you planning to go somewhere with him’. Oh well this is it James thought as he answered ’Er. it’s not important, just my birthday, er, we were going out, I must have got it wrong… er, I don’t suppose you would consider coming for a meal?. I mean unless you have something else to do’. He hastily added and crossed his fingers behind his back and held his breath. ‘Yeess’ he shouted when she agreed then felt stupid but she laughed, as she said. ‘I could eat a horse.’ ‘Yuk, I couldn’t eat anything that wore shoes’ grinned James. Elahe gave him a playful slap. ‘Sit yourself down while I get ready. I won’t be long. Turning to run upstairs to change. First she slipped into the kitchen to tell her parents she was going out for a meal with James, and please, please don’t let slip that she has just had her dinner of meat pie potatoes runner beans peas and two slices of bread, some of which she couldn’t finish, her eyes being bigger than her belly.

‘Where the ’ell are you gonna put another bloody dinner,’

‘Language Jim’ Mal reprimanded her husband.

‘Well she couldn’t finish the first one’ Jim said. ‘Be quiet dad, he’ll hear you, he’s in the front room’. Elahe shushed him quietly closing the door.

‘You’ll make yourself sick my girl’. Marion told her. ‘Oh mum please don’t say anything Elahe pleaded as she rushed upstairs

James sat on the sofa and smiled. He couldn’t believe his luck, his plan had worked. Jim, came in from the kitchen. James and Jim had their usual banter about their own prospected football teams. Jim being an ardent West Ham fan and James an Arsenal fan, as Jim would jibe Well some one has to! And always running each others team down. Blaming the ref for the outcome, ’im, having no mum’s and dad’s!, but all with good humour.

Jim told James. ‘Old Tubby Wallis down the club supports Chelsea.’

Both men give a low moan at the mention of Chelsea. ‘Well ’e finks they’re the best. ’e finks they’re gonna win the cup this year.’ James answered. ‘Well yer know what thought did. Don’t you?’ ‘Yeah’ Jim answered not thinking his wife could hear him from the kitchen. ‘Fort ’e ’ead a motor bike, but all ’e ’ad was the ’orn.’

‘Jim Anderson.’ Marion’s voice came firmly from the kitchen. ‘Wash that mucky mouf of yours.’

Jim and James quietly laughed like two naughty school children. Jim looked to where his wife’s voice came, and added very quietly. ‘It’s ’er who finks she should be obeyed, but aint.’ Both men laughed quietly.

As Elahe and James were leaving, Elahe turned to say, see you later as Jim was rubbing his belly and pretending to be sick. She pushed James through the doorway, so as he wouldn’t see. ‘You’re a bloody torment Jim Anderson’, Marion told him. Jim laughed. ‘I know knicker legs but I’d like ter be a fly on the wall when she is trying to eat ’er way through another meal’ they both laughed as Marion gave Jim a playful shove saying. ‘And don’t keep calling me that Jim’.

James opened the door of his car a silver Peugeot 306 sports and helped Elahe in. and they drove off.

‘Did you have something booked’ she asked. Her stomach still feeling bloated. James smiled and answered without thinking ‘Well no because I didn’t know if you would come out with me…’ he stopped in mid sentence he could see out of the corner of his eye she was looking at him but he couldn’t tell what expression she had.

Elahe had turned in her seat to face him, trying not to smile or give anything away.

‘Oh, I see, so you were telling me porkies, you knew George was working, you planned it. You had better pull over’. His heart was heavy, he thought, I’ve blown it for sure, now she’ll want me to turn the car around and take her back home. What a Pratt, me and my big mouth. " But she was smiling. Looking sideways at him she said. Why on earth didn’t you just come out and ask me, I don’t like playing games, James… oh my God that rhymes’, they both fell about laughing. ‘Well how about we go to the Harvester in Essex do you like the food there’. He said looking at her and thinking how wonderful she looked. She hung her head down and looking through her lashes feeling a little bit embarrassed as she admitted.

‘To tell you the truth, I only just had my dinner as you knocked and I couldn’t eat another thing, but I would love a drink’. James sat back, and with a little smug grin he said. ‘Oh so who’s telling porkies now. You said you could eat a horse, well even’s steven’s, no more porkies eh’.

The evening went so quick and they never stopped talking. She told him she worked in the local Council and he worked as a rep for a medical firm and travelled quite a bit around the country. They laughed together all evening, it felt as though they had known each other for years. They were so comfortable together.

By the end of the evening as Elahe was driven home, they both knew this would become a regular thing; they had an invisible bond… .

CHAPTER 3

Sandi touched Elahe’s arm, ‘hang on El’, I must go in for a wee I’m bursting, shall I do us a sandwich or something when I come out?’

‘Only if you make sure you wash your hands when you’ve been’ Elahe. Said laughing. ‘You cheeky bitch’ Sandi shouted as she rushed towards the house. Elahe sat thinking about what she had told Sandi, she was still toying with the idea of whether or not to tell her everything. After all it was not because she couldn’t trust her friend. It was more of a matter of what her friend would think of her. How would she react if she knew what Elahe had done? To say shocked would be putting it mildly.

But it was all still to raw, to humiliating, to… to, dare she say, criminal. Sandi came up the path, balancing a tray of what she called pickies, including crisps, olives, nuts, crusty bread, aliolli and chunks of cheese. Now opening the second bottle of wine, she refilled their glasses. Then settled back onto her sun bed and said to Elahe. ‘I know you were totally committed to each other, both so happy, I know every bride looks radiant on their wedding day, but you were simply glowing, so was James, the way you both looked at each other as you exchanged you’re vows. I was standing right behind you and I could feel the emotion,’ Sandi turned to her friend facing her she feel Elahe’s pain. ‘Oh Elahe you and James were so right for each other’.

‘He was all I ever wanted, I was so happy, he made me happy, and I thought it would be forever, well I suppose it was in a way, forever I mean’. Elahe sighed remembering. ‘But you weren’t to blame. It’s a fact, when anything horrid happens, people always think it’s their fault, it’s as though they all clamber to be first in the Queue. To take the weight on their shoulders, as though it was some sort of prize’. Sandi tried to reason with her. Elahe nodded, she swallowed hard and tried to lighten up a bit, she didn’t want Sandi asking to many questions she didn’t want to be knocked off guard, she knew she had to do this her way.

Both girls helped themselves to the snacks and drank some more wine. Elahe’s mind still working "If only she knew the truth, the weight is on my shoulders and if there was some way I could run to the back of the Queue believe me I would". Elahe felt she couldn’t go on right now, she was frightened she might say something she shouldn’t, but she also knew the quicker she got her story out the quicker she could try to leave it in the back of her mind. It would never go away completely it was a nightmare that was with her for life, she knew that. But what would her friend really think of her if she knew the truth. Could she really trust her friend that much? It was a lot to ask of someone Bringing her back from her thoughts she heard Sandi saying. ‘Well we have polished off the food and two bottles of wine, it’s now two o clock, so how about we have a siesta, the sun is getting too hot and there is no breeze’. Sandi could see Elahe was getting too upset and needed to have a breather. Getting up from the sun bed she said. ‘Phew I don’t know about you but I’m stifling, I put the air con, on when I did the food so it should be nice and cold’. ‘Give us a pull up’ said Elahe, ‘My back is soaked, you take the tray and I’ll bring the cool bag and glasses’. ‘Sod the bag and tray,’ Sandi told her as she began to pull her up. ‘Lets swim to the other end get out dry off and have our siesta, the stuff can wait till later’.

Sandi ran and jumped into the pool feet first, sending water cascading over the sides. Elahe laughed as she put down the bag and followed her. As they got out the other end, Sandi told her. ‘Make sure you put your flip flops on El, these tiles are a killer if your feet are wet. You sort of aqua plane, they take no prisoners. My aunt did a Torvil and Dean from one end of the room to the other’.

Did she get a ten? Elahe laughed as she climbed from the pool. ‘No’, said Sandi. ‘She got a broken arm and concussion’, she spluttered and laughed as she said ‘and poor Uncle Marcus, that was her second husband at the time, he broke his ankle trying to catch her before she hit the ground, they were both in a heap on the floor, both crying in pain’. Both girls were doubled over in fits.

‘Oh Sandi it’s wicked we shouldn’t laugh’, Elahe panted, as she wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘No it’s all right; Aunt Eva goes hysterical every time she tells the story. It was soon after that they got divorced, they had only been married a year. She say’s that Marcus cried so much she thought he was going to ask for his mummy, you see Eva was about forty one at the time and Marcus was only just turned two five’.

‘You’re joking, eh, a toy boy’, Elahe’s voice an octave higher as she pulled off her bikini, ‘Good on yer, Aunt Eva’, and they both laughed. Sandi continued as she slipped out of her bikini. ‘Well, that’s not all, yer see. He blamed her, said she pulled him over on purpose, they had such a big row in the hospital as the doctors were tying to see to them, they nearly got thrown out’. Elahe was never sure if any of Sandy’s stories were true, but she always made her laugh with them, and she knew that Aunt Eva was a character.

‘Oh Sandi, you are good for me, you can always make me laugh, even when I don’t feel like laughing’. The two friends entered the house both wearing their flip flops and a towel round them; they had left their swim wear over the line. ‘Sandi, lets go out tonight, I feel like getting done up and having a night out. Any ideas where to go? After all you’ve been here before’. ‘Well we could go into Torrevieja, there are lots of bars and places to eat, there’s a market near the marina so we could take a stroll have a look. Say we go about seven, or even later, see how we feel when we’ve had our kip’. Elahe agreed and the two girls hugged and went into their separate bedrooms, ‘Oh My God’. Elahe shrieked ‘It’s like bloody Siberia in here. I’m sure there’s Eskimos lodging in here somewhere.’, As she went into her bedroom and shut the door quick, she turned the fan on the air con down as she was sure she would wake up encrusted in white frost.

Elahe lay on the bed and wished she could stay here forever. She looked around the room, in was a decent size. On the wall each side of the double bed was a light switch, and a lamp plugged in next to it. The Yellow and white lamp was standing on a small table. Along one wall were fitted wardrobes, beside the window was a large chest of draws with matching mirror hanging above it. Along the other wall was another chest of draws and a book case, all the furniture was in a warm pine wood. the carved mirror and the bed head matched as did the curtains and bed spread in a bright yellow which made the room glow. On the ceiling above the bed was a large fan. Over the bed were three large oil paintings of brightly coloured flowers Elahe recognised to be similar the flowers in Aunt Eva’s garden. Elahe felt so relaxed that she slipped into a restful sleep.

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Sandi woke first looking at the clock, five thirty, it said, she put her feet on the cold marble tiles and fished around for her flip flops, slipping them onto her feet she slipped a thin cotton sun dress over her head, tied her hair up, it was to hot hanging round her neck and it always ended up wet. She went into the kitchen, opened the fridge and fished out a bottle which said agua (water) and drank a large glass. Walking into the dinning room, picked up a copy of the local paper to see what was going on in town. Then she made her way upstairs to the sitting room. Unlocked the door to the solarium, opening the doors which led onto the balcony, this gave a nice through breeze. She settled herself on the sofa.

‘Hi’, Elahe said a little while later, as she came up stairs, poking her head around the corner, ‘ I wondered where you were. It’s nice and cool up here. How long have you been up?’ Elahe sank in a big soft armchair.

‘Few minutes, just long enough to get a drink of water and sit here’, Sandi said ‘just looking through the local English Paper to see what’s going on in town, did you sleep well?’ Mmm, yes thanks, I think that room is lovely, so sunny and warm’. ‘Aunt Eva made all the curtains, bedspreads and cushions in the house. That’s why it all matches so well. I love it here’, Sandi replied. ‘What do you say if, we could learn Spanish, and maybe come and live here, to tell you the truth I have been thinking about ‘.

‘You never said’. Elahe looked at her with interest. ‘What about Peter, are you forgetting you have a husband?’. ‘No not at all but he’s always away working, so he could just as easy come to Spain as England. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind sharing,’

Elahe laughingly interrupted ‘Sharing what? You and me?’ ‘No! you Pratt’ Sandi laughed, ‘I meant you living with us, after all we have each other’s company when he’s away. He talks about living in Italy where he works, but I like it here. It is something to think about the houses are so much cheaper here’. Sandi said looking at the property page in the paper. ‘The whole way of living, If we shared it we could manage’.

Elahe was sure they could manage, and what a good way of getting away from everything that had happened and replied ‘It’s worth looking into’.

Talking about where to go and what to wear. The girls decided to go out casual as it was still ninty degrees outside, They showered and put on plenty of factor fifteen sun cream, both were getting a tan already. Elahe wore a pink cotton strappy top and navy cotton shorts, and pink flat sandals she twisted her hair up and fastened it with a pink clip. Sandi wore a pale green halter neck top that seemed to bring out the colour in her eyes and black shorts she had slim shapely legs, Elahe envied her, ‘I wish I had nice legs like you, Sand.’ ‘Me! God El look at your legs they seem to go for ever’. Sandi laughed eyeing Elahe. ‘And you’ve got boobs, I’ve got nothing to put into my tops’. ‘No matter how good a body you have, you will never be satisfied’, Said Sandi. as she was trying to do something with her hair. ‘I tell you what, tomorrow we’ll go to the beach, there you can see some sights, things stuffed into a bikini, things hanging out of a bikini, and swimming trunks too come to that, at the end of the day you will be so contented with what you have believe me, you think I’m joking. You’ll see, the thing is they parade up and down thinking they look the bees knees.’ Sandi said as she was giving Elahe a demonstration and parading around the room, making Elahe laugh. ‘I don’t think they have ever seen a mirror in their lives’. Sandi left her hair and slipped on her sandals of black with tiny green beads on them.

‘Want me to put you hair up for you? It suits you up’, Elahe said. seeing that Sandi was struggling and had left it in a mess while she put her sandals on. ‘Oh please, could you do it like you did the other day I liked that?’. The pair were now ready; they got into their hired silver ford focus and drove into Torrevieja. They headed for the N332. ‘I know it’s the long way round but it’s the only route I know’ Sandi said.’ Anyway we’re not in any rush.

They got near to Torrevieja, as the turned off to go towards the marina Sandi said, ‘There’s a big car park round here, just past the water fall and along the road, look El there’s the little market. We’ll have a look later shall we?’

They parked the car and walked along the front first stopping to see the feral cats that live by the rocks it has fencing round it so no one can get to them. ‘Oh Sandi look at these babies’ cooed Elahe. She was pointing to three tiny kittens with their mother. ‘People come and feed them, some will let you stroke them, but be careful, you don’t know if they’ve got fleas or worms or anything else wrong with them, like cat aids’, Sandi said, just as Elahe had stroked a big tabby that had brushed up to her. Elahe pulled her hand away fast and wiped it on Sandy’s shorts.

‘Piss off’ laughed Sandi as she tried to duck away. ‘Bloody hell Sandi, look at the nuts on that ginger tom, It’s a wonder he don’t squash ’em when he sits down’ Elahe giggled. ‘They look like two ginger golf balls’ Sandi laughed. ‘Golden balls’ screamed Elahe.

They walked along the front where there were people of all nationalities on holiday, where some were sitting on the wooden benches placed near the sea. There were cafes and bars with tables outside. They walked along looking at the menus and decided on a cafe with tables that spilled on the promenade near the sea front. The two friends decided to have a shared salad to start with then Paella and a large beer each. The waiter came over to their table, smiled and got his pad at the ready. Sandi tried her Spanish to order the food.

‘Dos Paella un carne, un pescado, grande salada, no antun, dos grande creveza, por favor’. The waiter smiled saying, ‘You did very well there’.

‘You speak English, Why didn’t you say?’ Sandi said in amazement. The waiter laughed and said ‘You were doing all right’. ‘Well’ Elahe asked what did you say to him?’ ‘Two paella, one meat, one fish, large salad no tuna and two large beers, but lets see what we end up with’. she laughed.

There were just a few people sitting and eating outside. and still a good number of empty tables, they had chosen a table nearest the sea, looking at the blue med. ‘It’s so still’ Sandi remarked, ‘Just like a mill pond. ‘I thought there would be more people than this eating’ observed Elahe looking around her. ‘It’s early yet the Spanish don’t eat till about ten or eleven at night, you try getting a table then. These will soon be filled’. Just then two men in Spanish dress, both with guitars, came round the tables singing. If they stop here I shall laugh’ Elahe giggled. ‘I feel embarrassed’ ‘Don’t look at them’ Sandi told her, ‘Pretend to be having a very deep conversation and maybe they will go away… oh god too late’

Two Spanish eyes they started to sing just as the waiter came with their food. The men moved away. ‘Good timing mate’ Sandi told the waiter

When the girls had finished their meal all the tables were full just as Sandi had said. They made their way along to the marina to look at the market. Most of the stalls were selling the same merchandise, leather belts, wallets, bags, there were places to have your hair braided. souvenirs, jewellery not real of course but they tell you it is, and even show you a hall mark.

They stopped at a looky, looky man selling sun glasses, all top designer names. Sandi tried on a pair of Christian Dior. Pouting she looked at Elahe and said, in a posh voice. ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ You know they would cost you well over a hundred quid in England. But the looky, looky men they sell them for ten Euros they’re fake of course’. ‘Nooo’ Elahe laughed

‘Why do they call them the looky, looky men?’ Elahe asked puzzled. Because while they are trying to sell you things, they looky, looky this way and looky, looky that way they are always looking around for the police. Then they run like the clappers.’ Both girls laughed. ‘They all real lady’. said the man standing at his makeshift stand.

They’re ’avin a larf, aint they mimicked Elahe.

‘You give me price lady’ said the sales man as he came round the stall. ‘You give me a price they all real’, he repeated.

‘Try tuppence you thieving git’ Sandi shouted.

The two friends moved away hanging on to each other and giggling.

They walked to the end of the market, trying on more glasses, and hats of all shapes and sizes, they had no intentions of buying anything but it was still all good fun. They were enjoying themselves and at the moment that’s all that mattered.

They crossed the road to the waterfall, sat on a seat eating ice cream, just people watching, and, taking the piss, which they both knew was awful. But as Sandi said. ‘I wonder how many people have sat and took the piss out of us as we walked by; we’re only returning the complement’ ‘Oh sure’, returned Elahe. ‘You may be, but I bet they could only gaze at me in amazement at my beauty’. She nudged Sandi. Sandi turned and looked at Elahe, she was pulling the most disgusting face and she had put the end of the ice cream cone on her nose. Sandi screamed. Then realised that every one was looking at them, Elahe quickly wiped the ice cream from her nose. They got up trying to gain their composure as they walked into town.

They stopped at a farmacia where there were rows of perfume. ‘Come on El, let’s go and try on some expensive smelly’. ‘I’m right behind you; I want some Versace Blond on my neck, Coco on my right wrist, Channel No: 5 on my other, and anything else where there is some room’. Elahe said, as she pushed Sandi into the shop. ‘Bloody hell you’ll smell like and whore’s handbag El’.

The shop assistant watched them, eyes gleaming, thinking she was going to make a great sale, she suggested different perfumes to try, her face was like thunder as Elahe said gracias and left with nothing.

The girls wandered along for a bit longer stopping to get a drink in the bars. They fancied a good drink but Sandi was driving. So they decided to head home and get blotto. They took a slow walk back to the marina car park.

‘Looks like there’s gonna be a fiesta’ Said Sandi looking at some posters being put up. ‘A big fair by the car park, There’ll be fireworks, people in national dress, and horses. Spain love their fireworks, and they are so beautiful’. ‘Do you fancy going Sandi asked as she read the poster.

‘I’d love to see it Sand, Have you been to a fiesta before?’

‘Oh yes, I came to one last year you can’t miss it’ Sandi answered ‘Here El, you take the ticket for the car park to that little white hut where we came in, here’s four euros, it won’t be that much, I’ll get the car and meet you at the exit. Elahe got into the car at the exit and they drove out of Torrevieja. There was such a lot of people, and cars were still lining up to get into the car park.

Driving back Elahe put on some music, she sat back in her seat and let the soft sound wash over her, she turned her head left and looked at Sandi’s profile as she watched the road ahead of her, she wondered yet again if she would ever be able to trust her with her secret, If her friend would understand, come to that and most of all if she would stand by her. Sandi looked at Elahe with a fleeting glimpse and smiled at her.

Elahe winked and stuck her tongue out, they both giggled. ‘Your fucking mad’

Sandi remarked as she shook her head.

Arriving home, they parked the car, entering the house threw their bags on the table and kicked off their sandals. ‘I’m going to change into something more comfortable’

Sandi called over her shoulder to Elahe as she went along to her bedroom, Elahe followed, and in her room she chose her cotton nightdress to slip on, she brushed out her hair and sat on the side of the bed, feeling better than she had for a long while.

Following Sandi up to the solarium with two large glasses Sandi was clutching a chilled bottle of orange and a bottle of vodka, Elahe held out the