If Only

By Alex Bogdanov

Alex has a child and is having problems with his wife. Sara is having problems with her husband. Tim is going through a divorce. Lauren is engaged but isn't sure about the wedding. Alisha is single and can't find the right partner. Alex and Tim are going away to Mallorca. Sara, Alisha and Lauren are going away to Mallorca. Without planning to change anything in their lives, all of them bump into each other on their holiday. For them, this holiday was another few days in the sun when they can forget about their lives. But this holiday turned into a time of test. During this holiday, the circumstances will force them to think about their past, their future, who they are and what they will do. What would you do in their situation? Knowing that the right decision will lead to chaos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781528911597

Alex Bogdanov

Alex Bogdanov has lived in the United Kingdom since 2008. He is originally from Latvia. After finishing Latvian Business College, he moved to the UK and set up his own business in Wales. Five years ago, he married a Welsh girl, and they have a one-year-old son, Joseph.

Book preview

Only

About The Author

Alex Bogdanov has lived in the United Kingdom since 2008. He is originally from Latvia. After finishing Latvian Business College, he moved to the UK and set up his own cleaning business in Wales. Six years ago, he married a Welsh girl. They have a two-year-old son, Joseph.

Copyright information ©

Alex Bogdanov (2018)

The right of Alex Bogdanov to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781788232647 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781788232654 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781788232661 (E-Book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2018)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Preface

I would like to thank my wife for her support while I was working on this book. I would like to thank my publisher for accepting me and for not being afraid to work with new writers. I would like to thank dozens of my customers who told me their personal stories that have inspired me to write this book. And for being loyal for many years and supporting my business.

When my friends read my manuscript, they have asked me a few unusual questions and because of that I would like to write these words.

Dear reader, even though this book is based on real life experiences it is still a work of fiction, as I had to combine many tales into one. The characters of the book have their own personalities, experiences and dreams. They don’t represent myself and I don’t want to put my opinions into them. If a character in my book has a problem with a certain group of people, it doesn’t mean I support the character. I have many friends and hundreds of customers with whom I have friendly relationships for many years. Among them are people with different point of views - Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Buddhists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Capitalists, Communists, Conservatives, Labourers, Freemasons etc. Among them are people from many countries of the world – Jamaica, Brazil, USA, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, France, Germany, Russia, Iran, Israel, India, Bangladesh, Japan, Australia and many more. All of them made me more educated and more open minded. I am friendly with everyone and I respect other people’s opinions and ideas. Please, remember that the characters in the book have their own life issues and they are not me.

Alex Bogdanov

Wales, Llantarnam

01.02.2018

Chapter I

Mallorca

Timothy Taylor was driving through Newport in South Wales to pick up his friend Alex Osland. The weather was damp and wet. The sky was as grey as lead, stretching into every direction. Low, thick clouds were pressing down on the people beneath them, making them depressed. Even though it was the end of May, there was no sign that summer was approaching.

Tim was driving a white BMW past grey houses surrounded with drizzle. On the way from Bristol, his car was slowly getting dirty and was blending in with the surrounding colours. His heart was like his car—in the past, it was clean and full of joy, but now it had become grey and frustrated. Bad emotions covered his heart like the dirt covered his car.

Tim was hoping to leave Britain as soon as possible. No matter where he looked, everything reminded him of his ex-wife. The terraced houses, the rain, the narrow roads—everything in Britain became part of his divorce. His entire inner world was consumed by pain. Tim could not wait to leave and forget all about the mess he was in. He was asking himself on and on How did this happen? Why did I not see it coming? But life is too difficult to find an easy answer. Life can get so complicated that maybe there will be no answer at all. Tim put his thoughts together and focused only on his holiday.

Tim was a professional football player for Bristol City FC. The Championship season was finished, and Tim was looking forward to freeing himself from his pent-up anger in Mallorca. The football season was good for him. He was still one of the main players at the club. But half a year ago, his personal life fell apart in an instant.

Cutting through Newport, Tim turned into a field that had become one big construction site. Alex was living in one of the new estates. Tim slowed down to find Alex’s house.

In the house, Alex was checking if he had packed everything when Nataly, his wife, came into the room holding their baby, Tom. ‘I can’t believe you are actually going away.’

‘Look, I need to go. You know that,’ said Alex, carrying the luggage down to the front door. ‘Tim is in a lot of trouble. I am just happy that he turned up last week. We hadn’t seen him for two months.’

‘I understand that… but you are going away for a whole week! Go away for a weekend… you have a family,’ said Nataly following Alex, while Tom was grabbing her dark hair.

‘I need to go. There is no other option. He is my best friend. And what is the problem? You can have a great time with Tom, your mum, your friends. And I can spend a week in Mallorca on Tim’s money,’ said Alex.

‘It’s not that simple,’ said Nataly.

‘Oh yes, it is,’ said Alex and took Tom off Nataly. ‘You are a good boy—it is very easy to look after you.’ Alex looked out the window. ‘Oh, I can see Tim’s car.’ Alex handed Tom back to Nataly and went outside.

‘Hi Tim!’ said Alex.

‘Hi Alex!’ said Tim getting out of the car, trying to look positive.

‘It is so nice to see you. You are like the sun in this weather, glowing with your warm-bronze skin. You don’t even need to go to Mallorca,’ said Alex.

‘I am not going there for sun, I need to chill, but you definitely need a tan. Looking a bit pale,’ said Tim.

‘You are just lucky. I wish my parents were from Jamaica, then I wouldn’t need to worry if my skin looks healthy or not.’ Alex laughed.

‘A few more hours and we will be on the beach, and you can get your tan,’ said Tim, smiling as he came inside. ‘Way! Hi Nataly. Hi Tom.’ Tim kissed Nataly’s serious face.

‘Hi Tim, I am still not happy,’ said Nataly

‘What will go wrong?’ asked Tim, stroking Tom’s head.

‘I don’t know, I just think that one week is a long time, and anything might happen,’ said Nataly.

‘Look Nataly. I don’t like women anymore. After Lucy, I am gay from now on. After all the...’ Tim looked at Tom. ‘Well, not in front of the children. The point is I, definitely, don’t want any girls in my life. And in Mallorca, it will be only me and Alex. It will be a proper sausage fest—no women allowed. I am tired of them,’ said Tim.

‘H-m,’ sighed Nataly, ‘OK, but it will be hard for me here on my own.’

‘You have Tom. Just have fun,’ said Tim.

‘You know, when you will have children. I will see how much fun you will have,’ said Nataly.

‘OK guys let’s kiss, we need to go. It’s ten o’clock,’ said Alex.

Tim kissed Nataly and took Alex’s luggage to the car.

Alex cuddled Nataly with Tom. ‘I love you.’

Nataly’s body didn’t react to Alex’s hands and, soullessly, she said, ‘I love you too.’

‘I hope you mean it. Doesn’t sound like it,’ said Alex.

Nataly thought that this was a meaningless conversation. ‘Just go,’ she exhaled.

Alex jumped into the car. As they were pulling off, he was waving to Nataly while she was standing in the doorway. By her face Alex could see her anger and disappointment. He felt guilty for going away. But he was not going away only to help Tim. Alex thought that he and Nataly needed some time apart to understand where their relationship was heading.

‘So Nataly is not happy, I take it?’ asked Tim.

‘No, she isn’t,’ said Alex.

‘What do women want? Nobody knows,’ said Tim.

‘I told her that I am going away because of you, but…’

Tim interrupted, ‘Yep, just me and you.’

‘Yes, but the other reason is that I am getting very tired of Nataly’s behaviour, and I think she feels it,’ said Alex.

‘Feels what?’ asked Tim.

‘She feels that I am going away not because of you, but because I want to,’ said Alex.

‘So what did I miss in the last half a year?’ asked Tim.

‘Nothing. I didn’t want to bother you while you were going through a divorce,’ said Alex.

‘So for a while things haven’t been perfect?’ asked Tim.

‘I don’t know. I think she can’t cope anymore that I am not a football player but a window cleaner,’ said Alex.

‘Ah, OK,’ said Tim.

‘I’m not sure we would be together if not for Tom. Sometimes, I even don’t know if she wants Tom or not,’ said Alex.

‘No-o, you are wrong there. She is a woman—they love babies,’ said Tim.

‘I hope you are right,’ said Alex.

‘What is happening where you live? So many new houses,’ said Tim.

‘Yes, when I moved in, it was just our estate. Now there will be more estates around us,’ said Alex.

‘I think the area looks better since I was here last. They made like a park and a pond, and I saw ducks,’ said Tim.

‘Yes, I am happy they did it. Otherwise, it would be just houses. But to separate the estates, they will make a few parks and ponds, and bring more ducks,’ Alex laughed.

‘Very posh,’ said Tim.

‘Yes, it is nice, but you know I would never have moved to Newport. Bristol is much better. But the window cleaning round I bought was here. The house prices were much cheaper than in Bristol, and Nataly’s parents are only one hour away,’ said Alex.

‘Where do they live?’ asked Tim.

‘In Swansea,’ said Alex.

‘Nice,’ said Tim.

Tim and Alex continued to talk about relationships and football rumours while they drove to Cardiff Airport. At the airport, they checked in their bags and after an hour, they were in the air, flying to Mallorca.

In the afternoon, the plane landed in Palma. The city is located on the southern coast of Mallorca on the bay of Palma, and overlooks the clear blue Mediterranean Sea. It is the biggest city in the Balearic Islands that are part of Spain. After getting a taxi, it took Alex and Tim an hour before they arrived to their hotel Barcelo Formentor. This was a five-star hotel located in the north coast of the island, facing idyllic Formentor beach, with its crystal waters and fine sand.

The hotel was four stories high and surrounded by the Mediterranean woodlands. On the ground floor, there was a reception, a restaurant, a bar, a wellness centre with gym, and a pool and spa. From the first floor up, there were rooms. Alex and Tim checked in and went into their suite that was on the second floor. Tim had booked them a Junior Suite which had a king-size bed and a balcony. The room extended into a lounge area which included a coffee table, TV and comfortable seating area with a sofa that converted into a double bed. In addition, there was a small kitchenette which had a fridge and microwave. The boys decided to sleep in the king-size bed in turns.

‘Oh yeah. Finally,’ loudly said Tim, stretching on the king-size bed.

‘Looks great outside,’ said Alex, opening the balcony and looking at the other side of the bay and the Illa de Formentor Island.

‘For seven days sea, me and you, and a lot of fun!’ said Tim.

‘Is there anything you want to do today?’ asked Alex.

‘Nope, nothing at all. We don’t have any plans Alex, just chill and enjoy the life. Whatever comes, comes,’ said Tim.

‘Excellent. You know, let’s go to the sea right now,’ said Alex.

‘Let’s go,’ said Tim.

Tim and Alex changed and rushed outside. They ran out of the hotel in their swim shorts, tops and flip flops. Exiting the building by the outside pool area, the beach was only fifty metres away from Alex and Tim. They dropped their flip flops and their tops by the outside pool and ran towards the sea. As they entered the beach, their feet felt the warm sand and encouraged them to jump into the sea straight away. The sea was not warm, as they had expected, but it was nice and refreshing on this hot day. They were jumping in and out of the water like dolphins, attracting and disturbing some of the people. Alex was happy to see Tim in a good mood. For a long time, Tim had not felt relaxed.

Even though the weather was amazing and Tim paid for the holiday, Alex did not feel right. He could not fully enjoy the time. His mind was thinking of Nataly, Tom and their family life.

Spending an hour on the beach, they went back to the outside pool to take their clothes. After walking around the hotel grounds, Tim and Alex came to the main entrance. Inside, by the reception, more people were booking in. Alex and Tim went along the wall to the stairs, trying not to attract any attention. As they got to the stairs and started going up, Alex heard a voice he found familiar. Suddenly, his heartbeat changed. It can’t be, thought Alex. The voice that he was hearing made him feel calm and peaceful.

‘Why did you stop, Alex?’ asked Tim.

‘I think I know somebody downstairs,’ said Alex.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Tim.

‘I can hear somebody speaking downstairs that I know,’ said Alex.

‘Let’s go and check,’ said Tim.

‘OK, but let me go first. And be quiet,’ said Alex.

They came down one flight of stairs. Alex leaned on the rail and looked towards the reception desk. He saw three women, and he recognised one of them. It was an old school friend Sara Wilson whom he had not seen since. The other two women were Alisha Hardy and Lauren Brides. Lauren was tall and slim with long dark hair. Alisha was shorter than Lauren. Her hair was brown, and her hips were curvy from regular gym visits. Sara had blonde hair, and she was Alisha’s height. Sara was not as slim as Lauren, but she did not have strong thigh features as Alisha.

‘Oh, man,’ said Alex and leaned back and looked at Tim. ‘It’s Sara… let’s go up.’

‘No wait a second, can I see?’ asked Tim.

‘No, no, let’s go. I don’t want her to see me,’ said Alex pulling Tim.

‘Why don’t you want her to see you?’ asked Tim.

‘I will tell you in our room,’ said Alex.

‘I will have a look anyway,’ said Tim