It All Began With Gran Canaria

Jeannette was, rattling around in the kitchen preparing dinner, while Doug was sat in the lounge. The local evening news was on, and the newsreader had just read a report on crime rates in West Sussex being on the rise, with Worthing, high on the list. Doug was not really listening, he was sat in the window, just looking across the Palace pier, and out to sea.

Both of them had been home a couple of hours now and had hardly said a word to one another. They had been together for twelve years, and married for the last five of them. To the outside world, they were a solid dependable couple, but once the front door to there apartment was closed, the truth was a stark contrast to the public facade.

They both realised that their lives were heading in different directions. Maybe it was work. Jeanette was a struggling fashion designer, and Doug, a high flying financial services expert, with a good job in London, and excellent career prospects. The train link from London to Brighton was why they had chosen the coastal city to make their home. It was marginally more affordable and gave Doug good commuting options. Jeanette was in the right place for her career also, given that Brighton has a large number of exclusive boutiques, and fashion shops. Although so far, she had only had very limited success. Doug had not been supportive of Jeanette for some time now, and the distance that had been growing between them, was rapidly becoming an insurmountable problem.

Jeanette, frustrated, upset, and perhaps feeling a little desperate, had visited the travel agent at the end of London Road, just around the corner from where she was currently working, and walked out with a bundle of different, glossy holiday destination magazines. She had determined that a holiday might get their lives together, back on track.

That afternoon´s teabreak had afforded Jeanette time enough to look through the brochures, and with determination, throwing all caution to the wind Jeanette called the travel agent and made a reservation.

Doug heard the oven door close and the little beeping noise that the hob made as Jeanette was turning everything off. He stood and made his way to the dining room just as Jeanette called from the kitchen "Doug, would you prepare the dinner table please, I am just serving up."

"Already on it" he replied. "what are we eating tonight Jeanette?" "Spaghetti Bolognese."

"Spoon and fork then?" enquired Doug.

"Yes that will be fine" Jeanette agreed. They were sat across from one another, and they ate in silence. A silence, which hung stagnantly, almost tangibly, in the air until Jeanette spoke. "Doug?"

"yes?"

"When was the last time we had a holiday?, Together I mean. I have been thinking; life seems a little dull and routine at the moment, we should get away somewhere." Jeanette really meant, we are growing apart, and this is one last chance to start putting things right. Looking over at Doug´s expressionless face, she wasn´t at all sure that he was even listening, let alone understood, what she was really saying, and asking for.

Doug slowly placed his cutlery on his plate, and swallowed his last mouthful. He pushed the plate away from him, and slid his chair back a little. For the first time, in what seemed ages, he took a long look at Jeanette, and intently studied her face. Was that a fleeting expression of pain that he saw? Would he even recognize it in her anymore?

Doug rose from the table, and as he turned to walk back to the lounge, he replied "Yes, ok. Youré right. That is a good idea. Shall I ask Peter, and Francis to join us? We could make an event of it."

"NO!" Jeanette retorted, perhaps a little too curtly. "This is to be a holiday for us. I don´t want anyone else coming along. Not this time". "Okay" reponded Doug, "I´ll get something organised".

"No need, I have already booked something for us. We fly on Monday."

"But" Doug protested, "What about work?"

"It is all sorted" said Jeanette. "All you have to do, is get your bags ready."

"How did you get something booked so quickly?" Doug wanted to know.

"Allocation on arrival. Got a good deal too."

"Well where are we going? I need to know, what I should pack into my suitcase."

Jeanette smiled, "Not a lot. You remember three years ago you had that works holiday to Gran Canaria? Well you raved about it so much, I have booked 2 weeks there. I think it is going to be exciting. Especially as I don´t know very much about the place."

Doug knew about Gran Canaria. Oh he certainly knew, and for a moment he froze. He hoped Jeanette hadn´t noticed. If she had, it might raise a few questions...................

What happens next depends entirely on you.

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