I’m still clinging on to the hope that he will come bursting in and take me into his arms, desperately apologising for his mistake and swearing he will never leave me again.
I’m kidding myself, he’s had all night to dwell on it, so if he hasn’t done anything by now, he’s just not going to.
Reluctantly I pick up the phone, ringing reception and getting Mari of all people.
“Hi Mari, can you book me a taxi to the airport, I need to leave at about 15.00 today” I jump straight in, there’s no point in skirting the issue.
“You are leaving?” she asks surprised, but does not specifically question as to why.
“Yes I am” I reply without elaborating.
She pauses, clearly hoping I will give a reason, but finally agrees “Yes Miss Mavers, I do it now for you”
I thank her and end the call before she gets the courage to ask.
Right, I have just under eight hours before I go, I still need to say goodbye to Blair and John and get a few more presents for everyone at home from the gift shop, but then that’s that and I’ll be on my way.
I take one final luxurious shower then pack up the last of my things. Dressing in comfy airplane clothes, white linen trousers, a sky blue vest top and flip flops. I leave a light cardigan out for later incase it’s cold in the airport and then scrunch my wet hair up in a bun and head out.
I find Blair just leaving her apartment, “I was just coming to find you” she says with a look of concern on her face, “I take it from your expression that he still hasn’t called?”
“Nope” I say dejectedly, “I was just coming to say bye to you guys, I’m leaving at 15.00”
“Oh Kate” she sighs, wrapping me up in a bear hug, “I’m going to miss you” As she pulls away I can see her well up, I haven’t seen Blair cry and I can’t say I had expected her to.
“It’s OK, we’ll keep in touch” I re-assure her, “I’d love for you and John to come and visit me in England sometime”
“We’d love that too” she says, answering for them both.
She wipes the tears from her face and follows me to the shop, explaining that helping me buy things will cheer her up.
As it goes she buys more than I do, swearing blind that she will really use Mexican wall hangings and glass bowls in her home and they won’t just get put in a cupboard never again to see the light of day.
I pick up a pair of pearl earrings for my mum and a shot glass for my dad as he collects them, but does not yet have a Mexican one.
I grab a couple of stuffed toys with the name of the resort on for Caz’s kids and some of the decorative glass wear and a bottle of rum for Caz and Phil. I’m not convinced the rum has any obvious Mexican connection, but they like it and it’s expensive; either its good stuff, or I’ve just been ripped off; either way, I’m sure they’ll appreciate the thought.
We head back and find John so I can give him a proper goodbye, to my surprise he wells up too, his voice cracking as he demands I come and visit them before the year is out. i promise I will and thank him for lending me Blair so many times, “No thank you, for taking her off my hands” he jokes, having composed himself.
We decide to go for one last long leisurely lunch, to make the most of the three hours I have left with them. We choose the Mexican restaurant as it seems most fitting and order practically everything on the menu. I refuse the wine, leaving them both with looks of astonishment, before I explain that I don’t want to be tipsy of hung over for that matter, when I have an eight hour plane ride ahead of me. They nod understandingly but not before a valiant effort to persuade me into it with a chorus of, it’s my last day of holiday, how often will I get to be drunk at lunch once I’m home, if you can’t do it now when can you and so on.
It’s a wonderful way to spend the afternoon, eating and chatting to two wonderful people on decking in the sunshine, looking out over the beach. It’s so perfect I actually forget everything else