Sunshine and Second Chances Read online

  Resting her head on her hands, she looked around her, drinking in the surroundings. From this angle, in one direction, she could see the villa in its full splendour. The vibrant bougainvillea looked stunning against the white-washed villa walls and on each corner stood oleander trees in pots. She wished she had a pretty garden like this. Her garden was more of a back yard, all paved because Dave couldn’t be bothered to mow a lawn. She’d tried her hardest to pretty it up over the years with potted plants dotted around and bedding plants adding a splash of colour in the summer, but she really missed a lush green lawn. Thinking about it now, she wasn’t quite sure whether she’d actually told Dave that, or whether she’d just gone along with his plans for the easy route.

  As she turned the other way, she couldn’t believe that even though she’d seen it a few times now, the view beyond took her breath away. The sun sparkled on the turquoise blue sea, which was so still, and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen in the deep blue sky. She could stare at it for hours. The sea made her feel happy. She didn’t know why and giggled when she thought that perhaps she’d been a mermaid in a previous life.

  She swam a few lengths and when she felt that she’d had enough, she decided to swim another ten. You couldn’t keep doing the same things and expect a different result, and she had to start somewhere. As she walked up the pool steps, she shivered as she felt the presence of someone watching her.

  ‘Eduardo!’ she gasped.

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I should be watering. I am sorry.’ He looked her up and down and smiled. ‘You are very beautiful lady. Is Debs short for something?’

  ‘It’s short for Deborah.’

  He took a step towards her.

  ‘Then I will call you Deb-orah. Beautiful Deb-orah.’

  Debs thought she was dreaming. How could a man who looked like this think that she, Debs from North Staffordshire – Debs who worked in a children’s nursery and wore trousers and a polo shirt to work – be beautiful? She lowered her eyes to the floor.

  He took another step towards her. He was so close now that she could smell his musky aftershave mixed with undertones of lemon and, if she wasn’t mistaken, bergamot. He put his finger under her chin and raised her face so their eyes met.

  ‘You are very sexy lady Deb-orah.’

  A bead of sweat trickled between her breasts. The finger that was resting under her chin traced a line slowly and suggestively down her neck and stopped just above her cleavage. Debs realised she had been holding her breath. She felt a stirring between her legs that she hadn’t felt for a very long time. What on earth was she doing?

  ‘Your necklace is very beautiful,’ he said, his hand coming to rest on the feather necklace she never took off.

  Taking a step backwards, she steadied herself. ‘Would you like some water, Eduardo?’ she asked, not really knowing what to say to him. She wanted an excuse to get back to the sunbed so she could cover herself with her sarong. The last thing she wanted was him seeing her flabby tummy any more than he had to.

  ‘Mmmm, please.’

  God, how did he even manage to do that and sound so sexy? she wondered.

  She grabbed the sarong from the back of the sunbed and tied it loosely around her chest, letting it drape over her costume. She filled a tall glass from the water jug on the table and passed it to Eduardo. He sipped at it, never taking his eyes off her.

  ‘Do you live locally?’ she asked, trying hard to fill the silence.

  ‘Not far. I have an apartment in a place called Quarteira. How about you? Where do you live?’

  She sat on one of the chairs and offered one to him. He sat next to her, his knee touching hers. God, she was glad she’d had her legs waxed before coming away. She hoped her bikini line wasn’t sprouting hair as quickly as her legs usually did. She adjusted the sarong making sure it was covering up her lady bits.

  ‘I live in a place called Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire. Have you ever been to England?’

  Still, he stared at her intensely. He made her feel very nervous.

  ‘I have been to Birmingham. To the botanical gardens when I was at college. A nice place.’

  ‘I’ve been to Birmingham many times, but I’ve not been there.’

  ‘Very nice place. What is Burton-on-Trent like? Is it very pretty?’

  Debs laughed to herself. She didn’t think the words ‘Burton-on-Trent’ had ever been spoken so sexily. She didn’t think he’d understand if she said that her home town had a permanent smell of Marmite in the air. She giggled nervously as she wondered how the word ‘Marmite’ would sound from his sexy mouth. God, she was hot. She didn’t know if she was having a hot flush, if it was the weather affecting her, or this gorgeous man sitting beside her. She grabbed her portable fan off the table and tried to cool herself down.

  ‘It’s OK, I suppose. There’re good and bad parts everywhere. We certainly don’t have the weather that you have here in Portugal.’

  ‘In Portugal we have good weather for most of the year. Even in December it can be eighteen degrees, and we still wear the shorts and the T-shirts.’

  For a moment, they just smiled at each other, neither of them really knowing what to say next.

  ‘Your brother is an excellent cook.’

  ‘Ah, that he is. He has his own restaurant and catering business. He is very, as you say, success.’

  ‘Successful,’ Debs corrected.

  ‘Thank you. My English is just OK.’

  ‘Your English is brilliant. Way better than my Portuguese.’

  ‘Then you should let me teach you.’

  ‘I’d like that, Eduardo, thank you.’

  ‘I will teach you some very easy ones right now. Bom dia is good morning, boa tarde is good afternoon, and boa noite is goodnight. Hello is olá, tchau is bye and adeus is goodbye. Por favor is please and de nada is you’re welcome.’

  ‘Gosh, could you write those down for me?’ She picked up a notebook and pen from the table. ‘I will learn them and teach the others.’

  ‘Of course.’ As he took the notebook and pen, his hand brushed against hers and a shiver ran from her toes to the tip of her head.

  ‘If you wanted me to, I could teach you more.’ He held her gaze and she felt like the world had stopped.

  Debs couldn’t speak. She wasn’t sure whether she was imagining that he was being so flirtatious or if it was genuine. What seemed liked minutes, but was just seconds, passed by before he continued.

  ‘Maybe I could pop by later, when I have finished my work when I break for the lunch.’ He gazed at her seductively and she looked deep into his eyes, trying to work out if they were midnight blue or jet black. They were gorgeous, whatever the colour, with lashes that most women would die for.

  Debs blushed again. She wasn’t sure if it was Eduardo or the menopause, but she knew she was on fire right now and needed to get back in that pool to cool off and calm down very soon. What should she say to this? She wasn’t sure how old he was, but from his looks alone, she felt that he was probably younger than her, yet he seemed really interested. She was flattered and the way he was looking at her alone was making her feel a million dollars. In a split-second decision she threw caution to the wind. What the hell? When in Portugal and all that.

  ‘Thank you, Eduardo. I would like that very much. And please, call me Debs.’

  ‘I would love that too, Deb-orah. Debs. Shall I see you at around one p.m. Does that suit you?’

  ‘Yes, that would be great.’

  He grinned and his whole face lit up and his eyes twinkled mischievously.

  ‘I must go and work, Debs. You are very – how you say – distracting to me.’

  Debs couldn’t believe this was happening to her. Eduardo was gorgeous and she was, well, just Debs.

  ‘Até logo, Debs.’

  He leant forward and kissed her cheek tenderly. She touched the place he had kissed and stared at him as he walked away, wondering how long it was until one p.m. and what time th
e girls would be back. She felt like a teenager looking forward to a date. What an amazing feeling. It was as if a million butterflies were dancing around in her stomach.

  The trouble with being married for years is that you lose that feeling of lust and excitement. She and Dave had ended up more like brother and sister. They did still have a sex life, when they could be bothered, and when they made the effort it was perfectly nice, but it felt more like a chore to tick off the weekly to-do list. In hindsight, it’s no wonder he fell for PFP. Maybe Debs made him feel like Eduardo was making Debs feel right now. But she wasn’t going to think about them. She needed to get back in that pool and cool off. She made sure Eduardo wasn’t around any more and ran and jumped in the water like a child. She was having fun and life was about having fun. She felt more carefree than she had for a long while.

  Once she’d dried off, Debs texted Liv to see how they were getting on. She replied soon after:

  Fab morning, we do miss you though. Hope you don’t mind but we’re going to have a late lunch and come back around four-ish. Is that OK with you? We don’t want you to be on your own for too long, but don’t want to rush back either. Let me know if that’s OK. Wish you were with us x

  At least Debs didn’t have to be worrying about what time they would be back; she and Eduardo would have some time to get to know each other. As she thought this, that little flutter in her tummy happened again and she smiled to herself. She texted Liv back:

  I’m fine. Enjoying some chilling time and pretending that this is my house and my normal life. Enjoy your lunch and don’t rush back for me. I’m absolutely fine. See you later x

  She picked up her paperback and read for a bit, but she couldn’t really concentrate. She lay on her sunbed gazing out to sea, and let her thoughts run away with her. Just imagine if she did live in a place like this, where the sun shone most of the time and the pace of life was so calm.

  In fairness, she knew she had it easier than most. She didn’t have kids or a husband (any more) to run around after. She could please herself with what she ate and when she ate, although that wasn’t really helping her. She looked down at her body and wished that her tummy wasn’t so large. She really wanted to be able to do something about her weight, but, up until now, she didn’t seem to have been in the right frame of mind. Maybe now the time was right for her. Maybe she should join a gym or at least go to a class. Though she was never a fan of gyms, if truth be told. The ones she’d been to in the past were full of skinny minnies, all looking at themselves in the mirrors with their perfect hair and make-up. She didn’t feel she would fit in at a place like that.

  Samantha had recently mentioned a slimming group called Busy Bodies in Little Ollington, which wasn’t too far away from her house, run by her friend Grace, which was getting some great reviews. A couple of the girls from Samantha’s work had been along and they were raving about it. It was all about healthy eating and gentle exercise. Apparently, they all met up and went on walks together too and it was supposed to be a great way to make friends. She made up her mind, there and then, that when she got back she was definitely going to go along.

  It was time she started to think about herself and feel better about herself too. The other day

  she’d seen someone she thought she knew from about twenty-five years ago in a café, and she’d been dying to say hello, but she hadn’t had the confidence to go over because she’d changed so much since they’d last seen each other. She hadn’t wanted this person to look down their nose at her and think that she hadn’t aged well at all. It was so silly. They used to be good friends, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  If nothing else, this flirtation with Eduardo was making her realise that it was definitely time to deal with this issue of hers and take more care of herself. She went up to her bedroom and showered, washed and straightened her hair, slicked on a little mascara, and brushed some bronzer over her cheeks before heading back out to the terrace.

  Eduardo appeared from the side of the villa. ‘Olá, Deb-orah! How has your morning been?’

  ‘Eduardo, hello.’

  She felt ridiculously nervous. She knew she shouldn’t compare, but couldn’t remember ever fancying Dave this much, even in the early days, and being so jumpy around him. They had drifted together after they’d met at college, and ended up getting married. She had loved him deeply, but there was none of this fluttery feeling with him.

  ‘Can I get you a drink? Coffee, tea, or a cold drink – a beer or a wine?’ She felt she needed some alcohol to still her nerves but also knew that was an area she needed to address. She drank way too much and was totally embarrassed that she’d passed out the other night. Up until now, she’d done that in private.

  ‘A coffee would be perfect, thank you. I’m not a big drinker, and definitely not on my lunch break.’

  Debs decided she would have coffee too. Drinking less booze would be helpful for her healthy life plan. And here, in Portugal, would be a great place to start with all the fabulous fruit and veg they had access to. Liv was great at stuff like this. Perhaps Debs would take her to one side tonight and ask her if she might help her, and maybe even ask about starting to run in the morning too. She couldn’t keep putting things off.

  She was, surprisingly, quite excited about changing her life. If nothing else, she had Eduardo to thank for that.

  They walked around the garden, Eduardo pointing out the different plants and flowers. He talked so passionately about them that she realised she had lost her lust for life. She no longer had passion for her job, for her life. Being in a different country with different options was making her realise that she had the power to change things. If she could change her mindset, she felt she could start to change lots of things.

  They sat back at the table on the terrace, overlooking the pool and gardens.

  ‘Do you have a family, Deb-orah?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t, Eduardo. I did have a husband, but…’ She drifted off for a moment and realised it was the first time she’d said that for a while where she didn’t feel sad. Perhaps she was starting to realise that you can’t get stuck in the past. ‘My husband has a new life now and so do I.’

  ‘So what makes you passion? What makes you happy?’

  Debs mulled this over.

  ‘I actually don’t know the answer to that, Eduardo, but I know that I need to find something.’

  ‘Oh you do, Deb-orah. You must find something that makes your heart sing. Something to give you joy in your life. I look at your beautiful face, but you seem so sad at times. I would love to see your eyes sparkle and shine with excitement for life.’

  Debs smiled sadly. ‘I would love that too. And being here in Portugal is helping me find my sparkle once more, in more ways than you could probably imagine. I do need to think about what I want to do with my life. I used to make things, craft things, and I loved it. but then life took over and I just stopped doing it. Perhaps that’s something I could try again, to see if it brings me joy.’

  ‘I would like to see this. You should try it while you are here. What are you doing tomorrow? I would like to take you somewhere, but I would like to keep it a surprise for you.’

  ‘Really? How exciting.’ She held her hand to her chest. ‘I think the girls were planning to have some golfing lessons.’

  ‘Do you have to go? Or can you come out with me? I would like very much for you to be my, how you say, companion for the day.’

  ‘I would like that very much. I’ll check with my friends, as I am here on holiday with them.’

  ‘Where is your phone? Let me give you my number. And then I must go and continue to work.’

  Debs reached across to her handbag and retrieved her phone. He took it and entered his number and rang his phone. The shrill ring tone signified that he’d got the call. He saved her number.

  ‘Text me!’ He kissed her tenderly on her cheek. ‘I have enjoyed today very much. I like to spend time with you. And hopefully, we’ll meet tomorrow.
Tchau.’

  As he disappeared around the side of the villa, through the gardens, she held her hand to her cheek once more, not quite believing that this very handsome man had kissed her again, and wondered whether she was dreaming. She also realised that she hadn’t learnt any new words in Portuguese, which was the whole reason he was meant to have popped back to see her.

  She went upstairs to her room, and as she passed the large gilt mirror on the landing, she actually stopped, lifted up her chin and took a good look at herself. Her eyes were sparkling, her platinum blonde hair had dried in natural waves which softened her face and her cheeks were pink and flushed. For the first time in a very long time she felt pretty. She never looked at herself in this way. She always felt like a big fat blob with saggy tits and a muffin top. But right now she felt as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

  She lifted her shoulders and held her head back as she walked into her room. She rummaged through the wardrobe until she found the pretty maxi dress she’d bought at the supermarket but had never thought she’d have the courage to wear. She pulled the dress over her head and smoothed the slinky material down over her backside and her hips. She felt good in it and decided that if the promise of a day out with Eduardo materialised, she would wear this dress.

  Eighteen

  Debs heard the front door fling open and then be slammed shut; a whirlwind of laughter and cheer signifying that the girls were back.

  She whipped off the maxi dress and shouted that she’d be down in a minute. Once at the bottom of the stairs, she took a deep breath before stepping over the huge number of carrier bags brimming with shopping, which had been abandoned in the hallway, and smiled as she walked into the open-plan lounge area, asking her friends if they’d had a good time.