Antigua Kiss by Anne Weale Read Free Book Online Page B

slats slowly opened to reveal the prospect on that side of the cottage, she drew in a sharp breath of pleasure.
    Immediately outside the floor-to-ceiling plate glass panels was a flowery verandah with two reclining chairs and four upright chairs arranged round a white table fitted with a furled sunbrella. Beyond, seen between the tall trunks of coconut palms, was the calm and sparkling Caribbean.
    'Oh, John—just look!' she exclaimed delightedly. 'I can't wait to have my first dip. I'll find our swimsuits and your armlets, and we'll unpack properly later on.'
    It didn't take long to unstrap and unlock the case containing her plain green one-piece and John's stretchy tomato-red briefs with the face of a smiling sun sewn on the behind.
    Mindful that the inflatable armlets would expose more of him to the still-powerful rays than was the case with an unsupported swimmer, she insisted he wear an old tee-shirt.

    The part of the beach closest to their cottage had fewer people on it than the area near the thatched beach bar, and Christie was glad not to be too near the other holidaymakers. They all seemed enviably tanned, making her doubly self-conscious of the unpleasing pallor of her limbs.
    She found herself wondering if, by the time Ash returned? she would have achieved a less unappetising colour; her next thought being that it should be a matter of indifference to her whether he found her skin repulsively white or not.
    Although it was her nephew's first encounter with the sea, he needed no encouragement to walk into the warm, clear water and try out the bright orange armlets. Soon it was clear that, like the majority of children, he was a natural water-baby who, left to himself, would dog-paddle happily for hours.
    Christie had learnt to swim at school, but had not swum a great deal since then, and never in water like this; crystal shot with pearly gleams where it rippled on the powdered coral sand, then shading from palest jade through all the blue-greens to purple above the submerged reefs. There, about fifty yards out, she could see a number of people snorkelling, occasionally blowing plumes of water out of their breathing tubes.
    When she and John left the water, she felt more refreshed and relaxed than she could ever remember.
    'But we won't sunbathe until later. The sun is still very hot,' she said, mindful of the message left with Bettina by his co-guardian.
    A few minutes after their return to the cottage, the telephone rang and a man's voice asked, 'Mrs Chapman?' and then introduced himself as the Manager.

    'We shall meet later on. For the moment I merely wish to say
    "Welcome", and to urge you to be sure to tell me if you have any problems, or if I can help you in any way.'
    'That's very kind of you. Thank you.'
    'Not at all. It's our job to ensure you have a perfect vacation. By the way, although we routinely put flowers in all the cottages, Mr Lambard asked for a specially nice arrangement to be prepared for your arrival, Mrs Chapman. You'll also find various supplies, including milk for the little boy, provided for you in the kitchen.'
    'Really? Oh, that's very helpful.'
    'Some of our guests enjoy a substantial breakfast in the restaurant while they're on holiday. Others prefer to be self-sufficient first thing.
    There are times when guests like to socialise with each other at one of the Colony's four bars where we serve all the island specialities such as Pina Colada and Antigua Kiss. But sometimes they want some quiet refreshments on their own verandah. We start them off with a bottle of Antigua's excellent light rum. However, Mr Lambard thought that wine might be more to your taste, and we've carried out his instruction that a bottle of our best French white wine should be placed in your ice-box a short while before your arrival. Now I'll leave you to rest after your journey.'
    After she had replaced the receiver, Christie looked around the sitting-room more carefully and saw, in an alcove, a lovely cascading