** For authors notes, disclaimer etc. see chapter 1
Trip Advisor 2/?
"The board's saying delayed until 22:30 but I asked at the desk and the girl said it could be later than that, some problem with the change over when it landed so god knows how long we'll have to wait." Gerry sighed sitting back own on the uncomfortable seat beside Sandra as she groaned with frustration.
"What about our arranged transfers when we get to the other side did you ask her about that? Will it wait until the plane gets in I'm sure we're not the only people on this flight who are supposed to meet a hotel transfer when we get there." Sandra asked glaring at him as he paused seeming unwilling to answer her question. "Gerry spit it out what did she say?"
"She checked our booking and says there are no transfers on it, that they are not booked and when I said we had everything included on our online booking and showed her the print out she…..well she…" Gerry muttered the idea of passing on what the overly cheerful girl at the Flybe desk had told him not being something he relished.
"Gerry you better tell me what she said and do it quickly because I'm starting to lose my temper now." Sandra snapped the knot that had been in her stomach when they had taken Brian's recommendation when booking returning as Gerry stared at his feet.
"She just said that transfers are unreliable over there but that it's only a 20 euro taxi ride from the airport to the hotel so it's not a big deal."
"And that's all she said? Why do I feel like you're not telling me something?" Sandra replied her eyes narrowing suspiciously at him as he stood up again refusing to meet her eyes.
"We're stuck here for now anyway how about we get some dinner there's a nice place over there that does traditional pub grub and we could have a drink too you're far too tense for someone going on holiday you need a drink." He smiled lifting both their hand luggage bags and walking in the direction of the small restaurant at the other side of the terminal before she had a chance to question him further.
"Gerry I'm nipping to the ladies you get us a table." She called as he nodded allowing the smiling girl just inside the restaurant to show him to a table, sitting at the side of it that ensured he would see her when she came back from the bathroom before pulling his phone out of his pocket and dialling Brian's number.
"Gerry aren't you supposed to be on a plane right now?" Esther said when she answered the phone and he quickly glanced around ensuring that Sandra hadn't sneaked up on him before replying.
"Yeah we are but it's delayed, is he there Esther I really need to talk to him."
"He's out with Jack if it's urgent I'm sure Jack has his mobile with him. Has something happened is Sandra ok?" Esther replied as he sighed and shook his head.
"For now she is but I don't know how long that's going to last when I went to check on the flight and showed the girl behind the desk out online booking she all but laughed in my face. She's already told me the company is well known for not having promised transfers at the airport when you get to the other side and she says she'd heard terrible reports about them not booking people into the hotels they were supposed to be in I need to know where he got the website and if you've used it."
"You took holiday recommendations from Brian? Gerry please tell me you're joking what were you thinking?" Esther said the note of panic in her voice not helping him in the slightest. "Even I don't let Brian get involved when I'm going away with the girls he falls for every online advert going. I can't believe Sandra agreed to let you book something on a site he gave you."
"She didn't, well she did but only because I told her it would be ok.. Shit Esther what am I going to do now?" Gerry asked as he saw Sandra come out of the ladies on the other side of the terminal.
"Pray would be my advice." Esther replied as he hung up and put the phone back in his pocket just in time for Sandra to join him at the table.
"Are you going to tell me now what the girl at the check in desk actually said or are we going to play guess the crisis all night?" Sandra asked giving him her best "give it up or you'll regret it" stare as she did.
"She was just surprised about our hotel resper4vations she said it's a lovely hotel but they have a bit of a problem with lizards apparently she's always hearing about those little ones that are everywhere in Spain getting into people's beds and showers and stuff." He muttered hoping once again that she would just let it drop so that he could try to think of some way to put it right if need be when they got there.
"I hate lizards or any reptile for that matter you know that!" Sandra replied wrinkling her nose and understanding at last why he was so reluctant to tell her. "Why wasn't that in any of the reviews online."
"I don't know but she told me so long as you don't leave the windows open when you're out of the room you're fine. We'll be careful and if we do get one inside I'll save you from it!" Gerry smiled breathing a sigh of relief as she appeared to accept his explanation for now. For the rest of the evening he was pretty sure he had got away with it but that wasn't going to help if they got off the plane and arrived at their 5 star hotel to find that they hadn't been booked in. If that happened he didn't think there'd be any way to save the situation nor his life for that matter.
