Chapter 4
They walked down the long marbled floored lobby, their luggage rolling along behind them, making their way towards the reception desk.
A young Spanish man sat behind the large desk speaking excessively quickly down the phone, somewhat abruptly he looked up, then he ended the call.
He smiled cheeringly, as he said.
"Si?"
"Fairhead, Mr and Mrs Fairhead" Charlie said, peering down at the young Spanish man.
"Inglés?" The man asked.
"Si, yes." Duffy replied, looking back at Charlie.
"Mr and Mrs Fairhead". Charlie explained to the man, then smiled at Duffy.
"Mr, and Mrs Fairhead, si. Welcome to El Dorado (Golden) Plaza Hotel, in Santa Cruz. We have...a...a especial room...er... el Honeymoon Rosa Roja (Red Rose) suite, on el tercero piso (third floor). Pedro will see to your luggage, and take you up. Pedro, por favor llevarlos a Rosa Roja." He smiled back at the couple.
"Thank you, erm, Gracias". Charlie smiled at the receptionist, turned and smiled, then winked at Duffy.
Charlie and Duffy gave their suitcases to the young teenager, who blushed slightly at the mention of the Rosa Roja room, but still smiled politely at them both.
As they made their way to their room, through numerous hallways. Pedro eventually stopped outside their room, opened their door and walked them into the beautifully decorated large white bedroom suite.
Duffy and Charlie noticed their large king-sized four-poster bed was covered in an arrangement of beautiful red rose petals, and a love-heart expertly made from two interwoven towels as the centrepiece. A bottle of Champagne sat chilled in a large bucket of ice; sat at the foot of the bed on the chase long.
"Tu habitación Rosa Roja para la pareja feliz".
(The Red Rose room for the happy couple)
"Gracias, Pedro, thank you, here." Charlie smiled at the teenager, handing him 5 euros.
"Gracias señor y señora", Pedro handed Charlie the keys, took the money, and bowed his head, before leaving the room.
Duffy turned to Charlie as they both began to laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha. I don't think I've ever seen a teenage boy look so embarrassed in years."
"His face was a picture wasn't it. Ha, ha."
"Oh Charlie, this is beautiful, you didn't have to go to this much trouble though." Duffy said, as she picked up a rose petal from the bed.
"Ah, but I do though, I want to spoil you, and I don't care if it is a clichè."
"Oh Charlie, you adorable man you." She smiled back at him.
Charlie walked over to her, and gently stroked her face, as he said.
"And that's why, I want to make you smile, and I want you to be as happy as you make me."
"Oh Charlie." She looked up at him, and gently kissed him.
"You are the sweetest man in the world." Her eyes shone as she spoke.
"And, do you know what?" He asked.
"What?" She replied.
"I'm all yours." He said, as he kissed her again.
-o-
"I could get used to this you know." Duffy said, as she stretched out further in the large white bath.
"What?" Charlie said, as he peered into the bathroom.
"A jacuzi and champagne. It's perfect after a long shift."
"I'll remember that."
"Oh, please do, it's heavenly. Are you not coming in? There's more than enough room for two."
"I'll just finish up unpacking while you relax a little."
"Oh come on Charlie, come and relax."
"Ah, here they are."
"What?"
Charlie returned to the bathroom wearing his blue speedos.
"Ha, ha, ha, oh Charlie."
"What?"
"Nothing. Ha, ha." Duffy giggled.
He lowered himself into the bubbling water, as he said, "what's so funny?"
"Nothing darling, nothing at all."
Duffy handed him a glass of champagne, and he rose his glass up to hers for a toast.
"Here's to us." Duffy said, smiling at him lovingly.
"To us." Charlie replied, smiling back at her.
"My wonderful husband." Duffy said.
"My darling wife." Charlie replied.
They met each other's gaze with a kiss, as the bubbles continued on floating around them.
"Let me see it." Duffy said, as she finished putting in her earring, and straightening her lilac dress.
"What?" Charlie replied, as he gathered up a few bandages, gauze, tape, and antiseptic cream.
"Your 'sheep bite', it must be sore." She walked over to him.
"I'm fine honestly, I just need a new dressing on it that's all."
"Charlie? Let me help." Duffy asked again.
"You just finish up getting ready, I'll not be long." Charlie said, as he disappeared off into the bathroom.
He began unwinding the wettened bandage; removing the taped up gauze; then the thick dressing pad: revealing the tattoo. He sighed to himself, as he looked at the mirrored image of the word 'candy' written in the centre.
"How can I explain that?" He said under his breath, then shook his head at himself.
He placed a fresh piece of dressing pad onto the tattoo, taping it in place, wound the bandage around it, finishing it off with more tape to keep it secure. He then put on his white shirt, looked into the mirror and sighed once again.
He left the bathroom and walked back into the bedroom.
"All done…" He said, and just as he looked towards her.
She turned around to face him, he stopped in his tracks. She wore a tight lilac patterned mid-length dress, and had a matching lilac slide in her free-flowing hair. Her make-up was natural, and her eyes shone. She looked incredible.
"You look, you look breath-taking." He said, stumbling on his words.
"Charlie." Duffy said, blushing.
"You do, you look, you look so beautiful." He walked towards her, and took her hand as he spoke.
"Oh Charlie." She blushed again, then gave him a loving kiss.
She then looked down at his arm, as she said, "how's the arm?"
"Oh, I'll live. Come on Mrs Fairhead, we have a restaurant to find. I'm starving." He let go of her hand, as he walked towards the door, he gathered up his wallet, hotel key, and held open the door.
Duffy smiled back at him, as she said, "you and your stomach Mr Fairhead." She collected her purse, and walked towards the door.
"What can I say? I've worked up an appetite." He winked at her as she walked passed him, and out of the door.
"Ha, ha, ha, yes, yes you have." Duffy laughed at him, as he closed the door.
-x-