Jennifer's shriek of delight made Jonathan jump.
"Sorry," she laughed and squeezed his arm.
"Jonathan you won't believe it, we've just won a holiday. You remember I went through a phase of drinking that awful Sonas Apple wine."
"Don't remind me. The hangover the next morning was something else. That stuff was pure dynamite,"
"Well never mind about that, the people who make Sonas wine were running a competition. The best slogan wins. I put in the slogan Sonas wine if you have the time it will make you feel so fine."
"Hay Mickey,"
"Don't be silly Jonathan I didn't steal from that song. Well maybe a little but anyway listen,"
Jonathan sat up in bed and gave his wife his full attention.
Jenifer looked down at the letter and began to read it aloud. "You will be picked up by private jet and flown to Sonas Island to enjoy a week long vacation of Sandy beach's, excellent food and luxury accommodation."
"Jennifer, I don't know..."
"Ah please Jonathan, you did say it was quiet at the office with less orders coming in."
"Yeah less orders usually means I have to go in and work harder Jennifer, it doesn't mean I take a vacation."
"Ok Jonathan maybe you're right you do need to work harder. And I don't need to be going out buying sexy swim wear for the beach and rubbing lotion on my tanned body. My tanned body glistening in the sun. Little droplets of perspiration..."
Jonathan groaned
"Woman you will have me in the poor house one of these days,"
"Whatever turns you on..." she grinned back at him as he pulled her into his arms.
~H&H~
So within a fortnight Jonathan and Jennifer were walking through a bustling crowded airport with bags in hand towards their private plane.
"I wish we were taking the private jet," Jonathan yelled back at her as they hurried on.
"Where's your sense of adventure," she grinned in excitement.
They were directed out a side door by a hassled looking attendant. They headed enthusiastically in that direction but both stopped short on the tarmac and frowned a little at the small sea plane that came to bring them.
"Is that it do you think," Jennifer asked.
Jonathan looked down at their tickets.
Before he could answer a busy looking little man came up behind them and with a small bow he took their bags from them.
"I guess this is it," Jonathan smiled back at her enjoying a little her obvious discomfort.
Once they were settled in their seats in the cramped compartment behind the cockpit the plane took off swaying in the breeze like a demented little bee.
Jennifer glanced over at Jonathan. He wasn't smiling anymore as he caught hold of a wrist strap by the door. The plane looked rather old and warn out. The upholstery was tatty and threadbare and the plane had rather an old car smell about it. The two pilots up ahead spoke in a foreign language neither Johnathan or Jennifer could recognise.
"Do you think they even had landing clearance?" Jennifer whispered over at him.
"I'm sure its fine darling," he said though he wasn't sure.
As soon as they were any way airborne Jonathan unbuckled his belt and stumbled out towards the cockpit.
"How soon will we be there," he asked directly.
"It's alright, it's alright," they said in a dismissive manner. It was clear they wanted him to go sit in his seat so they could carry on talking.
Jennifer was looking very worried now as Jonathan came to take his seat.
"Don't worry darling, I've been on these kinds of planes before. They probably don't speak good English. They have just been tasked with getting us there."
"But where," Jennifer muttered to herself. "Where is Sonas Island."
Soon after one of the pilots came back in to their cabin. He went to a pull out press and opened it.
Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief as he brought out two glasses and a bottle of Sonas apple wine. The holiday makers soon cheered up as the wine flowed and they ate a salad lunch with fresh rolls and cheese cake and cream for dessert. They soon forgot to worry about the plane and their whereabouts as the co pilot told them many funny stories about his childhood in Venezuela. The journey began to lengthen as morning turned to afternoon and early evening. The wine and meal made them both sleepy and they drifted off. The co pilot covered them both with blankets and headed back up to the cockpit.
Jennifer woke with a start to see Jonathan smiling down at her.
"Jonathan, where..."
"We're here, come on," Jonathan smiled as he took her hand.
They stepped carefully out of the plane and on to the decking of a small harbour. Jennifer smiled broadly at the waves crashing all around them. Instrumental music was playing close by and a welcome committee had come to greet them. A tall, pretty woman in smart casual clothes came forward.
"Hello my name is Gill Sonas. Welcome to Sonas Island." She shook both their hands as staff crept carefully behind the party to take their bags from the plane.
"This is my brother Uri," she smiled warmly.
A man with a pale complexion and dark hair stepped forward. He gave them a thin smile and gestured for them to follow him. They all made their way on to dry land and walked down a quaint little cobble road. Jennifer smiled as she noted the little shops they passed. Outside each colourful entrance there hung little inflatable dolls, buckets and spades and large rubber rings for floating on water. She could smell ice cream and cotton candy inside making her feel like a little girl again.
"We are very glad to have you here. Myself and Uri own and run this little island. As well as holiday makers we also have our apple orchard here, you will of course have a tour of the island and a chance to sample our newest and best wine while you are staying with us, on the house of course.
"That is really very generous of you," Jennifer smiled warmly at the young woman.
Gill moved forward and opened a little gate in front of her. She gestured for them to follow her in. Jonathan and Jennifer looked up at the beautiful ornate looking little house with flower boxes at each window and an old fashioned door with a latch.
Jennifer fell in love with it immediately and decided a week wasn't going to be long enough to fully enjoy this place.