Part: 6/11
0000
CHAPTER SIX - GOLF
Teyla opened her eyes to sunlight and the soft distant sound of music. The sunlight was pouring gently through the closed doors out to the balcony, and its surprising brightness suggested that she had awoken much later than expected.
She pushed herself up from the deep excessively comfortable mattress and brushed her hair out of her face. Her body felt heavy and still half-asleep. She had not slept so deeply in a very long time.
Looking around with her sleep-fogged mind, it took a minute to process that the numbers on the round face of a clock sitting on the bedside table represented the time. She had slept for nine hours straight, and she had no recollection of even stirring in the night. It would only be a couple of hours till lunch!
Lifting the warm soft covers aside, she slid her legs over the side of the bed and took a moment to try to force some more alertness to her sleep heavy thoughts. The bedroom door was only slightly ajar, far less than last night, and through it, she could hear the gentle music drifting up from downstairs. John must have been awake for hours.
She pushed herself up from the bed and, stretching her thoroughly relaxed body, she slowly made her way into bathroom. Immediately she could tell that John had used the bathroom earlier for there was the faint scent of his cologne and a shaver and toothbrush drying beside the sink.
She washed her face and then her hair, the water wakening her entirely and a deep hunger grumbled in her belly. Feeling very rested but missing Torren quite deeply, she towel dried her hair and returned to the bedroom. They would be attending the golf course in only a few hours, so she would need to wear something appropriate for the image of Freya Collingwood.
She decided on a knee length very tailored dress that seemed both relaxed yet smart. It had a lovely patterned design over it and its neckline secured up behind her neck with two long straps. She settled the smooth expensive seeming material over her hips and wondered how Mattie had been so accurate with her size. Running her hands through her drying hair, she slipped on some sandals, and then made her way out of the bedroom.
Tinkling jazzy music with a deep soulful female voice filled the beautiful open plan ground floor. Teyla was once again struck how lovely it was here, and the view through the front windows seemed even brighter than yesterday. It was also notably warmer even inside today.
"Mornin'," John greeted her from the kitchen area where he was sat at the breakfast counter, a paper spread out in front of him and a mug of coffee in his hand.
She smiled at him as she approached. He looked very rested as well. "Good morning, have you been up very long?" She asked as she headed for the main kitchen area.
"Only a few hours," he replied with a teasing smile as he drank his coffee. He was wearing a cream coloured shirt, open quite low at the front again, and he seemed even more handsome than normal as he smiled at her. "Slept well I take it?" He asked as he set his mug down.
She gave him a slight wince. "I should have set an alarm," she considered as she retrieved the loaf of bread they had started yesterday.
"You're on vacation, Teyla," he replied. "It's part of the whole experience. Bet it's been a long time since Torren let you sleep all the way through a night."
"True," she agreed, though still feeling a little indulgent to have overslept while John had been down here watching the next villa. As she set two slices of bread to toast, she glanced towards the side window that overlooked next door. "Are the Salisburys up yet?"
"He went out about six this morning, came back with some groceries," John replied. "Mrs Salisbury walked down to the beach for a bit, then they went for a late breakfast at the entertainment area."
Teyla felt a twinge of regret to think that John had been up so much longer than her, working as she should have been.
"I walked down there too, talked to the barman about the golf course. They didn't meet up with anyone other than a few other guests staying in the next villas along," John continued.
"You should have woken me, John," she said, though truthfully somewhat appreciative that he hadn't. It had been very thoughtful of him.
"I left you a note in case you woke when I was out," he replied, gesturing to the breakfast bar where he likely had left the note.
She smiled at him, "I meant that you have been busy working and I have been unhelpfully sleeping."
He picked up his newspaper and lowered his attention to it. "You needed the sleep," he concluded. "You can get up early tomorrow and I'll have the lie in," he suggested with a joking smile.
She wondered whether part of the reason he had woken so early had been the far too small couch he had slept on, but she said nothing, concerned that, as last night, he might take offence again. She turned her attention to her now ready toast.
"I emailed 'Jack'," John told her as she opened several cupboards to find the jars of jam she remembered seeing yesterday. "Sent him a couple of our 'vacation pics'."
She located the jams and smiled over her shoulder at John's pointed phrasing.
"He'll look into who our Texans are," John concluded. "Though Jazzy the barman told me that apparently they stay in the same villa at least once a month."
She poured herself some juice from the fridge and carried her breakfast to the seat next to John at the breakfast bar. "Is that not very frequent for a vacation?" She asked as she slid onto the high stool next to him.
"I'm thinking they've got the money for it," John replied.
"Maybe they have a stake in the resort like Mr Salisbury," Teyla considered as she spread raspberry jam over a slice of toast.
"Maybe," John considered. "Jack will find out," he added with amusement, clearly enjoying the chance to use the General's name. She suspected he would love to slip it into conversation with the General, but it likely would not be appropriate with a superior, even with General O'Neill.
"Where are the Salisburys now?" She asked as she lifted the tempting piece of toast.
"They're inside still," John replied, looking past her to the window. "Think he's got the tee time before me, so they'll be heading out to the course in the next two hours."
She noted that the shirt John was wearing was of a slightly different design than he normally wore. The sleeves were far shorter than normal for him, the buttons at the front stopped mid way down his chest, and there was a small logo on one side of his chest. She also realised that the blue trousers she had thought he was wearing, were in fact shorts that stopped at his knees. She had not seen him wearing shorts before. She made a show of looking at his outfit and gave him a pointed look.
"Is this golfing attire?" She asked teasingly, though he looked as good as ever. She noted that he had nice lean strong calves.
He looked down at his outfit with a slightly self-conscious wince. "Charlie Collingwood's golfing attire apparently."
"I have not seen you wear shorts before," she could not help but tease. He was so often the first to tease his friends.
"It's hot out," he replied defensively as he lifted his chin a little too high as he read the paper.
She grinned at him as she returned her attention to her breakfast. "It does look brighter out there."
"Should be a nice day, but they're predicting rain tomorrow," he reported, seeming to jump at the chance to get away from the subject of his clothing.
"Then today is possibly your only chance to wear shorts then," she found herself commenting with a smile.
He glanced at her with a slightly surprised glare. "At least I'll be having fun on the golf course, you'll be stuck at the clubhouse the whole time with Mrs Salisbury."
She lost some of her amusement at that. "That is if she accompanies Mr Salisbury to the course."
"The file said she always does," John replied, clearing enjoying the fact that Teyla was going to have to lose hours in the golf clubhouse waiting for him, whilst seeing if she could find a chance to strike up some conversation with Mrs Salisbury.
It was her turn to glare at him now, but he smiled and turned his victorious look to his paper.
They sat in easy companionship through her breakfast, after which they went for a walk across the road to the beach. They wandered to the right along the beach this time, and found that from the beach there was a small, but useful, direct view straight into the front of the Salisbury's villa. They walked on though for now, the sun warm overhead, but the near constant breeze off the ocean kept them cool. She asked John some questions about golf, feeling that there was a need for the knowledge now, at least as it related to how she should behave when at the clubhouse. John seemed quite excited about playing the golf course, which he described as one of the best. She had not seen him look forward to something with such desire before and she took the opportunity to ask him about his history with the game. He told her that his father had played and that he and his brother had learnt at an early age. It appeared that he had spent quite some time playing the game with his brother whilst their father had worked close by. It seemed that golf was a game that enabled business conversation and ties to be formed whilst playing, which might explain why Mr Salisbury played so much of it.
After their walk, they sat at a table in the entertainment area and John had some lunch. She would eat something at the clubhouse, so she sat beside him and enjoyed watching the ocean and the people moving past. There were more around the pool today due to the warmer air, but she was already recognising faces. It seemed that others did too, for many nodded to her and John with a smile. Teresa arrived towards the end of John's meal and Teyla watched her move through the tables. She knew everyone by name and was smiling and seeing to everyone's needs. As she approached John and Teyla's table, her smile brightened just a fraction.
"Aloha, Mr and Mrs Collingwood. Are you enjoying your stay so far?" She asked in that same overly exuberant way.
"It's great, thanks," John replied, and in his expression and tone Teyla could hear that he was slightly uncomfortable now he was aware of Teresa's attraction to him.
"We have a lovely first night's sleep," Teyla decided to reply, looking up at Teresa with a smile with a touch of warning in it. "Thank you."
Teresa smiled back, but there was suddenly a touch of self-conscious in it, and Teyla knew that her silent 'back off' message had been received. "That is good to hear. I understand as well that you will be heading up to the golf course soon. I hope you enjoy yourselves." Teyla hadn't missed the plural nature of that comment; Teresa had most definitely received the message and understood.
"Thanks," John replied to her as he set his cutlery on his now empty plate.
Teresa retreated to another table, her full power smile back in place, and John sat back in his seat next to Teyla's, his arm sliding along the back of her chair as last time.
"I feel like I missed some of that conversation," he asked in a lowered voice, his head turned towards her.
Teyla smiled at him. "Do not worry yourself, Snookums," she told him.
His eyebrows rose, but he smiled as he reached for the last of his drink. "Okay, Sweetheart," he replied in retaliation.
She smiled at the endearment, far nicer than 'Dear', but it was wrong that a small part of her felt elated at hearing it. It was not really meant, it was just pretend – they were playing roles as they sat together and watched the ocean and people around them, John's arm a growingly familiar warmth along the back of her chair.
John checked his watch again, the third time in only a five minutes – he was excited about his approaching golf game.
A minute or so later, John checked his watch again and then sat forward, his arm sliding out from behind her. "It's almost golf time," he goaded her as he stood up, but she had to smile at his enjoyment.
They moved through the busy tables, John waiting until she moved through the tight spaces first. His hand briefly lingered lightly against her back, a display for their audience, until they were free and wandered towards the road. She kept close to his side, as would be appropriate for newlyweds, and she considered whether they should hold hands, as Mattie had suggested. But, by the time she warred with the idea, the thrill of doing so battling against not wanting to make John uncomfortable, they were out of sight of the others.
They returned to the villa to collect a few things and then climbed into the car. It was overly warm inside, so they ran down the windows, which allowed the air to rush in as John expertly manoeuvred the car along the roads to their destination. A couple of times she consulted the map for him, to be sure they were headed in the right direction, but soon enough signs appeared for the golf course. Her first sight of the rolling sculpted landscape made her wish that she could accompany John on the game's route. As John drove up the long sloping entrance driveway, the clubhouse came into view and she felt an edge of nervousness as she saw the impressive glass fronted large building. Inside, she would be out of her comfort zone, alone whilst John played his golf. She was not uncomfortable being by herself, but this was unknown territory which seemed very exclusive and alien to her as she and John entered the wide open entrance. Two smartly dressed men greeted them with lovely bright smiles, directing John to where he would need to go.
She had visited many worlds and led negotiations that many would find difficult, and as such she understood the forced sense exclusivity here. This was a place built for those with a finely directed passion on this game of golf, and she felt acutely out of her depth.
"I've got to go this way," John interrupted her cautious thoughts as they paused inside the building. She looked up at him with a smile, making sure to conceal her discontent.
"Where do you think I will locate our friend?" She asked.
"She could be in the shop, or probably in the restaurant," he considered. "You going to be okay here?" He asked and she looked up to see concern around his eyes.
"Of course," she replied immediately, pulling herself slightly taller. She had negotiated with the Pediarians – she could do this. "I will be fine. Enjoy your game."
John nodded slowly, but she saw that he was not entirely convinced by her answer. His gaze held hers for longer than normal, assessing her in a way that was suddenly surprisingly insightful and she felt a mixture of vulnerability and pleasure to be such a focus of his attention. She blinked and glanced away to the open lobby around them to break the moment.
"I will be fine, J-Charlie," she corrected quickly. "Honestly, enjoy yourself." She laid her hand on his bare arm and smiled back up at him.
"Okay," he replied, seeming convinced, or was he too putting on a show for her? It was becoming a little confusing all this overlying emotions and readings of each other lately. "If you need me, I'll have my cell on me."
She nodded and squeezed his forearm before dropping her hand. "Very well."
He nodded and smiled, and then there was a strange moment where he looked at her cheek and then smiled again and moved away. She realised only a second afterwards that he had likely thought about kissing her cheek, as she saw people do frequently on Earth. A husband would likely kiss his wife goodbye. Regret that he had not and that she had been unaware until now of his thought, made her feel more uncomfortable as she watched John walk away, leaving her alone in the clubhouse for the next few hours.
He glanced over his shoulder at her before he disappeared from view, and she made sure to smile brightly at him. Then he was gone.
She turned away to take in the austere yet elegant décor of the inside of the clubhouse. There were people moving around her, but not too many, which continued to give the impression of an empty unknown environment for her.
She frowned at herself and focused her thoughts. This was a mission, and it was nice enough here, she could easily fill the next hours. She had fared far worse than this.
The clubhouse displayed very clear directions to the different facilities inside, which meant that she was easily able to wander around the public areas to assess the building in its entirety, getting a feel for the exits and the expanse of space it occupied. Windows filled almost all the outer wall space, providing an amazing view out across the golf course. She stood for some time at one window, watching small motorised carts being driven out in small groups to the starting point. John had explained many golfing terms, but many of them she had not entirely understood. She knew there were hazards along the way to the goal of the green, and then one putted the ball into the hole. She knew there was skill to the game, but it did not entirely enthuse her.
She then wandered through the clubhouse's pro shop with its varied selection of golfing supplies and outfits. She considered the gift items and decided to mention some of them to John as gifts for those back home. General O'Neill apparently was a fan of golf himself, so perhaps one of the humorous mugs would be a good gift.
Having seen no sign of Mrs Annette Salisbury so far, she turned her attention to finding the main restaurant, where the woman was most likely located.
As with the rest of the building, the restaurant looked out across the golf course, but from up here there was a particularly good view. The tables and booths here were designed in dark wood and leather and the bar looked very extensively stocked. There were a few people here already, mostly sitting in small groups, and the majority were dressed in golfing attire. Most were men, which did not surprise her, and she found many looking her way. She smiled in strained politeness at the attention, but it seemed nothing but curious interest. However, one particular woman caught Teyla's interest.
Mrs Salisbury was seated by herself at a table in the far corner of the restaurant, which afforded the very best view to the golf course beyond. Two walls full of windows met at the corner where she sat, but Mrs Salisbury's attention was focused on her cell phone and she appeared quite bored.
Teyla was not sure if she needed to request a table, but she decided just to make her way across the room, in the belief that Freya Collingwood would be the type of woman to stride to a table she wanted. She selected the table next to Mrs Salisbury, but not too close, and she sat down at a right angle to the woman, which faced out upon the best view anyway.
A man materialised at her elbow instantly and she looked up at his golden skin and very bright smile.
"Aloha," he greeted her, in a tone that rather expertly skimmed the line between polite and flirtatious.
She smiled up at his handsome face. "Aloha. I hope it is alright that I selected this table?" She said clearly and at a level that Mrs Salisbury would overhear. "My husband is playing and I have not eaten yet."
The man smiled brightly. "Of course, what can I get you? A drink to start?" He offered her a menu and she took it with a smile and immediately requested an apple juice, choosing what was familiar to her. "I will bring it over, give you time to choose what you want to eat."
"Thank you," she replied, feeling slightly more at ease already. She turned to look out at the view outside and focused her attention on the people gathered just in view below. She easily picked John out among the group. He was stood with an unfamiliar man who was a little rotund and animatedly waving his arms towards the golf course. Teyla could not see Mr Salisbury in the group, from up here anyway, but then she was sure John had said he would be teeing off later than their target.
Her drink arrived, beautifully presented in a tall glass with plenty of ice, slices of fruit and a straw. She quickly selected a meal of grilled fish on a bed of vegetables from her menu and the handsome young waiter retreated.
Teyla looked outside again, to see that John was climbing into one of the motorised carts with the rotund man. She had selected her seat well, for in the window she had a partial reflection of Mrs Salisbury. She noticed that the woman glanced at her with apparent interest, but Teyla held off from looking round. She instead watched John's cart's progress outside, amused to think that John would likely find the vehicle far too slow moving. His cart disappeared from view and she let out an overly loud sigh, making sure to sound bored as she picked up her decorated glass and sipped its sweetness through the straw. It was very good juice she noted as she set the glass back down and reached down to her bag. She had brought some magazines that she had purchased in the airport. They were termed fashion magazines, and Mattie had suggested that Mrs Salisbury would read such literature.
Teyla found the pictures very interested, though obviously stylised, for they provided a very different insight into Earth culture than she was used to. She wondered if these overly thin women with surely unrealistically perfect skin were truly seen as the ideal in John's culture. Was this the kind of woman he desired? They all seemed very tall, beautifully elegant and very provocative in their glances into the camera. There were no images of mothers or women working in a career.
She turned another page and looked out the window again, affording her another glimpse of Mrs Salisbury's reflection. The woman glanced at her again, this time with more interest, so Teyla, very casually, looked around at the other windows, which brought Mrs Salisbury into view. The woman was almost as elegant as the women in the pictures, at least in first appearances. Her clothes were very well cut and flattered her thin figure.
The woman looked at Teyla and Teyla smiled at her politely.
"Have I seen you at the resort?" Mrs Salisbury asked.
Teyla gave her a faint polite smile. "We are staying at the Exclusive Paradise Resort," she replied as if she hadn't noticed the woman before.
"My husband part owns it, we are the last but one villa along," Mrs Salisbury replied with some pride in her voice. There was also the hint that she was eager to make some conversation with someone. Teyla wondered how long the poor woman had been sitting there alone.
"Yes, I believe I have seen you then," Teyla replied turning slightly in her seat towards her. "Charlie and I are in the last villa."
"Ahh, you are the Collingwoods," Mrs Salisbury concluded with a more relaxed smile.
"Yes, newly so," Teyla replied, lifting her left hand on which the fake wedding ring could be seen.
"Congratulations," Mrs Salisbury told her. "I have seen you and your new husband walking on the beach I believe."
"Yes, it is a truly beautiful location."
"Yes, it is. I love staying here, though perhaps not so much this clubhouse."
It was the perfect opening for Teyla. "It seems a pleasant enough location, but it is not my ideal way to be spending a day. Especially on my honeymoon," she added with a touch of bitterness in her voice.
Mrs Salisbury gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm afraid, if your husband loves golf, it is likely you'll be spending a whole heck of a lot of time waiting for him to come back off the golf course."
Teyla pulled a pained expression. "I almost wished I had remained back at the villa, but after my argument that we were supposed to be sharing our honeymoon together, he thought it a good idea for me to join him."
Mrs Salisbury laughed at that. "At least you're not out there swinging clubs. I tried that; not for me."
Teyla made a show of laughing lightly. "He has tried to get me to play the game as well, but he has not yet succeeded."
"Maybe that's another reason why he wanted you here, so that you'll be temped by the game. Or more likely, so no one else will get tempted," she added with a heavy wink.
Teyla frowned at her in honest confusion.
"Now, Hon, don't go looking confused. You know what these kind of men are like – they're good for money and screwing, but little else, and they are majorly territorial. Can't see your husband leaving you alone on a beach where other men could lend you their full attention."
Teyla was a little taken back by the suggestion and the bluntness of Mrs Salisbury's response, but it was a good sign, she was sharing, one woman to another.
Mrs Salisbury leant forward. "Trust me, I've been at this a lot longer than you, Hon. These kinds of men need to be watched too."
Teyla suspected she meant rich handsome men, but she didn't ask directly, Mrs Salisbury clearly thought she understood clearly. Her comment also suggested that Mrs Salisbury might be here to keep an eye on her husband.
"So, perhaps it would be best that I keep joining him on this golfing trips?" Teyla asked.
Mrs Salisbury angled her head slightly. "They're beautiful enough locations, and they come back all excited from their game." She gave Teyla a suggestive wink.
Again taken back, Teyla smiled. "I shall look forward to that," she replied as she picked up her juice and sipped some more.
"I'm guessing your new husband works all hours of the day that God gives him, right?"
Teyla nodded her agreement.
"Always thinking about work, even when sat in front of the tv?"
Teyla nodded again, smiling with a pained expression as if commiserating with the woman.
"Gets up at dawn, goes running, reads the paper thoroughly, and then straight to work everyday?"
Teyla nodded again, though it seemed that Mrs Salisbury's description was becoming a little too accurate for John rather than for 'Charlie Collingwood'.
"Yeah, you've got the same kind of husband. Hon, get used to carrying some magazines everywhere you go," she supplied with a half laugh, which Teyla felt sounded rather edged with emotional pain.
"Charlie is dedicated to his work," Teyla told her. "I knew that when I married him."
"We all do when we say 'I do', always thinking they'll change. Men don't change, trust me on that…" She paused to ask Teyla's name.
"Freya," Teyla supplied, feeling a little uncomfortable with the lie.
"I'm Annette, Annette Salisbury," she supplied and stretched out a well manicured hand.
"I am very pleased to meet you," Teyla replied as she shook the offered hand.
"Nice to meet you too," Annette replied. "You want to join me?" She offered the seat opposite her on her table, "And I'll let you into all the secrets you'll need to keep that handsome A type husband of yours."
Teyla smiled as she picked up her drink, magazines and bag, and settled into the seat opposite Annette. She wondered what 'A type' meant.
"So, how long have you been married, Annette?" Teyla asked as she sipped her drink.
"Some days it feels like too long," Annette replied with a glance at the top magazine next to Teyla. "No, he's a good provider and he's good to me."
Teyla nodded at that simple, yet truthful summary of a married life. "What work does he do?"
"He's a businessman, owns loads of companies, all very boring," Annette brushed aside. "He's very successful, and successful men need to be told how well they are doing. Remember that. Fickle egos, especially men like our husbands."
Teyla disagreed – John was not like that, but if Mr Salisbury was, she felt rather sorry for Annette and her choice to stay with such a man.
"Success breeds power and powerful men know they can get whatever they want," Annette continued.
Interesting.
"I do not think Charlie thinks he can have everything he wants," Teyla replied, hoping to pull more information from her.
"Maybe not now, but he wanted you and he's gotten you hasn't he. A beautiful wife by his side is all part of the package they want to create," Annette stated. "Speaking of beautiful…"
Teyla glanced round and saw her waiter approaching with her meal. He smiled at her and Annette as he slid the plate in from of Teyla. "Can I get you anything more, Mrs Salisbury?" He asked, more formally than he had with Teyla.
"I'll have another mai tai," Annette requested.
"Of course," he replied as he took away her empty glass.
Teyla picked up her cutlery and contemplated her lovely looking meal. "I would like to think that Charlie would not see me as just part of a package he wished to create," she replied, adding a touch of worry in her voice for Annette. The fish looked lovely and the vegetables had a light sauce drizzled over them.
"I'm sure he cares for you, Hon. They all do, but they all want to stray."
Teyla frowned at Annette as she chewed on a forkful of her fish. Was Mr Salisbury having an affair?
"Charlie would never do that to me," she replied with a certainty that she realised extended to her faith in John as a person than in the character he was portraying. John would never betray anyone, and how had Annette formed this opinion of him? Because he was handsome and supposedly rich?
Annette gave her a slightly condescending sympathetic smile. "He'll give you a wonderful life – all you need," she stated as her eyes dropped to the top magazine beside Teyla. "Did you see that gorgeous red dress on page 62? Fabulously stunning, I may get it for myself."
Teyla nudged the magazine towards Annette, who was already reaching for it. How bored, or focused on clothing, must the woman be to recall the page number?
Perhaps it was wrong of Teyla to jump to such a conclusion, but she had already formed the opinion that Annette knew little of the detail of her husband's work. As the next hour passed in conversation about little that truly interested Teyla, it only confirmed Teyla's conclusion further.
Mrs Annette Salisbury was friendly, but clearly her life lacked a deep joy. She spoke about nothing except expensive places she had been and clothing she loved. She seemed to have nothing to say about people or work she might do, though her extensive knowledge about clothing might be close to a career for her. She seemed a wife who strived to look after a husband that simply provided her with the prettiest and most expensive of things, but little else. She never spoke of her husband in loving terms, or described things he did other than work. Teyla suspected that Annette was a woman somewhat saddened by her life, and it seemed she was determined to help Freya Collingwood to be prepared for something similar.
Part way through their afternoon together, Teyla decided to push things a little differently and asked more about the magazines, discovering that Annette had always wanted to be a model, but that Mr Salisbury had not approved. Teyla could not resist suggesting that perhaps Annette could be a designer of clothing, since her knowledge seemed so extensive. In the models spread across the magazine's pages, Teyla now saw them as younger versions of Annette, but unlike them, her eyes now held years worth of disappointment.
It was the recognition of disappointment that clawed a little too deeply at Teyla to be comfortable.
It was an emotion she had felt a little too much herself of late, and it was one area at least where she could identity with Annette.
0000
On the spectrum of this vacation, the needle was definitely now pointing towards heaven.
The sweep of the green was a deep lush green, the lines clean and sculpted as if by hand, and in the distance, the ocean was a constant presence.
Leaning on a club, waiting for his turn, John looked out across the gorgeous landscape. The ocean was a deep blue, the breeze strong, but nice in contrast to the strong sun today. Along the course, there had been amazing hazards and even a waterfall as a backdrop to one, but it had also been seriously challenging, which had been fun. Knowing no one here, he didn't really care about how he was doing in his game, other than that he was doing better than Terry.
Terrance Howard had bounced up to John almost as soon as he had parted from Teyla. Terrance worked alongside Teresa at the resort, and had the same tee time as John. Terry was a nice enough guy, and very helpfully he was a chatty kind of guy. On asking if others from the resort were playing, Terry had immediately begun pointing out people further along the course to John. Salisbury had been one of the first, and was only one hole ahead of them, probably because he was standing around talking a lot with his group. John had captured a lot of photos of them as he had just innocently been taking pictures of the course.
Terry had even given John some background on the resort through the afternoon. It turned out Teyla's theory was right that the Texans part owned the resort along with Salisbury and another couple who lived not far away. Terry had been working there for only a year or so, but he had clearly picked up things quickly, including quite a bit of useful gossip for John. John had kept him talking, which also helped to distract the guy from playing well, and putting John well ahead.
"Almost back for a cold one," Terry stated as they rolled up to the eighteenth hole. Salisbury and his group were just finishing in the distance. "You can get back to the villa and your wife," Terry suggested as he nudged John with his elbow.
John tried to smile at that one. "The wife's in the clubhouse actually," he reported as he practiced a few swings as they waited.
"Ahh, she's one of those wives is she? Keeping an eye on you?"
John dropped his attention to his grip, readjusting. His arms felt tired, but he felt good. How could he not after playing this course? He might just have to get O'Neill a gift as Teyla suggested after all.
"Freya's not like that," he replied as he practiced another swing. "She wanted to see the clubhouse."
Terry nodded like he didn't believe John. "Mrs Salisbury will have found her by now, she's usually up there watching the course."
"Salisbury's wife likes to keep an eye on him, huh?" John asked casually.
"Oh, yes, but then she's got every reason to," Terry replied with feeling. "Not that you heard that from me, okay?" He added nervously.
John gave him a smiling smirk. "Who am I'm gonna tell," He suggested offhandedly. "The way's free," he noted, seeing that Salisbury's lot were out the way now.
"You're up first," Terry reminded him.
John nodded and smiled as he walked forward to start the final hole of the course. He was almost sad, except that he could see the clubhouse now where it was nestled in the near distance. He wondered if Teyla had found Salisbury's Mrs. If she had, he suspected she would now know everything about the woman – Teyla had a way about her that allowed people to open up to her. He suspected that was another reason why O'Neill had wanted her on this mission.
John pulled his thoughts back down on the golf ball in front of him. He settled his weight, secured his grip, and looked off down the fairway towards the green, and the clubhouse just beyond. Salisbury was finished. John had hoped to at least try and briefly walk into him, but if they took too long finishing the eighteen he might lose his chance. He dropped his attention back to the ball and decided some power was needed. His shoulder was aching slightly after having to dig himself out of a difficult sand trap two holes back, forcing the ball up and into the strong crosswind had taken some doing. But, this was the last hole and he was running out of time.
He settled himself, centring himself in a way he didn't understand, but knew it was likely as damn close to mediation as he was ever going to get. Hips, arms and shoulders swung, and he powered through, feeling the beauty of the swing even as it was happening, almost independent from him. The club over his shoulder, he watched the ball sail high and long.
Terry whistled appreciatively. "Someone keen to get back to their new wife, by any chance?"
John just smiled as he watched the ball land and roll to a stop just a sweet breath away from where he had wanted it to go. "Something like that," he replied as he stepped aside for Terry.
Moving back and out the way, John watched Terry take his unorthodox stance, but it worked for the guy. He clearly just plain loved to play, and John could understand that. He watched Terry pull back, saw the strain there, and a powerful swing blasted out. The ball went high, but not as smooth and long as John's had. "Not bad," John commented though, club balanced over his shoulders.
"Looks like we're going to get that cold one quicker than expected," Terry replied with a grin as they headed back to the golf cart. "Perhaps it's you that wants to keep an eye on your wife, hey? Bet she's a stunner," he guessed with a suggestive wink.
Teyla's image slipped into John's thoughts, in that tight fitting nice dress she had appeared in this morning. Not that she didn't look great most of the time, hell he wouldn't say no if she was in a mud slicked tac vest, but that dress would be turning heads back in the clubhouse.
He just grinned at Terry, not wanting to put any words to Teyla that might offend her, even if she never heard about it. Terry nudged him again with a knowing look as he started up the cart.
They reached the green in two more shots, three for Terry.
"We're getting tired," Terry concluded by way of excuse, but John had to agree. He found his attention wavering to the clubhouse. Salisbury was gone, but Teyla would stick with Mrs Salisbury, so at least she would get the chance to make contact with their target. It was a shame to see the end of the course, but maybe he'd see if he could get another day in. Maybe he could actually talk Teyla into going round with him, even just to try out a swing or two. Having her here would push that needle even closer to that perfection status for this part of the trip.
He and Terry putted the eighteenth hole quickly once on the green and climbed into the cart with relief. As the electric motor carried them towards the clubhouse, John prodded Terry for some more intel before his chance ran out.
"So, any juicy gossip I should watch out for at the resort?" He asked.
"You two are the most interesting gossip at the moment, we haven't had any newly weds in that end villa for a few months," Terry replied, pushing the motor as hard as he could up the incline.
"No dashing barmen I should keep Freya away from?"
Terry chuckled at that. "Jazzy's a good guy, been married twelve years, and don't worry I'll keep away from your new bride," he added with another wink and nudge.
"Should I be worried about Salisbury from what you said earlier?" John pushed a little harder.
Terry pulled a frown and shrug, his lips pressing together briefly. "Na, he'll not make moves on your woman. He's already got a certain manager in his bed."
John could see Terry was cautious about saying it, even though he was smiling with it. "Teresa?" John clarified.
"For a while now," Terry confided. "Not that you heard that from me, the only reason I'm telling you is I heard she was sniffing around you."
John winced at the term. "Freya's seen her off already," he replied honestly.
Terry laughed at that as he steered them down a right-hand fork, taking them around the clubhouse. "Sounds like a sharp woman."
John just nodded, because up ahead, stood around the carts, was Salisbury and his group still talking.
"Speak of the devil," Terry whispered as he parked up their cart. "I'll introduce you."
John couldn't have asked for a better chance. "Sure," he replied.
Salisbury had already noticed them and turned to Terry as he climbed out of his side of the cart.
"Terry," Salisbury greeted him. John climbed out the far side and moved round the back of the cart to pull free his golf bag, seemingly not that interested in Salisbury.
"Mr Salisbury, you looked good out there today," Terry sucked up royally.
"Thanks," Salisbury replied with faint interest and John looked round from his clubs to see the man's attention was on him.
"This is Charlie Collingwood," Terry introduced him and John immediately stepped forward and offered his hand, working the laid back confident character he had decided on. "Charlie, this is Mr Salisbury."
"Good to meet you, Collingwood," Salisbury said as he shook John's hand. It was a firm but brief handshake, typical of men who had to do it too much, but it had conveyed enough strength to make a point.
"Salisbury," John replied, also dropping the Mr.
"Looks like you had a good swing out there," Salisbury said in a surprising compliment.
"Thanks."
"Been playing long?"
"Since I was six," John replied honestly, sizing up the man, yet making sure he was smiling. "You?"
"Not quite that long," Salisbury replied with a smile. "You enjoying your stay?"
"It's great," John replied.
Salisbury nodded, his smile almost as good as a poker face, but his eyes were sharp and they were assessing John intently. John wasn't sure what it was about him that had caught the guy's focus, maybe he just liked to assess his neighbours. "You heard about the resort through Alex Nelson, right?"
"Yeah, he pointed us this way," John replied. "He's a good guy. Said it would be the perfect place to bring the Mrs."
Salisbury smiled a little more naturally, but John sensed a definite touch of suspicion in the air. "Congratulations on the wedding."
"Thanks," John replied.
"Your first?"
John hadn't expected that. "Hopefully the last," he replied quickly with a smile at Terry beside him.
"You can hope," Terry added with a crack of laughter.
"I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay," Salisbury said, clearly rounding up their conversation. It was a brief meet and assess kind of conversation, but then maybe Charlie Collingwood would be doing the same. John added a touch of assessment into his own expression, taking in the whole air of the guy.
"Thanks," John replied more warmly as he shook Salisbury's hand again. There was more pressure in Salisbury's grip this time, but it was still brief.
Terry stayed behind to talk with his boss, offering to take care of the clubs for John, so John left with a few others from Salisbury's group. They were all chatty, and John made some small talk as he followed them into the changing rooms. He had a quick wash so that he would smell a little better for Teyla in the car on the way back. He would have a proper shower and change back at the villa. By the time he was finished, there was no sign of Salisbury turning up, so he headed out into the clubhouse. He had checked his cell several times, but there fortunately hadn't been any calls for help from Teyla. He guessed she would be in the restaurant so would start his search for her there.
It was a nice set up in the clubhouse, lots of wooden panels and tall windows providing fantastic views of the course. He felt a touch of pride to have made his way around such a great course, it would give him plenty to share in Atlantis' driving range sessions. He hadn't realised how much he had missed a proper course, but clearly the driving range into a massive alien ocean had been keeping his swing sweet.
He found the restaurant upstairs, busy with the early dinner crowd by the looks of it. He was feeling hungry, but he would prefer to head back to the villa to eat. He had had enough of playing the part of Charlie Collingwood for the afternoon and he suspected that it would be best not too be around Salisbury too much. O'Neill had been right in his brief to keep contact casual – Salisbury had seemed a suspicious guy.
The bar to his left presented the possibility of a beer, but John held back, continuing on in search of his 'wife'. He heard her laughter before he spotted her, not that it was her most natural of laughs, but it still captured his attention. He followed the sound round into the next room, which held two walls of windows and plenty of tables. Near the far corner, Teyla was seated with Mrs Salisbury, just as planned. He controlled his smile as he headed towards them, only to find that Salisbury himself had beaten John up here. The guy was stood to one side talking with someone who looked like they were a staff member of the clubhouse.
Mrs Salisbury noticed John first and pointed him out to Teyla with a smile as he approached their table. He had a sudden sense of foreboding – what exactly had the two women been talking about?
Teyla looked over her shoulder towards him and smiled widely. He was almost certain he had correctly seen the relief in her expression.
As he neared her, he realised that, for the first time, they were going to have to overtly play the happily married couple. He wondered if he should kiss her cheek – because that's what married couples did. He wasn't sure he could kiss her on the lips without it being too much. He battled the decision until he reached her chair, but fortunately Teyla took the initiative.
"Hello, Charlie," she greeted him with a big welcoming smile and glowing cheeks as she reached out to him with her hand. He automatically reached out towards her hand with his, and it felt strangely natural, and yes thrilling, to take her smaller delicate hand in his. He had briefly held her hand before to help her up over obstacles in the field, but he had never held onto her hand, and, just as he feared, he now felt a rush of silly pleasure through him in doing so.
If only…
He pulled his eyes away from her and looked across to Mrs Salisbury who smiled up at him.
"Charlie, this is Annette Salisbury," Teyla introduced her.
Annette reached out to shake his hand, forcing him to let go of Teyla's to shake it. He dropped his hand back to his side afterwards, but then decided to rest it along the back of Teyla's chair.
"Charlie Collingwood," John introduced himself. "You two been enjoying yourselves?"
"Yes, Annette has been kindly introducing me to the wife's perspective of playing golf," Teyla reported, looking up at him with an overly bright smile. He suspected that she was growing tired of the show, but he could also tell that she had learnt a lot. "Annette and her husband are staying in the next villa over from ours," Teyla added for the other couple's benefit.
John nodded with interest like he hadn't know that fact as he glanced to Salisbury close by who glanced in John's direction from his conversation, nodding slightly and then looking away again. "I met your husband just off the course," John reported, for her and for Teyla.
Annette looked round at her husband. "Don't mind him, he's always distant with new folks. How did you enjoy your first turn about the course?" She asked John.
"Great," John replied, seeing Teyla tilt her head back to look up at him. "Challenging," he added.
"Ah, yes, always a good sign," Annette replied. She seemed nice enough and clearly Teyla had made a connection with her.
John saw Salisbury glance their way again – it was time to retreat John felt. Too much time around them might trigger more suspicion. Salisbury wasn't likely to meet anyone significant here in the middle of the restaurant, and at least it could be a place O'Neill's people could keep an eye on in the future.
John looked down at his beautiful 'wife'. "You ready to head back?" He asked, already seeing the answer in her expression.
"Yes, I am," she replied. "If you are ready?" She asked as she reached for her bag and slipped some women's mags into it. There was an empty tall glass in front of her. He wondered if the light pink flush to her cheeks was due to a few drinks.
She began to push her chair back to stand, but he pulled it carefully back for her, giving her space to stand. "It was wonderful meeting you, Annette," she said across the table.
"I'm sure we'll see each other around at the resort. You must come back for your next vacation, perhaps your first anniversary," Annette insisted with a smile. "Lovely to meet you too, Charlie," she added.
John nodded his thanks as he stepped back to give Teyla space to move away from the table.
Teyla said goodbye again, slipped her bag over her shoulder, and suddenly her hand was back in his.
John didn't react, which took a lot self-control as they walked away from the Salisburys.
Moving between the other tables, he held back to allow Teyla to go first, but he didn't let go of her hand – as a loving new husband wouldn't. Keeping their hands together as she slid between tables and people, meant that she held his hand behind her, dangerously close to her hip and backside. He realised he was watching just how close his hand was to grazing against her, and quickly returned his attention to the room around him. It wouldn't matter, he was supposed to be a besotted husband, and it wasn't like Teyla would have noticed.
Free of the tables, he fell back into step with her. She smiled up at him with a look that confirmed she had been successful in her conversation with Annette.
"Did you really enjoy yourself?" She asked as they exited the restaurant.
"It was great," he replied honestly, still holding her hand as they made their way down the stairs. He was desperately conscious of how tight he held her hand, because too tight would give too much away and too loose would seem disrespectful.
They didn't say much else to each other all the way back through the clubhouse, other than to remark on the décor of the clubhouse and that the weather was still warmer than yesterday.
They stepped out into the air again and waited for their car to be driven up for them. John tried to focus on something other than the intimacy of holding her hand.
"Did you manage to learn anything useful?" Teyla asked quietly, her smile still in place and seeming real enough.
"Bit yeah," he replied. "You?" He asked as he saw their car approaching.
"Of a certain description," she confirmed.
The car pulled up and the driver's door opened on the far side. John reached out and opened the passenger side door for her, releasing her hand finally as she slid into the car. The keys passed to him, and a generous tip exchanged, John slid into his seat, secured his belt and pulled away from the clubhouse.
"Sorry if I'm not all that fresh smelling," he apologised right away as he lowered his window. "I'll shower when we get in."
Teyla seemed to find that funny. "You smell fine to me," she replied as she settled her bag down by her feet.
"So, anything useful from Annette?" He asked.
"Annette has been intent on preparing me on the difficulties of being married to an A type businessman who plays a lot of golf."
John glanced at her with a smile. "Difficulties as in she doesn't get to see him much?"
"That and he places his work above everything else," Teyla replied.
John braked at a junction, looking both ways. "Not surprising with a guy like Salisbury."
He pulled out into proper traffic, or at least as busy as traffic got in this area of Kaua'i. He settled his elbow on the window's ledge and wished it would rain a little to take the edge off the growing humidity.
"Well, according to my new friend, Terry," he reported, "who works with Teresa in the resort, Salisbury certainly has time to spend with other women."
"Annette suggested as much, and appears to be why she insists on accompanying him to the golf courses."
"It doesn't stop him from spending 'time' with Teresa though," John told her with a pointed look.
Teyla looked shocked. "Teresa? Really?"
"At least according to Terry," John added.
"Do you think he is a trustworthy source?"
"Yeah, I recon he knows everything that's going on around there. He's the type that sucks up to anyone with power, so he'll make it his business to know everything that could help him climb the ladder."
Teyla considered that. "Why would he share that knowledge with you though?"
"To warn me. Apparently news has already gotten round that Teresa had her sights set on me," he couldn't help roll his eyes at that. It wasn't that Teresa wasn't a good looking woman, but she wasn't his type.
Teyla laughed next to him, which he felt deserved a good glare in the second he could risk looking away from the road. "Are you disappointed?" She asked jokingly.
"You've already chased her away," John replied, pretending to look upset, but knowing she would see through it.
She shook her head as she pulled out a bottle of water from her bag. "I would think so too, a woman looking at a newly married man in that way." She drank some of her water.
John found her comment warmly amusing. Teyla had good strong standards, which he agreed with.
Which of course would include staying with the father of her child who she apparently loved and wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
His amusement dropped out through the floor, leaving the usual niggling doubt and background frustrated desire back in play. He had so easily forgotten about Kanaan during their handholding session. It was far too easy to forget about Kanaan, but he kept reminding himself. A lot.
"Annette was perhaps no better," Teyla continued. "She openly flirted with our waiter and another man who knew her and Mr Salisbury."
"Maybe she knows about him and Teresa?" John considered as he took the turn onto the road that would lead to the villas.
"I cannot imagine that she would wish to still stay here so frequently if she knew about them."
"Maybe she doesn't care," John suggested.
"No, I think she does care deeply for him, perhaps too much," Teyla replied.
John glanced at her briefly. "You think she'll stay loyal to him?" He asked. If there was any best spy for them it would be Annette Salisbury, but tapping a spouse for intel would always be seriously risky.
Teyla considered the question for a long pause before answering. They had almost reached their villa when she finally spoke. "I believe she does love him, for though he spends so much of his time focusing away from her, she speaks of him proudly enough. I suspect that might be why she does always accompany him on his work travels - simply to remain close to him."
With that softly spoken phrase, they dropped into silence as John turned into their driveway and put the car in park. He sensed a strange sense of distance from her somehow as he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened his car door. She was probably thinking about Kanaan, wishing he was here with her to 'be close to him'. He kept his gaze away from her as he reached back inside the car and pulled out his golf bag. He shut the door and locked up the car as she made her way around the drive towards the front door of the villa.
She looked so good in that dress. He wasn't sure he could spend the evening sat inside alone with her when she looked like that. He couldn't exactly ask her to change, though maybe she would change soon anyway.
"You want to go out for dinner tonight?" He suggested as he passed the key ahead to her and she unlocked the door and entered.
"That would be lovely," she replied over her shoulder.
"I'll go shower and change and we can head out," he suggested.
She nodded immediately and he made his way straight upstairs.
0000
On to Chapter 7….