Short story: The Reunion at Villa Jasmine

“The journey just flew by,” Liz Henry remarked to her friend, Wendy Cummins.

“Yes, and the flight was so smooth,” her friend replied as the Airbus 737 began the final descent into Palma Nova Airport.

“I wonder what news; Sarah has for us. She sounded very secretive on the phone,” said Liz as she fastened her safety belt.

“I bet she’s met a new man,” said Wendy. “I noticed she sounded all bubbly and excited on the phone.”

“Well, you have to admit, Sarah is a very attractive woman, even though like ourselves she’s on the wrong side of 50. It would be nice if she met someone, it’s a wonder she never married.”

“She vaguely talked about being engaged years ago when she lived in Spain. Her fiancée was killed in a motor bike accident. I suppose she never really got over it and that’s why she’s never shown any interest in men since we’ve known her,” said Liz.

Liz and Wendy had befriended Sarah Coleman when she moved to the village of Brookglen twenty years earlier. She taught with them in the local school, so, over the years they’d become very close.

They were surprised when she accepted early retirement three years ago and bought a villa in Majorca where she now spent six months of the year. During her time in Majorca, Liz and Wendy would holiday with Sarah for a few weeks and it was almost like she’d never moved away. They’d particularly looked forward to this break as they felt Sarah had met someone and her friends were already feeling happy for her.

“There she is,” Liz called out excitedly as they spied their friend in the arrival hall.

“Wendy, Liz!” Sarah rushed to hug them. “Welcome back to sun island.”

“It’s great to be here,” her friends exclaimed as they headed out to the car park. Tumbling into Sarah’s convertible, soon they were travelling along the narrow, mountainous road to Villa Jasmine.

“I never ceased to be amazed by the beauty of this island,” said Wendy, the warm breeze ruffling their hair as Sarah sped towards her home in the outskirts of Pueblo de la Torre Blanca, a pretty little village with three white towers in the square.

“The villa looks as beautiful as ever,” Wendy exclaimed as they pulled up outside the whitewashed villa, with the heavily-scented, purple bougainvillea spilling out of every crevice on the indented walls and scarlet hibiscus tumbling over the terracotta tiles on the patio.

An hour later, the women had unpacked and freshened up as they made their way outdoors where Sarah had set up the wrought-iron table for supper. “Would you like a glass of vino tinto de Verano?” Sarah asked as she joined them on the patio.

“Sounds good,” they chorused, as their friend went indoors to fetch a jug of red wine with ice and soda.

“Did you see the photographs of the fine young hunk dotted all around the place?” Liz whispered to Wendy.

“Seems like we were right. She has a new man, but let’s face it, he looks years younger than her.”

“I’m going to ask her who he is,” Liz said as Sarah returned with the drinks.

“I’ve just prepared a fig and goats cheese salad for this evening,” Sarah said as she filled the glasses with summer wine.

“Perfect,” said Wendy, while Liz decided to cut to the chase, “Who is the dashing young man in the photographs that’s dotted all around the place?”

“That’s Juan,” Sarah smiled serenely. “You’ll meet him tomorrow evening, he’s coming for dinner. I’m doing a barbeque.”

When Sarah went off to the kitchen to fetch the supper, Liz turned to Wendy; “So, we’re right, she has a toy boy.”

“Must be pretty serious, when she’d introduce him to us,” her friend remarked. “But I’m surprised that someone as sensible as Sarah would be interested in a younger man.”

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With that, Sarah returned to the table with a tray of salads and the friends changed the subject.

The following day as Liz and Wendy lazed by the pool, Sarah was busy setting up the barbeque and preparing tapas and baked potatoes, salads and fish which she planned to grill later on.

“Do you need any help?” Wendy asked when she arrived into the kitchen to fetch iced water from the fridge.

“No, you’re fine,” Sarah replied. “Just chill out and enjoy the sun. I see so much of it, I suppose I take it for granted.”

“OK,” her friend replied, “but call us if you need anything done.”

When Wendy returned to the sun lounger, she remarked to Liz; “I can’t wait to meet this new man, Sarah is really pushing the boat out and going to an awful lot of trouble.”

“Mmm, I hope he’s not after her for her money,” Liz frowned.

“Ah, I don’t think so, Sarah wouldn’t be long in coming to that conclusion herself,” said Wendy.

It had just gone 7 o’clock, Sarah and her two friends were enjoying a glass of sangria, the barbeque was lit and they were awaiting the arrival of Juan. Wendy and Liz noticed that Sarah had taken special care getting ready and she was positively glowing as her eyes kept darting in the direction of her gateway. They didn’t have long to wait. A little red sports car swerved into the driveway and a very handsome man in his early thirties stepped out of the car and rushed to greet Sarah warmly, kissing her on both cheeks.

“Sarah, you look beautiful this evening,” he said as he draped his arm around her shoulder as she led him over to meet her friends.

“These are my friends, Wendy and Liz, and this is Juan,” she beamed as she made the introductions. After pouring Juan a soft drink, Sarah looked at her friends. “Now that Juan is here, I want to share the secret that I’ve been harbouring for the past year. As you know, I was engaged once and sadly, my fiancée Antonio Garcia tragically died.”

Wendy and Liz nodded sympathetically but wondered where this was leading as Sarah continued. “One evening a year ago, Juan here turned up on my doorstep. I couldn’t believe how uncanny the likeness was. I was ecstatic. I was pregnant when Antonio died and I returned to Ireland, had my baby but had to make the painful decision to have him adopted. The couple who adopted him moved to Spain, so this is why I made the decision to buy Villa Jasmine. I’d hoped against hope that someday my son would look me up. My prayers were answered and now Juan, my beautiful son is very much part of my life.”

Wendy and Liz were in tears by the time Sarah had finished her story, each hugging mother and son in turn.

Juan then raised his glass and declared as he drew his mother close; “Salud – cheers, here’s to the reunion at Villa Jasmine.”