Chapter 12

The following day, Lauren got up early. There was no particular reason why she had to do so, but it seemed that the day was going to be wonderful, and she wanted to let everyone know that she was happy to be alive. The girls shopped in the morning, driving into Boquette to be ready for when the supermarket opened at ten thirty. Elizabeth had called the previous night and told her about the situation in the north. The news stories on the television had made things seem worse than they were, but Elizabeth was certainly concerned enough to activate what she called 'their contingency plan.'

They had chatted about the paintwork on the house, and whether there was a letter from a local decorator waiting with an estimate. Lauren told Elizabeth about the visit to the doctors, and breathed a sigh of relief when Elizabeth failed to ask any questions regarding the treatment. Only later did she wonder why she had changed the subject. She knew full well that her own mother would have wanted to know every last detail.

Lauren mentioned Quintero, or the lack thereof, plus two visits from a local gardener who was looking for work. Elizabeth suggested that they have him tidy the bushes around the pool to see how well he worked.

Lauren found the credit card where Elizabeth had said it would be, along with a list of phone numbers that she put in her purse. At the supermarket, the girls took a trolley each and loaded up with cans and other non-perishable food that could be kept for months on end. The shop itself was poorly lit, badly stocked and seemed to have no order at all. Toilet cleaner was next to the dried goods, just after bananas and coffee. The woman at the checkout knew exactly what was happening, and tut-tutted all the time in indignation as people queued behind with their own meager supplies. As they left, her voice rose and her language grew angrier as she explained to those waiting her feelings for those sort of people. Lauren didn't understand a word, but understood everything from the body language. She felt sorry for the woman, but felt sure that she too would be doing the same later on, it was just that Lauren and Emma had got there earlier than anyone else.

They made a tour of the area, taking the best part of the morning, loading the big four wheel drive car to the limit. A number of people noticed their load and shook their heads in dismay. Finally, they turned into the driveway and spent almost an hour unloading and packing the food into the house. The spare bedroom looked like a warehouse. But they both felt it was justified as they settled down with their lunch in the lounge to watch the local news.

Further reports of beatings in the north were accompanied by actual film of government soldiers hitting people repeatedly with huge batons, clearly unaware that they were on camera. As they turned and realised their mistake, the camera shook violently as the cameraman obviously made a hasty retreat.

The government had also decided to maintain the present tax rate which was heavily biased in favour of those in the top earnings bracket, although the Nationalists had responded by laying out the total income of the government, and questioning where it had been spent. They had managed to show an allocation of about twenty- three percent of all taxes, the rest just seemed to disappear. Slightly to the south of the beatings, farm workers were striking, refusing to work on the orange and coffee crops until they were paid their claim for back wages.

Lauren needed a siesta after her early morning work and the heavy lunch. She snoozed until just after three o'clock then changed into her bikini and headed for the pool. Jamie was nowhere to be seen, but Emma had already staked her claim to one of the reclining chairs and was reading, lying on her stomach, topless. Lauren decided that it was time that she stopped being quite such a European prude, and also laid on her stomach. She reached round and undid the bra strap, feeling the tension lift even though the material remained underneath her. She looked away from Emma and closed her eyes, thinking about the television news and the election only five days away. Regardless of the outcome, Elizabeth said that the losers were going to blame the others for cheating and intimidation, and that preparations were being readied on both sides for the showdown that would surely come.

She turned over and laid on her back. Conscious that she was topless, she thought briefly about dressing properly once again. She glanced across to Emma and noted that she was still on her stomach. She rubbed her nipples quickly against the palm of her hand and sank back against the seat, her eyes screwed up against the brilliance of the sun. Her hand disappeared beneath the recliner and sought the suntan lotion. She applied a little to her breasts and stomach, taking care to cover her shoulders with the thick white cream. Satisfied, she relaxed again, feeling the warmth pervading through her body.

The TV news had also mentioned shortages of sugar, which seemed inconceivable to Lauren, when there were so many sugar plantations around the country. She supposed that it was more likely a result of the strike by drivers, packers and distribution workers that had caused a shortage of such a basic commodity. But she didn't care. They had bought almost sixty kilos that morning, so there wasn't a problem in their house. Strange to have to buy all that, she thought, when only Jamie takes sugar.

"Hey, at last! Now you'll get really tanned!" said Emma, glancing over at her then back to her book.

Lauren smiled, wondering why she had made so much fuss about taking her top off in the seclusion of the garden. She picked up the suntan oil and spread some more over her breasts, carefully massaging it around her nipples. The excess was spread over her stomach, and she rubbed off the remainder on her thighs. She peeked under the bikini bottom, pleased to see that there was a very definite difference between her tanned stomach and the whiteness below. She closed her eyes, remembering that she should limit herself to about ten minutes.

"Any news from your friend, Nikki?" asked Emma. She had turned away from Lauren and had to repeat herself.

"No, I might call her later today, or maybe early tomorrow morning."

"Couldn't she borrow some money to get over here?"

"Not really. She doesn't have a job and her father wouldn't lend her the money just to come and see me." said Lauren, realising that was pretty close to the truth. She would dearly like to see her so that they could go exploring together, and there was so much room at the house.

"I know you miss her. I would too. She sounds great!"

"Hmm" said Lauren. Emma was right, she really did miss her. There's no substitute for someone of your own age and background to talk with. "Hmm, I do."

"I'm going to get a drink. Want one?" asked Emma still not looking at her.

"No, I'm fine, thanks" Lauren watched as Emma stood and padded slowly across the hot stone patio. Her youth was apparent in the outline of her form and the poorly delineated shape of her bottom and legs. Lauren knew that within a few years she would fill out, her hips growing over the months ahead. Emma disappeared into the house, the closing of the door bringing Lauren out of her reverie.

The patio area was warm, secluded and peaceful beyond measure. A wonderful place to doze, or read, or simply do nothing. She wondered what Nikki was doing. Talking to someone, she thought. Maybe partying in town, or going out with a new boyfriend. At least she could speak her language and was free to do whatever she wanted. Lauren realised that she had just as much freedom, and had been lucky to join a family where the children didn't need constant entertainment, or changing and feeding.