In Safe Hands - 1. Chapter 1

In Safe Hands
by Riley Jericho

Chapter One

Despite the unfamiliar room and the hour change, Elliott Carter slept late, waking at just after 09:30. He stretched and yawned. Maybe it had been a full bladder that had disturbed him. He got up and wandered the apartment until he found somewhere to pee. Business done, and now fully awake, he explored.

It had been dark when they'd arrived the previous night and difficult to see any of the surroundings. The two younger ones had been fast asleep and had had to be carried up to the second floor. Despite the late hour, once they’d collected the hire car, he'd not slept during the hour-long journey from the airport down the coast to this small town. Instead, he’d made the journey with face pressed to the window, staring out at passing hamlets, alive with lights, even at that hour.

The journey passed quickly and he'd helped his dad carry up their cases before, tired at last, had been happy to find a bed, undress and sleep.

Just over nine hours later, aside from himself, nobody else had stirred and the apartment was quiet. It was also overly warm, and they would need to find the air-conditioning if there was any. Despite the midmorning hour, the lounge was still dim. Patio-style doors led to what he guessed would be a balcony, but the metal shutters were down. After sliding open the glass doors, he pulled up the shutters with an unexpected clatter.

Immediately the sunshine burst into the room, making him squint with delight. A light breeze took the edge off the still heat as he stepped out. Catching the scent of the ocean, he smiled in pleasure as he leaned against the Perspex wall in his grey boxers - worn to sleep in because, the previous night, he couldn’t be bothered to search his bag for his PJs. The sun was already high in the cloudless azure sky, and from their second floor vantage point, he could even see darker blue of the SEA!

The sun warmed his face and, compared to the traditional English summer they’d just escaped, this felt like HEAVEN!

Peering over the balcony and down, he spotted the swimming pool. Next to it, reserved for those living in this block and available to those like themselves who were renting, a tennis court. They'd all seen photos in the brochure, and from the shortlist his mom and dad had put together, he'd voted for this one because of that very pool. He wasn't disappointed.

Gazing down over the pool enclosure, he could see several people were already out there, enjoying the morning sun. After a few moments watching, it became clear that it was a family. An older couple, relaxing on loungers, were what he assumed to be mom and dad, and there was a third. A boy who, from that distance, looked around his age.

With nothing better to do, he watched the boy diving into the water. Each time, he would throw in something that would skim along the surface, watching it sink to the bottom, before going to retrieve it. He could swim like a fish and, surfacing, he pulled himself easily out onto the side before diving once more, searching for the treasure he'd cast.

From those first moments, there was something about the lithe figure that captured Elliott's attention. He watched the boy go in and out of the water with ease, water cascading off his milky, toffee-coloured, tanned skin. The black speedos the boy sported, matched his messy black hair as he moved through the water confidantly. Unexpectedly, he seemed to be become aware he was being watched. Perched on the side of the pool resting a few moments, he lifted his head towards the balcony to where Elliott was observing him. They studied each other, wordlessly, for a dozen or more seconds.

It seemed petty to Elliott not to at least acknowledge the boy so, still leaning against the glass panel that separated him from a long drop, he turned his hand at the wrist and gave a small friendly wave. After he'd done it, he felt a little silly. Waving at strangers in a strange country? Even so, he was rewarded by a flash of white teeth as the unknown boy grinned, and waved back. A simple gesture, that brought with it a tendril of pleasure.

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Does it look good, Sport?" The voice came out of nowhere, and Elliott turned quickly, feeling unexpectedly flustered to find his dad looking out to the ocean.

"Oh - you bet!" he replied enthusiastically. He glanced down at the pool again, but the boy had once more returned to his diving practice.

"We need to get something for breakfast,” said his dad. “They were meant to have done some shopping for essentials for us, but looks like someone forgot! There's a supermarket just down the road. I saw it when we drove in. Fancy coming with me?"

Elliott nodded again. It wasn't often he got 'me and dad‘ time, these days! After a final glance down to the pool, he went back to his room where his younger brother, Sam, was still sound asleep. Rifling through his case as quietly as he could, he retrieved and pulled on some shorts and a tee shirt. Dressed he followed his dad to their car, parked out the front of the block where they'd left it the previous night.

They drove along in silence for a few minutes but, as they pulled into the supermarket car park, Elliott came out of the blue with it.

"Dad - when we go back to the States, can I go to school?"

"WOOAAA! That's kind of a biggy for this time in the morning, isn’t it Sport!" Benedict glanced across at his son curiously. Elliott had always been the quiet one of their brood and, unlike his brother Sam, quite slow to make friends. His younger sister Natalie was known as either Natters or Natty for the reason that it was usually quite difficult to stop her talking! On the other hand, Benedict (he abhorred being called Ben) suspected that Elliott, being the thinker of the three, had probably processed his question extensively, before finally coming out with it.

"You've never done school." It sounded odd, but both knew what he meant by it. "Don’t you like being taught by Mom?" Their three had been home schooled all their lives and Rose was an effective teacher, as well as Mom and lover.

Elliott considered the question that had been on his mind, on and off, for some time now. So why had he chosen just now to raise the issue?

Friends. And he knew, in part, that the boy in the pool had also reminded him of his dilemma - that he didn't really have any…because he didn't really belong anywhere!

It was the nomadic life they lived. Wherever they ended up, he found it difficult to make friends. And the main reason was; he hated losing them! It was self-protection really; avoiding making close friends in the places to which they moved, just so he wouldn't have to say goodbye. There were always promises to keep in touch, but it never happened.

It was easier to be a loner.

Except it wasn't.

Maybe he'd make friends with the boy in the pool, but that was different. They were both on holiday, and there was no more to it than that. But to go to school properly for once, that was something he was ready for.

"Home schooling’s okay, Dad, but if we're going to be permanently in America from now on, it might be easier to make friends at a school. I mean, I wouldn't mind trying it? Just for once..."

Benedict Carter nodded knowing that, for all the benefits of world travel and exposure to many different cultures, there had been a price to pay and their son, Elliott, had probably paid more than most.

"Okay Sport, I'll talk to Mom. No promises, but let's see what she says."

Elliott didn’t push it any more. It was part of their family ethos. Everyone got a say. It was out in the open now, and he knew they would listen to him. And, after travelling all his life, he was more than ready to go back to a place that, at least one of his well-worn passports, said was home.

By the time they got back to the apartment, everyone was awake and in some state of dress. Breakfast was a mixture of some unknown cereal that his dad had scooped from the supermarket shelves, and omelets that their mum had concocted from eggs and the hotchpotch of items her husband had brought back.

As they ate, the kids were antsy to be outside.

"You go with them Hon…I'll just clear up a bit and unpack," Rose offered after she had made sure they were all adequately fed and watered. It was hard to compete with the expectations of the pool!

Benedict nodded, knowing that this was his wife's normal coping mechanism. With kids in tow, she’d uncomplainingly followed him all over the world, but wherever they went - even if it were just for a few short days - she would need to nest. That meant fully unpacking and getting it how she liked it. He also knew that, now breakfast was done, getting the kids out of the equation would be his task.

"Come on then guys! Who's for the pool?" In a flash they were by the door!

“Elliott hasn’t had a shower!” pouted Sam. Elliott’s younger brother, grimaced petulantly, gaining himself a look of irritation from Elliott.

Rose took it in her stride. With Elliott nearly fourteen now, and Sam at ten, the younger sibling was at that age where everything was becoming a competition. No longer quite willing just to be in his elder brother’s shadow, Sam was beginning to push the boundaries big time. Not that Elliott was overbearing at all, but Sam was changing more than him, for sure!

“I’m sure it’s fine sweetheart.” She placated the younger’s warped sense of justice. “Elliott, just make sure you have a good clean under the shower at the pool before you go in.”

Having made his point, and seeing the need to go under the shower at the pool as a sufficient punishment, Sam subsided. Elliott sighed to himself and just let it go.

"You'll need the sunscreen, Hon," Rose called as they headed for the door, and she lobbed it to her husband. The kids fidgeted by the exit, desperate to get out. Sam and Natty wanted to get into the water. Elliott was actually more interested to see if that boy would still be there by the time they eventually got down the stairs!

The four of them took the short journey in the lift, with the usual argument between the younger two of who should press the buttons. They made their way to the pool enclosure, where there were plenty of spare loungers. As they entered the enclosure, the couple already there greeted the four newcomers generously. Benedict nodded amiably, but then had his hands full trying to keep Natty from pre-emptively throwing herself in the water.

As soon as they exited the building, Elliott couldn't help but check to see if the boy - their son, he had guessed - was there. Of course he's there, he berated himself. Just as he had been five minutes ago, when he'd surreptitiously checked from the balcony.

Feeling ridiculously shy over someone he knew nothing about, he helped his Dad smear sun block on his younger siblings. He blew up some bright pink arm floaters and put them on Natty and, as she and Sam splashed excitedly into the water, he sat patiently, allowing his Dad to smear the greasy goo over his neck, back and shoulders.

Standing under the shower for rather longer than necessary, he knew he was putting it off, but denied to himself that it had anything to do with the stranger. Finally, as clean as fresh water would allow, he pulled on a pair of swimming goggles and slipped gently in at one end.

CRAP, IT’S COLD!

The initial gasp was replaced within moments by…HEAVEN! It was hard to grasp why everyone in Europe didn't sell up and come and live here. For a few minutes, he forgot about everything else and just wallowed in it.

For a while until his dad joined them, he played and splashed with Sam and Natty. All the time, he kept a wary eye on the unknown boy in black speedos, who continued to amuse himself, some distance away. Once his dad was in the water, the younger ones converged on him, so Elliott climbed out onto the side. He adjusted his goggles and dived in, hoping he wouldn’t look a complete dork!

He came up from the depths and broke the surface, just in time to see the boy take a long run up to the edge of the pool, to make spectacular flying dive. He disappeared under the rippling surface. He was gone a while, and Elliott found himself scanning the surface with concern, lifting his goggles to see better. It was rather a surprise when the boy burst out of the water, right in front of him; almost close enough to touch. He grinned and shook water from his face.

“Hola! Soy Miguel!” he laughed. Hi! I’m Miguel! Miguel’s cheeky grin and easy laugh were infectious, and Elliott couldn’t help but grin in return.

They were in deep water and, without breaking eye contact with Elliott, Miguel gently drifted backwards with easy strokes. Those eyes that were dark, but not cold. Rather, they were deep and warm, bright and laughing; a dark reflection of the delicious pool in which he and Elliott were treading. Lazily he began to stroke out backwards, towards shallower water and Elliott, who felt magnetized to him already, followed stroke for stroke. Eventually their feet touched the bottom and they moved around each other gently in the water, stepping a dance as old as the hills.

Then, in perfect Spanish, Elliott nodded towards Miguel’s parents.

“So – are you here on holiday too, or do you live here?” He smiled inwardly as Miguel did a double take at his command of the language.

They’d spent almost eight years altogether, living in one Latin American country or another. Even though he was home schooled, Elliott had found numerous friends his age to play with over those years. At home, his mother had made sure he was as fluent in Spanish as he was in English, and like most young kids, he'd learned easily. By the time he was three, he was completely fluent and could swear quite effectively in Spanish as needed! His parents were Spanish speakers too, and even Sam and Natty could get by well enough.

“Good God!” Miguel eye’s widened in surprise. His voice had a cutely husky, musical tone. “An English kid who speaks Spanish. It’s a miracle!”

Elliott pretended to be shocked and then sniggered. “I’m not English – I’m American. Though it’s true I’ve been in the UK for the last few years. I’m Elliott.”

Miguel studied him through his dark cheeky eyes. “ET!” he pronounced, unexpectedly.

“What?”

“ET – the movie. The boy was called Elliott. He was American too - was that you? ET phone home….” Miguel held a pretend phone to his ear with mock seriousness.

Elliott splashed him playfully. “Idiot!” he murmured, not yet realising that the two-week holiday had just started with a friendship that would completely change his life.

Without any warning, a body surfaced in the space between him and Miguel.

Sam!

Turning his back on Elliott, Sam poured every inch of his personality onto the new kid. “Hi, I’m Sam,” he grinned, trying out his own passable Spanish. “Do ya wanna play?”

PISS OFF SAM – HE’S MINE, Elliott screamed inside!

Why it annoyed him so much this time, he had no idea. The truth was, Sam was always much more sociable than him; always able to make lots of friends, wherever they went. They were like easy toys for him to pick up and discard at will. Why did he have to muscle in on this one?

Miguel seemed happy enough to have his attention taken by the energetic Sam, who plied him with all kinds of questions and seemed to manage to give him their family’s complete potted history, in under 2 minutes. Unable to compete with Sam’s natural vivacious personality, Elliott backed away. Miguel didn’t even seem to notice.

Swimming back to his dad, he tried to look like he had a purpose. He pulled himself out of the pool and, spreading his towel on a spare lounger, lay out in the sun and shut his eyes. The warm sun was perfect, and he made an effort to decide that he wasn’t going to let Sam spoil his day as he stretched out luxuriously.

He was somewhere in that blissful moment of the edge of sleep when there was a scraping noise, just nearby. Turning his head, he was surprised to see Miguel in the process of dragging another lounger and laying it right next to him.

“Miguel – come and play!” shouted Sam from the pool.

“Later, Sam. I wanna sit in the sun for a while.”

Elliott could see Sam eyeing up a lounger to come and join them, when his dad tossed a ball from the other end of the pool. It thumped onto the surface just near Sam, who grabbed it and turned his attention elsewhere.

Cursing himself for being crap at starting conversations, Elliott watched the sky.

“So, how long are you here for?” that musical husky voice beside him probed.

He turned over on his side to find Miguel – lounger pulled up to a foot away – lying on his side too, and watching him.

“Just over a couple of weeks.”

“Good – us too.”

“Is it just the four of you?” asked Miguel.

“And Mom – she’s still upstairs tidying the apartment!” He shrugged. “You know what moms are like.”

Miguel smirked. “Tell me about it! We have a lady who comes to clean, but Mama insists in cleaning the house through before she arrives, just so it won’t be a mess for her!”

Elliott smiled in amusement and began to relax. How long they talked, he had no idea, but Miguel was patient and persistent. As he dusted off his Spanish that had lain dormant for the last year and a half, their conversation gradually speeded up and became more natural.

“Elliott – I hope you have plenty of sunblock on?”

He twisted around to look to where his mom had arrived at last. She had her bikini on, covered over by a sarong wrap. Natty ran over, grabbing her by the hand and pulling to get her to come into the water.

“Yes Natty – I will – in a minute,” she murmured patiently. “Elliott?” She expected an answer.

“Yes Mom, I have sunblock on.” For God’s sake, I’m not a kid!

“Just be careful with the sun, sweetheart,” she persisted.

When he turned back to Miguel, he caught him grinning.

“That explains it!” Miguel noted.

“That explains what?”

“Your skin…”

“What?”

Miguel shrugged. “Never mind – come on, let’s swim again.”

They both stood, and then Miguel seemed to change his mind. “No – first come and meet my parents.”

Before Elliott had time to feel self-conscious once more, he was being introduced to Señor and Señora Ortiz. His own parents joined them and more introductions were made.

* * *

Mom had liked to say they were like two peas in a pod, Elliott always recalled. Though how she figured that, he’d no idea! Miguel was dark and creamy – like someone who'd stepped straight out of a TV advert for olives. His dad had dark skin too and was roundish; his mom was taller and you could tell he got his looks from them both.

Himself? Even though he had a skin that was darker than most normal Americans and browned easily, he was pale in comparison – at least he thought so.

Peas in a pod? Sure – though it depended what you meant!

Maybe, over those two weeks, she began to see past the surface and could see, in so many other ways, how very much alike they two were. Even though Elliott was shy – even withdrawn at times – she could see that Miguel seemed to draw him out of himself. Over the holiday the two seemed to become glued together.

Rose knew they tried not to leave Sam out, but he got frustrated when the two of them rattled on in Spanish so fast that he couldn't keep up. On top of that, Sam took it as a personal affront that Miguel had chosen to spend more time with Elliott – a friend his own age – rather than with his ten-year old sibling!

Any thought that Elliott might be getting something he didn’t have, grated on Sam badly! But in this instance, she didn’t care. Sam had friends in every port of call they passed through. He could walk out onto the street in a new neighborhood and, fifteen minutes later, be surrounded by a posse of allies. She and Benedict realised that finding a friend like Miguel was important for Elliott, and worked hard to keep Sam out of their hair.

As well as the boys beginning to click together, the parents hit it off too. After introductions had been made and Rose Carter had spent a few minutes with the kids in the pool, she pulled a lounger across closer to the Ortiz couple, and the two mothers were soon chatting like old friends. The dads were typical – exchanging the odd word, but happy to let the women do most of the talking!

An hour later, she looked up to the sun, now hot in the early afternoon sky. “We should take the kids in soon, Hon,” she suggested. Well, it wasn’t really a suggestion. “And we need to find some lunch. We’ll need to go out somewhere, there’s nothing to eat in the apartment.”

“We were going out for lunch ourselves shortly,” offered Isabella Ortiz, Miguel’s mother. Her face broke out in the generous smile that seemed to come so easily. “Why don’t you come with us? We could take you somewhere that has good local food and a kids menu too.”

“Sounds good,” put in Benedict quickly, glad not to have to drive around endlessly looking for somewhere suitable.

‘As long as you don’t mind?” added Rose, uncertain about landing such new friends with their kids.

“Of course not!” Manny Ortiz, decided for them all. “The more, the merrier. And anyway, the kids seem to be getting on well.” The parents watched with amusement, as Natty ordered the boys around in her usual aristocrat manner!

“She gets it from her mother, of course!” Benedict grinned, earning himself a swat. “Well, as long as you really don’t mind, we’d love to come with you.”

“Excellent! Why don’t we meet up by the front in thirty minutes,” Manny suggested. And so it was agreed and, just over thirty minutes later, the Carter family piled into their boiling hot car and followed the Ortiz vehicle down the hill.

“Crikey, he drives fast,” Benedict muttered.

“Dad, turn the air-con up. It’s boiling back here!”

“It’s running full. Don’t worry, I’m sure it’ll cool down soon.” Rose turned up the blower and hung on to the door handle as they swept around a corner trying to keep up. In fact, the car had little time to cool down. Shortly, they pulled into a small, but already quite full, restaurant car park. There was only just enough room for the both cars.

The Carters tumbled out into the hot sunshine and both families went indoors to eat.