Free The Love Resort by Faith Bleasdale

arguing with Emily, but he was also too excited. Like a child, he was going on his first major holiday with the woman he loved and he’d never been out of Europe before. He impulsively kissed her cheek.
    ‘What was that for?’
    ‘Because even at this time in the morning you look beautiful,’ he replied truthfully.
    ‘Oh, you.’ But she kissed him back and, at that moment, he felt happier than he ever had.
    They had been together for eight months. Jimmy was a mechanic; he owned his own garage and was happy with his life. Actually, with Emily he was ecstatic. He had met her at the pub that her parents owned, where she worked. He’d stood in front of the bar, she’d turned to serve him, and her eyes had sparkled as she’d pushed one of her curls off her face. When she’d smiled at him he’d almost buckled. He believed it was love at first sight.
    ‘Jimmy, we have got everything, haven’t we?’ She sounded worried.
    ‘Em, by the weight of your suitcase, we’ve got everything you own.’ He laughed, kindly.
    ‘Don’t exaggerate, you know that simply isn’t true,’ she grinned.
    He adored her. She was beautiful, confident and she knew what she wanted. He couldn’t believe that someone like her would go for someone like him, but she had. It hadn’t happened overnight. He’d visited the pub on numerous occasions, each time with the intention of asking her out; each time losing his nerve. Then one day she’d asked him on a date. He couldn’t believe it.
    Their relationship hadn’t always been easy. She could be demanding, sulky and sometimes a bit mean, but that was because she was so incredible. Incredible people were difficult, it was a fact. And love wasn’t easy; all his mates told him that. Jimmy knew that he was one lucky man, he was certain of it. He also knew he was the envy of most of the men in Bideford.
    It had been his idea to enter the competition, because Emily had been hassling him to take her away and the prices of the two-week holidays she chose almost caused him to collapse. So, when he’d seen the competition he’d entered it, and when they had won, he’d been both surprised and relieved.
    Emily went off to check that she hadn’t forgotten anything, encouraging Jimmy to do the same. Instead, he waited for her, vowing to make the most of their holiday, to stop worrying about his garage, which he’d never left for more than a week before, and he would use the time to prove to her how much he loved her. He thought about the engagement ring he’d bought. It’d cost him, but he was determined to make his marriage proposal perfect. She deserved that.
    ‘I can’t believe how exciting this is,’ Emily said, for the hundredth time.
    ‘I know. Just think, this time tomorrow we’ll be lying in the sun, maybe with a cocktail.’
    ‘Or two. I intend to take advantage of the all-inclusive.’
    ‘Um, it’s going to be brilliant. Em?’ He squeezed her hand.
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘I really love you.’
    ‘Oh, Jimmy, I love you too.’ She squeezed his hand back.
    *
    Thea leant in. She then poked him with her index finger but nothing happened. She moved closer, looking dubious. After a few seconds, she went to the bathroom and came back with the toothbrush mug filled with water. She poured it over his head. Nothing.
    Thea sighed. She had ordered a taxi to take them to the airport and she’d set every alarm clock they owned. The problem was that Tim didn’t seem to want to wake up.
    She thought back to the previous day, when she’d tried to keep a close eye on him, but he said he had to go and pick up his money from the post office, and stupidly she let him go alone. He arrived home hours later. Pickled. She had done her best, but Tim liked a drink, and he was probably only getting into the holiday spirit, she told herself, as she prodded him again.
    They’d known each other their whole lives and had lived together for three years. They couldn’t be any closer; Tim really was all she had. But