Free Where Memories Are Made by Lynda Page

at the helm.
    Thinking that Harold Rose had summoned Jackie into his office to inform her that the temp’s services were no longer required as the boss had recovered sufficiently to return back to work, Al was very pleased when Jackie returned and asked him if he would consider continuing with the assignment for the foreseeable future. He left her in no doubt how he felt about that, much to her relief. She liked Al, was very satisfied with his work, and didn’t like the thought of having to interview and teach someone else the ropes considering the workload she already bore on her young shoulders. If only Drina and Rhonnie would return … but no, Jackie thought. She was just being selfish. They would come back in their own good time, and till then Jackie and her more than capable assistant would do their best to keep Jolly’s running smoothly.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    A l was feeling very chuffed with himself. Jackie, up to her eyes in work, had entrusted him with the daily checking of the camp to make sure everything was as it should be. He meant to be very vigilant and justify her trust in him.
    As he arrived outside in the courtyard he spotted a couple over by the photograph kiosk, looking at snaps the photographer had taken of them during their time here, deciding which to buy and take home as reminders of their holiday. For no particular reason a vision of his parents rose up. Despite their strict ideas of what was expected from him, and the way they’d refused to take account of his wishes, he did love them and miss them very much, dearly hoping that one day they could reconcile their differences.
    Satisfied that everything seemed to be in order around the fountain area he went into the Paradise building, then on into the theatre. After speaking to the staff and finding they had no problems to report, he crossed to the row of shops, nursery and surgery to do the same there. After that he was heading down to the outdoor swimming pool when he stopped short. In the distance, heading down the path towards the indoor swimming pool, he saw three men. They didn’t look like holidaymakers to Al. They were very smartly dressed and one in particular seemed to be having a good look round as he walked. Al thought they might be inspectors making a check to ascertain that Jolly’s was keeping to the standards set up by the relevant government bodies. Officials used to visit his father’s engineering works at least once a year to check that safety standards were being maintained, so Al knew this happened. He wondered if he should tell Jackie about them, then realised she would already know of their inspection tour as they would have had to clear it with management beforehand. So he forgot about the men and went on his way.
    He was approaching the sports field to speak to the on-duty Stripey there while a father and son three-legged race was in progress. The spectators were making a deafening din, cheering on their favourites. Sadness filled Al as he reflected that his own father would never have felt it fitting for a man in his position to participate in such an event. Al’s reflective mood was swept away when he saw Ginger come hurrying up the path towards him.
    Not hiding the fact that she was pleased to see him, she said jocularly, ‘Skiving, are you, Al, or on official business?’
    â€˜Official,’ he told her. ‘I’m taking Jackie’s place today, doing the daily walk around as she’s busy.’
    â€˜Oh, well, you’re just the man I need then. I was on the way up to the office to report that some of the campers down on the beach aren’t happy. Donkey Sam hasn’t shown up and the kids are bawling their eyes out after their mams and dads promised them a donkey ride only for no donkeys to be seen anywhere. I have to say that in all the four years I’ve worked at the camp, I’ve never known Sam to skive off once. Makes me think there’s something not