Free The Woman Who Knew What She Wanted by William Coles Page A

inflicting us straight onto the paying customers.
    We were allocated our stations. I was given a number of tables in the corner of the room, set by the windows. Even at a glance, I could see that they were the best tables in the house, with views out over the coast. The best table of all was directly in the corner. With your back to the wall, you looked out at the entire dining room, while out of the windows you had a commanding view of the gardens and the sea.
    â€˜This is Enid Blyton’s table,’ Anthony said. ‘She was a regular here with her husband. He was a keen golfer.’
    â€˜Who sits here now then?’ I asked.
    â€˜Wait and see,’ he said. ‘But let us just say people with high expectations. Such clientele as may be looking for that little bit more.’
    â€˜The awkward squad?’
    â€˜It’ll be your job to make sure they stay happy. Be polite, but not servile. Smile, but without being unctuous. Chat charmingly, but without being overfamiliar. Engage with the clientele, but know when to shut up. And flirt with the girls if you must, but do please, Kim, kindly refrain from sleeping with them.’
    â€˜At least in the hotel.’
    â€˜And also out of it.’ He adjusted some of the cutlery that I had already laid out. ‘Leave enough room for the side plates.’
    â€˜We set the vegetables in a bowl in the middle and let them help themselves,’ he continued. ‘You can try silver service if you like, but practice by yourself first of all.’
    By chance, his eyes happened to rest on Oliver, who was diligently laying up some of the window tables next to mine. He was placing the cutlery with the most fervent concentration, peering at each knife, each fork, before placing them very precisely onto the table.
    Anthony shook his head. ‘He means well, that boy,’ he said. ‘But I’m not sure the dining room is for him.’
    â€˜He’s eager,’ I said.
    â€˜I know that!’ said Anthony. ‘Perhaps if we gave him a trolley… there might be less chance of him doing himself a mischief.’
    â€˜Or the customers.’
    Oliver gave the table one last critical survey, before spotting a smudge on one of the side plates. He snatched up the plate and polished it with a dishcloth from his belt. His cuff flicked one of the glasses. It bounced off a chair and fell to the floor, but miraculously did not smash.
    Anthony winced as he walked away. He called out over his shoulder. ‘Oliver! Well done! Good job! You’ve got it!’
    We had an hour to ourselves before lunch. I went out to the playground and sat on one of the swings. Very gently, I started to swing. My feet scuffed in the play bark. I wondered if my mother had ever pushed me on that swing when I was younger.
    I wondered if I was going to enjoy working at the hotel.
    â€˜Can I join you?’
    â€˜Of course,’ I said, without turning round. It was one of the maids and when I looked at her, I saw that it was the pretty blonde woman who had been chatted up by Darren the previous day.
    â€˜Hi,’ she said. ‘I’m Annette.’
    â€˜Kim,’ I said. ‘Enjoying Studland?’
    â€˜It beats Sweden.’
    â€˜I’ve never been to Sweden. I’ve always wanted to go.’
    â€˜And I’ve always wanted to leave.’ We were both swinging in tandem. She was like a carefree young girl. ‘Why do you want to go to Sweden?’
    â€˜The women are so beautiful.’ I caught her eye, and there was just enough edge on my voice for it to glide from the cheesy to the ironic.
    Annette laughed. She was beautiful. What a gorgeous moment, swinging in the spring sun with that beautiful Swede by my side.
    â€˜Why did you want to leave Sweden?’ I asked.
    â€˜The men,’ she said. ‘So ugly.’
    â€˜I’ll bet they are.’
    â€˜And over in England…’
    â€˜The men aren’t much