Sunset on the Square by Lilac Mills

Author:Lilac Mills
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Despite not being particularly religious, Elspeth loved the Passion of Christ procession along the main street in Santiago del Teide on Good Friday, and she and Ray used to make a point of watching it every year. Naturally, she’d carried on the tradition after he’d passed away, so that morning she closed the shop, in line with every other business in the town, and waited for Charles to arrive.

Before she turned the key in the lock, she poked her head out of the door and glanced up and down the street. Spectators were already gathering, and there was an expectant buzz in the air.

Just then, she spotted Charles hurrying towards her, and she held the door open for him to slip inside.

‘Fancy a quick brew before it starts?’ she asked. ‘We’ve got time.’

‘Yes, please. I can’t believe how many people are dressed up in Biblical-style costumes. If it wasn’t for the mobile phones many of them are carrying, I’d feel as though I was in Ancient Jerusalem.’

‘Good! That’s what the organisers want you to feel.’ She led him to the back of the shop and flicked the switch on the kettle.

Charles glanced around curiously and she saw him take in the little office to one side and the stock room. Neither space was very big. The largest room in the building was the room out the back where Stefan stored the bikes.

‘Where does most of the revenue come from?’ Charles asked. ‘The shop itself or the bike hire and repair side of things?’

‘It’s about equal, I think. As you know, Tenerife is a magnet for cyclists, but if you’re not part of one of the professional teams then it’s easier to hire a bike over here than to bring your own.’

Charles chuckled. ‘Every time a guy passes me on a bike, I check their kit to see if they are a professional. I feel honoured to be riding on the same roads – although I believe my speed is considerably slower than theirs, especially going uphill,’ he joked. ‘Thanks.’

She handed him a mug of steaming tea and he took a sip.

‘It’s great that this shop exists,’ Charles said after a while. ‘I know there are other places you can hire bikes from, but to be honest, those bikes look like they’re better suited to a gentle trundle along the promenade at Los Cristianos, than the hard ride up into the caldera.’

‘Which is exactly the reason Stefan began hiring bikes out. He saw a gap in the market and jumped right in. Of course, there are other bike hire companies, and some decent ones, too, with quality bikes, but nothing over here on the west of the island.’

‘How long has Stefan owned the business?’ he asked.

‘Just over five years, but the shop has been here a lot longer than that. It was his idea, though, to open up the bike hire part. Finish your tea,’ she told him, ‘I think they’re about to start.’

Charles downed the last of his drink and took their mugs over to the counter, then hurried to the door.

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