Under Almond Blossoms by Anja Saskia Beyer

Author:Anja Saskia Beyer [Beyer, Anja Saskia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2020-12-08T05:00:00+00:00

With Paul in the passenger seat, the two of them drove inland in the little hire car; the atmosphere between them felt tense. According to the satnav, the journey to Santa Maria would take about twenty-five minutes and, as she drove, Milla, lost in thought, hummed along to ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’ by Shakira and Rihanna, which was playing on the radio. What did Johann still remember of the time with Abbigail? Often elderly people recall the old times especially clearly. She hoped that would be the case with him.

Palm trees, flowering shrubs, barren rock formations and light pink almond blossoms flashed past outside. ‘The island is very beautiful at this time of the year,’ Paul commented admiringly. For him, this trip inland was nothing more than a holiday excursion. But for Milla it meant so much more.

‘Not only at the time of the almond blossom,’ she replied, realising that she had fallen hopelessly in love with this island, the home of her family. ‘There are quite a few beautiful beaches, and I’m determined to discover many more of them.’

Paul smiled at her and stroked her neck. ‘Do you know what? We can come here for our honeymoon.’ Being short of funds, they hadn’t booked anything yet.

Milla froze slightly and only nodded. Paul looked at her sideways and kept on massaging her neck. ‘You’re quite tense, you know.’

‘That’s not surprising. I’m soon going to meet my grandmother’s true love. Who knows what he’ll have to tell us about their lives?’

Silently, they drove on for a while, then Milla turned off towards the picturesque little town of Santa Maria, situated on a plain at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains – Milla had Googled it.

Suddenly, she felt sick. ‘Can we buy some water here? And ask the way to his finca?’

‘Okay, sweetie.’

They entered the town and saw numerous colourful signs advertising leather goods and free drinks in the bodegas.

‘Shall we stop for a while in one of the bodegas?’ asked Paul.

‘You want a break when we’re nearly there?’ Milla didn’t understand him. How could he suggest something like that?

Paul simply shrugged, let the window down and hung his arm out.

Milla parked the car next to a small grocery store and went in to get mineral water. At the till, she asked the young Mallorquin woman in Spanish, ‘Could you please tell me the way to the Finca El Molino somewhere around here?’

‘No. But ask in the restaurant Can Calet. They know every place around here.’ With a smile, she pointed the place out to Milla.

‘Okay. Thank you.’ She went back into the sunshine and to Paul.

‘Any luck?’

‘Nothing. We’re to ask in the restaurant over there.’ She opened the bottle with a hiss and took a few gulps. Her knees were trembling. Why was she so nervous about the imminent meeting with this old man? Would he know why Abbigail had been so distant to her own daughter? Milla was sure that he would. Her stomach was telling her.

They found the restaurant and Milla went in and nervously asked for directions.

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