Short Story: What Lies Beneath The Surface

Short Story: What Lies Beneath The Surface

Alison was the first one out of the four to arrive at the Villa in Dubai. Alison was a 29 year old, a tall intelligent lady with long brown hair, blue eyes and bronzed skin. She has always been popular due to her caring and friendly personality. As Alison waited for Mark, James and Lauren, she checked out the Villa her Father had built on one of the small islands as congratulations on becoming a Neurosurgeon. She could smell the newly Chestnut yellow painted walls surrounded by the new expensive furniture. As she walked around the villa she hear the waves lapping against the shore. Alison went to her room to unpack. Her room was as elegant as she had imagined, it was decorated in a pastel cream colour with wooden floorboards, a kingsize four-poster bed, a number of cupboards and a dressing table.

The outside seating area looked out to the land of Dubai where she could see the stunning scenery that Dubai had to offer, The Palm, Dubai Marina, Burj Al Arab and the miles long of golden sand of Jumeira Beach. Alison soon gave up on the unpacking, when she saw her three friends coming into shore on her private boat. Alison greeted her friends and said thank you to Thomas the captain for collecting them.

Alison handed each of her friends a glass of Moet that had been chilling in the ice bucket, “To the future, my friends,” said Alison as she raised her glass, “To the future my friends,” they said back as they raised their glasses.

It was 40 degrees, the sun was shining with blue skies as they sat in the seating area, palm trees, beautiful bright coloured flowers and the sparkling Arab Sea surrounding them. “Well guys I can’t believe we finally did it,” said Mark. Mark was referring to all four of them graduating with different qualifications.

From a young age Mark had always wanted to by a lawyer after going to his Father's work one day and was fascinated by the varied aspects of the role. Mark was a 30 year old, tall masculine man that wanted everything and didn’t care how he got it. Mark met Alison through a mutual friend whist in her final year at University. They hit it off straight away and although she felt Mark could selfish at times, she couldn’t help liking him.

“Lauren,” cried James, “why don’t you come and join me in the chilled pool?” asked James while he relaxed, sipping a beer.

“Now that’s a good idea,” said Lauren as she took off her summer dress and reveal a toned, bronzed body wearing a black Karen Millen bikini. Lauren was 29 years old with jet black hair, fair skin and blue eyes. She had just qualified as fashion designer and was thrilled that Alison had invited her to her Villa to relax before the real hard work began. Lauren poured herself another glass of Moet and placed herself next to James. James was 30 year old slim build accountant.

As Lauren and James started to muck about in the pool, Alison and Mark stood together on the porch while watching the sunset. They started talking about how they met that night and how it ended not quite as they would have liked. “Lets not talk about that, this is a new life and a new start,” advised Alison. Little did they know what was going to come and greet them.

As a new day dawned, Lauren and Alison decided to hit the glamorous shopping malls of Dubai. This was Lauren’s first time in Dubai and she was instantly fazed by the sheer elegance of the buildings, with their shiny marble floors, the gold twists of decoration.

As they went in and out of shops for two hours, “My feet are killing me,” Alison said.

Lauren laughed as she looked at Alison surrounded by shopping bags, “I bought this for Maisy,” Lauren said while holding up a pink vest top for her adopted 13 year old daughter.

“How is Maisy coping being without you?” asked Alison.

“I think she is getting on better than I expected, I am enjoying the peace and quiet,” Lauren said with a smile.

As Alison and Lauren sat at Costa Coffee, Alison nudged Lauren and quizzed her about James, “I see you two are getting pretty close these days,” she said.

“Are we? I hadn’t noticed,” said Lauren with a glint in her eye. “Ok I have totally got the hots for him but don’t know how to go about asking him, and he is really good with Maisy, like a father to her,” confessed Lauren.

“Okay here’s the deal, Mark and I will make ourselves scarce for an hour or so while you and James can have a chat,” ordered Alison.

James and Mark were chilling by the pool when James confessed to Mark that he has feelings for Lauren but is scared of rejection. Mark assured him that this wasn’t going to be case. “How do you know that?”

“I have seen the way you two look at each other,” said Mark winking at James

“All you can do is ask her James. Nothing bad is going to happen.”

Mark and James were getting the barbeque ready when the girls came through the door with mountains of bags.

“Blimey, buy the whole mall did we girls?” said James

“I’m surprised the boat didn’t sink,” added Mark

“It will be you that’s sinking once you have seen your credit card bill, for that’s what men should be there for!” said Alison, sticking out her tongue at Mark.

Alison and Lauren went to their rooms to get ready for their evening meal while Mark and James got the food ready. “Damn I’m such a talented cook,” said Mark licking his fingers.

“Leave some for us, you greedy sod,” said Alison as they entered the outside seating area.

Once they had finished dinner Mark helped Alison clear up the dishes while James and Lauren took a walk to the private beach.

As James and Lauren sat on the soft, golden, warm sand, as the sunset, Lauren could feel a refreshing breeze on her face. They turned to face each other.

“Lauren, I don’t know how well you will take to this but I am very fond of you and have been for a long time,” and with that Lauren took James’s face in her hands, pulled him towards her and kissed him passionately on his lips.

“I guess you have the same feeling,” said James as Lauren pulled away.

“I guess so,” flirted Lauren.

Mark and Alison were busy splashing water at each other as James and Lauren walked through the kitchen door holding hands. “So it’s official then?” asked Mark, pointing at James and Lauren “It sure is,” beamed James

Alison tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep she went through to the kitchen to get a drink of water. It was 3am. As she approach the kitchen she could see the light was on and Lauren was sitting at the white glazed breakfast bar, holding a photo.

“Fancy a brew? asked Alison, as Lauren looked up, Alison could see that Lauren was a bit upset.

“Hey what’s up?” asked Alison as she gave her friend a hug.

“Oh it’s just me being silly, just missing Maisy,” said Lauren.

“Well how about you invite her over to stay for a few days?”

“Oh that would be brilliant! She would love that,” Lauren squealed with delight.

Lauren couldn’t contain her excitement when she phoned Maisy to say that her plane ticket was booked.

Lauren and James went to pick up Maisy at the airport. Maisy was a slim, petite, 13 year old with dyed red hair.

“What have you done to your hair?” was the first thing Lauren said.

“Oh Mum, live a little will you! It’s all about being your own person, trying something different,” answered Maisy.

Lauren, James and Maisy arrived back at the villa where Lauren introduced Maisy to Alison and Mark. Maisy studied Alison for a few seconds. “Right I will show you to your room then,” said Lauren.

Lauren took Maisy’s suitcase and chatted with her daughter as they walked through the hall. Once in her room, Maisy turned to her mother and said “I am really tired, do you mind if I have a snooze and I will come down for dinner”

“Of course not,” said Lauren kissing Maisy on her head.

Maisy took her Radley bag and placed it on the bed, where she rummaged through and took out two sheets of paper, one was her original birth certificate and another was paperwork from the adoption agency. Maisy had overheard a conversion that her grandparents were having over a few too many drinks. Maisy had just found out that she was adopted and Alison and Mark were her real Mother and Father.

Knowing that she was going to Dubai and staying with them for a holiday. She wanted proof and she wanted answers. She wasn’t angry or even upset as she had a fantastic life with her mother but just wanted to know why. So when her grandparents had gone out for the day Maisy went into the study, looked through a few pine cabinets. She came across a green folder, labelled ‘Maisy’. She opened it and found her birth certificate with Alison’s and Mark’s name in the Mother and Father’s name box along with adoption confirmation that Alison and Mark had agreed to give their baby for adoption.

Maisy joined Mark, Alison, Lauren and James in the lounge. They were going out to the newly opened Rhodes Twenty 10 Restaurant. As they rode on the private boat, Maisy was eager to find out all about Alison and what made her choose the career she had.

The next morning while Maisy and James went to The Dubai Mall to see the Dubai Aquarium, Lauren was in Maisy’s room when she knocked over Maisy’s bag.

She picked up the papers that had fallen out. Lauren started trembling with shock as she read what was on the paper.

“Everything ok Lauren?” Alison asked as she walked into the room.

Lauren couldn’t say anything as she stood shaking. Alison took the papers from Lauren’s grip.

“Oh no, I can’t believe this is happening,” said a stunned Alison.

Mark, Alison and Lauren where gathered around the breakfast bar and started to discuss what Lauren had found. Alison explained to Lauren that she and Mark had a one night stand which resulted in her pregnancy. Alison went on to say that she gave her baby up for adoption as she and Mark were not ready for a child and they weren’t even in a relationship. There was silence for a few seconds when Lauren eventually spoke “I am not angry at you Alison, as you have given me a beautiful child, I am just shocked that Maisy has found out and that she has taken this with her. I have no idea what I am going to say to her.”

James and Maisy came through the door to find Lauren sitting in the lounge with the papers she found in Maisy’s bag.

“We need to talk,” said Lauren looking at Maisy. “I got told at the age of 16 that I would never have children, so unknowing what I wanted to do with my life, I decided to adopt and got a beautiful baby, you. You were the best thing that happened to me. I found these papers when your bag fell. How did you find out?” quizzed Lauren.

“I heard Gran and Granddad talking about me going to Dubai and how it wasn’t a good idea as I would be too close to my natural mother. So I did some investigating and found the papers. Does Alison know?” confessed Maisy.

“Yes she does,” confirmed Lauren.