The Lonely Hearts Travel Club

CHAPTER 5

Auspicious (adj.) – Attended by good fortune; prosperous

I was battling through storm Bertha, or whatever the weather presenters had named this one, as I made my way from the warmth of our shop to go to a lunch meeting. Luckily, I knew the person I was meeting quite well, otherwise they would have taken one glance at the drowned rat look I seemed to have adopted and called off any business arrangement right then and there. My umbrella was probably doing more harm than good as I gripped the handle with my icy hands, finding it hard to breathe as cold gusts choked my throat.

I’d called him earlier as I glanced out of the window at the apocalyptic street scene to see about changing the date of this meeting, but he was adamant that we had to meet today, the sooner the better he’d said. I was now rushing behind schedule to meet Rahul, the part-time tour guide who I’d met when I’d travelled to India. He was back in Manchester and had booked us a table in Rocco, a fancy Spanish restaurant that had recently opened not far from the bank, so at least I could nip in there and do some business admin and not feel so guilty about being out of the office for what would basically be a gossip session with a friend.

I half tumbled into the elegant room, which was full of white, starched-linen tablecloths, industrial steel and exposed brickwork, with splashes of deep red and blood orange. It was less quaint, Mediterranean tapas, and more hipster, Brooklyn loft. The large glass door slammed shut behind me, making the other diners turn and tut at the wild-haired woman with watering eyes and wind-slapped cheeks who’d stumbled in with all the grace of a charging rhino.

‘Good afternoon, do you have a reservation?’ The maître d’ asked, able to hide his look of disgust on his Botoxed features.

‘Georgia!’

I was saved from having to reply as Rahul strode over and pulled me into an enveloping hug, filling my nose with citrus aftershave.

‘You made it! Come in and let’s get you warmed up.’ He nodded his thanks to the maître d’ whose face lit up like the Blackpool Illuminations at being so close to this demi god. Subtle, mate, real subtle. Although, to be fair, Rahul was a hottie. There was no denying it. Wearing a tight but perfectly fitted pale grey suit and white shirt that could have been starched along with the tablecloths, he was a sight for sore eyes. His head of thick, dark hair only offset his tanned complexion and made his light-olive eyes appear even brighter. He did not look like he had been out in the same weather that I just had, more like he had teleported himself in, as not a hair was out of place.

‘Sit down, sit down.’ He pulled out a chair for me as I flinched at the heat coming back to my frozen body. My fingertips started to tingle and I felt the colour rush to my glacial cheeks. ‘So, how are you?’

‘Cold, windswept, but happy to see you again! It’s been ages,’ I said, winding my scarf from around my neck, managing to almost choke myself in the process. Classy, Georgia, really classy.

‘I know I know, but better late than never, hey?’ He flashed a pearly white smile. ‘So how’s everything going at work? The last time I saw you was when that article about you and what happened with the Indian tour had just come out.’ He shook his head in disbelief at how much time had passed since then. ‘What was it? Farting during a yoga class?’

‘Yeah, my “unusual management technique”,’ I said, indicating air quotes with my fingers and laughing. ‘Although it seems to have paid off, as we’re doing really well, thanks.’

I still couldn’t believe just how much our profits had risen since that, and subsequent, media coverage. The power of the press. At the time I had been beside myself, preparing for the absolute worst, thinking the stinging poison pen of journalist Chris Kennings would damage our brand beyond recognition and put us out of business. I mean, I did fart on the poor fella; what else did I expect from a ruthless national journalist to get his own back?

Thankfully, the review was mostly positive and had since led to increased bookings in nearly all of our tours. If I was honest, it really had been the catalyst for our sudden growth, allowing us to take on Conrad and, seeing our healthy bank balance, had planted the seed of the potential London expansion in Ben’s mind.

‘Crazy how things work out. The moments you dread the most can turn out to be the ones that make you,’ I mused, shaking my head.

‘Well, however it came about, it is still amazing news!’ He chinked his glass to mine.

We ordered from an eager young waitress, who was nailing the fishtail-plait look and was as unsubtle as the maître d’ in swooning over Rahul. As soon as the braided beauty had simpered away to give the chef our order, Rahul unbuttoned his suit jacket and leant forward.

‘How about Ben? How’s he?’

I spluttered on my drink, causing the liquid to go down the wrong hole, and coughed ungracefully. ‘Excuse me. Erm, yeah, he’s fine. Great.’ I thought back to the last few days; he’d never mentioned his evening out with his ex, Amazing Alice, and I hadn’t known how to bring it up without him knowing that I’d been snooping.

Rahul began telling me about this model named Marli he had started seeing. ‘Hence I wanted to meet you for lunch. I’m desperate to go out for a meal with a girl who actually enjoys decent scran.’ His eyes creased up.

‘I guess I’ll take that as a compliment,’ I said, taking a bite of crusty bread weighed down with salty butter, suddenly very aware of how many glorious calories I was about to ingest.

He laughed. ‘You should, seriously. Marli is great and we’re having a lot of fun.’ He winked. ‘But, man, dating a model is tough.’

‘Oh, poor you,’ I said, with my mouth full on purpose. ‘Excuse me while I get out my violin.’

He let out a deep roar of a laugh. ‘Yeah, yeah, I know, woe is me. I hadn’t realised just how much work it takes to look that good. I keep telling her that eating carbs after 4 p.m. won’t mean she’ll wake up like the Nutty Professor – not that she listens.’ He wiped his mouth with a napkin and took a sip of water before continuing. ‘Obviously, being able to stuff my face with the finest Argentinian steak was only part one of my plan in meeting you today. I also have a very exciting proposal for you,’ he said, baring his perfectly straight, white teeth.

‘Don’t tell me it involves sadhus?’ I smiled, thinking back to when we were in India together and he’d encouraged us to ask three wise men wearing hardly any clothes for a blessing for our future. Instead of bestowing their years of knowledge and imparting their wisdom on me, one of the long-haired dudes had hacked up a load of phlegm at my feet. I guess actions do speak louder than words sometimes.

‘Hey, that was a blessing in disguise!’ Rahul let out a heavy laugh. ‘I mean, maybe that was the key to you becoming so successful, all because of a holy sadhu clearing his throat.’

‘Er, yeah, maybe.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘So, go on. What’s this “project” that was so urgent for you to see me about?’

Rahul leaned closer and lowered his voice. ‘So, you know that as well as giving tours in Mumbai I also live the glamorous life of a TV producer…?’

‘Yeah.’ I’d picked up another piece of bread and dipped it into the dish of glassy oil that dribbled down my chin after I’d taken a bite. Bugger.

‘Well, as part of this I get to attend pitch meetings for new television shows that are hoping to be commissioned.’

‘Mmhmm…’ I was struggling to see what point he was trying to get to here, as I was too busy dabbing the greasy oil stain from the front of my blouse with the napkin I’d sloshed with water.

‘One programme that has been the talk of the boardroom is called Wanderlust Warriors.’ He paused, presumably to build drama. ‘This show that’s got everyone buzzing in the office is actually inspired by you and Ben.’

‘Wait, what?’ I looked up from the growing wet patch I’d created, causing more damage than good, to catch his eyes that had creased into a genuine smile while waiting for my reaction. Rahul laughed at what must have been the most idiotic, blank expression I was rocking on my face.

‘I may have told you a little white lie earlier. I’ve known how well Lonely Hearts is doing because my team have been watching you grow, especially since that piece in the Daily Times.’

‘What are you on about, watching us?’

He held his palms up. ‘Don’t look at me like that! Not in a weird sense. Just that because of your success story there has been talk of putting together a show that documents couples who work together in or around the travel industry who are poised to become the next big thing in the industry. A sort of inspirational piece that looks at the highs and lows of managing a business and a relationship at the same time, mixed with globetrotting.’ He took a long sip of his drink. ‘And you and Ben were the reason for this idea, the spark that started it all.’

‘Oh, right, okay, cool.’ I felt myself blushing. I’d never been called inspirational before.

‘The show will not only be about mixing work and pleasure but also about how travel has impacted these couples’ lives, as the contributors all work in the travel industry or use travel a lot for work reasons.’ He paused to flash a genuine smile to the waitress who placed our plates in front of us and shimmied off, obviously for Rahul’s benefit but it had been lost as he was currently making love with his eyes to the hunk of red meat on his plate.

‘Sounds exciting!’ I smiled at him. ‘Wow, this food looks amazing.’

‘I know! Right, let me get to my point.’ He pulled his eyes away from the delicious-smelling dead cow and back to my face. ‘So, where was I? Oh yeah, the show will also follow this travel theme as the filming is going to take place in South America, Chile specifically, I think.’

‘Ooh wow. When will it be on? I hardly ever watch telly these days but that sounds right up my street.’

Rahul flicked his head back and let out a light laugh. ‘Georgia. You won’t just get to watch it; we want you and Ben to be on it.’

‘Wait, what?’ The chunky chip I’d speared on my fork paused just before my open mouth.

‘They want you, along with three other couples, to take part. You get an all-expenses-paid trip just speaking to the camera about how you manage your work and relationship. Plus, there’s a cash prize up for grabs at the end of it all for taking part in some fun games along the way!’

I started to laugh. ‘Hahaha, funny. Oh. Wait. You’re serious?’

His face had dropped as if he didn’t get the joke.

‘Rahul. You’re serious? You want Ben and me to be on the telly?’

Rahul nodded. I stopped fanning my hands in front of my face and choked down the giggles.

‘Er, I really don’t know.’

‘Think about the publicity this could drum up for The Lonely Hearts Travel Club! I can see the headlines now…. Wanderlust Warriors Take On The World.’

That did sound pretty good, to be fair.

‘Georgia, your story is really inspiring, how you have turned a negative experience into a hugely positive one, and found love and a cracking business model along the way. Ever since that article you’ve been the talk of the industry and people want to know the secret to your success.’

I scoffed without thinking. ‘There is no secret. Hard work, determination and sacrifice is what it’s taken,’ I said quietly, thinking back to when Ben and I had nearly lost everything – including each other – when Serena stole from us and the Indian tour looked like it was about to ruin us.

‘Exactly. But people love to hear stories like this; sometimes good news does sell. Trust me. Plus, it means you both get to go to South America, which is such a stunning part of the world. Have you even been away as a couple yet?’

I shook my head thinking about the couple’s holiday idea that Marie and Shelley had suggested. ‘Hmm, well what would we need to do? Hypothetically speaking, of course.’ Oh my God, was I even entertaining this idea? Ooh, I wondered if there would be a hair and make-up artist included.

‘Of course, hypothetically speaking.’ He pressed his hand to his broad chest and winked. ‘Well, the first thing would be to get both of you to London where the head office is for pre-filming interviews. That’s where you’d meet the producers in charge of the show, find out some more about the concept, get to know the other couples and decide if you’re up for it or not.’

I thought this all over as I chewed on a chip. ‘Do you know who the other couples are?’

He shook his head. ‘Don’t think they’ve been confirmed. I know that you and Ben are top of the list because you were the inspiration behind the show, but there’s a long list of potential contributors as it’s such a great premise. That’s why I needed to see you today and to let you know to act fast if you think you and Ben would be up for it. Also, have you not seen the weather here? If someone was giving me the option of jetting off to the sun, all for free, with my partner, well I wouldn’t have to think twice.’

He had a point. This storm Bertha was beginning to get to me. What he was proposing sounded too good to be true. An all-expenses-paid trip to South America in return for doing some interviews, probably on a white sandy beach or while taking a salsa class. Ooh, I wondered if I could wear a flamenco dress, and I could so see Ben dressed as a hunky Latino stallion. Minus the heavy gold chains and love-rug chest hair.

‘Well, why don’t you have a word with Ben and then let me know?’

I nodded slowly. ‘Yeah, all right.’

‘Ace. Right, now leave me in peace to give this meat the attention it deserves.’

After finishing our plates, both of them almost licked clean, Rahul got up from his seat and nodded to the lingering young waitress so that he could pay for our lunch. Amazingly, it seemed like big Bertha had gone for a nap as even the heavy dark clouds had floated off slightly.

‘Have a think about everything and give me a call, Georgia,’ he said, before gently kissing me on the cheek and filling my nose with his expensive-smelling aftershave. ‘You more than anyone should know that you have to say yes to things in this life. I honestly think this would be the ideal chance to grab an opportunity that hardly anyone gets offered.’

I nodded distractedly.

‘Right, I’d better be off. Call me as soon as you’ve decided.’ With that we said our goodbyes and he headed off in the opposite direction.

I was just about to make my way back to the office when I realised that I’d left my umbrella in the restaurant. Even though the downpour had stopped, I didn’t trust my chances that the heavens wouldn’t open once more. I turned to head back inside when I saw that right next door was an art gallery.

Large colourful canvases hung in the windows lit by uplighters that brought to life the bright swirls of yellow and orange paint of the stunning paintings. The main three pieces of art were clearly from a collection by the same artist. One was a painting of a wrinkled and grinning old woman in Peru with a chubby arm casually slung around a gurning llama; another was a close-up of a glamorous, busty lady with an incredible afro shaking what her mother gave her at Rio Carnival, wearing a barely there but intricately beaded costume in the colours of a peacock feather; and the third and the largest was of a city scene that appeared to be made of bright and wonky Playmobil buildings, tagged in graffiti print ‘Valparaíso, Chile’.

I pressed my nose closer to the glass to read the small glinting plaque attached to a stand.

‘Jose Vasquez’s collection has been inspired by the artist’s journey through South America, where he felt compelled to replicate the colours, flavours and ambiance of this fascinating part of the world.’

I couldn’t contain the smile trying to escape. This was a sign.

I rummaged in my pocket to grab my mobile and quickly dialled Ben’s number. He answered in a few rings.

‘Hey there, beautiful, how was your lunch? I hope you’re bringing me back a doggy bag?’

‘Ah sorry! No doggy bag, but I can go one better.’

‘Oh yeah? Wait, why do you sound so excited?’

‘Well, because I’ve just been offered the chance for both of us to take an all-expenses-paid trip to South America!’ I squealed. Despite working in the travel industry we rarely received perks, unless you counted the stacks of branded luggage tags or passport covers piled in the bottom drawer of my desk. Somehow the ‘Don’t be flighty, get your life insurance plan sorted first’ fountain pen didn’t have the same gravitas as this potential freebie.

‘What?’ He let out a confused laugh.

‘Rahul works for a TV company who want to send us, along with some other couples, to Chile for some documentary they’re filming on people who work together in the travel industry. He said that everything will be paid for, we get time to travel and explore, just in return for doing a short interview or something!’ That was what he’d said, wasn’t it? Well I’m sure that was the gist of it.

Ben started to laugh. ‘Did this lunch turn into a boozy one? You want us to be stars on the small screen?’

I nodded down the line, still keeping my eyes trained on the stunning art in front of me before realising that Ben couldn’t see me. ‘Yep! How amazing is this? We can promote the business and take our first holiday together. I’m sure from what Rahul said the filming part of it all will be so minimal we could get it done in a day or so and then head off to finally travel together!’

There was a strange silence on the phone as Ben thought it over. I could hear Conrad’s booming laugh in the background at something.

‘Ben? You still there?’

‘Yeah, yeah, sorry, G. Erm, wow. It sounds amazing and I don’t want to be a party pooper but how are we going to manage everything going on with the business if both of us are taking time off?’

My heart sank. He was right. Maybe I was getting totally carried away with Rahul’s enthusiasm.

‘Well, the show will be going ahead with or without us, as they have other couples lined up. If we don’t take them up on it then we’ll miss out,’ I said. ‘And now we have Conrad, I’m sure he can handle things for a couple of weeks without us. And think of the PR opportunity! They’ve asked us to go to London for some pre-filming meeting thing to discuss things further. We’d be under no obligation to take it any further; it’s just to get some more details on it all…’ I trailed out and began chewing my lip. Come on, Ben.

He let out a breath he’d been holding. ‘Ahhh…okay. Let’s at least go and hear what they’ve got to say, hey?’

‘Eeeee! Okay!’ I did a little jig.

‘It’s never boring with you, Georgia, that’s all I can say.’ He laughed. ‘Right, get yourself back here before I change my mind.’

As soon as I’d hung up I hurriedly dialled Rahul’s number to tell him we were in. This was going to be the start of a whole new adventure; I could just feel it.

CHAPTER 6

Vagary (n.) – An erratic, unpredictable or extravagant manifestation, action or notion

Once we had agreed to at least look into Rahul’s offer by heading down to London to meet the producers of the show, I’d been unable to get the conversation I’d had with Marie and Shelley out of my head. A trip to Chile would be the perfect opportunity for us to talk, and for me to make sure I was one hundred per cent on the same page as Ben. Maybe he’d even make use of the opportunity to propose? If Ben so obviously thought we were there, then surely I should too? It was definitely time I met his family.

Just this morning as we’d been rushing to get ready I’d brought up the possibility of popping in to see his dad whilst we were down in London. He had met my parents enough times and they liked him as much as I did, but it was starting to feel one-sided. Previously Marie and Shelley had told me that I needed to just let him go at his own pace, that he was just a typical man and that putting off learning all about him – warts and all – for as long as possible meant the dewy-eyed shine would last longer. But finding the engagement ring had changed all of that. The other night at Marie’s house had been a sort of wake-up call that I needed to get some answers to my questions before we even thought of getting married.

When I’d broached the subject of meeting his dad as I brushed my teeth this morning I’d just got a noncommittal, ‘yeah, maybe’ answer, but I swore that as he said it his face clouded with a look of worry, or was it something more than that? Oh God, maybe I was being paranoid after having a not-so-rosy experience of Alex’s family. Ben’s not going to have any potential psycho family members, trust him. You know and love his godmother, Trisha, and if she’s anything to go by then you could soon be able to inherit the in-laws of your dreams! I told myself.

We arrived in London on time and caught a cab to the production team’s head office in Hoxton. I felt my tummy whirl with excitement at what the pre-show filming would involve; it already sounded so glamorous! Marie, being a part-time actress, had been giving us tips, telling us to wear something smart and business-like with no stripes or bright colours for the cameras. Hence I was now teetering down a cobbled courtyard to the head office that was in a complex of old converted stables, wearing my #girlboss black heels that gave me blisters but looked amazing with the deep green jumper dress I had on.

Ben looked super class in his thick woollen coat and the cable-knit scarf that brought out the colour of his eyes. If this went well we could soon be losing all these extra layers and feeling the heat from the sun and I could ditch the one hundred denier tights that were currently the only thing preventing me from developing frostbite.

‘After you.’ Ben winked, holding open the heavy barn door for me. I gave a small curtsey and laughed, before suddenly stopping at the commotion going on inside the open-plan office we’d stumbled into.

There were people everywhere; small meeting rooms seemed to shoot off down bright corridors like clavicles on a heart. Phones were ringing, people were shouting, TV screens were playing some dance music video with three very orange women gyrating in tiny string bikinis. I must have taken a step back into Ben who was gawping at this lively scene with a similarly shocked expression.

Rahul had said it was a low-budget, small TV company, so I’d expected to meet maybe one or two people in a coffee shop or something equally as chilled. I hadn’t expected to be dropped in the media equivalent of the Wall Street trading floor on uppers. We were barked at to move out of the way by three harassed men in baggy black T-shirts and scuffed Converse trainers as they pushed large cameras on tracks past us, while a young woman about the same age as Kelli was concentrating on not dropping a stupidly full tray of teas and coffees, and a pack of hipsters with matching beards and spotty red bow ties were sitting at a round table typing furiously on gleaming Apple Macs.