“I had really hoped to see the landscape from ground level,” she said, wondering if Ben would remember her request from their first conversation about the trip.
Ben jumped right in and said, “You’ll definitely see everything you want to see. I can promise you that.”
“Maybe you could rent a car and do a little touring,” Hugh added. “And I’d imagine there are good views from the train. In any case the trip from Málaga to Ronda isn’t very long.”
Ben asked, “So, time-wise, how long is this trip—counting stopovers?”
“Well, you could actually fly from Madrid directly to Ronda, but it would be a small plane. Takes about three and a half hours. And we don’t know how Ana feels about smaller planes.”
She made a face that strongly conveyed her opinion. Since that wasn’t going to be an option, Ben asked, “How long is the drive from Madrid to Ronda?”
“Too long. At least six hours.” Ben’s father said. He put up his hand to signal that the scrutiny of routes was at an end. “All right,” he continued, “I think this is best: Pamplona to Madrid, about an hour with a thirty-minute stopover; the flight from Madrid to Málaga, an hour and a half. Then the two of you can choose whether to get a car and drive to Ronda, or take a train. It’s a little over an hour either way. How does that sound?” He glanced from one to the other then added, “Ana sees some scenery and the whole thing takes around four to five hours tops.”
The two looked at each other, nodded and smiled. “Done deal,” he said. “Now what do I need to do— probably give someone a credit card number?”
“All taken care of, son. Your mother has been on her tablet researching hotels, and she found one that she thinks is just the ticket. If you would rather make your own arrangements, that’s fine and we’ll understand. But you both have had so much on your plates. We want to make it easy.”
“Dad, what can I say? You’re the best. Thank you.”
Ben and his father stood up and shared a manly embrace with the requisite pats on the back. Ana found it hopeful that Ben didn’t wince from pain. After expressing her own appreciation, she cited her meager travel wardrobe as a reason to hurry down to the hotel shop. Ana didn’t really need to explain. Both men understood the workings of the female mind when it came to shopping. Hugh told Ben that he would try to deliver a printed itinerary before morning and emphasized that they would need an early start.
“Thank Mum for me, please, and tell her I’ll see her before we leave. I know her taste is impeccable in most things, so it’s probably the same with hotels. I’m sure she remembered that I like small places— family run. If you want every amenity, just stay in London.”
His father nodded in agreement, told his son goodnight and headed down to the bar for a nightcap. Ben expected his mother would join him to gossip about the whole thing. He leaned against the door, crossed his arms and looked at Ana, smiling but cautious. “Wow, I guess we’re really doing this. Are you good with all of it?”
“It doesn’t seem real right now, frankly. It’s such a departure from everything we’ve experienced together so far.” She paused then said, “Well, almost everything.”
Ben nodded. “I know what you’re referring to, but saying that part was the best part doesn’t sound like much considering that virtually everything else was just awful.”
“Trust me, it was definitely ‘much.’ Now I need to grab my wallet and get down to the shop! I’m tired of having basically nothing to wear and looking ill-suited to the environment.”
Ben shook his head, teasing, and opened the door for her to leave. She promised to use her own door when returning in order to avoid disturbing him. Sleep did seem to be the best idea so he took a quick shower, dried off, threw the towel aside, and slid into bed. But sleep didn’t come easily, and he was relieved a while later to hear Ana unlock then close the door to her room. What she might wear didn’t matter to him. She was everything he wanted just wearing jeans and that gaudy tourist tee shirt with the jeweled crown. He would never forget easing it above her breasts during their brief escape from reality. Knowing she was there on the other side of the door brought relaxation, and he drifted off.
With the two bags from the shop nestled in the chair, Ana undressed, splashed water on her face and slipped into her one nightie. While closing the drapes she took one last look at the lighted plaza below before climbing into bed. Once quiet, Ana noticed how fast her heart was beating. She was unsure of what this trip with Ben would mean to her life, so she told herself to just breathe and trust that all would be as it should be. Ana had never believed in destiny. Yet at this point it was difficult to deny that
