Eight
Kayaking
“Jet lag is the one downside of travel. I’ve been in Europe for two weeks and I still haven’t been able to fully acclimate to the time. My body is exhausted, but my mind keeps running full steam ahead,” Sabrina said aloud to her empty room very early the next morning.
Outside, the sky was still inky black. The string of harbor lights still glowed bright through a thin film of fog swirling over the water. Sabrina yawned. Once again, sleep evaded her.
Frustrated, she threw back the covers and sat up in bed. Reaching for her phone, she swiped the home screen open, happy to see a message from her sister.
Hi Brina,
From those cheerful pictures, it looks as if you are settling right into life in Italy. The boys have been having a fun time keeping track of where you are. We have our paper map of Europe pinned to the corkboard in the dining room. Each time I explain where the pictures you send are from, we are placing a pushpin down on the map. Then, they have to find one fact or point of interest about whatever place you are in from one of the library books we have checked out.
Sabrina paused her reading and smiled. Leave it to her sister to find some way to turn her pictures into some type of learning experience.
I can’t wait until you arrive in Florence. It was one of my favorite places to visit when I studied abroad. Do you know, the Cinque Terre is one place I never did make it to. I have always had it on my own bucket list. I’m eagerly awaiting more pictures. Of the three days you’ve spent there so far, which town has been your favorite?
Mom has not asked about your trip yet, but I was certain to forward her some of the photos you’ve sent along. She is still hurt and angry. Have you thought about calling her? You two are so alike in personality and temperament. It’s just my two cents, but nothing will be solved between you two until one of you decides to be the bigger person.
Sabrina sighed and said to herself, “Mags has that right. We are both stubborn to the core. It’s going to be a battle of wills before one of us gives in to the other.”
When you left Texas, I had sincere reservations about your traveling abroad for the first time alone—to Europe, no less. For goodness sakes, you don’t even speak another language! But so far, I’m happy to see you are proving me wrong each and every step of the way.
Imagine if Maggie was aware of how I really knew Nora. It was difficult enough to sell Nora as an exchange student I knew from college, but as a member of the Never Far From Netherfield forum? That’s a whole other can of worms.
With that being said, I need to know?.?.?. how are you really doing? Is there anything I can help you out with? This is coming from your worried, devoted older sister. I remember just how lonely it can be in a place you don’t really know anyone. I still have some friends who live in Rome and in Lucca that I’d be happy to put you in contact with. Either way, let me know.
Love, Maggie, Ben, Liam, and Brian
Sabrina sniffled.
I’ve always been so jealous that Maggie has achieved every goal she’s ever set for herself. She’s always been the one who excelled academically, had the most popular boy in school as her boyfriend, and easily made friends. She knew exactly what she wanted and, with the full support of Mom and Dad, chased her dreams. Yet no matter how hard I try to emulate her, none of Maggie’s good fortune ever seems to trickle down to me.
Sabrina sighed.
I can’t fault Maggie for anything, she has a heart of gold. She’s always had the innate ability to home in on whatever I seemed to need. Whether it was a person to vent to or ask questions about boys and relationships, Maggie is my go-to person. My rock. My original best friend. She is so much like Elinor fromSense and Sensibility.
Sabrina wasted no time in sending a reply.
Hey Mags,
Reading your email really made me tear up. I’m doing fine. Really. Italy agrees with me to the point where I feel like I’m already at home. I can see why you and Brian almost ended up moving here. The people are so friendly. The culture warm and inviting. I wouldn’t mind meeting some of your friends, but there isn’t any need to fear. I am never alone.
In fact, in each place I’ve stopped, I’ve made my own friends. There was Olive in Salzburg, Grace in Munich, and Abi in Naples. On Wednesday morning, I reconnected with another friend, Nora. Amazingly, it was as if we had never been apart. She is the one I’ll be staying with for the next few weeks. We had a lovely picnic together on the beach and chatted about all things Jane Austen.
Sabrina decided it would be best if she left out any mention of Lorenzo for the time being. Her stomach clenched. Three days ago, she’d never known Lorenzo had existed, and now, his absence had left a void. She yearned to see him again. To hear the soft, melodic tone of his voice. To see the way his eyes danced when she shared a bit about the world of Jane Austen. Spending time near Lorenzo evoked the stirrings inside her body she’d long thought dormant. It was as if she were awaking from a long, dark winter’s hibernation just as the first flowers of spring were beginning to emerge from the ground.
I’ve been so lost and wandering through the last few weeks in darkness. In some ways, Lorenzo has become a beacon of light. With his positive outlook on life, I almost am ready to believe that it is my turn to flip the narrative on my own story.
Returning to her email, Sabrina closed out her message to her sister.
I’m attaching some pictures from Riomaggiore. Let me tell you that I feel as if I’ve been adopted by the hostess of the B and B where I’m staying. She’s given me a crash course in Italian, has taken me to the antique flea market, and tonight, will be teaching me how to cook lasagna. Yes, your little sister is actually going to try her hand at cooking!
Because I know you are going to keep on me about it?.?.?. I still have no updates about my future career plans. I do have a few leads, however. As a good friend explained to me?.?.?.
