We ended up taking it, but it didn’t cover everything. That’s where Brian came in. He gave us the best deal we could ever hope for—no interest. Brian’s generosity is what allowed us to pay off thatbank loan in three years. And what allowed me to be able to buy Dylan’s share of the business.
Fernando’s large brown eyes take a moment to appraise me.
“I know I’m being silly. The person I’m planning to ask to fill in for me is a rock star. She has more experience than me. I shouldn’t be worried.”
“I think your fears are natural. It’s hard to give up control of something you’ve worked so hard for.”
I pick up my fork and shuffle a few crumbs around the plate. “The truth is, I don’t really want to go at all.”
“Then why are you? I’m sure your sister would understand.”
“Probably, but I know she’s right. A change of scenery is the best thing for me right now. So much has been going on lately that I’m on the verge of burning out.” I give Fernando a brief rundown of how Dylan and I started the clinic from the ground up as partners and how I recently acquired full ownership. I gloss over the part about my love life crashing and burning. “The transition is finished. There are still a few loose ends to tie up, but Vicki can handle them.”
“It sounds to me like you’ve made up your mind.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Huh... I guess I have.”
Fernando takes a long sip from his latte, then places his cup down and changes the topic. “Have you decided on where you’re going to spend your vacation?”
“A little,” I admit. “I’ve been thinking about a safari in South Africa, but for my first time outside the States, I think it’s too ambitious. So for now, I’m focused on somewhere in Europe.”
“That’s a smart choice.” He takes a bite of the apple pie. “Let me know if you have any questions. I’ve been to every country on the continent.”
“I forgot you said you used to travel a lot for work.” I take a bite and chew slowly. “Maybe I will pick your brain. If you were gonna recommend the best country for a travel novice to visit, what would it be?”
“That’s a trick question. Travel is personal. Where you godepends on your interests and your comfort zone.” He relaxes against the back of the booth. “When I first started on the cruise ship, I’d get anxious whenever we arrived in a port city where I’d have to speak English. Which is most of Europe.” He laughs.
I blink a few times. “But your English is so good!”
“It is now, but it wasn’t when I was twenty.” He shakes his head. “Learning basic English in school is one thing, but when you’re suddenly asked to use it around native English speakers, you realize how little you actually know. Thankfully, being forced to use it nearly every day helped me learn fast.”
I sip my pumpkin latte and smack my lips together. Fernando has some good points to think about. I have some high school Spanish at my disposal, but I don’t want to worry about not being able to communicate with the locals. I’ll be nervous enough traveling solo.
“How about we do it this way: Off the top of your head, name three cities. Ready? Vamos.” He points to me.
“Um...” A catalog of images floods my mind. “Paris, Rome, London, and Barcelona.”
“That’s four,” he jokes.
“I know, but you put me on the spot.” I laugh nervously. I hadn’t meant for Barcelona to slip out. I don’t want him to think I’ve picked a city in Spain just because of him. Even though I have.
“If you choose any one of those four cities, you won’t be disappointed. They each have something for everyone.”
“Like what?”
“Hmm... in Paris, it’s definitely the food. There are three bakeries on the Rue Monge in the fifth arrondissement that have the fluffiest croissants, and in the sixth arrondissement near...”
As I sit here and listen to Fernando’s vivid descriptions, I start to daydream and picture myself eating and sightseeing my way through each locale.
“And in Barcelona there are just as many things to see and do, but if I were you, I’d consider spending time on Spain’s west coast, near cities like Granada and Toledo...”
He glows as he describes the architecture, the people, and all the other amazing things Spain has to offer. He clearly loves his home country. And his enthusiasm is rubbing off on me. Spain now sits at the top of my list. It looks like I’ll be booking my tickets as soon as I get home.
Chapter Six
Later that night, as I lie in bed scrolling through blog posts and videos of people who have traveled to Spain, an alert pops up on the top of my screen that Dylan has posted on Photogram. I shouldn’t click it, but I can’t help myself.
The page reloads and I inhale sharply. The lighting is dim. Dylan is dressed casually in his normal jeans and button-up shirt. A five o’clock shadow graces his face. It’s a look he pulls off so well and still sends my pulse racing. His eyes are looking directly at the camera as he sits on a bar stool at one of our favorite former haunts in Fort Collins, toasting the camera. I’d recognize the backdrop of colorful bottles anywhere.
