‘Imagine living there.’ She pointed down at the tiny settlement. ‘It feels as if we’re miles from anywhere, cut off from real life.’
‘That’s part of the attraction for a lot of people, especially those who come at the weekend to get away from it all. The lady who runs the place I’m going to really understands that. She makes it a home from home.’ He laughed. ‘There are quite a few regulars who come out every weekend during the season. I get the impression she likes looking after people.’
Mina’s smile dimmed. People used to say that about her, but now she felt a little abandoned. In the last two weeks, everyone at the fateful dinner party had given her a wide berth, as if they were embarrassed for her. Even the two Georges had cancelled their regular second-Saturday-of-the-month pizza night. She was grateful for the sudden distraction of the view, which had burst upon them in glorious technicolour.
She pressed her forehead to the cold glass trying to peer down the valley. The train skirted the hillside, the tracks truncated its slope at the halfway point, and below, lush green blanketed the meadows on either side of a deep blue river that sparkled and raced across the smooth boulders lacing its shores. Across the valley on the horizon, the jagged snow-covered peaks framed the skyline, the dark rock and white striking against the azure blue of the sky. The contrast of blue and white was almost blinding, and she thought the view was possibly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, until they rounded another bend and another valley opened up before them, dominated by a brilliant jewel-bright turquoise-blue lake that reflected the mountains on its surface.
‘Oh my goodness, it’s gorgeous,’ she breathed, her eyes scanning each and every detail, trying to commit the sheer beauty to memory.
Luke smiled with almost paternal indulgence.
‘Told you, you get the best views from the train.’
‘It’s so beautiful. I think I could sit and watch for hours.’
‘I find it quite restful, although when I get to the other end I’m always desperate to stretch my legs. Won’t be time today, it’ll be nearly dark when we get there. But tomorrow morning I’ll be out on one of the hiking trails. Can’t wait.’
‘I thought it would all be skiing.’
‘Depends where you go. There’s also a lot of winter hiking. Until the Swiss voted against it, naked hiking was very popular.’ He grinned at her. ‘Imagine the frostbite.’
Mina laughed, not sure if he was telling the truth or not.
‘I’d rather not, it sounds hideous.’ She shivered as her imagination took over. ‘I’ll stick to fully-clothed activities, although I have no idea what’s available where I’m going. I just booked a flight and here I am.’
‘Nothing wrong with that. More of an adventure.’
‘Absolutely,’ she grinned at him. ‘And I’m always up for adventure. I’d really like to have a go at the cross-country skiing, it always looks so elegant.’
He snorted. ‘It’s bloody hard work, but then when you get into a rhythm itisgreat, and you can take the time to look around and enjoy your surroundings. Zooming down a slope is all good and well, great for the adrenaline rush, but you miss so much. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I think I prefer cross-country.’
‘Your secret is safe with me. Now as well as chocolate, I also have these.’ She dug in her bag and brought out the pretzels.
Luke groaned. ‘I think I’m in love. Chocolate andkurbiskernen. You are the perfect woman.’
‘You’re easy. You should try my triple-chocolate cake.’
‘Sold. We’ll honeymoon in South America. You ever been white-water rafting or paragliding?’
She beamed at him. ‘Neither, but I’d love to have a go.’
He lifted his coffee cup. ‘To the perfect woman… well, ifhalfof the chocolate were going, you’d be perfect.’
She rolled her eyes and snapped the bar in two.
Chapter Five
Quite where the two-hour journey went, she had no idea. Luke was her idea of perfect company: funny, light-hearted, interesting, and although he was talkative – that made two of them – he was also a good listener. She got the impression that he would have been able to repeat and remember everything she’d told him, which in her book was a rare skill, especially in a man like him. Usually confident, chatty types were too busy thinking about what they wanted to say next about themselves.
Their conversation had batted backwards and forwards with the ease of a gentle rally between Federer and Nadal, and while she made friends easily, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d met someone and felt quite so instantly at ease with them.
When the guard announced that the train would arrive very soon at Brig, where they were both changing, she felt a real pang of disappointment as Luke jumped to his feet and gathered up his rucksack and suitcase.
‘I’m afraid I’ve got a quick change here and I want to try and pick up my skis from the luggage office, so I’m going to love you and leave you.’
‘Have a safe trip. Nice to meet you.’ Her pulse tripped with regret. Asking for his phone number would be crazy. Two strangers on a train.
For a moment, the question hovered on her tongue and she very nearly asked him, but then that was the sort of impulsive behaviour that she was trying to avoid. It didn’t fall within the remit of ‘sorting herself out’.
