Chapter Fifty
The next morning, they woke early to catch their train to Switzerland. Their Italian tour had ended, but they still had a week of exploration ahead of them as they toured Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and France. It was going to be a whirlwind tour, but after yesterday’s relaxation, they felt ready for their adventures.
The hotel concierge promised the walk to the train station would be an easy one, so they decided to huff it instead of hiring a car. The day once again dawned beautifully, and a short fifteen-minute walk sounded like just the thing to get their blood pumping before they spent hours on the train.
They tipped their large suitcases on edge and pulled them behind them as they walked hand in hand down the sidewalk, chatting about nothing in particular, simply enjoying their time together.
About seven minutes into their walk, Sophie’s luggage jerked her abruptly to the left, causing her to collide roughly with Fernando. He promptly fell off the sidewalk, tripping over his luggage, which didn’t respond as quickly to the unexpected change of direction. Before they knew it, they were both in a heap on the ground, surrounded by scattered luggage.
They looked at each other, startled, not sure exactly what had happened, and then broke out into uproarious laughter at the scene they had made.
Trying to catch her breath, Sophie looked at her luggage, “I don’t know what happened! One minute, we were walking along, and the next, my arm was being ripped off, and I was thrown into your side. I’m so sorry. I had no control over what was happening. I guess I should thank you for breaking my fall.”
More laughter filled the air; Fernando was sprawled on his rear on the edge of the road while Sophie dangled off the edge, her upper body on top of his legs while hers were laid out on the sidewalk.
“I should probably get up before we add roadkill to this equation,” Fernando jested, giving a hand to Sophie as she peeled herself off him and then hoisting himself up. They both took a moment to dust themselves off and then collected their strewn bags.
When Sophie stood her largest piece of luggage up, it became apparent what the problem was. “Oh no; my wheel broke off! Mine only has two, so there aren’t any extras to hold the weight. Maybe we should have hired a car to drive us. I think perhaps luggage isn’t meant to be dragged down the sidewalk for long distances. I wonder if they have Uber here,” Sophie said, pulling her cell phone from her back pocket.
Fernando started rearranging the luggage. “I don’t think so. We might have better luck hailing a cab as it drives by, but we are so close that we might as well keep walking. Here, I’ll take your bag and rest it on top of mine. Do you think you can pull both of our carry-ons if I stack them? You’ll have to carry your vanity bag over your shoulder.”
Luggage reorganized, they started off once more. They hadn’t gone fifty yards when Fernando’s luggage wheel caught on something and tipped, sending Sophie’s luggage crashing to the ground. He quickly cleared the wheel, restacked the luggage, and they were off again. Twice more, the luggage tipped and crashed, causing Fernando to readjust things and hold more of the weight himself as he practically carried it down the sidewalk.
Things were going well; the train station was in sight when a pebble once more brought the pile of luggage to an abrupt halt. This time, though, Fernando’s weight was off-center, and his momentum sent him tumbling over the stationary luggage.
Sophie’s hands were full, so she had no way of stopping the fiasco playing out in front of her. She pulled her pile of belongings to a stop beside Fernando, who was spread eagle on the sidewalk, eyes closed, not moving.
Bending down next to him, she placed a gentle hand on his chest. “Andy, are you alright? I know you’re not dead because your heart is still beating.”
“Fine,” he said, not opening his eyes or moving.
“Can I do something to help? Are you hurt?” Sophie asked, trying very hard not to laugh but worried he could hear it in her voice.
“Nothing’s hurt but my pride,” he answered, still not showing her his eyes. “I’m done being a stunt double for Goofy. We’re leaving your luggage right here, and I’ll buy you new clothes when we get to Switzerland. Go ahead and laugh, Sophie; you won’t hurt my feelings.”
His Goofy analogy and deadpan voice were her undoing, and her laughter spilled over. Soon, Fernando joined her if for no other reason than her laughter tickled his funny bone whether he saw humor in the situation or not. To be honest, it was pretty amusing. He just wished he wasn’t the one sprawled out on the sidewalk like a clumsy idiot. On second thought, he was glad it was him and not her. That would have made the whole situation ten times worse.
As it turned out, leaving the luggage behind wasn’t necessary because a taxi pulled up at the curb just as Fernando was dusting himself off and drove them the last tenth of a mile to the station.
Fernando and Sophie arrived at the Stresa train station just in time to get their tickets and board the train. They quickly stowed their larger suitcases in the designated luggage area at the end of the carriage before finding their seats in the first-class compartment. As they settled into their seats, the bustle of the station gave way to the tranquil hum of the train. Fernando and Sophie’s faces still carried the remnants of their exertions, perspiration glistening on their brows and dirt smudging their cheeks.
“Give me a moment,” Fernando said, smiling at Sophie. “I’m going to clean up.”
Sophie nodded, settling into her plush, comfortable seat. The first-class compartment was designed for maximum comfort and luxury. The seats were upholstered in high-quality materials, offering ample cushioning and support. Each seat was spacious, with generous legroom and adjustable features, including reclining backs and footrests. After the hassle of the last thirty minutes, she was looking for a few minutes of calm relaxation as she observed the scenery moving past her large picture window.
Fernando navigated the aisle towards the lavatory at the end of the carriage. He stepped inside, appreciating that the facilities were spacious enough to ensure comfort. He took a moment to wash up, splashing cool water on his face and rubbing away the dirt from his recent misadventure. The refreshment was both physical and mental, helping him reset after not one but two unexpected falls this morning .
When he returned to his seat, Sophie excused herself to freshen up, grabbing her toiletry bag stashed overhead on her way. Returning after a brief time she looked as fresh as a spring bloom and smelled like one too. Fernando appreciated her efforts to maintain a pleasant appearance and once again thanked the Lord for blessing him with this amazing and beautiful woman.
“Stop staring, or you’ll make me feel self-conscious,” Sophie chided without turning from the window.
“Just admiring the view. As for self-consciousness, you smell as fresh as a peach, and my deodorant is tucked away in my bags. I’m the one feeling a little overly aware right now. My Old Spice is being put to the test after this morning’s escapades.”
Sophie turned and, leaning into his side, she took a giant sniff of his chest, close to his armpit, causing Fernando to turn fifty shades of red. Pulling her face away from his potentially smelly pit, she assured him with an enormous smile, “No worries, it’s working. Old Spice, huh? I would have thought it was some fancy, schmancy designer deodorant that set you back a grand. My brother wears Old Spice. You’re so ordinary sometimes.” Taking note of the heightened color in his cheeks, she asked, “Andy, did I just embarrass you, or did you get sunburned this morning?”
Scrubbing his hands over his face as if that would dispel his embarrassment and the pink cheeks that were announcing it to the world, he simply replied, “Sophie, you never cease to amaze and unbalance me. I never know what to expect. I can’t believe you just sniffed my underarms. Thank you for the reassurance and for calling me ordinary. My goal was never to become an entitled snob when I increased my wealth, though I will be honest and say I enjoy many of the perks that come with the extra green in my bank account. And yes, I was a little embarrassed. If my deodorant had chosen today to fail me, that would have been a little awkward. Here I am trying to impress you, and smelling bad tends to have the opposite effect.”
“First of all, if we’re to marry, smelling each other will be part of the deal. You were worried about me not liking your kiss, but did you know that the first step in the mammal mating process is appreciating the scent of the pheromones? In other words, if we’re to be attracted to each other, we need to first be drawn to each other’s natural scent. That means body odor. Secondly, did you know the true test of genuine friendship is whether that friend is willing to tell you when your appearance is off, like when you have food in your teeth or a hole in your pants? If I can’t tell you when you stink, how in the world will I be able to be honest about even more intimate things like health complications or my sexual needs? That question goes both ways. We still have time to get comfortable with each other, and that will grow over time, but you better believe I expect you to tell me when something is wrong and not let me go out in public or continue in bed embarrassing myself.”
Her face and tone were so serious Fernando couldn’t help but lean in and kiss her. “Understood, my lady.”
She nodded as if accepting her due, but her face softened, and she returned the sweet peck. Her hand found his as the train continued its journey, weaving through the landscape, each turn revealing a new, breathtaking view. The serene lake scenes had given way to the dramatic, awe-inspiring Alps, creating a perfect transition as they neared Domodossola.