Page 52 of Finding Love in the Clouds

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. Onsecond 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, thatwould 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.

Chapter Fifty-One

Fernando and Sophie arrived at Domodossola with just enough time to switch trains. They quickly disembarked, gathered their bags, and hurried to find their new platform. The transition was smooth despite the rush, and soon they were boarding the next train bound for Brig.

Once on board, they found their first-class private compartment and stowed their larger suitcases in the designated luggage area at the end of the carriage. The compartment was cozy and well-appointed, with plush seats upholstered in soft fabric and large windows offering expansive views. Settling into their seats, Sophie pulled out a book, the well-worn pages promising an engrossing read. Fernando, on the other hand, opened his laptop, eager to make progress on his book. As the train began to move, the rhythmic clickety-clack of the tracks set a soothing backdrop to their quiet activities.

Sophie tried to read, but the scenery outside the panoramic windows was breathtaking. The train wound its way through lush valleys and picturesque villages, the Swiss landscape unfolding in all its glory. Quaint chalets with flower-filled balconies dotted the hillsides whilegrazing cows and serene lakes added to the idyllic charm. The towering peaks of the Alps framed the view, their snow-capped summits glistening in the afternoon sunlight.

About fifteen minutes into the journey, there was a gentle knock on the compartment door. Fernando looked up, puzzled, as the door slid open to reveal his older brother, Julio.

“Surprise!” Julio announced, a broad grin spreading across his face.

“Julio! What are you doing here?” Fernando exclaimed, standing to embrace his brother.

Stepping into the compartment and closing the door behind him, Julio tapped the brim of the fedora Fernando had forgotten on his head. “Nice hat, little brother. To answer your question, I was on the same continent on business and was asked to come see you two,” Julio replied.

“That was cryptic,” Fernando commented, moving his things to sit in the seat next to Sophie.

She smiled warmly. “It’s so good to finally meet you, Julio. What a pleasant surprise.”

Julio took a seat across from them, his presence bringing a tidal wave of energy to the compartment. “So, how’s the trip going? You two look like you’re having a good time. Fern, I think this is the most tan I’ve seen you in years. Usually, you’re as white as the pages of your books in spite of the olive tones in your gene pool.”

Fernando rolled his eyes. “Thanks for pointing that out. My doctor certainly won’t be complaining about my vitamin D levels at my next annual physical. And yes, we are having a wonderful time; this trip has been good for me. Thank you for once again proposing a wise BBC pact.” Reaching for Sophie’s hand, he added, “Something tells me this isn’t a social visit. You mentioned you were on the same continent, not country, and were sent. By whom and why?”

“Ah, there he is, my usually perceptive little brother who sometimes gets ahead of himself and lands in trouble. I’m here because of this,” Julio said matter of factly, sliding a stapled packet of papers across the table.

“What is this?” Fernando asked, confused.

“What does it look like, you numbnut?” Julio asked.

Sophie peeked over his shoulder at the document as Fernando turned pages. There had to be at least fifty of them. “It’s a transcript of the conversation we had on the bus a few days ago. These pages are from our conversation in the gondola,” she said, lifting equally confused eyes to her boss’s much bigger and much more intimidating brother. Her stomach sank to her toes, and his sudden appearance in Switzerland was unsettling. The presence of this transcript screamed trouble. Her heart began to race out of control; their private conversations had been overheard.

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