‘I’ll have to take you to see some flamenco dancers while you’re here. I think you’ll enjoy that.’ Mary said. ‘Now let’s take a look at your list, Sandra. Go to Australia – is Becky your daughter?’
Sandra nodded. ‘Becky, her husband and their two teenage children live over there. Brian and I were planning on going this year but…’ Her voice trembled a little and Mary squeezed her arm reassuringly.
‘Hard, isn’t it, love?’
Sandra nodded. ‘It never really leaves you, but I’m learning to live again.’
‘So it seems, judging by this list!’ Mary continued reading. ‘Go in an air balloon, sail across the sea in a motor yacht, create a cocktail, have your ears pierced.’
‘Done.’ Sandra pushed her hair behind her ears to reveal tiny gold studs. ‘Another couple of weeks and I’ll be able to change these to dangly ones.’
‘Gosh, you two have been busy.’ Mary scanned the list again. ‘And you both want to go to London to see a musical on stage and sit on the beach drinking fizz while you watch the sun go down.’ She handed Patti her phone back. ‘You know, this is a really good idea. Maybe I should make a bucket list. One thing I’ve alwayswanted to do is go on the Caminito del Rey, in fact we both planned on doing it. But now Keith won’t come with me and I don’t want to go alone. Would you two be up for joining me?’
‘What is it?’ Patti asked.
Mary jabbed at her phone a few times then held up a picture of a wooden pathway running along the side of a sheer cliff top. ‘This is it! It’s perfectly safe now, and there are barriers to stop you falling – children over eight can even go on it. I’d love to do it. The views are spectacular.’ She glanced at Patti. ‘And you did say that you wanted to get over your fear of heights.’
Patti looked at the photo again. This was alotmore daunting than climbing a stepladder to change a lightbulb. The pathway seemed very narrow and scarily high up above the gorge.
Could she do it? She wanted to get over her fear of heights but was this too much?
Sandra peered over her shoulder. ‘I’m up for it, if you are?’
‘Please say that you’ll both come! I would love the company and Keith won’t even hear of it now.’
‘No pressure then.’ Patti nodded slowly. ‘Okay, but I might need someone to hold my hand.’
‘Really! Oh, thank you both. And don’t worry, Patti, we’ll both hold your hand. You can walk in the middle of us,’ Mary promised.
Patti didn’t think the platform looked wide enough for the three of them to walk in a row but she didn’t say anything. This was something Mary really wanted to do. Besides, hadn’t she promised herself when she recovered from cancer that she wasn’t going to let fear stop her from doing anything?
Mary’s face broke into a huge smile. ‘I’msoglad you two have come over for a visit. I’ve got the feeling we’re going to have a fabulous time. Keith seems to think that we’re past having funnow, but we can show him that we’re not. And you never know, he might join in with us.’
They clinked their sangria glasses then Mary picked up her iPad. ‘Let’s book us in for the Caminito del Rey now, otherwise we might not get in. Sometimes it’s booked up for weeks.’ After a few minutes she looked up. ‘It’s fully booked all next week but there’s a few free slots the week after. Shall I book us for then? Is Tuesday morning okay? It’s closed on Monday and will be too hot in the afternoon. The next slot is Wednesday and that’s the day you go back.’
‘That’s fine by me,’ Sandra said.
‘Me too,’ Patti agreed. She could do this.
‘Right. That’s all done, and it’s my treat. Now what shall we do tomorrow? Do you fancy going on a boat trip? We could go to Málaga and get a boat at the port. I’ve always wanted to do that, but Keith doesn’t fancy it.’ She looked at Sandra. ‘It could be another one to tick off your list – although it isn’t exactly a motor yacht.’
‘Definitely! That sounds amazing!’ Patti said, turning to Sandra. ‘Are you up for it?’
‘I certainly am,’ Sandra agreed.
Patti glanced towards the house. ‘Should we go and check on Keith?’ she asked.
‘He’ll be sitting watching the TV, but you go in if you like,’ Mary told her. ‘It’s no use me saying anything, it just causes an argument.’
Patti wasn’t sure what to do, she felt she ought to talk to Keith, but she didn’t want to make things worse. Fortunately, while she was still dithering about it he came out again to ask if anyone wanted another drink. No one mentioned his outburst and they all sat chatting pleasantly for the rest of the afternoon.
‘Your brother and his wife are such a lovely couple,’ Sandra said when they were sitting in the casita later. ‘They’ve made me feel so welcome.’
‘They are, aren’t they? We used to see quite a bit of each other when they lived in the UK, so I’m glad I’ve finally managed to visit them. And it’s all thanks to you agreeing to come with me. I don’t think I would have been able to do it on my own.’
‘I’m glad to help – and to have the chance to get away for a while and sort my mind out,’ Sandra told her. ‘I had a text from Don earlier. The buyers have put in an offer for the house, which means that Laila and the children will be gone in a couple of months too.’ She looked wistful. ‘I’ll miss them so much.’
‘Have you decided if you want to go with them yet?’ Patti asked.
