Wishful Steps

2

The "Recanto das Trilhas" inn was located in the south of the island. From the wooden pier where the boats were anchored to the inn, it was a twenty-five-minute drive. The road was well-signaled and meandered through valleys and hills, offering a beautiful panoramic view of a plateau adorned with lush trees and colorful birds right in the middle of the island. The inn was close to a pristine rocky cliff. The massive mansion that welcomed guests also offered parking, recreational areas, and two huge restaurants. One of them was more sophisticated and could be rented for events. Behind the main house, a trail of white pebbles led guests to a fountain situated in a large slate patio. From there, several trails accompanied the guests to the wooden bungalows with palm-thatched roofs that served as accommodations. The more luxurious bungalows were closer to the main house, some even had two floors. The simpler ones were more remote, but, in return, they were closer to the rocky cliff that marked the end of the island. All the bungalows were scattered along a hill adorned with zigzag paths filled with flowers and stone benches where people could sit and enjoy the view. Below all the bungalows, a huge infinity pool seemed to extend the sea, stretching all the way to the horizon. The beauty and sophistication of the place left nothing to be desired compared to luxury hotels in Santorini.

Tina and Demer stayed in one of the simpler bungalows, at the far end of the Hill of Nostalgia, near the pool. Demer could only think of the hill he would have to climb every time he wanted to go to the main house. Tina couldn't contain her awe-struck expression in the face of such beauty. Friga also seemed very happy.

The three entered the room. The space offered a bed, a table with two chairs, a bathroom with a shower and a toilet. In addition to a TV mounted on a support in front of the bed, there was a mirror one meter eighty in height and two meters in length, framed in bamboo fixed to the wall next to the bed. Friga was the first to jump on the bed while the couple unpacked their bags. Hanging from the main beam was a voile canopy in a sandy color, serving as a mosquito net.

"Friga, get off the bed! Now!" Demer scolded sternly.

The dog ignored him.

"Friga, on the floor," Tina said gently.

The dog obeyed and, after receiving a pat, heard her owner say, "That's it, girl."

Demer paced back and forth with his cellphone in hand.

"The cell signal here is terrible," he said.

"Of course it is," Tina added, sitting in a chair while taking off her sneakers. "The point is not to be on the phone. Look at the view from this balcony! Who would want to be on the phone? This place is paradise, and you're on vacation. I brought you here to relax, not to be buried in papers, calculators, and cellphones."

"Look who's talking. You came here for work. Before we came, I said I needed to finish some things from the office. I bet the other rooms have a better internet signal. We're too far from the main house. Just thinking about the Everest I'll have to climb every time I need to send an email..." Demer said, opening the balcony window, letting the wind blow into the room.

"We can't complain, darling. We're not paying anything for the stay," Tina said, putting on a pair of sandals and going to the balcony with her husband. "I arranged a barter, as I told you. They won't pay me, and we can enjoy the place as guests during these four holiday days! All I need to do is accompany a group of tourists on the trails, spouting the same nonsense as always. I work part-time, and we get to enjoy the rest of the day for sightseeing. How about that?" Tina leaned on her husband's neck and looked at him with a fraternal gaze. It was as if she already knew everything she would hear from Demerval for the next few days.

He freed himself from his wife's arms, threw his bag on the bed, removed the papers, pen, and calculator, and went back to work.

"I'm trying, Demer. Don't say I am not."

"What are you talking about?"

"About this..." she said, pointing to the papers, "...and this." She showed him the wedding ring on her ring finger.

"I'm not getting into the third discussion about our relationship since we left home, Tina. What do you want from me?"

"I want you to see what's happening to us. What happened to us, actually."

"Tina, although the accommodation is free, we had to buy last-minute plane tickets, pay for transfers, and everything we eat and drink has to be paid for. I'm here working so that we can survive this trip. I know you'd like me to go out dancing and singing and talking to animals, but I'm not like that. Isn't being here by your side enough?"

"You weren't like this before. Before, you would go dancing and singing, and you'd even talk to the animals if they let you. Look at what you've become. A selfish person who can't smile and have fun, even when on vacation. It seems that being with me has become a burden for you. You prefer work over experiencing new... adventures... with me."

"Adventures... for God's sake. You're right, Tina. Sometimes, I don't recognize myself either. Sometimes, I wish I could take a vacation from myself, if you want to know. But what can I do? Pretend to be someone I'm not? We've aged, Tina! Time has passed. We're not the same as we were twenty-five years ago."

Tears welled up in Tina's eyes. She shook her head and said, "Not for me, Demer. Not for me." She wiped the tears with the back of her hands, and before he reached her to hug her and apologize for everything he had said, as he always did, she called Friga and both of them left the room to go for a walk.