Chapter 20

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We arrived at Andrijana’s aunt when it was getting dark. In the mountains it always gets dark much earlier. We drove slowly as we both were a little afraid of heights, but the views were simply amazing. The old mountains were drowning in greenery, and below the azure-blue snake of the cheerful river Tara was accompanying us.

We had a good day, but we were just terribly tired. After the meeting with Andrijana, I didn't want to turn on the music. So that Alana did not doze off while driving, I entertained her with funny stories from my life. Basically, I talked about my pranks that we arranged with my brothers, or I just remembered funny moments from my life. I was pleased to see how her face was changing when I was speaking. It became surprised, then bloomed with a bright smile; sometimes Alana gasped or burst into laughter. She gave the exact reaction that I expected from her, as if my companion was experiencing with me all the joyful moments of my childhood and teenage years.

In the valley of the Tara, there are many black pines, black ash trees, elms, lindens and oaks. The air, although very hot during the day, was pleasant and clean. It smelled like pine and freshness. With relief, I breathed in the sweetness of the evening and the anticipation of a good dinner and a long-awaited rest.

The owner of the house, Emilija, greeted us very warmly, I would say in a cordial, family way. She resembled a person who has been longing for a big company and communication with younger people. Grandpa and grandma, who lived away from us, always behave in the same way when brothers, me, and dad come to visit them. They always say: "We do not have enough young blood. Of the youngest we have only Mindie!" (Who is an eighteen-year-old cat that looks like a brown carpet in dad’s garage).

When we were driving, I was imagining Emilija as an elderly woman, but in reality, she was no more than fifty-five. She wore light summer trousers and a sleeveless blouse. A pleasant smile did not leave her face even if the corners of her lips were not lifted. Despite Andrijana's warnings, her aunt spoke good English with barely distinguished accent. Around her legs, a small, red, fluffy dog, that resembles a baby fox, kept on running; the speedy often opened its mouth, which made the dog, too, very smiley just like its owner. From the upper bookshelves, almost under the wood-beamed ceiling, a gray cat looked menacingly at us, beating off the tempo with its tail.

Alana was friendly but detached. She looked around as if trying to find something, although, from the it seemed that she was simply interested in the beautiful interior of the house.

"You must be insanely tired!"

"Yes, that's for sure," I replied, breathing in the amazing smells that were invitingly leaking from the depths of the house.

Alana nodded amiably, but she was clearly not in the mood to speak. She enthusiastically stroked the dog, and then took it in her arms without Emilija’s permission, but the owner of the house did not mind, she began to talk about her pet, thereby softening Alana a little.

We spent the day really great without any adventures. After taking a bunch of photos of the mountains, the sea and the green island, admiring the nature of the coast, we enjoyed shopping a lot. Alana bought yellow, soft leather shoes and put them on immediately.

"Don't you like them?"

"You look great! But aren't you afraid to hurt your feet?"

"Beauty requires sacrifice!" She laughs merrily. The further we got from where we met the motorcyclist, the more fun she became. She began to joke more, trying to amuse me or entertain. It flattered me insanely. My ex, whom I met at the university, was always a little bored and I, like an idiot, always tried to entertain her, thinking that her dull mood was my fault, but in Alana’s company I could just relax and feel welcome.

She, like a professional model for a fashionable photo shoot, sported high heels along the narrow old streets, looking into shops with souvenirs, showing me either a bright fridge magnet, or a postcard with the image of the sea, which were absolutely useless, but acquired some kind of gentle charm being in Alana's hands.

"Look! Over there is the cafe that Andrijana was talking about..."

"Oh, one more turn and we are there," dark-eyed ignored my words and kept on dragging me persistently to an expensive restaurant that was overlooking the sea. I opened my mouth to argue, but then I mentally shrugged my shoulders and followed her obediently.