Sofia had saved a place for Augie at dinner that night at the hotel near Petra. Though he had to fight to suppress a smile, he kept things polite and formal with her—which seemed to amuse her too.
“By the way, you’re off the hook for the climb to the high place,” she said. “I couldn’t walk another step. Sorry. I appreciate it. And I really wanted to see Petra from up there, but—.”
He held up a hand. “I know you’re beat. But it would mean a lot to me if you’d come. I promise you won’t regret it.”
She lowered her chin and narrowed her eyes. “You’re serious. Well, if it’s that important to you ….”
“It is.”
“And if you want to give me a piggyback ride there and back ….”
He laughed. “I’ll at least find us a ride to the base of the climb.”
“And what’s my guarantee? You promised I wouldn’t regret it. What if I do?”
“Then I’ll never do it again.”
Her smile and laugh made Augie feel her look had been created for his pleasure.
When dinner was over, Augie and Roger stood at the door as people filed out, thanking them for the week. When the Trikoupises reached them and were talking with Roger, Augie whispered to Sofia, “We’ll have to hurry to beat the crowds. I just have to run to my room for my flashlight and a jacket. You’ll want a sweater or something.”
“It’s still in the 90s out there.”
“Suit yourself” Got to admire a woman with her own mind.
“Now that’s what I call a flashlight,” Sofia said a few minutes later when Augie showed up with a boxy contraption that emitted about ten times the light of a standard one. He also had two bottles of water and had tied a hooded sweatshirt around his waist.
They hurried across the road, past the souvenir shops—most still open—and finally reached the long expanse that led to the Siq, the mile-long, narrow gorge into ancient Petra. There Augie hired a horse-drawn carriage to take them directly to the base of the high place. As soon as they crowded into the back, they were off, bouncing and jostling, Augie fighting to keep from landing in Sofia’s lap. He loved her giggle.
Finally they reached the Siq, where crowds had gathered, and soon the shambling carriage was the only conveyance in sight.
“Oh, Augie!” Sofia said, “it’s beautiful!”
The entire length of the narrow passageway, lit by the sky during the day but pitch black at night, had been lined with candles stuck inside paper bags. The eerie pink glow reflecting off the red-rock walls guided them all the way to the end, where they found hundreds more of the lights scattered before the treasury building and throughout the city.
“It’s called Petra at Night,” Augie said. “And you can see why so many people line up to experience it.”
“I sure can, but I wouldn’t want to do this on foot. Those people must think we’re royalty.”
“Aren’t we? I thought you were Helen of Troy. That makes me Brad Pitt. Or something.”
At the base of the high place Augie told her, “You can go first and I’ll shine the light on the path from behind you. It’s steep and can be treacherous, but just keep moving. When you need a break to catch your breath, let me know.” He pointed the flashlight at their destination high in the distance. “It’ll take a while, but we can do it. Just stay close.”
When she started up, Augie was impressed by the muscles in her long legs. “I think I’d rather shine the light on you,” he said.
“Dr. Knox! We don’t know each other that well.”
“I’ll behave.”
Sofia stopped occasionally, bending at the waist and resting her palms on her bare thighs, breathing deeply.
“You okay?” Augie said, offering her a bottle of water.
“Just need to refuel.” She drank deeply and started up again.
“Hey,” Augie said, “before you get too far, look down.”
Sofia turned and gasped, scanning the ancient city lit by all the candles. “That may be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“And you come from one gorgeous country. I promised you wouldn’t regret this.”
“No matter what, I won’t. Bet you wish you weren’t weighed down by that sweatshirt. I’m sweating.”
“We’re not at the top yet, girl.”
Sofia gave him a funny look. “Well, then let’s get going, boy.”
Augie took the lead. He had always found the last part of the climb the toughest, and he was relieved to finally get to flat ground and reach back to help her up. He led her to an outcropping where she sat on a rock to catch her breath. “When you’re ready, I’ll show you the altars,” he said. “You’ll see where the blood of the animals drained, where they put the coals, everything.”
Sofia lowered her head and breathed deeply. Finally she stood, hands on her hips. “I’m so glad you talked me into this. You can say, ‘I told you so.’”
“Just happy you’re enjoying it,” he said, shining the light in her face, making her cover her eyes. “You have the best smile.”
“You make me smile,” she said.
After he showed her the altars he shone the light down into the valleys.
“I could stay here all night,” she said.
“You’d be lonely.”
“You’d leave me here?”
“It’s been a long week,” he said. “I need my sleep.”
She laughed, then crossed her arms and rubbed her biceps. “Oh, no! I didn’t want you to be right.”
“About?”
“Now that I’m up here, I’m cooling off.”
Augie set the light down and pulled the sweatshirt off his waist. “No, that’s yours,” she said. “You planned ahead. I didn’t.”
“Don’t be silly,” he said, slipping behind her and draping it around her shoulders. “I brought it for you anyway.”
“You did not.”
“I did,” he said, turning her to face him. “My thermostat runs high.”
She relaxed as he helped get her arms into the sleeves. The sweatshirt enveloped her and the long sleeves hid her hands. He zipped it to her neck and put his hands on her shoulders. “Better?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
And in that instant Augie pictured Sofia with him forever. The vision raced through his mind, their waking together, eating together, going to church together, raising a family. The scenes were as clear as day and stunned him speechless. In the shadowy light he gently cupped her face. “You know, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here right now.”
He drew her face toward his, and as their lips met she wrapped her arms around him. When he pulled back they stood gazing at each other, inches apart. “August Knox,” she said, “I was not expecting that.”
“Need I apologize?”
“You’d better not. All the way up here I was planning what I was going to say when we reached the top. Like what a great guide you are. How smart. How wonderful with people. How passionate about these places and about your faith.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“That’s not what I want to say anymore. I want to say what you said, about not wanting to be anywhere else.”
He drew her close again and they held each other tight. “Have we started something?” he said.
“I sure hope so,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
He pulled back. “Tears?”
“I’m already missing you, Augie. We fly home tomorrow. When will I see you again?”
“As soon as I can arrange a trip to Athens.”