Page 56 of The Risks of Reuniting

"It's so exciting, and amazing, and nothing at all like home," Chloe breathes at last.

"Ah-maz-ing," Rachelle squeals. "Seriously, so cool." Her phone is out and she videos herself turning in a circle, slowly, surrounded by the stalls. As she catches us on camera, I throw out a big smile and Chloe and Cesar copy me. "Perfect," Rachelle giggles when she's done. "My followers are going to eat this up."

I'm relieved that they like it. Cesar is beaming, too, and tells me in rapid Spanish that he hasn't been here before and wants to find some things for his grandparents and the lovely Ana he's hoping to woo when he returns home. I love that he's excited enough to forget his goal to only speak in English.

"You ready?" I ask Chloe.

I reach for her hand and thread my fingers lightly through hers, letting her know she can pull away if she wants. But she smiles up at me, a faint blush rising, and settles her palm against mine. She looks away, toward the stalls, and I lead the way into the organized chaos. Friendly vendors immediately leave their stalls to gesture to their goods and encourage us to come in. They aren't pushy, simply giving a smile and nod when we answer "no, gracias, we're only looking"if nothing has caught our eye.

We drift apart, all of us walking slowly and taking things in, and we're down our second row when I see a stall filled with jewelry. I call to Chloe, and when she comes to me I instinctively place my hand on her lower back, lightly pressing to turn her in the direction of the display cases.

"Let's check this out."

There are glass cases housing more expensive pieces, shelving filled with trays of rings, and hanging trees full of earrings. Everything is brightly colored, with beautiful stones and gems. It's perfect eye candy – and maybe for a minute I forget I'm supposed to be helping her look for other people, and I start looking for something that would suit her. My eyes are immediately drawn to a set of llama earrings. The llamas are colorfully striped with stones and I reach for them and show her as she looks in a case of necklaces.

"Chlo," I call. "These are a must." I smile and make them dance and she grins back at me, reaching for them.

"They're perfect."

"How much?" I ask the proprietor, and he knows enough English to answer that question. It's one he's most likely asked often. He replies and I make the adjustment between Peruvian soles and US dollars. "Fifteen dollars, US." I tell her.

"I can't imagine not bringing home a pair of these for all my ladies," she responds with a grin.

So, together we pick up one for her, her five cousins, one for Allie, one for her mom Jenny, one for Grandma Sue, and because we're on a shopping high you'd better believe Rachelle is getting a pair as well. Ten llama earring sets. We choose various colors that we think everyone will like, and then I make the vendor's day by adding in a super skinny silver chain with a Sol de Mayo – The Sun of May – hanging at the end. I want it for Chloe. Its representation of the Incan empire speaks to me, and having something of mine hanging around her neck again is enticing. The fact that it's silver, and will stand out, has me feeling things.

"And this is for you, from me," I tell her, letting it hang off my fingertips.

She looks at it and her mouth rounds. "Me?"

"Yeah. Do you like it?" The answer matters, and I hold still as she looks at it.

"Yeah," she says, a shy smile tugging her lips as she looks up at me. "I do."

I'd buy her ten more if she'd look at me like that again.

I busy myself handling the transaction and then take the bag from the seller and hand it to Chloe to tuck into the satchel she has strapped across her chest. The seller tells usgraciasabout ten times as we exit the stall and come to stand in the walkway between vendors.

"I love Peru," Chloe sighs, looking around her. "Love. It."

I smile and nod. "I knew you would."

She takes a deep breath and when I look down at her, she's scrunched up her face into a serious expression. "I'm sorry I never came with you." The words are spoken softly, but I know she means them sincerely. "Really sorry. It was a mistake."

Warm emotion washes over me and I have to touch her, so I take her hand once more. "Thank you. It's okay. You're here now, and I couldn't be happier about it."

It's only then that I notice our shopping buddies are nowhere to be found. "Wonder where Cesar and Rachelle got off to," I say, looking into the stalls nearby even though I know I won't see them. "They can't have gotten far."

Chloe chuckles. "You've spent three weeks with Rachelle and still don't know her at all. She's probably blazed a trail from here to the ocean by now, and bought out three stalls on her way."

I laugh. "Did you come up with a place to meet if we got separated?"

She shakes her head. "No. Getting lost at the Inka Market is part of the adventure."

I'm so caught off guard by her relaxed attitude that I frown a bit. She laughs at my expression and I adjust my hold on her hand, threading her fingers between mine. I like the feel of her small palm pressed against mine, and I love that she doesn't tug away.

"Do you want to try to find them?" I ask, hoping she'll say no.

She bites at her lip in thought, and I don't dare interrupt. At last she gives me a playful look and squeezes my hand.

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