Tuscany Trip

Khaat let Brian shower and dress first while she lingered over her first cup of cofffee. Once he was showered and shaved, she rose and showered and dressed, choosing one of the outfits she had bought yesterday, thin red printed sundress that concealed the important things and seemed to fit her as if it had been made especially for her. She brushed her hair back casually and tied it with a red ribbon. She decided to go barefoot today. Perhaps not the choice Brian would have for her onboard a ship, but oh well, if he griped too much, she would slip on a pair of the little Italian flipflops she had bought.

She stepped otu of the bedroom in time to see Brian filling up their coffee cups. He handed her one and helped her up on deck. The sun was lit in brilliant hues of all sorts of color. It was going to be another beautiful day. "So where are we going today?" Khaat asked him.

"Further along the coast. What would you like to do?" he asked her.

"Ronata mentioned more shopping," Khaat remembered.

"Then I know just the place," he smiled, "Even a better variety of the finest of handmade Italian goods than the beach village from yesterday. But it will take all morning for us to get there."

"Fine by me," Khaat smiled.

Khaat smiled. She was glad they were relaxed enough to enjoy a bit of horseplay. She herself was feeling relaxed so far this morning and content. She was a bit quiet, but that was not a bad thing, she was just too happy to be rattled by much.

"Are you two alright with a morning boat ride to some incredible shopping this afternoon?" Khaat asked. "And no, neither of you can go along onshore."

"We've discussed this already," Brian said calmly, not willing to be left out of eyesight of her. "Shopping, yes. Alone, no. I promise you plenty of girly privacy for whatever it is you girls do. Just not totally alone. Understand?"

"Oh very well," she said..

"And put some shoes on, before some water on the deck makes you slip and fall perhaps overboard and not by Steven's throwing you there," he ordered.

"Killjoy!" she sighed. "Accio!" She commanded a pair of little red flipflops with glittery straps and put them on.

Angus had the crew serve breakfast when everyone was dressed. The breakfast was a wonderful souflle, with fresh maascarpone cheese filled croissants, and a wonderful mixed fruit salad with Prosecco poured over the fruit.

Khaat loved the fresh fruit with the champagne poured over it. It was her favorite part. Not the the rest wasnt good, because it was. But it was a wonderful treat to have Prosecco for breakfast. It made her feel pampered, like a princess. She didn't get that very often. Her usual breakfast back home was just several cups of French Roast coffee. This was very elegant and for the moment, she felt like life was good again.

"They do," Brian said. "Some of the finest in the world. Maybe we can find something while the ladies browse elsewhere."

"Just like a man," Khaat sighed. "Always thinking of work when you could be having fun. Here you are in the most beautiful place in the world, with a beautiful woman, and you're thinking about a stinking horse. Don't either of you have a romantic bone in your bodies?"

"Me?" Brian said, "Surely you aren't expecting me to be romantic. That's like romancing my sister." He frowned.

"Thanks a lot," she sighed. "I should have brought a date. You aren't even pretending good." He laughed.

Brian laughed. They spent the morning quietly on the ship just enjoying the sun, the breeze and the ride. The breeze was good, and it carried them to port just around 11 am. The crew docked at the port and Khaat disappeared down below deck to pick up a small red shoulder clutch bag. She reappeared beside Brian. "I am going shopping. If you're coming with me, break out your credit card."

"Me?" he raised his eyebrows. "You're no pauper either. Oh, very well. My treat. You knew I wouldn't resist. Let's go. Steven? Ronata? You ready?"

"Should I change?" Khaat asked.

"Oh, come on. This is a fishing town. You look beautiful. Let's go," Brian said, brushing her concerns aside. "You two ready?"