Page 45 of A Winter Wish

“We can’t just miss this bit. It is literally the whole point of the festival—the patron saint, his magical healing properties.”

“It’s the water that has healing properties.”

“Right, so where’s your water bottle?” Indeed, a fair number of people had their water bottles ready, waiting to fill them up. “Thought you would have been into magical water, what with your wishes and all.”

“Thanks, but I’m all good and healed at the moment.” It wasn’t too hot in the city at this time of year, but it was far too hot in the queue, everyone bunched together like this. “I just think it’s a bit of a waste of—”

“Let’s see, OK?” His voice was a bit too sharp, almost a snap.

“Jeez, what is up with you? Back to the sniping phase of our on-again, off-again hatred?”

He looked like he might smile, then shook his head. “I’m just a little…worried. It’s…Look, things are looking a bit tight at the moment. Budget-wise. I mean, we’re doing OK compared to the last couple of years, but travel is still bouncing back and…”

“We’re not on track to turn a profit?”

He said nothing, confirming it.

“Why didn’t you tell me!” Should she have known? She’d looked at the numbers, but they had confused her. “What happened to our truce? And working together?”

They edged forward, the group in front of them surreptitiously looking back at them at her outburst.

“It’ll be fine,” he insisted, though the way his fingers tapped nervously against his leg suggested otherwise. “It’s just…your dad used to do all this stuff and I know you’re learning the ropes, but this is something I’m still learning too, OK? As Mike was quick to point out.” He dragged a hand through his hair. She couldn’t quite see his eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, and didn’t like that she couldn’t fully read his expression as a result.

“We could have figured it out together.” Not that she was necessarily qualified. But still.

“Look, the new Christmas holiday is already looking good—we’ve had lots of early bookings already. The margins are small, but with another trip on our books, I think we’ll be OK.”

“Iceland?”

“No, not Iceland. That will have to be next year, if we go for it—with a recce this year.”

She felt somewhat relieved by that, though she didn’t voice it out loud. “Where, then?”

“Vienna.”

“Oh. Yeah.” She’d actually been part of that conversation.

“How far behind budget?” she asked.

“Like I said, if this new trip comes off we should be fine.” That wasn’t an answer, and she opened her mouth to point that out, but he jumped in. “Why don’t we sit down when we’re back—when we have everything in front of us? And then, if you have any suggestions, we can go through them.”

She blew out a breath. “OK. Fine.”

He gave her a wry look. “Way to muster enthusiasm.”

She returned that same look, then remembered something. “What about your investment idea? For the local businesses?”

He shook his head. “That all becomes irrelevant if we don’t have the profit to invest back in.”

She conceded with a nod—it was true. So at least they were on the same page about that. Though if they sold the company, would whoever took it on pick up Theo’s idea and run with it? Or would they change the company into a more standard travel firm, focus less on the values it worked so hard to support right now? Not your problem, Lexie. She tried to believe that voice—but it was getting harder each time she thought about the future of the business.

When they finally reached the fountain, Lexie couldn’t help but feel slightly underwhelmed. It seemed small, up against a cream-colored wall, with a plaque behind it, in Spanish. They had to bend down to wet their hands with the water, and the whole thing felt rushed, due to the pressure of the queue behind them.

They left the little building behind and headed toward San Isidro’s meadow, or “la Pradera de San Isidro”—which was basically a beautiful green park, as far as she could tell.

“Go and find us a spot, will you?” Theo asked. “I’ll catch up.”

Lexie headed onto the grass, finding a space under one of the big leafy trees. The atmosphere was brilliant, she’d give it that. The whole park was buzzing, people all around having picnics, the sound of laughter filling the air. Still, her annoyance was getting the better of her, and she sat down with more force than necessary, regretting it when it sent a twang along her coccyx.