by Sophie Blue
“Me? No. I could never. I get lost walking to the shops. My best friend laughs at my sense of direction. If we walk in a shop, when we walk back out, I always end up going in the wrong direction. Trying to travel around Europe by myself is an accident waiting to happen.” I laugh when I think about it. It would not be very good, that I can guarantee.
“So don’t go by yourself,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Who would I go with? ‘Hey mind quitting your job to bum around Europe with me for the next few weeks?’” I laugh at the absurdity of it. I’m starting to think this guy has a screw loose.
“I’d go with you. I’m on a road trip anyway, no reason why I can’t take it to Europe.”
My jaw drops open in shock. Is he seriously suggesting we travel across Europe together? We’ve literally just met. He could be a snorer, or a serial killer! What does it say about me that being a snorer ranks higher on my worst-case scenario scale?
Laughing at my expression, he says, “It was just an idea. Don’t freak out. I’m not proposing or anything. I’m just saying, I’m travelling anyway. I’d be happy to travel with you to see the sunflowers. Sounds like a fun adventure.”
“I don’t know…”
“We only live once, Isabelle. If not now, then when? My dad always used to say better to regret what you have done, than what you were too afraid to do.”
Part of me is tempted. I would love to do this for Gramps. Take the trip for the both of us. But could I?
“Look, think about it. I’ll be around for the next week. I’m visiting a couple of friends. There’s no pressure. If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine. But the offer is there. Can I borrow your phone?” he asks, holding his hand out. I pass it over, unlocking it in the process.
He enters his number then reaches for his wallet, pulling out his driver’s licence. Taking a photo of it with my phone, he puts it away again and passes me back my phone.
“Now you have a copy of my ID, you can pass that to your family so they know who you’re with. I’m not a psycho, promise.” He grins at me and I chuckle.
“Good to know, that would have been a deal breaker for me,” I joke, putting my phone in my bag. “That and snoring…”
“No comment,” he teases. Downing the rest of his drink, he moves to stand. Taking some money from his wallet, he puts it on the table next to the receipt the waitress left.
“It was nice meeting you, Isabelle. Whatever you decide, it’s cool. But if you’re up for a sunflower road trip on Friday, I’ll be here at midday. Meet me in the sunflowers.” On that note, he offers me another charming smile and leaves. I sit there with my mouth open in shock.
That can’t be a coincidence, can it?
Chapter Five
Sitting in my best friend’s quirky living room, I take a drink of my coffee and look over at her. With her brown hair styled in a neat bob and her leopard print jumpsuit, she’s one of a kind and I love her.
“Am I insane for considering this?” I ask, doubting myself. I called her as soon as I got back to my car and told her about Tyler and his offer. She squealed and told me to head straight over to her place to discuss. So here I am, mug of coffee in hand, crazy best friend by my side. Curled up on her cream leather sofa, I stare down at my coffee like it holds the answer to all my questions. And right now, I really wish it did.
Alice and I have been best friends since we were five. Our parents lived next door to each other, so we grew up together. She spent a few summers with me at my grandparents’ house. She knows how close I was to Gramps, and how much his death affected me. She’s been a huge help since I lost him.
“Not at all. You’re young, Belly. You’re between jobs, living at home at the moment. You have no ties. Some money in your savings, why not enjoy it? When else will you be in such a perfect position to do this?” she asks, looking over the rim of her floral mug at me.
“I know. But I literally just met the guy today and I’m thinking of travelling across Europe with him.” Rolling my eyes as the absurdity of the situation hits me. It has all the makings of a serial killer story. If I’m not careful I’ll end up being one of the victims on the crime shows my mum binge watches.
“Yeah, what a hardship. He’s a complete hottie,” she laughs, referencing the driver’s licence photo I showed her that she spent far too long studying.
Laughing I throw a purple sequined cushion at her. “Stop it! You know what I mean.”
“I do, but if you don’t take this opportunity now, then when will you have the chance to again? You’ll never be in a better position to go travelling than now, hun. If you want to do it, then go for it. And with this hottie for company…” She trails off, waggling her eyebrows at me. I roll my eyes in return and take another slurp of caffeine goodness.
“I’m not looking for a boyfriend. I just want to sort myself out. Be happy in myself, you know? I’m not ready to lose myself in a relationship.” The last few months have taught me that I need to focus on fixing me first, before I even consider adding anyone else to the mix.
“I know. I’m only messing with you. You’re right, you need to focus on you. And in all honesty, this trip will be good for you. You deserve a break. This fell into your lap for a reason, Belly, don’t write it off only to regret it later,” she says, reaching across and squeezing my hand.
She’s right. After Gramps’ death, I was struggling big time. I moved back in with my parents and quit my job to focus on sorting myself out. There is nothing keeping me here, nothing that would stop me from going to Europe for a couple of weeks.
“This is crazy,” I mutter more to myself than anything. Taking another sip of my coffee, I consider my options. Could I really do this? Take this leap of faith and live a little?
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s fate. Like you said, what are the chances he’d say that to you?”
And that right there is what has me considering his crazy proposal. ‘Meet me in the sunflowers,’ he’d said. There was no way he could have known, but they were the last words Gramps had said to me. Drifting in and out of consciousness in his hospital bed, he’d motioned for me to come closer. I’d leaned over him, put my ear to his mouth and he’d whispered, ‘Meet me in the sunflowers.’ He passed peacefully in his sleep not too long after that, but the memory and phrase are burned into my brain.
Maybe this was what Gramps was trying to tell me. Maybe he knew I’d meet Tyler and wanted me to take this leap. It can’t just be a coincidence, can it?
Chapter Six
Being close to my parents, the first thing I did when I got home was to ask what they thought. My mum surprised me the most, saying she thought it was a wonderful idea. A sunflower road trip in memory of Gramps. She’s been my rock over these past few months, we mourned together. She told me to follow my heart, if I wanted to do it, then I should. And if I want to come home at any time, to call and she’ll arrange a flight for me.
So here I am, sat in Alice’s bright pink car in the car park facing the sunflower field. You only live once, right? Given the chance, I’m sure Gramps would have taken it, so how could I not?
“You ok?” Alice asks, squeezing my hand with her freshly manicured one and offering me a reassuring smile.
“Yes. Just a bit nervous. But I’m looking forward to it,” I say, and I mean it. This will be good for me. I need to start living again, not just existing. This is a step forward for me.
Taking a deep breath, I open the door and climb out of the car, smoothing down my sundress. Walking to the boot, I open it and pull out my duffel bag. I’m really doing this.
“Have you got your passport?” she asks, ever the organiser. Holding up her fingers and counting off her checklist. “Your travel insurance? Phone charger?”
“Yes, Mum.” I laugh, shaking my head at her. What would I do without her? A sudden rush of anxiety hits me and I ask, “What if he doesn’t show?”
“Then so what? I’ll be here and we’ll drive to the ne
arest pub and laugh it off,” she says, giving me a hug and smiling at me.
“Thanks, Alice. What would I do without you?” I say, hugging her back.
“You’ve got this,” she encourages as she pulls back and squeezes my hands in hers. “Text me when you find him, and I’ll go. Otherwise I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Nodding, I give her one last hug and head off into the sunflower field.
Walking amongst the tall flowers, I’m once again in awe of their strength and positivity. Gramps once told me I was like that, always seeing the light and good in people. And maybe he was right. After all, here I am standing in a field waiting to meet someone I believe will help me travel across Europe.
“You came.” I hear his voice before I see him. Turning, I’m greeted with the sight of Tyler and a beaming smile. In faded jeans and a white t-shirt, with his wavy light brown hair and light facial scruff, he takes my breath away.
He walks toward me and takes my bag from me, making me sigh in relief at the loss of the weight. I’m sure I overpacked, but better to be safe than sorry.
“I wasn’t sure if you would,” he says, running a hand through his hair in relief. “I hoped you would though.”
“Yeah?” I ask, smiling. Feeling lighter now I’m no longer worried he won’t show. I relax a little, my shoulders sagging in relief.
“Yeah. This will be fun.” Smiling he motions to the car park and I follow him. “You’ll see. This trip will change your life.”
I laugh at the craziness of this situation, even if his statement does ring true.
Chapter Seven
Age Six
Halfway through a game of Monopoly, I look up at Gramps and ask, “Where do sunflowers come from, Gramps?”
“That depends on who you ask. In Greek mythology, there was a nymph called Clytie who fell in love with Apollo, the god of the sun.”
“What’s a nymph?”
“It’s like a fairy,” he explains patiently. I nod and he continues, “She worshipped him, always watching the sky to see him in his chariot. She lay on some rocks for nine days, staring at the sun, waiting for a glimpse of Apollo. On the ninth day, she was transformed into a sunflower. Still turning her head in the direction of the sun to try and spot her love.”
“So sunflowers are really trapped fairies?” I ask, intrigued but confused.
Laughing he pats my leg, “They could be, my sunflower girl. They could be.”
“I’d like to be a fairy,” I muse, rolling the dice and taking my turn, as Gramps chuckles next to me. I know he hates playing board games, but Nan always convinces him to join in.
“A fairy? No. You’re a sunflower, and that’s much better. Strong and beautiful, you inspire happiness and love.”
Chapter Eight
Tyler sure likes to travel in style. Part of me was picturing an old camper van, or a rundown Escort. But when he led me to his car, I was pleasantly surprised to see the silver Audi A7. I smile, tossing my bag into the boot—which is huge! Like big enough to fit a body, I shut that thought down quick—I waved to Alice as she drove off and we were on our way.
“So, Isabelle. Welcome to Tyler Tours. I’ll be your guide for the duration of our trip. Any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I probably won’t know the answer, but I’m great at bullshitting. I’m sure I can figure something out super quick.” He grins over at me and I laugh.
“So what’s the plan?” I ask as we join the motorway. I’m a combination of nervous and excited. I’ve always wanted to travel, so I know this will be a great experience. I just never thought I’d do it with a stranger on a whim.
“Well I did some research. Looked up the best sunflower fields to visit in Europe. Open the glove compartment,” he instructs, motioning to it with a nod of his head while he keeps his eyes on the busy road.
Opening it, I pull out a bunch of papers, stapled together in the top right corner. It’s a list of places in Europe and pictures of them. Provence, Tuscany, Carmona. Maps on how to get there. Hotels nearby that we can stay in. A list of toll booths. Handy phrases to know in different languages. It has everything. I can’t believe he did all of this.
“Wow, you’ve been busy.” I’m impressed, he’s put a lot of thought into this. That’s sweet and a little crazy.
“Well, I like to give off the spontaneous, fly by the seat of my pants persona, but I’m an organisation freak at heart,” he jokes and I smile.
“Bonus points for that. I love planning!” I’m an organisation and stationery geek. I buy more diaries and notebooks than I will ever need just so I can make them pretty.
“Woah. I didn’t realise I was being ranked on my performance. Now I feel the need to pull out all of the stops.” He shoots me a cheeky grin and I laugh and roll my eyes.
“You mean you were going to offer me a subpar experience? I’m hurt,” I joke back. He’s so easy to talk to. For the first time in a long time, I feel comfortable. Maybe this will be exactly what I need.
“Scout’s honour, I will wow you with my mad tour skills.” He gives me a Scout salute, while keeping his other hand firmly on the wheel.
“Were you a Scout?” I ask, raising a brow at him in question.
“Uh, no,” he admits, bashfully. “But I do respect their values…?”
I burst into hysterics. Who is this guy? And how am I so comfortable with him already?
“Oh my god, stop! My sides hurt.” Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to contain myself. Tyler is grinning at me, clearly enjoying my reaction.
“Ok, so in all seriousness. I thought we’d head to Provence in France first. I read if you visit Le Plateau de Valensole, they have amazing fields of sunflowers. It’s a bit of a trek, but it will be worth it,” he assures me, looking over at me. “That ok?”
“Sounds perfect! How long will it take to get there?” Not like I have anywhere to be, but I like to know the plan. Plus I want to text it to Mum, better to be safe than sorry.
“Since we’re driving, once we get on the ferry at Dover, it’s a twelve-hour trip. I figured we could drive half of it today, find a hotel and do the rest tomorrow. Is that ok?”
“That sounds great! Are you sure you don’t mind driving all that way? I’d offer to split it but I’m not sure how confident I feel driving abroad. I get flustered driving somewhere I don’t know over here, let alone in a different country,” I admit.
“I’m positive. I love driving. And, no offence, but I wouldn’t let you drive my baby anyway.” He rubs the steering wheel in affection.
“Rude,” I laugh. “I’m a great driver.”
“You say that, but I don’t really know you, Isabelle. No offence.” He shrugs his shoulders in a half-hearted apology and I laugh at the absurdity of the statement.
“You don’t know me well enough to drive your car, but you’re happy to drive across Europe with me?” Rolling my eyes, even though he’s looking at the road ahead and not me.
“Yep, as long as I’m the driver,” he jokes, giving me a quick wink.
“You’re something else,” I laugh, shaking my head.
Chapter Nine
When we get to Dover, Tyler has already pre-booked us a spot on the ferry, so we drive straight to the port. Approaching a booth, Tyler asks for my passport and I rummage around in my handbag and pass it over. He hands them both to the middle-aged man in the booth, along with his booking confirmation.
The guy scans the passports, checking we are who we say we are, and prints off our boarding pass.
“Make sure you display this on your dashboard, follow the arrows down to the dock and join the queue. Boarding begins in thirty minutes, have a good trip,” Tyler thanks him and takes the documents, passing them over to me for safe keeping.
Pulling into the queue of cars, he turns off the engine and twists round to look at me.
“How’re you doing?” he asks, unfastening his seatbelt and stretching his arms out in front of him. I try not to stare at the way his muscles move
, it isn’t easy. He must work out, there’s no way you get a body like that if not.
“I’m good. Excited,” I answer honestly. I’m still shocked at my decision to throw caution to the wind and tour Europe with a relative stranger, but here I am.
“Me too. This is going to be epic,” he says, smiling at me. He leans forward and reaches for the paperwork I had placed back in the glove compartment.
“So after Provence I thought we would drive to Barcelona to stop for the night, then on to Carmona to see the sunflowers there. Then we drive to Italy to see the fields in Tuscany. That’s a twenty-hour trip so I figured we’d stop in Valencia to explore one night, then Monaco the next to see the casino. Then on to Tuscany. Does that sound ok?”
“That sounds incredible. I can’t believe you planned this all out. What if I didn’t show?” I ask, touched that he went to so much effort, but also surprised.
He shrugs his shoulders, “I hoped you would. If not, it still would have been an awesome adventure for me. Now I just have better company.” Sending me a cheeky grin, he checks his watch.
“We’ve got ten minutes until we start boarding. I’m going to run to the toilet, you staying here or coming with?”
“I’ll wait here,” I say, grabbing my handbag and rifling around for my phone. Tyler heads towards the small building that houses the toilets and I send a text to Mum to let her know that I’m ok.
At Dover, getting ready to board. Love you xxx
Leaning back in the leather seat, I let out a sigh of contentment. This is going to be good for me. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m grabbing it with both hands. I feel my phone vibrate and read the text from Mum.
Good! Keep me updated and HAVE FUN. I love you xxx
Smiling, I shoot a quick text to Alice to let her know all is ok and to thank her for the lift. Her reply is almost instantaneous.
