Chapter Twenty Six



The balloon floated for nearly an hour, before landing back almost where they had started from. The landing was rather smooth. Hardly noticeable. Urs grabbed hold of Fara’s hand as they landed, his fingers linking with hers automatically like he had always done when holding her hand. It felt rather comforting for him to do this Fara realised, have annoyed with him for doing it anyway.
‘You can let go now’ she told him once the basket was safely back on solid land again.
‘Can I?’ he asked, watching her as he spoke.
Fara nodded, trying to look upset. She kept her eyes away from Urs‘, just in case he saw in her eyes what she really was thinking. Urs sighed and let reluctantly of her hand.
‘Thank you’ she muttered once her hand was free, breathing a sigh of relief that he hadn’t noticed anything was up with her.
‘It was my pleasure’ Urs smiled. Fara ignored the smile and looked away.
Two rather burly Egyptians helped lift all the passengers out of the balloon baskets. Then they were all presented with a t-shirt and a certificate. As Fara was handed her certificate, she noticed the surname which had been written. It wasn’t Fara Hollinshead which had been written. Her surname. But Fara Buhler.
‘Wrong surname’ she tried telling Hazem as he handed them out. She shook the certificate in front of his face.
‘No’ Hazem smiled, ‘I was told Buhler’ he nodded.
‘No. My surname is Hollinshead. Hollinshead’ insisted Fara.
‘I am sorry. But I cannot change it’ Hazem smiled then walked away.
‘What’s wrong honey?’ Cydalia asked, noticing her friends distress now.
‘I’ve got the wrong surname on my certificate’ Fara moaned.
‘It must be a man thing. Look’ Cydalia showed her certificate. She was down as Cydalia Marin. Not Cydalia Parks

‘Same here. Look’ Rowi showed hers. It read Rowi Izambard. Not Rowi Embregts.
‘Dany…?’ Cydalia asked.
Dany showed hers. Yep. It read Dany Miller. Not Dany Jones.
‘Buhler…?’ Rowi asked, reading Fara’s certificate, ‘thought Urs was Swiss’
‘He’s Swiss German’ replied Seb, overhearing this, ‘hey, great surname’ he beamed at Rowi’s certificate.
‘If you behave yourself, it may come true’ Rowi lightly teased.
‘Oh goodie’ Seb beamed and winked in reply. Rowi blushed.
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The group were back in time on the boat for breakfast.
Fara couldn’t eat. She sat with Rowi which upset Urs and Seb for obvious reasons. Then it was time to pack. In a few hours they would be leaving the boat for the hotel. A coach, and Ahmed would be taking them.
It took Fara no time at all to pack her suitcase. Then she helped Rowi.
‘It won’t all fit in…’ Rowi complained.
‘Try packing, not scrunching. It’ll save you tons of time ironing it all at the hotel’ said Fara, completely repacking her friends suitcase so it was all folded and neat. Now, the suitcase closed without any problems.
‘Thanks mate’ Rowi hugged Fara.
‘That’s what I’m for’ Fara shrugged.
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‘Bloody…bloody…’ Urs moaned, packing his suitcase.
‘I know mate. I know’ David consoled him.
‘By rights I should be looking forward to the hotel. Getting to spent some time with Fara. Going for walks…talking’
‘But instead your ex is waiting’ David finished.
‘Yes’ Urs sighed, ‘to ruin it all…’
‘Oh mate’ David sighed, feeling sorry for his friend.
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‘I’m thinking, of taking Cydalia, this week, to Cairo’ Carlos told Seb as they packed their suitcases.
‘She wants to go, I overheard you’ Seb nodded.
‘I’m also thinking, of arranging…a little surprise for her’ Carlos smiled.
‘Oh?’ Seb asked.
‘I hear Cairo, has its own embassy. That do weddings…’
‘You’re not going to…?’ Seb squeaked in surprise at this.
‘Marry Cydalia? Oh yes’ Carlos nodded and smiled broadly.
‘But you gave David hell…’
‘Ok. Maybe I…overreacted. A little’ Carlos agreed.
‘Ha’ snorted Seb.
‘Ok. A lot. I agree. But, as David said, I am a man in love’
‘So Cydalia’s not playing you then?’ Seb asked.
‘I was a stupid, stupid man to ever think, let alone consider that’ Carlos replied.
‘I’m thinking, of taking Cydalia, this week, to Cairo’ Carlos told Seb as they packed their suitcases.
‘She wants to go, I overheard you’ Seb nodded.
‘I’m also thinking, of arranging…a little surprise for her’ Carlos smiled.
‘Oh?’ Seb asked.
‘I hear Cairo, has its own embassy. That do weddings…’
‘You’re not going to…?’ Seb squeaked in surprise at this.
‘Marry Cydalia? Oh yes’ Carlos nodded and smiled broadly.
‘But you gave David hell…’
‘Ok. Maybe I…overreacted. A little’ Carlos agreed.
‘Ha’ snorted Seb.
‘Ok. A lot. I agree. But, as David said, I am a man in love’
‘So Cydalia’s not playing you then?’ Seb asked.
‘I was a stupid, stupid man to ever think, let alone consider that’ Carlos replied.
‘No’
‘She might…turn you down’ Seb carefully said.
‘She won’t’ Carlos smiled and winked.
‘You sound rather…confident, at that’

‘That’s, my friend, because I am. I am’ Carlos nodded.
‘Well…congratulations then’ Seb shook his friends hand.
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Now it was time to leave the boat. Ahmed met them all in reception.
‘I hope’ he coughed, ‘that you have all enjoyed your time here…and of course your trips’
‘Its all been wonderful’ David smiled, holding Dany close.
‘Wonderful’ agreed Carlos, beaming at Cydalia.
‘Excellent’ Seb nodded.
‘Yes. Excellent’ Rowi agreed.
‘More than I thought it would be’ said Fara.