Brent. Of course, they’d also strategized about the big race, poring over maps of the area and trying to guess the exact route, which wouldn’t be publicized until the ultra-marathon had begun.
It was strange—Eva had been friends with Marc for years, but she’d never spent this many consistent days in his company. A few times she’d detected a confusing undercurrent between them, something she’d never noticed before. It was probably just her imagination, a combination of nerves and excitement over what was to come first with the marathon and then the ultra-marathon.
She hoped so, anyway.
Angela pointed. “Oh, look. We’re next.”
The people directly in front of them loaded into a cable car.
As the next car entered the building, Angela and the children got ready to step in. Only four people could fit on a gondola, so they left Eva and Marc to catch the following one. Normally they would have been paired with the next two people in line, but there were several groups of families behind them who wanted to ride together, so that left Eva and Marc with their own ride to the top.
When the door of their gondola slid open, Marc climbed in after Eva, taking the seat opposite her. The doors shut, and the gondola gave a little jolt as it started to rise.
Windows surrounded them, giving them a view of everything below—Lake Wakatipu spreading out one side, the trees stretching so high it seemed they could reach out and touch the tops, the mountains peaking in their majesty.
Marc’s cologne drifted across the enclosed space, bringing hints of tarragon and spicy cinnamon to her nose. So different from Brent’s everyday cologne, which contained a blend of apple and lime, with undercurrents of vanilla, rum, and leather.
Still, she couldn’t deny the allure of Marc’s scent. He smelled like he was going to a black-tie affair, but it didn’t seem pretentious on him.
“Eva?”
“Hmm?” Oh man, why had she spent the better part of a minute thinking about Marc’s cologne?
“I asked how you think training is going.” His eyes were quite serious, almost concerned, as he leaned forward on his bench, forearms flat against the tops of his legs.
“Okay, I guess. I’m not sure how Angela feels about it, though.”
“Have you asked her?”
With a tug on her long sleeves, Eva frowned. “Yes. And I thought we were getting somewhere, but she doesn’t seem to want to connect in the same way I do.”
“I’m proud of you for trying.” He straightened. “Brent would be proud of you too.”
“I hope so.” Tears welled in her eyes. Ugh, would she ever stop crying when she heard his name?
Where had that thought come from? Ever since he’d died, she’d embraced every tear as a sign that she really and truly loved him, that the depths of her emotions couldn’t be measured. There was a kind of pride in carrying a torch for someone who no longer could.
So why did she suddenly feel like the weight of the torch was too much?
No. She had to remain strong in her resolve, keep welcoming the tears, do everything she could to live life the way Brent would have. To grasp at the straws of happiness left to her and weave them together into something beautiful. Somehow.
“I know he would. And whether she understands it or not, Angela needs you.”
“Sometimes I find that hard to believe.” Eva tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear.
Marc’s eyes followed the motion as he waited for her to elaborate. Why did his gaze suddenly unnerve her?
She bit the inside of her cheek and looked out the window, taking in the panorama of nature around them. “I keep reaching out, but we aren’t really any closer than we were three or four months ago when all of this began. And we should be, right?”
“I don’t know. There seems to be less strain between you guys than, say, at that first strategy meeting. I’m guessing all of this is just a lot for her to deal with.”
“I just wish she’d . . . I don’t know, come to realize what Brent and Wes knew about life, what they taught me. But she doesn’t seem inspired by their zest for adventure. In fact, she seems to despise it. I don’t understand her.”
“Give her time. Maybe being here will give her a new perspective on all of that.”
And hopefully Eva’s surprise would be a start. “You’re right.” Her eyes connected with his once again.