Nikolas was waiting for her at the Officers' Club, where she drew lusty looks and a myriad of whistles. It was all in the fun of being young, she thought, and didn't mind it.
"I will take you for a ride to a wonderful place, love!" Anna waited for his reaction.
"Being with you is wonderful, Anna, and I'll go anywhere you want," replied Nikolas.
"Okay, then hold on!" She accelerated rapidly, taking Nikolas by surprise. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.
She drove leisurely back to San Francisco, and then headed south. Driving on the El Camino Real, Anna stopped at Stanford.
"This is where I go to school and am going to school in the fall. Do you like it?" "Of course, Anna, I am so happy for you!"
"Are you, Nikolas? Are you going to miss me?"
"You needn't ask that question, Anna.
You already know the answer."
"Just joking love. The expression on your face says it all."
"What a beautiful campus!"
"Mr. Stanford built it in memory of his sixteen-year-old son, who died in Italy, while visiting there fifty years ago."
"They must have loved him very much."
"They did. Mr. Stanford is quoted as saying ‛now all the children of California will be our children.'"
"What a generous man," murmured Nikolas.
She drove south to Salinas and then toward Monterey and the unique little village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. They sat on the pristine white beach and enjoyed the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding landscape. As they lay on a large blanket, the warm afternoon sun felt soothing on their bodies. A large cedar tree provided partial shade and refreshing fragrance.
Further into the evening, they found a rustic inn tucked away under the huge Monterey pines. They lit the fireplace and stretched in front of it, their music being the crackling of the fire and the powerful waves hitting the shore. They drank red wine and ate bread with local Monterey cheese. Later, the owner of the cottage, an old Italian artist who had moved there to escape the big city, knocked at their door. He brought them fresh baked red snapper, fried calamari, and artichokes from his garden.
"Thank you sir," said Nikolas, and Anna repeated the same.
"Are you here on your honeymoon?" asked the artist. "No, no, let me see. You're here to buy some land? Many rich people are buying down there," he said, pointing at the still water cove. "But I talk too much. Sorry!" said the artist, as he turned to leave.
"Thank you, Angelo," said Anna with a disarming smile.