LOST INTO THE VINE (BWWM)

CHAPTER 17

"Abuela, it was so fun, we even danced on the street," Irina gushed to her grandmother and her friend, seated at the back of the house. "You danced?" she asked. Irina nodded and stood, her hands in the air, swaying her body like they had seen the professional dancers on the streets.

"She looked so pretty, that dancer, I want to be a dancer," she said, her eyes clouding over. The other woman chuckled, "I thought you wanted to be an explorer like your friend Nala." Irina was quiet for a second, probably mulling over which career would be best, "that too. I wanna be everything."

The older women laughed at the girl's enthusiasm as they watched her hop away to the wine cellar to keep her aunt company. Nala smiled, joining the women, giving them both refreshments. "Thank you, honey," Olivia smiled. "I wanted you to meet my friend, Ana. Ana, this is Nala."

"Pleasure to meet you, signora," Nala sat down across from them.

The grey-haired woman smiled back, "oh the pleasure is all mine. Olivia was telling me about the incident with Irina's mother." Nala blushed, "oh."

The woman laughed, Ana put her hand on Nala's, and "anyone who stands up for my best friend's and god son's family is in my good books."

She smiled shyly, remembering how she told the woman she would turn her into a monkey.

"So, Nala..." Olivia smiled coyly, "my friend is a teacher, well principal but you get the drift."

Nala smiled genuinely at the woman, "oh that's amazing, kids are a joy to the world."

"And I know that you have experience in teaching," Olivia continued.

"Oh!" Nala said. That was all she could say. She knew where this conversation was going.

"How long are you here for?" Ana cut a look at her friend.

"A couple of weeks, why?" she asked.

"How do you feel about helping out at the school for the time you are here," she asked.

Nala was already shaking her head, she didn't want something that will make it hard to leave when the time came, or rather harder to leave. She was already getting attached to the Alvarez and the Rodriguez family. It was already too much.

"It's not that serious sweetie, they just need someone to stand in for a while before they find a replacement for the teacher of English, she is due any day now," Olivia explained.

"I don't know Mama Olivia," she spoke.

"Just two hours Monday, if you like it, we'll continue till you leave, if not, we'll understand," Ana proposed.

"Okay," she smiled. "Two hours, Monday."

Olivia grinned widely and side hugged her, "Irina will be so excited, she loved how you helped her with her homework yesterday."

Nala stood, "well, nice chat ladies. I have some work to do."

She walked away, back inside the house, where her laptop was open. She sat by it, trying to get to work but her head wasn't in it. She looked through the pictures they took on her camera. Irina looked happy. At least the worst at the hospital was over.

The moment they walked in the clinic, she had hunched her back and stopped talking. Nala understood that she was nervous, hell, Nala also hated the whole syringe experience, but she had to assure her and have her take the shot. Irina sat on the bed, Nala next to her. When the doctor came in, she looked away, fear in her eyes. Nala reassured her. Nala asked about how grape picking was done and Irina's face lit up slightly explaining how it was done and how wine was made, saying how much fun Nala would have with them that fall.

"All done!" the doctor's voice sounded over hers. Irina looked at her arm, which now had some cotton wool, Nala spreading the spirit.

"You tricked me!" she gasped.

Nala laughed slightly, "you were so scared. I had to."

"Was not!"

"Tell you a secret? I also don't like doctors," Nala whispered, the doctor chuckled, putting his hands in the pocket of his lab coat and retrieving a sweet, "well, Irina a treat for being a good patient."

He turned to Nala, "and for having her not freak out." She giggled like a schoolgirl and took the sweet from her hand. He stretched his hand, "Dr. De Lucca. You can call me Alexander." "Nala," she shook his hand. "I know," he grinned. She rolled her eyes playfully, small town.

"Thank you doc," she smiled and held Irina's hand leaving the room.

"Dr. De Lucca like likes you," Irina said once they got into the car with Lena waiting. Lena turned to the seat behind to face Irina, "what happened in there?"

Irina told her how the doctor was smiling too much at Nala. Nala rolled her eyes telling Lena not to listen to child gossip. Irina pouted, "but it's true. He even gave her a lollipop."

"So what I like lollipops too," Nala argued with a laugh. Irina stuck her tongue out at her and Nala did the same.

"Okay children, strap your seatbelts," Lena laughed.

They rode singing the kids' songs all the way to Malaga and went to the museum. The walls, floor, and ceiling are white, looking much like how you would picture heaven. Well. Apart from the pictures and art stuff on the walls. They went over one piece to another, showing interest and making up their theories on how they came to be. They took a couple of pictures in the building.

"Why don't we take a picture with sexy Pablo?" Lena suggested. Walking towards the seated statue of the great artist, Pablo Picasso.

Nala threw her head back laughing, Irina giggled and nodded. Irina sat right next to the statue, laying her head on the cold arm of the artist.

Snap.

Lena suggested that Irina stand on the seat and tell Mr. Picasso a secret in his ear. She did exactly that.

Snap.

Next, it was Lena flirting with Pablo Picasso.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

"Nala touch his goods," Lena winked. Nala gasped looking at Irina, the kid was just giggling. That made her smile a little.

"Touch his goods Nala," Irina whisper shouted, a blush powdering her cheeks. Nala giggled and threatened to tell her father but did just that anyways. One hand on his shoulder, the other one down, in front of him on his lap.

Snap.

Snap.

After that, they went to eat, where they found some Flamenco dancers on the street and joined them. Taking pictures while at it.