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She crossed the courtyard, with its bubbling fountain and flagstone paving All around her, the arched passageways of the building offered shaded spaces for guests to sit Some of the arches were now part of the restaurant, and diners sat overlooking the courtyard as they ate Julia could alardens where the patio now stood, sheltering froh history

The chapel was ss that ran fro They ca been painted five hundred years earlier There were renditions of saints and Bible stories and church leaders Julia sat in one of the wooden pews, her eyes towards the ornately carved pulpit, and wondered if it rong that the sacred space was now a uests

“Is very pretty, no?”

Julia looked up to find a young woman dressed in the hotel uniform

“Yes” Julia smiled at her

“It is very popular for weddings,” the woman said “We have one booked this weekend If you are still here, youthe ceremony You will be able to see most of it from the courtyard”

“I wonder what the s” Julia was tired, and it loosened her tongue a little, allowing her to relax and chat with soue-tied and foolish looking

“It’s the nature of things, isn’t it?” the wo was a monastery, it was an Incan palace In the basement, you can still see the stone walls they built”

“There’s a base like the catacoed to see in Lima

The woe I know the owners plan to develop the rest at some point May I sit?”

Julia nodded, grateful for the diversion fro Peru “Tell me about the history of the place,” she said “If you have time”

“I’d love to” The woman held out a hand “My name is Maria”

And for the first ti to Peru, Julia felt like a normal person

Joe found Julia in the chapel, talking to one of the staff He stood in the shadow of the doorway for aand laughing with the young wo a moment out of the trouble that swirled around them She deserved more than a moment This situation was stressful for anyone, but for soled when outside of her comfort zone and routine, it must have been hell

He was so damn proud of her In her eyes, she eak and scared, but in his she was courageous The fact she was there, helping her gran, dealing with everything that was happening, was a testie Joe couldn’t believe she was unable to see that for herself Julia Collins was one of the bravest women he’d ever known