“And the bad news?”

“It’s a four-day hike to Aguas Calientes.”

A deafening silence filled the room. When Kayla finally found her voice, she said, “Hike?”

“Hike. Aguas Calientes is the town nearest to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas in the Andes mountains. You’ll enjoy a four-day hike along the famous Inca trail to the ruins, which are reputed to be spectacular. Then, at the end of the journey, you’ll be pampered at the Sanctuary Lodge which is the height of luxury.”

“You sound like a travel agent.”

“Just trying to focus on the positives. And it’s not as grueling as it sounds.”

“That’s a relief, because I must tell you, a four-hour hike sounds grueling. A four-day hike sounds…insane.”

“You’ll have a guide and porters who carry the tents and cooking gear.”

“Tents and cooking gear are the positives?” She shook her head. “Limos and facials and sun-drenched tropical beaches are positives.”

“You’ll be fine. I recall you once mentioning you were a Girl Scout.”

“Yes. When I was ten. Nowadays, I’m afraid my idea of roughing it is staying at a Holiday Inn instead of a Hyatt.”

“You have a gym membership. You can handle this.”

“I’m not worried about my ability to hike up the mountain. But neither yoga, spinning nor Pilates prepare one for sleeping in the wild outdoors. In tents.”

“Think of this as an opportunity to do something new for a change. To step outside the box.”

Nelson’s words halted her, and she immediately recalled the article she’d read yesterday. No Change, No Gain. According to the article, if she always did what she’d always done, she’d always be where she’d always been. To get her life back in balance, she needed to challenge herself. Step outside her box. Go somewhere she’d never been, and do something she’d never done.