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Walking in, the lobby is busier than I would have expected. The rich smell of fresh baked goods and sweets hits my nose as I turn with relief to see the restaurant open once again. We’ll stop there to eat before we leave for the airport, that’s if John could get ready quickly.
The elevator takes me up to the third floor, and I don’t need to look much before a room door opens, and a beautiful red-headed woman exits with John close behind her. I turn back to face the elevator to give them privacy during their goodbye.
And there is the proof, what my friends have been warning me about since John and I broke up years ago.I always believed them over him. I’ve witnessed him flirt on many occasions, but he would always deny it.How’s he going to deny this one?As he likes to cite on a regular basis, we have a twenty-year history. That history should be enough for him to be honest with me.
As the elevator doors close with the woman inside, I make my way to John, who is still standing in his doorway.Well, this may get awkward…“Lucy, let me explain?—”
We don’t need a production here in the hallway. “I don’t need an explanation, but I want to say something.For someone who claims to care about me and our twenty-year history so much, you could at least be honest with me. It’s been over a decade since we broke up, I am in full support of you moving on. Honestly, that might be the catalyst that would allow us to be friends. But the deceit is a deal breaker for me, and you, of all people, should know that.”That felt good to say.“The restaurant is open downstairs. I’ll grab us a table. How long do you need?”
“I’ll be down in twenty,” he says, and we each go our separate ways.
After a quiet breakfast, we take a cab to the airport. I notice a small strip of shops next to the airport entrance, but as we get closer, it’s obvious they are all closed.
When we enter the airport, the large screen states that John’s flight is delayed by two hours, but that’s not the biggest problem. The lobby is filled with people in line trying to get their tickets changed.
We take seats against the window and wait. “You don’t have to stay,” John says as a beautiful set of twins in front of us decide that this moment is a good time to test the limits of their vocal cords.
I raise my voice so he can hear me over them. “It’s okay, I’ll wait with you a little longer.”
Above everyone, the monitors hang a Happy Christmas sign, reminding me that the chances of me finding a shop to buy a new charger today will be impossible. I can’t call Henry because I didn’t think to write his number down, but I can at least call my mom. “Could I use your phone to call my mom and wish her a Merry Christmas?”
“Of course.” John hands his phone over.
My mom answers after a couple of rings. “Hey, Mom! Merry Christmas,” I say.
“Honey! Merry Christmas. Did you get a new phone?” she asks.
“No, it’s actually John’s phone…” I don’t give her enough time to connect the dots. “He came to London to visit me, and he’s heading home today, but my phone battery died, so he let me borrow his. I promise everything is all right.”
“Ohhh…well, when you get a new charger, I look forward to the rest of that story.”
“Sure thing. I hope you have a nice night with Ellie and her family. Send them my love!” Sadness fills me. It still doesn’t feel any easier not being with my mom on Christmas.
“Okay, sweetie, call me when you can. Love you!”
“Love you too, Mom.” I hang up and hand his phone back.
John lowers his eyes, focusing on the zipper of his travel bag, and asks, “Don’t you have someone else you need to call?”
I shrug, “I don’t have his number memorized.”
“Technology.” He shakes his head and tsks.
After another hour, the lines begin to move as John turns to me, “I don’t want to leave this on a bad note.”
I look at him. “John, there’s no hard feelings on my end, but if you want to end things on a better note, you can apologize and stop trying to interfere in my personal life, especially because I really don’t care about your romantic relationships.” I laugh a little. “Your unexpectedarrival was quite the surprise and certainly frustrating at times, but it wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I was just always certain that we would end up together, and when you finally moved on, the future I was so certain of was now in jeopardy. I didn’t even think to ask if you saw the same future.”
“John, we are different people now than when we were together. I doubt we would even enjoy being in a relationship anymore.” I try to reassure him.
“So this is it? Is it actually over?” he asks.
“Yes, it certainly is. But that’s not a bad thing. We will always be a part of each other’s life story, but now it’s time for the next chapters.”
“Your chapter will be starring your fancy British director boyfriend…”
“And your chapter will have plenty of leading ladies, I assume.”
