Page 105 of The Last Special Thing

Back in her granny flat, Amelia packed the necessities into her two Burberry suitcases. She strode into the main house, leaving the suitcases at the bottom of the spiraled staircase. Upstairs, at the second door on the right, she knocked twice.

Lauren opened the door a minute later, rubbing her eyes.

“I’m ready to go,” Amelia said. Her voice was soft and unsure.

“Where?” Lauren squinted. She ran a hand through her frizzy blonde hair.

“Europe. I’m packed.”

She opened both her eyes and took Amelia in. “We’ll have you booked in a few days. Are you okay?”

James appeared over his wife’s shoulder in a plaid pajama set. He gave Amelia a once-over.

“No, she will leave now,” he said. “She’s ready.”

There was an unspoken understanding. If she did not get on a plane now, something, or rather, someone, might change her mind.

“I’ll find the flights. Let your sister know you're coming,” James instructed.

“Shall we sit and have a cup of coffee?” Lauren asked with a yawn.

Amelia nodded and led the way down to the kitchen.

Lauren started up the espresso machine as Amelia dropped onto the stool at the counter.

“What happened?” Lauren asked over the sound of beans grinding.

“Art’s got some issues that are too big for me.”

Amelia braced herself for a snide comment. Instead, Lauren set a coffee cup in front of her and leaned across the counter. “I’ve done my best to keep things as easy as possible for you-”

“I know, Mom. I fucked it up,” Amelia groaned.

“No.” Lauren waited for Amelia to meet her eyes. “I do that because I know the world is unfair and life will have its storms. I want to make everything I can easy for you, because life will be hard enough on its own.”

“You’re not mad?” Amelia asked.

Lauren chuckled. “I’m not happy,” she emphasized. “But no, I’m not mad. You came home. You made the right decision. I’ve been here all along to help you. You just have to let me.”

Amelia took a sip of her coffee and repeated her mom’s words. She had made the right decision.

The trip took longer than it would have if she had adequately planned. The route made no sense, and it required four flights when it could have been completed in two. She slept on the plane, nursing her hangover from 30,000 feet in the air. She was stuck in a window seat in the middle of the plane instead of business class, but she was okay.

On her layover, she turned her phone off airplane mode, and the barrage of texts from Art came through.

Art

Where are you? Why is the bracelet here?

Amelia your phone is going to voicemail

What does this mean?

I am SO SORRY!!!! I know I fucked up. Please just talk to me.

I promise I won’t ever touch anything like that again. I know it was a mistake. I can’t explain why I did it but I never thought I would lose you.

You're my twin flame. I love you sooooooo much. Please just talk to me.