“Was it both terrifying and exhilarating?”
“That's exactly the right description.”
We take a moment to smile at each other before we eat, and without saying it, I know he understands exactly how I feel at this moment.
When we've stuffed ourselves, I sit back, feeling a sense of complete satisfaction at having created that which has been brewing in my mind for so many months. It's like the greatest non-sex orgasm ever.
“Was it good for you?” I ask with a little laugh.
“Magnificently moving and wonderful. You're very talented, Emma. Should you want to, you could really go places.”
“Oh, I want to,” I say, fully meaning it.
His face grows serious for a moment and he gives me a thoughtful look. “Would it be strange if I tell you I'm proud of you?”
His words threaten to bring tears to my eyes and I have to look away for a second to dull my emotions. Finally, I manage to say, “No, it would be nice. Would it be strange if I tell you that I'm proud of you?”
“I’d very much welcome that sentiment.”
27
The Pathetic Hero’s Return…
Pierce
“Pierce, you didn’t tell me you were rich,” Emma says, tongue-in-cheek, as she pulls the keys out of the jeep’s ignition.
I glance at the Learjet waiting for me. “It's really just a way to get from point A to point B.”
Emma stares reverently at the plane, which at the moment has a particularly sleek glow from the pink and orange sunset, then she shakes her head. “No, it's not.That’sa whole different life, right there.”
I see the plane through her eyes and feel suddenly ashamed by the level of luxury to which I've grown accustomed. Trying to slough off the shame, I quip, “It's the perfect way for a reclusive writer to travel.”
She gives me a small, hollow smile that reminds me of what’s happening.
I’m leaving.
I swallow hard, thinking about her words, and knowing that what she really means is that it's a world into which she wouldn't fit. She may not be wrong about that, either.Idon't even fit in there.
For a moment, I consider an alternate ending that doesn’t have the word goodbye as the closing line. After all, the sun is setting on what has been a perfect day, and if this were one of those cheesy romance movies, she’d be getting on the plane with me to start our happily ever after.
But this is real life, and she'snotgetting on the plane with me and we both know that in a very short time, the word goodbye will come into play.
“Would you like to come aboard and have a look?” I ask, wanting to extend our time together by even just a few minutes.
“Maybe another time,” she says casually.
“Listen, Emma,” I say. “I just want you to know that today was quite possibly the best day I've ever had.” I reach for her hand and rub her knuckles with my thumb. “You are an extraordinary woman, and I truly mean that. The next few months are going to be insanely busy, but maybe once I get through all of the editing and—”
Shaking her head, Emma says, “What if we don’t do the bit where we make promises we may not keep? In fact, I think we should agree to leave it here and not say we’ll ‘keep in touch’ because that’s inevitably going to lead to one of us being the last one to contact the other one, then that person will be waiting to hear back and...” She takes a deep breath, then says, “A clean break is best.”
“Right. Brilliant,” I say with a little nod. “Well, in that case, please allow me to say I've never met anyone like you, and I couldn't have done any of this without you.”
“Okay, I’ll let you say that,” she answers with a wry grin. “Before you go, there’s one thing I have to know. Have I perhaps restored your faith in humanity, even just the tiniest bit?”
“I’m afraid only in you. Everyone else can just sod off.”
Emma laughs a little and then a quiet grows between us as I try to force myself to either come up with something incredibly clever and/or charming to say.
