‘When my husband died—’Her hands move slowly, carefully.‘I thought my life was over. I loved him so much. And when he was gone, I couldn’t imagine ever being happy again.’
I wait, not sure where she’s going with this.
‘But you know what I learned?’She meets my eyes.‘Sometimes God removes people from our lives not as punishment, but as protection.’
All I can do is nod. I grew up attending church, but God...has always remained like a distant figure, maybe because I never knew my own dad. But I know He’s real. I know He’s good. My mom says He is, and since the one thing my mom isn’t is a liar (unlike me)...
‘Thank you.’It’s the only honest thing I can say at this moment. ‘Thank you for being kind. And for not...judging.’
‘Why would I judge you for someone else’s betrayal?’
‘Most people would think I’m stupid for not seeing the woods for the trees.’
‘Most people don’t know better.’Lady Hampton squeezes my hand once more before returning to her seat across the aisle.‘Rest now. We’ll land in a few hours.’
I nod and turn back to the window. The clouds slide past below us, endless and white and peaceful, and I...I can’t remember when was the last time I felt that.
Because all those years with Joseph...
I was just so, so busy trying to make him happy and earn his approval. Because I knew the one thing he wanted was the one thing I just wasn’t ready to give up, I tried so, so very hard to make up for it.
But I guess...it just wasn’t enough.
Time passes, and my eyes are getting heavy. The adrenaline is finally crashing, and I let my eyes close.
Just for a minute...
But that minute stretches into something a lot longer because the next thing I know, Lady Hampton is gently shaking my shoulder, and I wake up to her smile as she signs,‘We’re landing soon. You should eat something.’
Oops!
I sit up in a start.‘I’m so sorry.’
She looks at me chidingly.‘I was the one who asked you to rest. You needed it.’
The flight attendant appears with a tray—fresh fruit, yogurt, orange juice—and I realize I haven’t eaten since...when? Breakfast? That feels like a lifetime ago.
I take a sip of orange juice and try to focus on what she’s telling me. The fountain pen exhibition. The Spring campaign. The media coverage. All the things I’m supposed to be helping coordinate.
‘This is all so sudden, but I just had to persuade Veil to move our campaign to Foxtown, and it’s all because of my friend Joy. When she told me about how successful their Valentine campaign was, I just knew we had to hold our launch here.’
The way her eyes sparkle as she talks about her family business makes her look decades younger.
‘Fountain pens and love letters, spring blooms and fresh beginnings. It all ties up, doesn’t it?’
Yes, it does...but it’s also exactly the opposite of what’s happened to my relationship, and so it takes more effort than usual to muster a smile that would match her enthusiasm.‘It sounds beautiful.’
‘I think so too.’She pauses, then adds,‘And Foxtown is...special. You’ll see. They’ve done remarkable work with accessibility. The whole park is designed to be inclusive—ramps that blend into the cobblestones, Braille on all the plaques, ASL interpreters for events.’
The picture her words paint has my pain gradually fading, and I find myself impulsively signing,My mother would love this place.
Lady Hampton’s expression softens.‘She’s Deaf too, isn’t she? I saw it in your application—your ASL certification.’
‘Yes. She’s a social worker. In South Africa right now.’
‘South Africa?’Lady Hampton looks genuinely interested.‘What kind of work?’
‘Community development. She’s been there for two years. Working with—’How do I explain this?‘She says she sees people with nothing who still have everything that matters. She writes me letters every Sunday. With a fountain pen.’
