Chapter 35

Thirty-Five

LUCY

BEEP…BEEP…BEEP .

With one eye open, I feel around until I find the button to silence my alarm clock. I’m still not recovered from yesterday, and I’m certainly not ready to take on today.

I suppose yesterday could have gone worse, but it certainly doesn’t compare to the prior days I’ve spent with Henry.

When we arrive back in the city, we stop at my apartment to get lunch and check the flight schedule. After tons of double and triple checking the air carriers, we realize we missed the only flight directly to the Syracuse airport today. There is an option for a flight with three layovers and it would take almost as long for him to arrive if he just took the flight that leaves this afternoon. As much frustration as he’s causing me, I don’t want to subject anyone to spending that much time in airports and on planes on Christmas Day.

However, there was a line. Just because I have been kind about the flight doesn’t mean I want to spend Christmas Eve with John. I’d rather spend it alone in my apartment, and that’s exactly what I do .

The only hotel that still has rooms also has their restaurant open, and we are able to have dinner before I return to my place. Not that I want to eat with him, but all the other restaurants are closed, and I don’t have much to eat in my apartment.

After dinner, we say our goodbyes, I hand John one of the room keys.

“Keeping the other in case you get lonely?” John asks.

I roll my eyes, “Not in a million years. I doubt my phone battery will survive the night. I won’t be able to call and make sure you’re up in the morning.”

“I can get to the airport myself, no need for you to come.” His tone is deflated.

Could he finally be conceding?

“I would prefer to watch you step onto the plane myself, but since I can’t get through security, I’m at least going to get you to the airport.”

He shakes his head and hits the button for the elevator.

“Good night.”

I turn to leave and hear him yell behind me, “Merry Christmas!”

After a quick shower, I dress and check my phone once more. It’s dead, not turning back on.

I was only able to get a couple of texts to Henry and then a call to him before bed. Not only did I leave my charger at Henry’s house, but I forgot to charge the phone the night before. I suppose that’s Henry’s fault for…distracting me…in the best possible way.

I totally forgive him .

With my coat wrapped tightly around me, I start my walk to John’s hotel, looking for an open shop that could sell a charger.

Christmas morning in London is absolutely beautiful. How I wish my phone had some power left to take photos. With the streets almost empty, there wouldn’t be anyone to feel annoyed with my tourist behavior. No luck with the shops, and the chilly weather is getting the best of me. I finally grab a cab to drop me off in front of John’s hotel.

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 unexpected arrival 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.”

He smirks and shakes his head. He opens his arms for a hug, and I give in one last time. I watch as John crosses through security and walks to the gates.

I turn toward the exit but only make it a couple steps when I hear someone calling my name. “LUCY! LUCY!”

It’s John yelling and waving at me from his side of the security gate. As I walk toward him, John hands something to a guard and points to me. The guard catches up to me and hands me a white box. I look down, and it’s a charger for my phone.

I look up to find John and yell, “Thank you!”

He replies, “Merry Christmas!” And turns back to his gate.

Bursting through my apartment door, before I even take my coat off, I run to the nearest outlet in my kitchen and plug the phone in to charge. When it doesn’t immediately come back to life, I decide to take a quick shower. It’s the perfect opportunity to wash off all the nonsense from John and get refreshed for what’s to come when I return to Henry’s home.

Still contemplating my next move, I decide to let my phone charge a little longer while I put on something comfortable. On my way to heat up some soup, my phone rings, and I rush over, hoping it’s Henry but disappointed it’s not. It’s Ellie.

“Hello! Merry Christmas,” I answer.

“What is going on? Your mother just told me you called her from John’s phone because he came to London to be with you. How long has the parasite been in the UK? And why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

This is going to be a long conversation, so before I get into it all, I ask, “Can you hold on a minute.” I pull my phone from my face to send Henry a quick text.

Lucy

Merry Christmas! All is well, John is on his flight, and I was able to find a charger. I’m back at my apartment. Will call you later.

Before I get into it with Ellie, she hands the phone to my mom again, and I wish her and Ellie’s parents a Merry Christmas.

Then for the next two hours, while making and enjoying my soup, I share almost every minute since John’s arrival with Ellie. Yet, I keep the details of my spicy night with Henry from retelling. I like having that memory all to myself.

After we finally hang up, I notice a text from Henry.

Henry

Well, that is some very good news. Get some rest and we will catch up tomorrow. Happy Christmas, Lucy.

As much as I’d like to talk with Henry, I’m drained from the past two days. I make my way into bed and finally feel like the weight of having my ex here has been lifted.

Tomorrow is a new day with endless potential.