CHAPTER 14
Nick
“Angeliki, do you mind watching Sophia for a little while longer? I think I might need a few hours to myself?”
“Oh, Nick. Things didn’t go as planned?”
“Unfortunately not, but tomorrow is a new day. This afternoon I’ll book my schedule full for the next few months and try to focus on work…to do something productive. It’s the only way.”
“I’m sorry, Nick. I know how much you wanted this to work out.”
“Another Greek tragedy, huh? It’s what we do best.”
“Well I’m glad to see you still have your sense of humor. Take your time getting back. Sophia and I are having a great time. She’s asking about Jackie though…a lot. Should I break the news to her?”
“No, please allow me. It’s my responsibility. I need to sit down with her and explain everything. She will understand some of it, but some of it won’t make sense. She’s very innocent and simple and thinks that love conquers all. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work that way.”
“You really did love her, didn’t you?”
“I’m sorry, Angeliki. I have to go.”
I hang up the phone and stiffen my jaw. I will not allow myself to experience this pain. I have nothing but incredible memories of this past week. I need to focus on those and not what could have been, should have been, but what never will be.
I pull up the airport’s website and look at the departure schedule. Two more planes and she’s gone.
I pop the trunk and turn on the old shortwave radio I got as a kid. I saved up all summer to purchase it. It allowed me to listen to the planes communicate with the tower. At the time I thought it was the most incredible thing in the world. Today it will be the most devastating.
I sit in the grass and watch as the two planes in front of her taxi and take off.
There’s a gap that seems like forever for the next flight to go, but finally I hear those words come over the radio.
“Air France flight 1033 to Charles de Gaulle you are cleared for takeoff.”
I look down at my phone at the airport’s page to confirm that it’s her plane. It is. I set the phone down and stand, preparing to wave.
I watch as the plane begins picking up speed and finally the front wheel comes up and then the last. I know the passengers chest have sunk in their stomachs right now due to the take off. Mine has done the same except it was because of the descent…my own personal descent.
I stand tall and wave in big motions one last time. I haven’t waved at a plane since I was a child. I smile at how my life has come full circle here at the airport, but it’s different. I used to waive goodbye to strangers. Today I wave goodbye to my biggest love and now my biggest heartbreak.
I continue waving hoping she can see me. Hoping she can have this one final memory in the chapter of our story which was written here.
“People are gonna think you’re crazy if you stand out here waving at airplanes all day.”
I turn! It isn’t! It is!
I run to her and scoop her up in my arms and kiss her hungrily as she kisses me.
“But you’re on that plane?”
“I couldn’t. I took a cab back this way. Had him drop me off just up the road so I could walk the last bit.”
“You’re here to stay?”
“If you’ll have me.”
“If I’ll have you?”
I set her down and get down on one knee.
I open the small black box and watch as her eyes open just as wide. “Will you marry me?” I ask. I don’t need any more words than that.
“Oh my god. Yes!” she says.
I slide the ring on her finger and hug her so tight and lift her feet off the ground.
I spin us in circles until we fall down onto the blanket.
“I always preferred helicopter rides to airplane rides,” she says.
“You have been on a helicopter before?” I ask, still with my head in the clouds from the surprise and joy from what’s happened.
She laughs. “Not a real one, just the pretend one as a kid. Watch, I’ll show you.”
A few seconds later I’m laying down on my back with my feet in the air. She’s holding my hands and balancing her body on my feet.
“That’s an airplane ride. For the helicopter ride you have to spin your feet without dropping me.”
“I’ll try,” I say.
I get her one revolution around and sure enough we lose our balance sending her right into my arms.
She brings her body into mine and we look up as the next plane departs.
It’s just the same as when I was a kid, but different.
Now I get to watch them go while my girl stays. My girl. My lover. My best friend. And soon to be my wife.