Chapter 24
The only sound in the whole hotel room was the metallic zip as Caitlyn closed her suitcase. There was a fog of sadness clouding around them as Nolan sat on the edge of the bed watching her, his brow furrowed, and his jaw tense. This was going to be their life together, stolen weekends, saying goodbye to each other when all they wanted was to hide away together.
"Leaving you is harder than I thought it would be." Caitlyn said standing in the space between his legs. All she wanted to do was climb back into the bed with him and hide out, just the two of them the only ones in the whole world.
"Its different this time though, its not the end, love." Nolan said holding on to her hands. "No broken hearts, and I'm always just a phone call away."
"I know, I know. This weekend was perfect, I guess I just don't want it to end." Caitlyn admitted with a shrug of her shoulders, the casual gesture at odds with the sadness lurking in her eyes.
"Let's make it a habit then. Hiding away from the world like this, just the two of us. That way I won't have to go too long without seeing ye." Nolan said still holding her hands in between their bodies.
"You want me to meet you where ever you are in the world when you have days off?" Caitlyn asked, thinking it didn't sound like a bad idea.
"Well, I know its not possible every time I have a day or two free. But yeah, I'd like that. It would mean more time I get to have ye in me arms." Nolan said, his voice sounding thick with emotion.
"Its a plan then. There's no where else I'd rather be than next to you." Caitlyn whispered leaning into Nolan until her head was resting on his shoulder.
"I've something for ye love." Nolan said reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He set it gently on Caitlyn's palm. "You left me with a gift last time, way I figure, its only right I send ye off with something now."
Looking down at the small flat square in her hands Caitlyn took a deep breath and pulled the lid back. Nestled inside was a necklace, a delicate silver chain holding a lovely little shamrock charm. Lifting it from the box Caitlyn held it out to Nolan to put it on her. With a small pleased smile Nolan reached around her neck and secured the tiny clasp, his eyes never leaving hers. "Thank you Nol, its really beautiful." Caitlyn said laying a hand on where the necklace rested against her skin.
"When yer missing me, remember that its laying close to yer heart, where I'll always be." Nolan said standing up and pulling Caitlyn in tight against his body.
He really had a way with words. As pretty as the necklace was, the meaning behind his gift meant so much more. Nodding her head Caitlyn pulled his face down to hers. "I love you Nolan." She said against his lips before she kissed him.
"I love ye too Caitlyn. He said pressing a kiss to her forehead, his arms still wrapped tightly around her.
There was a knock on the door, and they both flinched knowing it was Mags. Their time was officially up. Nolan walked them grudgingly out to the door and kissed her softly again. "Wish I could bring ye to the airport at least."
Reaching up and pressing a tiny kiss against his lips Caitlyn said, "I'll call you when I'm back home." Kissing him again.
"I'll." Kiss. "Miss." Kiss. "Ye." Kiss. "Love." Nolan said unable to stop himself from kissing her over and over again.
"Alright you two, for god's sake's, stop acting like this is the last time you'll see each other." Mags voice rang out from the other side of the door. "The car is waiting to take Caitlyn, and we have to get you to soundcheck Nolan."
Smiling against his mouth Caitlyn pulled away, "bye baby, love you." She said pulling the door open, revealing an impatient looking Mags.
"Remind me not to fall in love." Nolan's assistant said with a wink. "OK, Caitlyn I've emailed you Nolan's schedule, let me know if you have any questions, or if you need anything. Seriously, anything. All of my contact information is in there." She said giving Caitlyn a quick hug.
Caitlyn stepped out of Mags arms, heading away towards the elevator, and Nolan pulled her back for one more kiss. "Keep sleeping in me shirt love, I like knowing its on ye." He said close to her ear.
Nodding her head, and smiling Caitlyn stepped into the waiting elevator. Nolan stood there a sexy smirk on his face watching her while the doors closed. Caitlyn was still smiling as she strode from the elevator into the lobby. True to her word Mags had a car waiting to take her back to the airport. Sitting in the back seat Caitlyn watched as Chicago drifted past her window. It was a beautiful city, and she had been there a few times, but this one would always be her favorite. Even though she hadn't done a single thing outside that hotel room all weekend.
The flight crew was the same as before, and Caitlyn pulled out her computer and spent the short trip home working on her latest novel. Walking out to her car parked in the long term lot at the airport Caitlyn pulled her phone out of her pocket to let Nolan she made it safely. They only talked for a moment since he was right in the middle of doing his soundcheck. It sounded a little chaotic to her, but he seemed completely at ease. Caitlyn figured it was something a person got used to over time. The drive back home was thankfully a short one, without much traffic to contend with in the middle of the day.
By the time she needed to pick the boys up from school she had already washed and put away the laundry from her weekend, and couldn't wait to see them. Wyatt started the second phase of his drivers training, so it was just her and Mason on the way home. He chatted animatedly, filling her in on everything that happened all weekend. Bryan had taken the boys to see some new super hero action movie in the theaters, and Mason thought it was the best one he'd seen yet. That was quite high praise coming from the thirteen year old, since he had probably seen every movie in the whole genre.
They were almost home when Mason looked over at her, running a hand through his ginger hair, and mumbled, "so Dad was asking about who your boyfriend is yesterday. I told him that his name was Nolan, but that's it. When Dad asked more, Wyatt told him he should ask you because we haven't even met the guy yet. Dad didn't say anything else about it after that, but I could tell he was in a bad mood the rest of the night."
Mason made it sound like no big deal, but Caitlyn knew that he was glazing over it. "Mase, its probably strange for your Dad to think about me moving on." Mason nodded his head at her answer, his fingers fidgeting around in his lap.
"I don't get why though Mom? Dad goes on dates, it shouldn't bother him if you do. I think Wyatt's pissed at Dad about it." Mason said.
"Don't say pissed please." Caitlyn said without even thinking, the habit so ingrained in her. "Jealousy doesn't always make sense, and this is the first time your Dad has been faced with my love life. He'll get over it. Wyatt is at that age where he and your Dad are going to butt heads often, don't worry too much about it. OK?" Mason shrugged a shoulder up. Feeling like she could easily pummel her ex husband in that moment she locked it down, and asked as they walked into the house, "what are you in the mood to have for dinner?"
Mason stayed home playing video games two hours later when she drove back to pick Wyatt up from drivers education. He didn't seem to upset to her, but Wyatt was better at concealing his emotions than his younger brother was. "Wyatt, Mason said that Dad wasn't too happy that I have a man in my life now." Wyatt crossed his arms, but didn't say anything. "C'mon Wy, I can't fix it if you don't talk to me." She finally said.
"It shouldn't bother Dad that you have Nolan, he has loads of women. I don't see you flipping out about that. He can't have it both ways. You're not his wife anymore." Wyatt said, his voice sharp with frustration.
"You're right, I'm not. I'll take care of it." Caitlyn said, then changed the subject, asking him how training was going.
Later that night, after her sons had gone to bed Caitlyn shut her bedroom door and called Bryan. As soon as he answered the phone Caitlyn launched into her tirade. The words came bubbling rapidly up from where she had locked them that afternoon when Mason first told her. "What the ever loving hell is wrong with you Bryan? Grilling our sons like that? If you have pressing questions about what I'm doing with my life, then by all means pick up the phone and ask me your damn self! All you accomplished was pissing both boys off. Are you honestly trying to push them away?" Bryan tried to say something, but Caitlyn was on a roll, and didn't let him get a word in. "I don't ask them a million questions about the women in your bed when they come home. I trust that when someone is special enough to you that they're going to be in our sons lives then you will tell me! But since you don't seem to be adult enough to afford me the same courtesy I'll say this, he makes me happy. Really mind-fucking-blowingly happy! Nothing you have to say will change that Bryan. We got a divorce because you didn't see me anymore. It's too late for you to open your eyes and realize what you lost now. Do yourself a favor, and get over it." Finally taking a breath Caitlyn's skin felt burning hot. "Did you honestly think that I would never meet anyone ever again?"
"I don't know. I guess I never gave it much thought. Then all weekend it was all I could think about. I'll apologize to the boys. But that doesn't mean I'm happy about the rest." Bryan said stubbornly.
"The beauty of this is that how you feel about it doesn't matter at all. See that you call the boys tomorrow." She said ending the phone call.
Feeling too wound up to sleep she pulled out her computer and wrote until her eyes crossed and she couldn't focus on the letters appearing on the page anymore. Saving her work out of habit she closed her laptop and crawled beyond exhausted into her bed, asleep before her head even touched the pillow.
The days flew past, Caitlyn and Nolan talking on the phone as often as they could, and texting frequently. Wyatt and Mason finished their soccer seasons as the days shortened and autumn painted West Michigan in hues of warmth. Caitlyn was about halfway through writing her book and she felt like her skin was going to wither away and blow off her bones if she didn't see Nolan soon. It had only been a few weeks, but she missed him with a ferocity that made her time spent away from him feel as if it were stretched out endlessly. Pulling up the email from Mags she had already read a dozen times, each time hoping to discover something new. Nolan's schedule was pretty jam packed all of October leading up to Thanksgiving. He was off the last two weeks of November, but that was still a month away. Exiting out of her email and standing up in frustration she started pacing the length of her office in the large finished basement. She had a view to the back yard that usually relaxed her when she actually worked in there. Seeing the colorful leaves out the window as she prowled around the room she got an idea.
Sitting back down at her desk she logged back into her email account.
Mags,
Hey! I was wondering if you could help me surprise Nolan? My children are supposed to go with their Dad this weekend. I know that he has a show, but I thought, well I've never seen him play live. And I can pack up my laptop and work anywhere really. What do you think? Please tell me that its doable, I really miss him. I'm going out of mind here. Thanks a bunch!!
~Caitlyn
Hitting send she picked up her computer and walked out of her office and up the stairs. Setting her laptop on the counter she fixed herself some lunch. Caitlyn forced herself stay away from her inbox until after her meal was finished. Rinsing her plate and setting it in the dishwasher she finally pulled up her email account. It had only been about twenty minutes since she wrote Mags, but the suspense was already killing her. That was a reply waiting for her already, and she thanked her lucky stars for that woman's beautiful efficiency.
Caitlyn,
That sounds like fun! Nolan has a show in LA on Friday night, and San Francisco on Saturday. He'll be flying up for the show Saturday, but staying at his house for the weekend. Let me get you booked on a flight Friday. I'll send you all the details. I like the way your mind works! And FYI, he has been missing you a lot too, moping about and bugging me. So this is perfect. See you Friday!
Mags
Jumping up from her stool excitedly Caitlyn did a happy dance. She was going to get to see Nolan this weekend. Running into her room she pulled out her suitcase, thinking it was getting an awful lot of use these days, and the anticipation racing deliciously through her veins she began packing.