Euro Tripped
Page 52
She filled the glasses to the top and slid one into my hand, “drink,” she encouraged.
So I did, maybe too much, it was needed and I stared into the golden liquid. “How are they?”
From across my own table, in my own flat, the only girl I ever loved told me the news. “They’re well, very well. Happy. Business is good. I’ve been taking an average of two tours every day and teaching dance in town during the evenings. Oh,” she brought out her phone and flicked through the images, “here’s Marco.”
“Awe.” There was an uncomfortable gap between us and I had to lean over to see the image of Dayna, Alessia and Marco at the age of three. He was a beautiful, chubby little boy with dark hair and a big smile.
“I truly miss them … everything.”
“You have your life here now.” She regretted saying that the moment the words left her mouth because the insinuation was, as if I didn’t already know it, that she’d soon be leaving again, and what then for me?
I exhaled deeply and the moderate gap between us suddenly seemed so much larger. “Arwen, why are you here?” It was finally hitting me as the emotions of having this girl arrive out of the blue were taking their inevitable effects and I jumped in, cutting her off before she could reply. “I can’t … I’m sorry, but I can’t go through this all over again with you.”
She thumped the table, making me jump. “Frey, I’m not playing hard to get here and neither am I messing you about. I just drove that stupid camper all the way from Tuscany, just to find you.”
“Yes,” I sobbed, “but you’ll leave again and I’ll be left shattered and broken all over again and I just can’t go through it any more…”
She’d been delving through the inside pocket of her coat and suddenly slammed a small brown packet down on the table, which cut me off. “There!”
I didn’t move, just remained still because whatever it was could only disappoint me or worse.
“Open it!” She demanded, her smile long gone.
“What … what is it?”
“Why don’t you open it and find out.”
I was almost too afraid but couldn’t stop myself regardless and I reached forward, plucked up the packet, its weight and feel giving nothing away, and ripped it apart.
And felt the euphoria rush through me.
“It took a long time and if only you knew the hoops I had to jump through to obtain this.” Her arm moved softly around my body. “So stop blubbering and let’s celebrate.”
I read the text aloud, lest I was unable to believe the words, “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” and then beneath the coat of arms, “Passport,” with its new blue design in all its glory. “You’re British?”
“Hey, careful,” her hand squeezed my arm but she kissed me apologetically on the cheek, “I’ll always be Australian, just don’t tell the authorities about my true allegiances.”
I spluttered tears all over it and felt dizzy again. “But … but you have work, you work in…”
“Not anymore.”
I gaped at her, still not fully comprehending it all, the risks she’d taken in doing all this without any guarantees she’d find me, that I’d be single when she did or that I’d even be open to it.
“Frey, speak to me.”
“I … I…”
“Frey, you’d better not tell me I’ve wasted my time.”
I shook my head, “no, you most definitely haven’t.” Was this truly happening?
She laughed with relief and wiped her forehead in an exaggerated way. “Well, that’s a big bloody load off my shoulders.” She moved her seat closer, enveloped me in her arms and held her forehead against mine. “I’ve missed you so much and I want you to know that I never stopped loving you.”
My hands were still shaking as they gripped that little blue book and I put all of my being into feeling her body against mine. “I never stopped loving you either.”
I don’t know for how long we stayed like this but Arwen had come home and that was all that mattered.
“So tell me,” she finally whispered, “am I sleeping on the couch tonight?”
I shook my head, “nuh uh.”
I felt a small vibration from her body and then she took my hand and led me to our room.
If you’d like to find out how Dayna and Alessia met, you can read their story in My Summer Romance. Receive a FREE copy of My Summer Romance when you sign up for the Sally Bryan newsletter.
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