“Hey now, don’t pressure him, Christine,” Tony said. Turning to Jake, he put out his hand and Jake took it. They shook firmly. “You’re a good man.”
“You too, sir. And Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year indeed. Now get going. Don’t want you to miss your flight.” Tony and Christine wrapped their arms around one another, ignoring the cold, and watched them drive away.
“Well...” Christine said.
“Yep. I know,” he said. “I know.”
AS THEY EXITEDthe Staten Island Expressway, Jake let out the breath he’d been holding. “You are the classic New York driver,” he said. “I’d have given you four tickets by now.”
“Oh yeah? Hold on then.” She stepped on the gas and merged within inches of two cars.
Jake grabbed his stomach with both hands and groaned. “Don’t do that. I’m so full. I won’t eat for days.”
“Told you that you didn’t have to eat all of that.”
“How could I refuse,” he said. “I felt like I was being hazed.”
“Well, they loved you,” she said.
“They did?” he asked.
“Yes. They love you more than me now.”
“Well, I really liked seeing how you were raised. That’s a tough house—but a loving one. I had a great time. You have a wonderful family.” He reached for her hand, and she gave it to him. They rode the rest of the way in silence, dreading the next step.
An hour later at LaGuardia, Mary parked the car and went into the terminal with Jake.
“Wow. I’ve never done this before,” Mary said.
“What, tried a long-distance relationship?”
“Well, yes, that.” She half-smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood. She was rattled about having to say goodbye to him. “But usually I don’t even park—I just shove people out while the car’s still rolling. I don’t like to get yelled at by security.”
“I’m grateful to have some last moment with you instead of being tossed out at Departures,” Jake said.
She cocked her head and raised one brow, a catch in her throat preventing her from answering. Instead, to fill the silence, he reached for her to put an arm around her. They walked slowly with their legs pressed tightly together, Jake nearly holding her up with one arm while shouldering his backpack and wheeling his overnight bag with the other. She matched his stride until at security, losing her composure, she wrapped her arms around his strong torso and turned her cheek to press against him as strongly as possible. Neither of them needed to say anything—their energy passed back and forth, speaking volumes.
They embraced for a long time.
“It’s like in the movies,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.
“But better than the movies. Because it’s real,” he said.
“But how does it end?”
“Maybe it doesn’t end,” he murmured, his lips hovering just above hers long enough to make her breath catch. Impatient for the kiss, she tugged him closer to her. Then he bent his head to reach her lips “I’ll miss you, Mary.” His whispered words made her shiver.
She nodded into his chest. “I’ll miss you, too.”
“But it’s just three weeks until I’m back,” he said.
“I’ll be here,” she said. They lingered in a hug for a long couple of minutes before she couldn’t take it anymore. “Go. Or I’ll chain myself to your carry-on.”
Slowly, they disentangled, and Jake walked backward into the security line for a few steps before he turned around. He looked back a few times. When he could no longer see her, he stared straight ahead.
As he cleared the metal detector, he saw a poster that caught his eye.