“Find out how to make decisions for yourself. If you can, make up with Missy. I don’t think you’ll ever be truly happy without her friendship. You two need to learn how to be friends without being so ... what’s the word I’m looking for ... enmeshed.”
“Hey, I’m the psychologist. How do you know about enmeshment?”
“From ACOA. Adult Children of Alcoholics. My mom is a recovering alcoholic.”
“I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine now. She’s been sober for about five years.”
“I’m glad.” I squeezed his thigh without thinking about it, and he gazed at me with arousal.
“Are you willing to do this?”
“Yes. When and where?” I responded without a moment’s hesitation.
He chuckled. “Let’s say three months.”
“At my brother’s annual Halloween party,” I added.
“We should keep our time together in Israel under wraps if possible. If you talk to Alison and Hannah, I’ll talk to David. Tell them ... What should we say?”
“The truth. We’ll tell them the truth about the deal I have with NBC.”
“We need to keep it from everyone else. Especially your brother.”
I felt hopeful for the first time since our dreadful conversation in Israel.
“We won’t communicate until the party. No phone calls, emails, texts, Facebooking, Twittering ...”
“I get it, Sara,” he laughed.
“And if one of us doesn’t show ...” I started.
“Then we won’t bother the other one about it if we run into each other. Besides, we wouldn’t know if the other one actually showed, would we?”
It took a minute for me to wrap my mind around it before I understood, then I nodded.
“We also need to agree not to get hit by a car or have some sort of accident which keeps us from the party, like in the movie. If we do have an accident, we’ll tell the other one and not play the martyr. Deal?” I offered my hand to shake.
“Deal.” He ignored my hand and kissed me instead. The plane touched down before I had a panic attack from my fear of flying. Adam was a perfect distraction.
We landed in New York and found Alison, Hannah, and David at baggage claim. While Adam spoke with David, I filled in my new friends about my marriage predicament.
“I knew you looked familiar. I watched your interview on the Morning show.” Hannah pulled me into a big hug. “Of course we’ll keep your secret.”
“Let’s get together next weekend for a drink,” suggested Alison, and I felt relieved I had made two new friends I could count on.
“I can’t wait.” I grabbed my luggage.
Luckily, Alison and Hannah were on my flight back to Michigan. We agreed to have dinner before boarding the plane.
Unfortunately, Adam’s flight left in less than an hour and we had run out of time.
He patted David on the back and returned to my side. Not caring Alison and Hannah remained by me, he grabbed me for a kiss. A kiss to end all kisses, it was a kiss for the ages comparable to the great kisses seen in From Here to Eternity and Gone with the Wind. He bent me backwards, leaning me over his arm and made love to my mouth in front of everyone. The kiss left me breathless and horny. He didn’t want me to forget him.
As if I could.
“I love you,” he whispered in my ear. Before I could return the sentiment, he walked away, taking my heart with him.
My fear of flying returned without Adam’s comforting presence. Thankfully, I had no one sitting next to me. I could grip the armrest safe in the knowledge I wasn’t digging my claws into an innocent old lady.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the inevitable conversation I needed to have with Caleb. I wished I had arranged for my mom to pick me up, but when I left, I’d assumed I’d return to Caleb, ready to say yes to his marriage proposal.
Part of me wanted to wait one more day before ending my relationship with Caleb. Physically and emotionally exhausted, I wanted to climb into my own bed and throw the covers over my head for twelve hours.
Hannah, Alison, and I slowly strolled to baggage claim, our last stop on our trip before returning to real life. The Michigan sun setting in the sky, and we agreed it paled in comparison to the Israeli sunset. For me, the Israeli sunset signaled my time to rest in Adam’s arms, while Michigan’s offered a lonely bed in an empty home.
Three months.
No Adam.
There at the baggage claim, Caleb waited for me.
I kissed my friends goodbye and made my way over to him, trying to keep my hands from shaking and trying to keep my eyes from revealing the truth.
Then suddenly, he held me in his arms, hugging me to his chest, smiling, and welcoming me home.