Chapter 12 - Six Weeks
Arthur made no attempt to change Rachel's mind.
That became harder each day.
Emily had become woven into his routine.
Saturday pancakes.
Calls about homework.
Arguments over whether Pluto deserved to be a planet.
Rachel had become equally important, though Arthur had avoided naming what he felt.
Julia noticed.
“You love her.”
Arthur nearly spilled his coffee.
“Rachel?”
“No, Emily's third-grade teacher.”
Arthur frowned.
Julia laughed.
“Yes, Rachel.”
Arthur looked away.
“She's thirty years younger than I am.”
“Twenty-nine.”
“That correction is not helpful.”
“She makes you happy.”
“She has a career.”
“So?”
“She has a daughter.”
“So?”
“She is moving to Chicago.”
Julia leaned forward.
“Dad, I'm not telling you to stop her.”
“Then what are you telling me?”
“Tell her the truth.”
Arthur hated how familiar that lesson had become.
The night before Rachel's farewell dinner, he walked past the spot outside Vance Tower where Emily had waited.
It was cold again.
Not raining.
He remembered the small figure protecting his wallet.
How absurd it seemed now that he had thought the important thing she returned was leather, cash and credit cards.
She had returned something else.
Attention.
She had forced Arthur to look.
At Rachel.
At Julia.
At his company.
At himself.
At the farewell dinner, Arthur waited until Emily disappeared with Julia to choose dessert.
Then he spoke.
“I need to tell you something.”
Rachel smiled nervously.
“That sounds ominous.”
“I don't want you to go.”
Her smile faded.
Arthur continued before fear could stop him.
“But I want you to take the job.”
Rachel watched him.
“I've spent my entire life confusing love with possession.”
“Arthur—”
“I love you.”
Silence.
There.
The words existed now.
He could not take them back.
Rachel's eyes filled.
Arthur forced himself to continue.
“You don't owe me an answer. You don't owe me anything. I just didn't want you to leave without knowing.”
Rachel reached across the table.
She took his hand.
“I love you too.”
Arthur stopped breathing.
“But I'm still taking the job.”
He laughed.
“I know.”
“I'm serious.”
“So am I.”
She squeezed his hand.
“We'll figure out what it means.”
Arthur nodded.
For once, uncertainty did not frighten him.
Emily returned carrying three slices of cake.
“Why are you both crying?”
Rachel wiped her eyes.
“Arthur said something nice.”
Emily stared at him suspiciously.
“Are you sick?”
Julia burst out laughing.
Six weeks later, Arthur and Julia stood at the airport.
Emily hugged Arthur so tightly his scarf twisted.
“You have to visit.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Rachel approached.
No dramatic speech.
No cinematic kiss.
Just a long embrace.
“Call me when you land,” Arthur said.
“You know I'm the one flying?”
“I know.”
“So technically you should call me after I land.”
Arthur smiled.
“I'm new at this.”
Rachel kissed his cheek.
“You're learning.”
Arthur watched them disappear through security.
His chest hurt.
But it was not the old emptiness.
May you like
This pain had love inside it.
And that made all the difference.
