With one last look around the area, hoping against hope that she'd spot Lucien, Jean finally climbed the steps onto the bus bound for Adelaide. It was time to admit that he wasn't coming, that she may well have seen him for the last time.
Oh, she knew he was busy, consumed even by the case that he was certain had a link to his mother's death. She understood that. Just one of the things she loved about him was his passion and the way he threw himself into getting to the truth, finding justice for those who needed it.
She'd only ever wanted a little of that attention for herself. When he'd shown up at her hotel with the scones he'd made, she thought that might be his way of telling her what she meant to him. After all, he'd actually paid attention when she'd told him she didn't like the ones at the hotel. But then he'd spent the whole time with her picking her brain about the case. Was that what he valued about her?
She supposed it was better that he valued her for her mind than for her vacuuming or dish washing skills, but she wanted more. She wanted to be valued for who she was. All of her. The way she valued him. The way she loved him.
When he'd caught up with her outside the house, she'd been ready to tell him how she felt if he'd shown any indication that he felt the same way, but he'd been almost tongue-tied as he tried to explain himself. Certainly that was uncharacteristic of the usually glib man, but it wasn't enough. All she'd wanted was just a glimpse, something to indicate how he felt. No grand gesture required, just anything substantial.
But now it was too late. She was on her way to Adelaide and out of his life. She'd made up her mind this was what she wanted. No one had forced her into it, after all. She was on her way to her family. And yet it felt distinctly like she was leaving her family behind. She already missed them all, but him in particular. It was going to be a long, lonely bus ride.
She settled into her seat, thinking she'd just watch the scenery go past for a while before she tried to concentrate on the book she'd brought along. Very abruptly though the scenery stopped short as the bus came to a halt, and they weren't even out of Ballarat.
Jean looked up to the front, wondering what was going on, when she saw the doors open. Suddenly there he was, seeming to fill the whole space up ahead as his eyes sought hers. Grand gesture indeed!
Her heart was racing as he held her gaze all the while he walked up the aisle toward her. She slid over to make room for him. He sat and immediately reached his hand out to take hers. She clasped his tightly, wanted nothing more than to hold on and assure herself he was real, that he had come just as she'd wanted so desperately.
"Jean," he began, but she cut him off. There would be plenty of time for them to talk, but right now she just wanted to enjoy his presence. He seemed to understand as he put his arm around her and she leaned into him. This, this, was all she needed to know.
Well, I love you so much that it's all I can do
Just to keep myself from telling you
That I've never felt so alone before