Part 4
Wednesday, 2:30 pm
"Hello? Bella?"
"Ham! Where are you? I can barely hear you!"
"I'm the airport right now…my flight takes off at 3:15. I have a layover in Boston and I thought it would be nice if we could meet up. I haven't seen you in months!"
"Yes! That would be awesome! What time you getting in to Logan?"
"12:15. Flight 524—Western Airlines."
"Got it. I'll be there."
"All right…I'll see ya later."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Goodbye Phoenix." Hamilton looked out the window of the plane as it headed down the taxiway. He had been living there since returning from Australia three months ago. Hamilton had been there on assignment, traveling the continent for two months, doing what he did best—taking pictures. That had been the last assignment the magazine had sent him on. It was upon his return that Hamilton quit and decided to settle in Arizona. It was the Grand Canyon State after all, filled with natural wonders and beautiful dessert. It gave him a sense of tranquillity and security that he hadn't felt in a long while. He'd grown tired of the constant travel his job required and the lack of contact he had with his friends and family—especially Jake, the one person in the world that mattered to him.
As the plane took off, Hamilton recalled what had happened two years ago. "Go to Africa Hamilton" was a phrase that constantly replayed in his mind. For a long time, he used it as justification for what he had done to her. He left her, a week before their wedding, for a dream that turned out to be less than that. At the time, he thought that it was the most important thing on earth—more important than Jake. He let her go to follow it and in the process lost the girl that had given him those dreams and the strength to pursue them. When she walked out that day, he had the impulse to run after, but he didn't. Instead, he went up, packed his things, and waited for her to come home. She never did, so Hamilton left. He got on the next train to Boston, made his way to Rawley and broke the news to his parents. They were devastated, numbed by the fact that the wedding was off—indefinitely.
The night before Hamilton left for Africa, Kate Fleming went to her son's room to find him in tears. She sat on the bed next to him, where Hamilton lay. She ran her fingers through his hair repeatedly, as she used to when he was a child and needed comfort. That was years ago, however, and it had been a long time since she had seen her son in such a state. He grinned slightly and held her free hand.
"Munchie, you'll get through this. I promise"
The sound of his old nickname caused him to roll his eyes and smile a little bit more. " I don't know Mom. I don't know."
"You will. I know you Hamilton. You're strong. You can make it."
Hamilton got up. He looked at his mother. "I've made a mistake and I know it. But still, I can't go back. I've been waiting for this for as long as I can remember."
"Yes you have," she answered. " Your father and I only want what's best for you. Whatever makes you happy. We'll stand by you no matter what. So, if you want to pursue this, then by all means, go. But if you still want to marry Jake, then you should."
" I love her Mom. I just don't know if I'm ready for that. I thought I was, but when I got this offer it was just like—I dunno, it just didn't seem like marrying Jake was what was most important. We've been together a long time, but if we truly love each other then a few months or another year won't make a difference."
"I understand," Kate told her son. However, she also understood how Jake felt. After nearly a decade together, Jake was ready for it. Willing to make sacrifices to be with Hamilton and to Jake, it probably seemed like he wasn't willing to make any. She wished that they could work things out, but it was up to them, not to her. Her son's happiness was her only concern and if that meant leaving it all behind, then so be it.
"You should get some rest, Munchie."
"Mom!"
"I know, I know. But can I help it? You may be 24 but to me, you're still my little boy." She kissed him on the cheek and headed for the door. "I love you," his mother professed before leaving.
" I love you too. G'night."
end flashback
Hamilton was exhausted. While he was apprehensive about seeing Jake again, he was also excited. Excited to see her face and hold her in his arms and tell her that he loved her. However, he was scared—scared of how she'd react? It had been a long time and maybe…she wasn't the same. Maybe she didn't love him anymore. Though Hamilton didn't want to admit it as a possibility, he had to. He had to prepare himself for the worst, even though he wanted to anticipate the best. Despite the multitude of thoughts and emotions that ran through his head, leaning back in his seat, he dozed off.
"Jake! Jake!"
Hamilton walked through the door of the apartment. The furniture had not been moved, the pictures maintained their positions on the wall, the smell of the apartment—though indescribable, still lingered.
Seeing a single light illuminating the living room, he ventured towards it. Once he made it in, he saw her there, standing by the window, her back to him. The moonlight shone in through the glass and shadowed her figure on the floor. Quietly, he shifted in her direction, his eyes never wavering from her.
Upon reaching Jake, he placed his hand on her shoulder and into her ear whispered "I'm here."
She circled and faced him, leaving centimeters between his lips and hers. Looking into his irresistible stare, answered "Hamilton."
For a moment, their lips met. It was simple and soft, yet filled with passion and love. It left him breathless. "You don't know how long I've waited to do that. To kiss you. To be with you again." As he said this, he took her in his arms, and reveled in feeling her heart beat with his. It was as if nothing had changed. As if time had done nothing to their love.
Jake closed her eyes. It felt so good to be near him, but something wasn't right. Although she wanted the moment to go on into eternity, she released herself from his clutch. There was something she had to tell him and to keep the truth from him would be unfair—to him and to her.
Alarmed by her action, Hamilton stepped forward only to have Jake take one back. At last, she fixed her eyes on his, and spoke.
"Hamilton, there's…there's something I have to say…"
"What is it Jake? Are you still mad at me? I'm so sorry baby. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I promise, no matter what it takes, I will make it up to you."
"No that's not it," replied Jake. "I have no doubt that you're sorry and I forgive you but…I'm the one who should be sorry."
He was baffled. "Jake what are you taking about? All of this…" extending his arms in a T "…is my fault. Jake, I'm the one who did this. I'm the one who walked away. Not you. This isn't your fault in any way."
"Let me finish Hamilton! It's just that…well…I don't love you. I'm in love with someone else."
Hamilton felt his heart drop to the floor. He heard what she said, but it didn't make any sense. He was positive that he and Jake were meant for each other. That what they had was true love.
"I don't understand. H-how can you say that? What do you mean?" his eyes swelling with liquid.
"I am so sorry. But it's true. I love someone else Hamilton." Now she approached him, his feet planted firmly on the floor. "You've been gone…a really long time. And I thought that you weren't coming back. Things have changed. I've changed. I'm not that person I was two years ago. When you left, the world around me just stopped. I had to learn to live, to keep going even though you weren't there. When I finally did, I was able to love again."
Holding back his tears, Hamilton said, "But I still love you Jake…Jacqueline…I love you." Unable to control himself, a tear escaped him.
She kissed him on the cheek and using her thumb, cleared the streak from him. "I am sorry Hamilton. There's nothing you can do." His blue eyes, endless as the sea, met her green haze for a moment.
"Goodbye," uttered Jake, her bottom lip quivering.
With that, she moved past him and walked towards the door. Hamilton stood in disbelief as he watched her leave, knowing that nothing he could say or do would make her stay. Soon, her figure disappeared and the door shut behind her.
"Jake!" Hamilton said fairly loud. He opened his eyes to find his surroundings much different from the one that he had been in just seconds before.
Hamilton turned his face at the sound of a sweet, old woman's voice. "Are you all right dear?"
He studied the woman for a minute, noting how much she resembled his own grandmother. Her face was full of wrinkles, but her eyes were a striking blue—much like his own. Her wispy white hair was short and wavy, tucked behind her ears.
"Are you all right?" she asked again observing Hamilton's face. "You must have been dreaming."
Remembering now, he retorted, "Yes, I was. Did I bother you?"
"Oh no. But something is obviously bothering you. Is there anyway I can help?"
He hesitated, then acknowledged that perhaps, she really could help him. After all, she was at least eighty years old and full of life experience. So he began his story. He relayed the dream to her and then the circumstances that enveloped them. She was intrigued and listened patiently as Hamilton expressed himself.
Nearly an hour after they started, Hamilton concluded by stating, "And that's why I'm going to New York. To get her back. To make her love me again. I know that I might be putting myself up for a big disappointment, but I have to try. I love her."
"If there's one thing I've learned in my life it's this: Love is not finding someone to live with. It is finding some you cannot live without." She smiled at this and he returned it with a smile of his own. "Now if you love Jacqueline, then don't let her go. If you know in your heart of hearts that she is the one for you, then tell her. The reason you're afraid to tell her that you still love her is that you're afraid you'll still lose her. That's just a risk you're going to have to take."
He knew that she was right. He had to tell her. Even if it meant that she might not feel the same way. He owed to her—and to himself.
"And I'm going to."
"That's what I wanted to hear."
Just then, an announcement came from the pilot that they were near their destination. Within fifteen minutes, they were making their final decent towards Boston. Hamilton looked out the window to see the twinkling lights of the city and trail of tiny glows moving along the highway.
The plane landed with a much smoother touchdown than usual—or so it seemed. Possibly, it was just that Hamilton was accustomed to flying. Upon arrival at the gate, Hamilton got out into the aisle and aided the old woman with her bags. Having been seated close to the exit, they were one of the first to get off of the plane and into the hub. When they reached the end of the pathway, Bella was standing there waiting for him. But before he greeted her, he made his farewell to the kind stranger.
"Thank you ma'am. You've helped a lot."
She grinned sweetly at him. "I just hope everything works out for you…and your Jacqueline."
Giving her a hug, he added, "Me too."
No one was there to meet her, which Hamilton thought was quite sad, but she was not bothered. Happily, she carried her bags away and made her way to the pick-up area.
Bella and Hamilton hugged as if seeing each other for the first time in decades. "Hey good looking!"
"Not so bad yourself," he remarked still in her grasp.
Pulling away, the old friends smiled at each other. "Who was that?" Bella asked, clearly about the elderly woman.
"Oh she uhh…sat next to me on the flight. Helped me to figure out some things."
"Free therapy huh? They really mean it when they say 'flying the friendly skies.' "
"Yeah. I guess they do."
"Come on…let's get you're stuff and get out of here."