Susan managed a strong face that morning. She tried to keep her focus on getting to the station, then work, on time. It'd be the first time all week. She helped him pack, made him breakfast, and tried not to think about saying goodbye. She could jump that hurdle, or try, when she got to it. Plus if she was going to botch it then beginning the botching early wasn't going to help matters. She made them breakfast, Chloe called a cab, got Suzie ready and all four of them went to the station.
Mark waved goodbye to Suzie, gave Chloe a quick hug and didn't even try to make a clean cut with Susan. He knew this wasn't going to be a quick and easy goodbye. He didn't want to pretend.
Susan pulled his scarf tight – autumn had arrived. She even allowed a quick hug. But then he didn't let go. He held her tight, just like she really wanted. So she held him back – tighter even…
The announcer called his train and they both knew it. Susan didn't let go.
"You're going to have to let you go." He nudged and they parted.
"I'm not letting you go." She held his arms and kissed him soundly. "Just for a little while."
He gave her another quick hug. "I love you. And I'll be back – just have to practise kissing executive assif i want more holidays. I could get some lessons off Weaver. Whatever it takes." He grinned and kissed her.
"Bye." She swallowed and clenched her jaw to keep back the tears until he was gone. Crying wouldn't be fair – this was hard enough on him as it was. She saw his eyes were brimming and closed her eyes for one more kiss, trying to ignore the ache of unshed tears. She couldn't speak as he backed away – she held up her hand – a half-hearted wave. Then he disappeared onto the train.
Chloe came up behind her and rubbed her back. Susan swallowed resolutely and turned to her sister. "We should go."
Chloe enveloped her in a hug – the first in a long time. Even longer if you were only counting the ones Chloe initiated. Susan accepted her comfort and they left the station with their arms around each other, and a dozy Suzie attached to Chloe's other arm.
Mark waved goodbye to Suzie, gave Chloe a quick hug and didn't even try to make a clean cut with Susan. He knew this wasn't going to be a quick and easy goodbye. He didn't want to pretend.
Susan pulled his scarf tight – autumn had arrived. She even allowed a quick hug. But then he didn't let go. He held her tight, just like she really wanted. So she held him back – tighter even…
The announcer called his train and they both knew it. Susan didn't let go.
"You're going to have to let you go." He nudged and they parted.
"I'm not letting you go." She held his arms and kissed him soundly. "Just for a little while."
He gave her another quick hug. "I love you. And I'll be back – just have to practise kissing executive assif i want more holidays. I could get some lessons off Weaver. Whatever it takes." He grinned and kissed her.
"Bye." She swallowed and clenched her jaw to keep back the tears until he was gone. Crying wouldn't be fair – this was hard enough on him as it was. She saw his eyes were brimming and closed her eyes for one more kiss, trying to ignore the ache of unshed tears. She couldn't speak as he backed away – she held up her hand – a half-hearted wave. Then he disappeared onto the train.
Chloe came up behind her and rubbed her back. Susan swallowed resolutely and turned to her sister. "We should go."
Chloe enveloped her in a hug – the first in a long time. Even longer if you were only counting the ones Chloe initiated. Susan accepted her comfort and they left the station with their arms around each other, and a dozy Suzie attached to Chloe's other arm.