I watched from afar with a smile as Alice managed to bitch out the intern, eat a chicken salad sandwich, file her nails, flirt with her boyfriend over the phone and smoke a cigarette...all at the same time! It made me smile and it made me sad as well. I knew I would miss the little things the most.

"Hey kid", she said, motioning me over to her desk as she ended her phone call. "Long time no see. Is this welcome back?"

"Actually..."

"More like good bye, huh?"

"Yeah...good bye. It's just that it sounds so dreary and permanent. How about a see you later?"

"Whatever floats your boat, kiddo", Alice smiled. "Just as long as you're happy."

"I am", I said for the first time in a long time. "I mean, I will totally miss Milwaukee and I'll miss this job and my friends and stuff but at the same time I'm really looking forward to being with Ronnie and starting a new life together in South Carolina."

"South Carolina, huh? I guess the Belle makes her grand return after all", Alice joked. "But seriously Mary-Courtney, I'm happy for you. I hope it all works out."

"It will", I smiled. "I have a good feeling about this and I owe it all to you, Alice."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You've always been a good friend to me. You helped me out a lot with work stuff when I first got here and you were always around to go shopping with or have a beer after work. We had good times and I'll really miss that. I'm gonna miss you. You taught me a lot and you shared a lot too. I really appreciate that, Alice. I hope that we stay in touch because I can't afford to not have someone as wonderful as you in my life."

I expected her to laugh or brush me aside and tell me to quit being so damned mushy because that was just Alice's way. Instead, I saw tears in her eyes and she pulled me in for a hug.

"I'm proud of you, Mary-Courtney. You're doing the right thing for yourself and I know you're gonna be fine. Ronnie or no Ronnie, you're a strong and beautiful girl. I'm glad I met you and I love you, kid. You take care of yourself."

"I love you too."

We embraced and cried quietly for a few minutes before Alice finally pulled away. She wiped her eyes and managed a smile.

"Now get the hell out of here with all that mushy crap. I'll see you when I see you, kid."

That was her way of saying good bye.

"Yeah... I'll see you. And don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

"Secret?"

"Yeah, that you actually have a heart and not a lump of coal in there", I joked. "I won't tell anyone that I actually saw Alice Smith cry."

"Good because then I'd have to kill you. And for the record I wasn't crying. I had a lash in my eye."

"Whatever you say", I grinned. "Take care, Alice."

"You too, kid."

It was harder than I had imagined to say good bye and leave everything behind but there was still one more loose end that needed taking care of...

I turned the key and opened the door to the apartment for what would be the final time. Charlie was sitting on the couch watching television.

"Hi", I said softly.

"Hey."

"How have you been?"

"Good", he nodded.

"Listen, Charlie, I..."

"It's okay", he interrupted. "You don't have to say anything. I can look in your eyes and see it all."

I nodded and tried not to cry.

"Charlie, I am so sorry."

"I know you are. So am I. But what is done is done, right?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"It's okay, Mary-Courtney. Do what you have to do. You have to do what makes you happy. I guess somehow this is all for the best."

"Right now it doesn't feel that", I sighed.

"You'll be okay."

"Will you?"

"Yeah", he said after a moment. "I won't lie to you. This hurts, Mary-Courtney. Losing you is my worst fear come true but I don't regret telling you to go to him. It was the right thing to do. You had to know for yourself."

"I wish it could have been different", I said as I gently rubbed his arm. "I never meant for you to get hurt. You don't deserve this."

"That's life. Shit happens, you know? I just don't want all this to be in vain. I want you to go on and be happy...even if it is with someone else."

We both cried together. This was so hard. Why couldn't he have just been an asshole? That would have made the situation so much easier? Why did I have to walk away from someone so kind?

"Well", I said after a few minutes. "I guess this is it. I guess I'd better go. This is good bye."

"I guess so."

"Um, the movers will be in the day after tomorrow, you know, to get the rest of my stuff, if that's okay. And um, this is the key. I left money in the account for rent."

"Thanks. Uh, day after tomorrow is fine."

It all sounded so cold and calculated.

"Okay", I breathed.

"Okay."

"Good bye, Charlie."

"Bye, Mary-Courtney."

I turned to leave but I couldn't. Not like that.

"I meant what I said, Charlie. I do love you. A part of me always will. Maybe it's selfish of me to say that to you but always remember that. Please."

"Mary-Courtney..."

"No, let me finish. Charlie, this was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I feel like all this was done to me just as much as it was done by me. And I want you to know that even though I had to make a choice, it's not so much that I chose Ronnie over you. It was so much more complicated than that. You are a great man and you deserve a woman who is going to love you. You deserve more than me. I know you're angry and hurting inside but I pray one day you find it in you to forgive me. And I hope that you find peace and true love."

"Don't beat yourself up, Mary-Courtney. I don't hate you. I never could. And you're not the monster you're portraying yourself to be. We're just two people that got caught up in a very fucked up situation. Sometimes we don't get to choose who we love or who loves us back. Sometimes it just happens. I understand that now. I don't like it but I understand it. And I won't waste my time being bitter or angry. I just wish you well and I'm thankful for the time we had together. When it was good, it was great and I won't forget that. I hope you won't either."

I nodded and we held each other so tightly like our lives depended on it. I knew it was the last time. Finally we let go. We gave each other a smile and then I walked away and that was it. It was over. We had set each other free.

My hands shook as I knocked on the door. It was open so I took the liberty of letting myself in. The fire blazed inside and the whole placed smelled of fresh pine. I smiled as I sat my bags down and warmed my hands in front of the fireplace. This was it. This was where I wanted to be. This is what I had given up everything for.

"Hey."

"Hey", I said turning around to face him.

We just looked at each other for a while then Ronnie said the words I had been longing to hear.

"Welcome home, Mary-Courtney."