She parked at the airport while he insisted that she could just drop him at the departure gate.
She carried James on her hip. He carried his luggage, a ticket tucked in his pocket. And they didn't speak between the car and the check in desk.
"So, I've got about twenty minutes." Mark filled the silence.
"Hot chocolate sounds good to me." Susan smiled.
He nodded and reached out to James, "May I?"
She grinned and let him take the child from her arms.
They sat down with hot drinks in a suddenly awkward silence only broken by James gurgling in the highchair between them.
"So I'll let you know as soon as I can when I can come down next."
She nodded.
"It might take a while to organize a transfer but I'll visit again."
She smiled. "You might want to give yourself some time – to make sure you're sure about all this."
He held her eye contact, waiting for her to finish then spoke with finality. "I'm sure."
She slowly smiled. "I can't believe you're doing this. I mean I can... it's hardly out of character it's just..." she shrugged.
"Susan."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sure okay?" He went to take her hand but changed his mind at the last moment.
She nodded, trying to believe him with everything she had. He was making a huge sacrifice. And it wasn't that she didn't want him there. Rather, what she feared was his resentment if he moved and regretted doing so later.
She finished her hot chocolate as the intercom announced Mark's flight.
"Good timing." He stood and picked up James.
Susan followed them to the departure gate.
"I'll see you soon okay?"
James giggled and Mark kissed his forehead then passed him to Susan.
"Bye."
She smiled and took his hand as he pulled them back from James. She squeezed it once. "Look after you. See ya."
"You too." He backed away.