Rhea sighed when she saw Elias' car parked outside of her home. She pulled into her driveway and saw him leaning up against her front door with his arms crossed. If only he knew she was just returning home from telling Drew and Elmira goodbye. He would never know though. She turned off the engine, got out of the car and walked towards him.
"I waited for you," he said.
"I can see that," she said.
"Where were you?" He asked.
"At the post office. I had some packages to send," she said.
That wasn't completely untrue. Before Drew and Elmira left on their flight, all of them had stopped by the post office to send Elmira's stuff to Scotland. Another thing that Elias would never know.
"He better be home," Elias said. "Let me in."
"As you wish," Rhea said.
She unlocked the door and he pushed his way inside first. He ran through the house to the door that had been locked the day before. It was wide open now. He stopped in the open door and stared at the made bed.
"There's nothing here," he said. "Where is he? Where is all his stuff?"
"He went back home to Scotland," she said.
He turned around and stared at her in disbelief.
"It was always the plan he was leaving today. That's why he was out drinking last night. To say goodbye to this place," she said.
"But he can't leave. I need you two together," he said.
"That will never happen," she said.
"But I have a plan," he said.
"Get the fuck out of my house," she said.
He blinked a couple of times and nodded. He felt confused. He had been convinced he would find Elmira in the locked room. Now Drew was apparently gone, and he still had no clue where Elmira was. He walked through the house, out of the front door and turned to look at her again.
"Where is she, Rhea?" He asked.
"I seriously don't know, Elias," she lied. "Don't you think I'm fucking scared too? That's my friend. She just walked away one day without telling me or you. If you hear from her, tell her to call me. I need to know she's safe."
He nodded and turned around again. She smirked behind his back as he walked towards his car parked on the street. She closed the front door and leaned up against it. She found her phone and sent Drew a text. She knew he wouldn't see it until they landed in Scotland but that was okay.
Drew and Elmira had landed and gotten their luggage. He had just read Rhea's text to Elmira about Elias' visit, how she wished they both would be disgustingly happy in Scotland, and that she planned to fly over to visit them for Christmas.
"She's a great friend," she said.
"The best," he said.
He laced his fingers in between hers while they walked out in the busy airport.
"There's my baby boy!" Someone yelled.
His mother came running towards him and threw her arms around him.
"Mom," he chuckled. "This is Elmira."
"Let me see you, dear," his mother said.
His mother placed two hands on Elmira's face and smiled warmly at her.
"You're even more beautiful than he gave you credit for," his mother said.
"I didn't think I could give her more credit," Drew chuckled.
"You need a haircut, dear. And you're way too skinny. Don't worry. You're now in safe hands. We'll get you back on track in no time," his mother said.
"Yeah, I didn't treat myself all that good for a while," Elmira smiled. "I'm happy to be here."
"And we're happy to have you," his mother hugged her. "I've heard so much about you. This way. Dad is waiting in the car. We have chocolate too. You like chocolate, don't you, dear? I got different kinds out there. With and without nuts. I think there's one with nougat too."
Drew and Elmira looked at each other, smiled, and laced their fingers together again. His mother kept talking about chocolate and other things while leading the way out of the airport. Elmira leaned up against Drew's side.
"She's lovely," she said. "I like her."
"My entire family is pretty great," he said.
"I think I'm gonna be very happy here," she said.
"Me too," he said.
"This is my safe haven," she smiled.
He stopped and leaned down to peck her lips.
"I love you," he whispered. "You and me, love. We were always meant to be. There's not a doubt in my mind."
"I'm so happy you came back for me," she said. "Don't go running off again."
"Never," he chuckled. "And there's totally chocolate with nougat in the car. It's mine."
"Hey!" She laughed. "I like nougat too, you know."
"We'll share it," he grinned.