Epilogue
Solomon Gray hurried as fast as his old legs would carry him. He was early for work but he wanted to get a coffee at the snack bar in front of the departures hall. He settled himself onto the end stool and watched the crowds making their way to the gate. Ingrid came over and placed a coffee in front of him.
"Here you go Solomon. Have you missed me?" she asked. Solomon laughed, a deep throaty laugh and flashed her a big grin. "Or have you just come for yer spying?" Ingrid giggled.
"People-watching Ingrid! People-watching!" Solomon surveyed the queue to see if anything interesting was going on. There were the usual tired business-men leaving on yet another trip, excited young pack-backers off on an adventure, family members waving tearful goodbyes to loved ones.
Then a couple caught his eye. As they strolled up to security, the woman stood her overnight suitcase upright thus freeing her hands. She slid them round the man's waist under his coat and buried her face in his neck. They did not kiss nor did they move. They just stood for a few moments locked in a private world of their own and then the woman pulled slowly away, grabbed her case and with a last look made her way through the sliding doors. The man in the long black coat stood immobile for a few seconds watching as she disappeared from view, a lone island in a sea of moving passengers.
Solomon drained his coffee and dug in his pocket for his wallet and placed a couple of dollars on the counter before pulling something else from the wallet. He looked back at the man in the dark coat and watched him make an abrupt about-turn. As he did so the coat flew open and a gold badge was clearly visible on his belt. Solomon nodded, definitely ex-military.
"Do you know him?" asked Ingrid seeing Solomon intently watch the man as he walked slowly away.
For a moment Solomon looked down at the faded photograph of a young couple in his gnarled hand. "No." he said quietly and for a moment he felt sorrow for the man in the black coat.