Max looked around the empty apartment. Zoe was gone, she'd really left. What was he going to do now? If only he'd realised his feelings sooner. It was going to be a long three months.
Zoe had arrived at the airport and checked in. She was browsing the duty free, should she buy new perfume? Would she need it in Africa? Probably not. Was she making a mistake? It was going to be a long three months if so. No, it wasn't a mistake, this was something she'd always wanted to do, there had never been a right time. This wasn't an ideal time either but she'd come this far. She was going. If anything she was looking forward to seeing Dylan. He'd been out there for six months and had encouraged her to join him.
Zoe heard a boarding call for her flight. This was it. Time to leave.
After five weeks since Zoe had left, Max was finding it increasingly difficult without her, he tried not to think about her but he was staying in her home, working at her place of work, everything reminded him of her.
"How you doing Max?" Tess asked as she got into the lift with him.
"Oh you know, managing. I'm staying at Zoe's, looking after the place for her, works keeping me busy." He told Tess.
"And Zoe? Have you heard from her?" Tess asked.
"Not much, apparently there's no wifi out there!" Max joked.
"She'll be back." Tess assured him, sensing the sadness in his voice. "Why don't you come to the pub after work? A few of us are going for a drink, it's Charlie's birthday so we're celebrating?"
"I don't know, I'm not much company." Max said.
"I really think it'll do you good, the more time you're out and about the less time you're going to be pining over Zoe and the sooner she'll be back. I promise."
"I suppose I can come for one." Max agreed.
"Good." Tess smiled.
Tess, Robyn and Lofty were the only ones who knew about the happenings between Max and Zoe. He couldn't talk to Robyn or Lofty, it was too weird, he was glad to have Tess to support him. He felt he could talk to her.
Most of the team had turned out for Charlie's birthday drinks including the new clinical lead, Connie Beauchamp. She'd rustled a few feathers since she'd arrived, her reputation had been accurate. Zoe would have hated her, Max had thought to himself before telling himself to stop, this was a Zoe free evening.
Connie had bought the drinks, and began to make a toast. "I would like to wish Charlie a happy birthday from all the team, things have been rocky in the department but I want to assure you I personally will make that better! Enjoy this evening, I expect you all bright and early tomorrow morning."
Everyone groaned or rolled their eyes, this woman was a task master, they weren't going to have it easy.
Max couldn't help think of Zoe. "Zoe would never have been like this." He said to Tess.
Tess smiled in agreement, she missed her friend dearly. Life wasn't the same without her. Her phone beeped.
"Excuse me." She told her colleagues and waved her phone.
She got up to read the text. 'Two hours, maximum!' It read.
"I think I'm going to head off." Max told the table. "I'll see you in the morning."
He went to say goodbye to Tess as he was leaving.
"You can't go, not yet Max. Remember what I said earlier?" Tess asked.
"I know I'm just not feeling sociable." Max replied. "And I'm skint."
"I'll buy you a drink come on. No arguments." Tess ordered.
They both stopped at the bar.
"Have you heard from Laura at all?" Tess enquired.
"A couple of times, just amicably you know? She text me to say sorry, she's been staying with the husband. I've got no hard feelings towards her, she was ill, I wish I could have helped sooner. Splitting up was the best thing we could have done, otherwise it would have turned very sour very quickly." Max told Tess.
"Best for everyone involved Max. Listen, it may not be my place to say but, don't worry about wanting to be with Zoe, nobody would judge you and think it's too soon." Tess advised.
"Thanks Tess, I like her a lot, I just worry I'm not enough for her. I mean look at the job divide, she's successful, hard working, rich. What am I? Nothing. I push trolleys, it's clearly ridiculous and like I'm only after her money."
"Anyone says that, you send them my way! Yes, Zoe may be all those things but do you think she's genuinely happy? She's had her chances, I'm not going to pretend otherwise but I think she knew she'd be happy with you, that's why she's gone, because she was scared, once she gets over the fear, she'll be straight back, as long as that's what you want?" Tess answered.
"More than anything." Max said.
"It'll happen, you just need to be patient. Let's sit down, the others will wonder what's going on!" Tess said.
"Like we are having a secret affair?!" Max laughed.
"I wouldn't put it past any of them." Tess laughed.
A couple of hours later Max said his goodbyes. Robyn had lent him money for a taxi, she didn't want him walking that far alone.
" I am a grown up Robyn!" Max had said.
"I know you are, I'm still allowed to worry about you, you haven't been yourself and I just want to know you're ok." Robyn told him.
"I'm going to be absolutely fine. You'll see." Max told her as he got into the taxi.
Max paid the taxi driver as he pulled up outside the apartment block.
He fumbled around for the keys Zoe had given him and let himself in.
He went to wine rack and pulled out a bottle of red, he laughed to himself, Zoe had a very well stocked, very expensive wine collection. He would expect no less. He found the corkscrew and began to pour a glass.
"I hope you're sharing that, do you know how much that cost me?!" The unmistakable voice asked.