Papeete's airport
Larry and Sybil were seated side by side in the boarding room, waiting for the flight that would take them back home. Silent, each one was lost in their thoughts. One was thinking about what he had done and the other one about what she hadn't. Larry finally turned to Sybil.
"That's it. Only 14 hours and we're back to reality," he said.
Sybil didn't answer and just breathed heavily. She turned to him.
"Larry, I think it's better if we don't get married."
"What? But why?"
"Because it's not reasonable that a man and a woman get married when a threat looms above their heads."
"Oh, if only you knew how much I regret, Syb. I told you, I wasn't in my normal state and it didn't mean anything. I love you and…" he moaned, taking her hands in his. "And I want you to become my wife. Forgive me, I was overwhelmed. And she…she took her top off and it was…Oh My God!" he stammered. "But…I…I left right away, it's true. I came back to our room, I tried to sleep but I was thinking of you. I thought…oh I didn't know if you were dead or if…if…so I went back to her bungalow, you know, to…and she…Syb, she came to the door with…with her breasts bare…"
"Who?" asked Sybil not understanding where he was going with it.
"Edna!"
"You slept with Edna?" asked Sybil, incredulous.
And she had refused a few hours of happiness with Tom while her fiancé was screwing a blond doll…She didn't know what to feel as she was assaulted by mixed feelings. Anger? Sadness? Deception? Relief?
"No but…are you kidding? Sleep?" said Larry, rolling his eyes.
But seeing Sybil's face, he gulped and his face fell.
"You didn't know?"
"How would I have?" she retorted as the revelation left her strangely cold.
"Wait, you said that a threat was looming above our heads. But…what did you mean, then?"
"Tom and I," she simply answered.
"Aha!" exclaimed Larry with a suspicious look
"Oh, Larry, something happened. Something that would not have happened if you and I were really…"
"…in love," Larry finished sadly.
Sybil nodded her head and sighed. She looked at Larry, then at her hand before sliding off the diamond ring from her finger. She looked at the rock thoughtfully before placing it in Larry's hand.
Boarding for Flight 738 to London. All passengers must present at boarding gate number 3.
The hostess' voice brought them back to reality and they looked at each other. Resigned, they took their bags in silence and then walked to the boarding gate, following the flood of tourists that were going back home. When it was their turn to present their tickets, Sybil seemed to hesitate a few seconds but finally gave it. She had had her answer; it was time for her to move on…
Papeete's airport
A few minutes later, on the tarmac…Tom got down from his friend Stan's helicopter and, after waving his hand to thank him, he started to run towards terminal number 3. His bandaged arm wasn't helping and was hurting horribly but he had to do everything he could so he wouldn't be too late. Since Sybil had left the hospital, her resigned face and watery eyes had stayed with him and an obvious fact came to his mind: despite all the obstacles ahead of them, he couldn't live without her as he had just gotten her back. He missed really one thing, only one, since his departure from England, and now he understood it was Sybil. Now, the whole purpose was that he had to reach her before her plane took off and to try and speak clearly what was in his heart.
He saw the plane that started to roll at the other end of the runway and he speed up. He started to make big gestures towards the cockpit. He didn't even know if it was the right plane but…
"Hey! Where's the plane for London?" he asked some employee on the tarmac.
"Over there," answered the young man, confirming Tom's fear with his hand pointing to the rolling plane.
Tom gulped: it was too late. She was leaving. His throat tightened and a knot in his stomach formed, as he watched the plane go faster and take off in the sky. It was over. Once again, he ruined everything and missed his chance of a much desired happiness. Piqued, he turned around and started to walk to the main building.
Then, a hubbub and shouts on his right made him turn his head and a big smile lit his face. There she was, on the tarmac, in an animated discussion with two French custom officers. He sped up towards them.
"I got off the plane. It's not a crime!" he heard Sybil exclaim while approaching the little group. "But it's ridiculous! You aren't searching my baggage!"
"You know, we're just applying the regulations, miss," answered the custom officer.
Tom was behind her and Sybil still hadn't seen him.
"Please! The only thing that matters is that I can stay here!" she moaned.
"Open your bags!" said Tom.
The little group stopped and turned to his voice. Sybil was stunned for a few seconds as Tom was moved closer.
"You're here," she breathed.
"Hi, Tom. Do you know her?" asked one of the men.
"Yes, of course. There's no problem. She's a friend, don't worry," answered Tom with a big smile as he looked at Sybil.
Without waiting for an answer from the man, Tom pulled Sybil apart, without looking away from her eyes.
"Why…why did you step down from the plane?" he asked. "What do you…?"
"Why? Why did you come?" she retorted.
"I…I thought that my life was…hum…MUCH TOO simple."
"Is it true?" asked Sybil with a little smile.
"Yes, I wanted to terribly complicate it."
"Oh," breathed Sybil with a large smile just before Tom's mouth crashed on hers.
There was nothing violent or passionate in this kiss. It was simply the kiss of a man who was laying his heart between the hands of the woman he loved. At the sweet contact, Sybil snaked her arms around Tom's neck and let herself be transported by the magic of the moment. The weather was hot with a light wind and the man she loved was making her feel like the most loved woman in the world. It was perfect. After a long time, Sybil pulled back from the kiss and looked in his eyes.
"So, where are we going?" she asked with a saucy smile.
" Um, you live in London, right?" he joked.
"Yes," nodded Sybil while rolling her eyes.
"Oh, well…then I think I won't be able to wait that long. We're going to my place," he said, pulling her after him.
"Oh yes, your little home on the beach."
"Um, well, it looks more like a hut, you know."
"A hut?"
"Yes. It's…very modest."
"Hum…but, you still have a bed, right?"
"You're going to quibble like that for everything?" he asked, laughing.
"Maybe…"
"We'll see!" exclaimed Tom before starting to run.
Sybil followed him, laughing too but, after a few meters, Tom stopped suddenly and turned to her, a serious look on his face.
"What?" she asked suddenly worried.
"Carson won't be happy," he simply said.
"I don't care. You already sacrificed everything for me once, it's my turn. There's only you, me, Makatea and the bunch of kids you're going to make with me," answered Sybil, her hand slowly running across his chest.
"Hey, you know, I'm not that young anymore," he defended himself.
"What? Wasn't it you, who, a few days ago, told me that you and your plane were…what was it… 'we're not young anymore but we're up to the challenge'? So, it's time to prove it…pilot!"
And in a burst of laughter, she kissed the lips of a voiceless Tom before taking his hand and calling for a cab. They had so much time to make up for…
THE END