***One month later***
Jonathan and Jennifer were basically spending every minute they could together. She still had breakfast with her friends on Saturdays, but other than that, she only saw them at work.
Jennifer was at work and was deep in her story on the airlines. She had a source who she just knew was ready to talk.
She had just hung up the phone when there was a delivery of flowers for her.
She looked at the bouquet for a minute, and just admired it. It was a bright shiny silver vase, filled with flowering apricots, Japanese cherry blossom, and flowering orange blossoms.
She dug for the card.
"I have a surprise for you-I'll tell you what it is over dinner tonight. Pick you up at 6? Call my secretary and tell her yes. Jonathan".
She picked up the phone and called his office.
"Hello, Hart Industries, how may I direct your call?"
"Hi. Jonathan Hart please".
"I'm sorry, he's in a meeting and asked to not be disturbed. I can take a message though".
"That's fine. This is Jennifer. Please tell him I said yes to dinner".
"Oh, ma'am he asked me to tell you when you called-his car service will pick you up at 6, and the driver's name is Vinnie. He says dress up, you two have reservations at a very swanky place, and that he can't wait to see you and tell you about the surprise".
"Ok, thank you".
She hung up and got back to work, and then left the office promptly at 5.
His car service dropped her off and she hurried inside to get ready.
She finally picked a black spaghetti strap dress with an asymmetrical hem. She paired it with strappy black stilettos, and a maroon velvet wrap.
She curled her hair just the way he liked it, and added some sparkly jewelry.
She was ready precisely at 5:55, and was downstairs waiting when Vinnie pulled up.
He opened the door for her and helped her in.
20 minutes later, she was being dropped off at a gorgeous apartment building.
Vinnie opened the door for her.
"Take the elevator up to the rooftop ma'am. Have a nice evening, ma'am".
"Thank you".
She took the elevator up to the rooftop, and when the doors opened, her jaw dropped.
There was a table for 2 set with a gorgeous white lace table cloth, and some lit candles. There was a string quartet over in the corner.
Jonathan was standing by the table with a dozen roses in his hand.
She slowly walked towards him.
"Hi".
"Hi gorgeous".
She leaned up and kissed him.
"Thank you for the flowers you sent me. They were beautiful".
"You're welcome".
He went and set the roses down on the table. She set her purse down too.
"Dance with me?"
She nodded.
He signaled to the quartet to start playing and they started dancing.
"So, I was thinking, today, while I was in this horribly long meeting, about you and me and all the fun we have together and how I never want it to end. And I realized something."
"Yeah, what's that?"
"That I am madly, hopelessly, and unashamedly head over heels in love with you. I haven't ever felt like this about anyone, ever".
"You love me?"
"Yeah, I do".
"Good, because I love you too".
He gave her the most perfect kiss, and then they danced some more.
After they were finished dancing, he led her to the table.
He had hired waitstaff to come and serve them.
"I ordered all your favorites-steak and chicken kebabs, salad, rice, sweet tea."
"Wonderful".
They made small talk while they ate, and after it was over, the waitstaff came and cleared their plates.
"Dessert?"
"Not just yet".
When they were alone, he reached across the table and grabbed her hand.
"Darling, do you remember last week when I told you that Hart Industries was going to open up a new office building and a new factory and how we had several big projects lined up?"
"Yes, I do".
"So, today, we had a series of meetings and we finalized the location of the office building and the factory. And this new phase, that we are calling phase 3, well it's going to start in about 3 weeks. And it's going to be a very lengthy commitment. So, it looks as if it's going to take up a lot of my time. And since it's going to do that, I figured the best thing is for me to go live there until it gets off the ground".
"I see. Where is there?"
"Japan".
"You're moving to Japan?"
"Well, yes. But I was hoping that it would be us moving, not just me".
"I can't just move to Japan, Jonathan. I just moved here from London. And I'm not really settled at the office yet. Plus that's far away from my father-too far if something were to happen to him".
"I see".
"What about Max? Are you taking him with you?"
"I'm planning on it."
"How long do you think you'll be there?"
"A year at least. Could be longer".
"Do you have to be the one to go? Can't you send someone?"
"I'm sending a lot of people, including myself."
"What if you didn't go?"
"That's not possible".
"Well, it looks like we are at an impasse".
"We don't have to be. You can still come with me, you know".
"No, I really can't. I don't have a clue how that would even work. I can't afford to leave my apartment here. I can't afford to quit my job, and who knows if I'll find one in Japan. And what if something happens to my father? I can't exactly hop on a plane and be by his side in a matter of hours if I'm coming from Japan".
"I can find someone at the office to rent your apartment from you, so you don't have to lose it. And I'm sure you can write from Japan, darling. You're brilliant, you can write from anywhere".
"I appreciate the vote of confidence, but Jonathan, I can't just pick up and move to Japan with you. It's complicated-my father is here. What about him, what about my friends? What about my job?"
"What about us? I just told you I loved you, damnit, doesn't that mean anything?"
"Are you saying you only told me that so I would go with you?"
"No, I would never do that. I said that because it's true. And I meant it. I still do. I want you with me."
"And I want to be with you, but you don't understand. I've only lived here 2 months, Jonathan. I've only worked for the Times for 2 months. As a journalism student, this was my dream job. I can't give it up after 2 months, my credibility would plummet. I would probably never be hired by them ever again."
"Look, I'm not saying that this isn't a big move. It's a huge deal, I get that. I just thought that you would want to be with me as much as I want us to be together".
"This isn't about my feelings for you, I just told you that. It's about my job. And my life here."
She grabbed her napkin and wiped her tears off her cheeks.
"I definitely wasn't expecting this. I should go. Thank you for a lovely dinner".
"Jennifer, don't leave like this, please. Let's figure this out".
"We can't. You want me to do something I can't do."
"And you want me to send someone else when it's my responsibility".
She stood up and got her purse.
"Look, I don't want to hurt you, that's the last thing I would ever want to do. I love you. But Jonathan, I can't just walk away from the Times and move halfway around the world with you when you and I have only known each other a few months and we've only been together for a month. My father would have me committed for quitting my dream job to live with a guy I've only been serious about for a month. I mean, you and I could move to Japan and breakup soon after, and I would be stranded. You have to understand that".
"I do. But baby, I don't want to lose you".
"I don't want to lose you either. This isn't fair".
She stared at him for a few minutes.
"What can you promise me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, can you promise me you and I will be together forever? Can you promise me that we won't break up in Japan? That I won't miss my friends, that I'll be able to find work? That I'll even be able to understand the language?"
"I can only promise you that I'll love you, and that I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy".
"Well, in this case, it seems that love just isn't enough".
He walked her to the elevator and pressed L for lobby.
"I love you. I'll call Vinnie and have him come get you".
"No, I can take a cab. It's ok".
"Come on, it's dark out, you don't need to take a cab. I'll call Vinnie, he'll be here in 10 minutes."
He rode with her in the elevator down to the lobby and called Vinnie to come pick her up.
He was trying to console her, but she was having a hard time letting him. She just wanted to be in her bed, hugging her pillow.
Vinnie pulled up and Jonathan opened the door for her.
He gave her a tender kiss goodbye and then she got in the car.
As Vinnie drove her to her apartment, both of them felt like their hearts were breaking.
***A couple days later***
Jennifer was absolutely miserable. So many times over the last couple days, she wanted to pick up the phone and call him. But she didn't, because she knew that would just end up with her heartbroken all over again.
Ava came by and brought her dinner and tried to cheer her up, but it was no use.
Jonathan wasn't much better. He missed her something fierce. He was upset too, because he couldn't imagine moving to Japan without her. He couldn't imagine doing anything without her. Everywhere he looked, he thought he saw her. He felt like he was going crazy.
Two days before he left, he went to Jennifer's. It was late, around 8:30.
He knocked on the door.
Jennifer heard the knock and came and opened it.
"Hi, what are you doing here?"
"May I come in?"
"Please".
They sat on the couch.
"So, I went back to the board of directors. And I explained to them that by my moving to Japan I was giving up a lot, and that some things meant the world to me. They agreed to hire someone to permanently take over, so it looks like I'll only be there about 4 or 5 months".
"I see".
"Come with me. We'll figure it out together, I promise".
"Jonathan, we've been all through this. I love you, but can you honestly tell me that in a few months you will still love me?"
"I want to".
"I appreciate that, but I need more".
"I don't know that I can give you more."
"Look at it like this. You are going to be in Japan, and you are going to be busy working all day to open the new office, open the new factory, and get the projects completed. I'm going to be all alone in whatever place we find to live in and I'm only going to see you for what, 20 minutes a day? That's not fair to me, Jonathan. It's not."
"You're right. It's not".
She put her hand on his chest.
"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to hurt you. This isn't what I want, but I can't just keep moving around the globe. I have to establish roots somewhere".
He wrapped his arms around her.
"I never meant for things to end up like this for us."
"I know. I hate this. I'm miserable without you. We were supposed to grow old together".
He took her hands and pulled her up off the couch and led her to the door.
"I better go."
She nodded.
"I love you, and I will always love you, and if you change your mind, all you have to do is call me. I will happily send my plane for you, I mean that. And as soon as I can come back here, I'll look you up, I promise".
She nodded, and tried to hold back the tears.
"Promise me you'll be okay, baby. I hate to leave you like this".
"It is what it is, Jonathan".
They shared a long hug, and then he left. She felt like her heart was breaking all over again.
***A week later***
Jennifer hadn't heard from Jonathan since he had left her apartment that night. She had thrown herself into her work, and had basically tried to get through it by working herself to death. Ava and Cassie and Morgan could barely get a smile out of her at breakfast on Saturday.
"What do you say we have dinner next week? Say, on Thursday?"
"Nah, I'm not up to it".
"Jennifer, come on. You can't sit around and mope forever. We aren't talking about hiking the Appalachian trail here, we are talking about dinner".
"Yeah, she's right. I mean, you are going to eat dinner anyways, why not with us?"
"You guys don't get it. We had plans. He didn't know that I knew about it, but I did. He had bought us tickets to the opera and had made us reservations for dinner at Mount Clair's. He hates Mount Clair's, but he did it because he knew I loved it".
She dabbed her napkin at her eyes.
"Sweetie, you're right. You did have plans. Past tense. Your relationship with him is over now, and at some point you have to accept that".
"I have accepted that. But nothing the 4 of us do will ever top what he had planned for him and I to do."
"It's not a competition, Jennifer. We aren't trying to best him, here. We are trying to help you".
"Well, maybe I'm beyond help".
"Ok, look. Dinner Thursday night was a bad idea. I admit that, I take it back. It's your birthday, spend it however you want".
"Thank you".
She opened her wallet and threw down some cash.
"I'm going home you guys. You all have a good day".
She got up and walked out, walking the 24 blocks back to her apartment alone.