2: Contentment

Six days later,

I released a deep sigh as I stepped out of the examination hall, knowing that I was done with my third-year exams. My first instinct was to call Lyon and tell him I was done and taking the afternoon flight like I had already planned, but telling him I had completed my exam would leave him in an expectant mood, which might disrupt his ability to work with a straight mind.

It would be my first time, but I was going to leave without informing him of my departure just to surprise him. I had spent three months in Oxford, and I couldn’t wait to get home. Also, I couldn’t wait to see the look that would be on his face when he saw me in a few hours.

I grabbed my bag and turned to see Darcy at the door. I saw the bittersweet expression on her face as she stared at me, and the excitement I had on my face decreased.

“Sorry, I do not mean to ruin your excitement.” She said this, her eyes dropping. She had also packed up her bags and would leave with the six a.m. flight tomorrow, but she didn’t have the excitement I had.

I felt sad this past week that we were going to go our separate ways for the next few months, but I had since consoled myself, knowing how fast the eight weeks’ holidays would fly compared to eight weeks of lecture.

“No, do not be sorry. I wish I could come with you or do more, but this is all up to you, you know. This is your life. Remember, you have to do what makes you happy. As long as you’re not hurting anyone, you will always have my support.”

She walked over to me and threw her arms around me for a very long hug, and when she finally released me, her eyes were glassy.

She blinked them back, giggling a little. “Silly me for crying now. Don’t forget to speak to your dad about the possibility of adoption of a twenty-two-year-old girl from India.”

I laughed aloud, “Sure thing! And don’t worry, if you ever get adopted, my father will love you.”

My phone buzzed, and I knew the Uber I ordered had arrived and was waiting for me. I bade Darcy farewell before taking my leave. I promised I would call as soon as I arrived in my country, and she told me she expected the call.

I had teary eyes, and it was as I should. I had lived with Darcy for three years, and now we were going our separate ways to meet again, and my heart didn’t like this separation.

We would meet again. I assured myself.

I boarded the plane and settled into the seat, pulling out my phone and going through the last pictures I took of me and Lyon before leaving the country three years ago.

While scrolling through, I came across the one Jace took with us, and my heart skipped in my chest. He had such a big smile on his face, and it warmed my heart. I couldn’t delete it, even though I initially wanted to. His amber eyes dimmed as he was laughing at Lyon’s joke; his cheeks were red, and his dimple was announcing itself to the world that it was there.

It hurt to see him so happy that I wanted to delete it, but I kept it. It was the only picture of him I had. Once in a while, I pulled it out just to stare at him, and, just like now, he would somehow make me smile.

Seven months ago, while I was returning from an evening lecture, I received news that Jace had lost Janet, his wife of over two years, in a car crash. My heart went out to him, and I wanted to go to him and be with him. I wanted to console him, but I couldn’t.

When I disclosed to my father that I wanted to come home, he told me it was best I didn’t. He insisted Jace wouldn’t feel too pleased to find me back from university because of him. He was right. Jace might not be my father, but to an extent, he acted like one. He treated me like his child, somehow. I couldn’t show Jace the rebellion I showed my father whenever he objected to something. I was an obedient girl with him.

I knew he would want nothing to distract me from my studies.

With Lyon’s impute, I knew the only other option I had was to call him. I hadn’t called him in those three years. I was grieving my broken heart and trying to recover. He had always been the one to call and check up on me, and I made sure to answer. That’s how it had been until seven months ago.

I called to give him my condolences, and I could hear the pain and sorrow in his voice, something I didn’t want him to have. I wished I could take away his pain, but alas, there was nothing I could do to remedy the situation. He was grieving, and I had to give him time to do that. Getting married to Janet might have broken my heart, but she was a sweet human being who didn’t deserve death the way she met it. Before I left for Oxford, Lyon had dragged me along on a few visits to their house. Janet was an excellent cook, and Lyon loved her cooking more than mine.

The couple looked so happy, and I could remember wondering when my father was going to find himself a woman and finally settle down.

Jace called back a month after the death of his wife to thank me for my concern during that trying time. I told him it was the least I could do for him, and I meant it. Still, he appreciated it and asked about my studies, which I told him were hectic but good. He told me he believed I would do great because I was that smart.

I wasn’t as smart as he and Lyon, though. The two started three individual companies and turned them into masterpieces. My intelligence couldn’t reach that level. It still felt nice coming from him, and though his tone didn’t hold the life it used to have whenever he called, it was so much better than the one I heard when I called to send my condolences.

I couldn’t wait to see him, even though I knew deep down that he would never be mine. I would always be pleased to see a cheerful smile on his face.