"Nellie cried for a long time today."
"She thinks she's the reason your parents didn't make the flight."
"When you see her tomorrow, apologize to her."
I froze for a beat, then laughed out loud.
"I apologize to her?"
Karl frowned.
"Her relatives had all boarded just fine."
"Because you made a scene at the last minute and refused to go, every one of them had to rebook."
"You wasted all those people's trip. Don't you owe them an apology?"
So my parents being kicked off the bus over the wrong tickets.
In his eyes, that didn't count as being wronged.
Nellie's family missing their flight on time, now that was a wasted trip.
I looked at him.
And all at once, I didn't even have the urge to explain.
"Fine."
Karl seemed to let out a breath, and went off to shower.
I sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the three Northport tickets on my phone.
Strangely calm inside.
In the middle of the night, I woke to a noise from the living room.
Karl was on the phone, keeping his voice low.
"Nellie?"
"Why are you crying?"
I couldn't hear what she said, but his tone softened instantly.
"Don't be scared."
"I'm coming over right now."
The moment the door shut, my mind went back many years.
I'd had a fever in the middle of the night and called him.
He said he had an early meeting the next day, and told me to take some fever medicine first.
Back then I still made excuses for him.
He was too busy.
A man with drive was a good thing.
But it turned out he wasn't incapable of rushing out in the dead of night to be with someone.
It was just that the someone wasn't me.
The next morning, when Karl came back, there was a faint lipstick mark on his collar.
He probably hadn't noticed.
But Nellie stood behind him, eyes rimmed red, her voice soft as water.
"Alice, I'm so sorry about yesterday."
"I really didn't know I'd cause you all so much trouble."
Karl glanced at me.
The meaning was obvious.
He wanted me to apologize.
I gave a small smile and said nothing.
At the airport, Nellie's family was already waiting at the business class check-in counter.
Karl handed over the documents, smoothly processing everything for them.
Nellie's parents, her aunt, her cousin, and all those relatives whose names I couldn't even say.
All business class.
When it came to my parents, the agent checked the system.
"Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson, you're in economy."
My mom froze for a second, then quickly waved it off.
"Economy's fine, economy's great."
"We're happy to sit anywhere."
Karl, as if afraid I'd make a scene again, came over and explained in a low voice.
"The rebooking yesterday was so last-minute."
"This was all the business class left."
"It's no big deal for your folks to sit in economy. It's only a two-hour flight."
Two hours.
So he finally knew the trip was only two hours.
And yet yesterday, he'd been willing to put my parents on a thirty-some-hour economy coach seat.
Nellie said quietly from the side,
"Why don't I give my seat to your parents?"
Karl said at once,
"No need."
"You didn't sleep well last night. Don't wear yourself out."
I looked at the tenderness in his eyes.
Then looked at my father's pale face.
And suddenly felt the last thread in my chest snap, too.
The boarding announcement came on.
Business class had its own line.
Karl was busy helping Nellie's mother along, and pushing Nellie's father's luggage.
Only when he reached the entrance did he remember to look back at me.
"Alice, take your folks and line up over there."
"See you when we land."
With that, he led Nellie's family ahead into the business class lane.
My mom said quietly,
"Alice, we should go get in line too."
"We don't want to miss the flight."
I held her hand and smiled.
"Dad. Mom."
"We're not going to that wedding."
"I'm taking you somewhere else."
My mom's eyes reddened instantly.
"But the wedding…"
Over the loudspeaker, Karl's flight had already started calling for boarding.
I took one last look toward the business class gate.
Karl probably still assumed.
That we'd see each other once everyone landed on the island.
But what he didn't know.
Was that we'd never see each other again.
