Viktor and Amanda drove Brenda home Sunday evening and Amanda spent the rest of the week wishing she didn’t have to work during the days that Viktor was there. He told her he would use the time to scout properties for his company to keep busy and not to worry. They spent the evenings together until it was time for Viktor to return home.
Standing outside the airport, Amanda tried to hold herself together. Saying goodbye was hard for her. While Viktor felt it too, he tried not to let his emotions show. It would be that much harder for her if he was emotional as well.
She forced a smile as tears continued to stream down her face. “You’ll text me when you land?”
He stepped forward and pulled her towards him. “I’ll call you.”
She nodded. “Okay, good.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She squeezed him back, not wanting to ever let go.
“You sure you don’t want me to move to Boston?” he asked, still holding onto her.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not so sure anymore.”
He pulled away so he could look in her eyes. “Good.” He gently caressed her cheek and brushed her hair from her face. “My diabolical plan is working.”
She grinned wildly. “Diabolical plan, huh?”
“Mmm.” He leaned forward and kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She didn’t want to stop because she knew he would have to leave. Eventually he broke off the kiss, burying his face in the crook of her neck and holding her tight.
“I think I’m falling in love with you,” she confessed, while still in his arms.
He pulled back and looked down at her with a serene smile. “I already love you.”
“I don’t want you to go,” she began to cry.
He pulled her close again. “I’ve already bought your plane tickets and booked the hotel for you to come Labor Day. We will be together again soon,” he tried to reassure her. “It’s less than 2 months away.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to get so emotional.”
A broad smile grew on his face. “I love that you get emotional about me.”
She laughed and wiped her tears. “Then you’ll be very happy over the coming months,” she joked.
“Stop,” he gently scolded. “You’re going to be fine. I’ll call you every day.”
She nodded. “I know. You’re right.”
Viktor glanced at his watch and then at the entrance. He let out a heavy sigh. “I should get going.”
She nodded again but couldn’t speak. She stared down into her hands, wishing this didn’t have to happen.
He touched her chin and lifted her head as he leaned in and kissed her one last time. “I love you,” he said before grabbing his bag and walking away.
Amanda held onto his hand until the very last second and he was forced to pull away. He didn’t look back at her until he reached the doors. She struggled to hold back her tears. He blew her a kiss and she pretended to catch it. She smiled and waved back at him before he turned and disappeared behind the doors.
She numbly walked to her car and took a minute to regroup herself. She pulled out her phone and sent Viktor a text, I love you too.
He responded seconds later with a large smiley face, a heart and flowers emoji.
Amanda couldn’t stop smiling. She felt so many conflicting emotions she hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. She called her mom as she drove home to tell her how it went.
Returning to life without Viktor was difficult. Her quiet evenings alone had lost their charm. They talked for hours each day on the phone but it wasn’t the same. She missed his company, the reassurance of his presence.
It was a Tuesday morning a couple weeks before she was to leave for California. She started her car to drive to work. It ran for about 30 seconds before just shutting off. She hadn’t even gotten it into gear to pull out. She tried to start it again but it wouldn’t even make a noise.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” she growled in frustration. She looked at her watch. She would barely have made it on time if she was able to leave right then. She pounded her fist on the steering wheel before calling her supervisor to say she would be late. She then called for a tow. She was already strapped for cash and taking days off of work that she couldn’t afford. The timing could not have been worse.
As she waited for the tow truck to arrive she contemplated calling Viktor. It was still early for him and he hadn’t texted her yet so she figured he was still sleeping. Feeling anxious and frustrated though, she longed to hear his voice. She decided to shoot him a text and see if he replied.
Hey babe. You up yet?
He replied a minute later, Just now. You at work?
Rather than text back, she called him.
“Hey. What’s going on? Everything alright?” he answered.
“Well, I’m sitting in my car in the garage waiting for a tow truck.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. It just died,” she blurted, clearly feeling frustrated.
“Is it time for a new one?” he asked.
“Who can afford that?” she asked rhetorically.
“Why don’t you let me help you?”
“I didn’t call you to ask for money,” she protested.
“What can I do?” he asked.
“Just talk to me.”
“I wish you would let me help you,” he complained.
“Hey, shouldn’t you be glad I’m not trying to milk you for every penny?”
“That would take considerable effort on your part,” he replied before his brain could tell him to stop.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing … just it’s not in your nature to take advantage.”
She sighed. “Of course I’m frustrated by