Just Haven't Met You Yet(99)

“It is your coin, Laura.” Then she pauses, closing her eyes. “But don’t hold on to these things too tightly. Objects only hold the meanings we give them.”

There is a pained look on Sue’s face—regret, remorse? I move our hands gently up and down together, an acknowledgment that I know what she is trying to say.



* * *




*

At the airport, Ted parks the cab and walks me into Departures. He’s not taking the boat back for a few more days.

“So, I’ll see you in London then,” he says, pulling me into a tight hug.

“I hope so,” I say, taking a last inhale, savoring the smell and feel of his neck.

Pulling back to look at each other, we both grin. I don’t want to leave yet, to walk into the cold—anywhere without the warmth of his gaze.

“I didn’t pay you,” I say with a gasp, remembering the fare we agreed last week.

Ted laughs.

“I think I can let it slide.”

“No, I want to pay you,” I say, feeling it as a point of principle.

“You can buy me dinner in London,” he says, reaching out to take my fingers in his.

“What about your tip?” I watch his face, trying to memorize every inch of it. “I always tip my cabdrivers.”

He raises his eyebrows, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Then, I remember my grandmother’s words—don’t hold on too tight—and before I can overthink it, I take the coin from around my neck, unclip half from the pendant, and give one piece of the shiny ha’penny to Ted. He takes it but looks at me with eyes that say I can’t, it’s too much.

I close his hand around it.

“You can give it back to me when I see you; just hold on to it, for now, keep it safe.” Before he can object, I kiss him on the cheek, then turn and head toward security.

“Laura!” he calls after me, and I swing back around. “Don’t go picking up another man’s luggage anytime soon, will you?”

“I’ll try not to,” I say, with a wink, and then, swinging my hair as though I’m in a shampoo commercial, I stride off toward the departure gate. Reaching a hand up to my pendant, I feel the empty space; where once there was a whole, there is now only a crescent of coin. I am leaving the island lighter than I came, in so many ways.





LAURA LE QUESNE’S GUIDE TO JERSEY BEACHES AND BAYS


         Best Bay to kick off your shoes—Bouley



     Best Bay to hunt for sea glass—Rozel



     Best Beach to dance beneath the stars—Plémont



     Best Beach to spot Henry Cavill naked—Grève de Lecq



     Best Beach to drink too much sangria or eat lobster by the shore—L’étacq



     Best Bay to see the beautiful bioluminescence—La Rocque Harbor



     Best Beach to have a paddle-boarding date—St. Brelade’s



     Best Beach you’ll only know about if you’re local—Beauport



     Best Beach for pizza and PDAs on the sand—Portelet



     Best Beach for gazing at the horizon and resetting your soul—St. Ouen’s





Epilogue




FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER

“Thank you so much for agreeing to do this, Laura,” says Suki. “It only seemed fitting that it would be you who interviews us. You were always best at these things.”

She squeezes Jasper’s arm and looks up at him like a wide-eyed schoolgirl.

“Well, what’s one more for old times’ sake?” I say with a smile. “It’s good to see you both. How is your family, Jasper?”

“They’re so excited about the wedding. We’re having the reception at my mother’s house,” says Jasper. “My sisters are all terrified of Suki, which is just the way I like it. None of them dare boss me about when she’s around, ha-ha.”

He leans down to kiss her, and she sinks into his arms—I still can’t get my head around the change in Suki this last year; it’s as though Jasper’s adoration has smoothed away some of her hard edges. I have to avert my gaze as the kiss carries on an awkward amount of time.

“And how’s Ted?” Jasper asks, finally freeing his lips to talk. “Suki said you were moving to Jersey full-time? Do you need a new kitchen in that old house you’re going to live in?”

“I think we’re good for kitchens. But yes, Ted finally got a job at the Jersey hospital, and since I can work anywhere, we’ll be living there permanently now.”

“Are you still writing?” Suki asks. “I haven’t had a pitch from you in a while. You’d better not be offering your ideas elsewhere before coming to me first?” I hear the familiar edge in her voice.

“Well, I’m writing less and less these days,” I explain. “The jewelry design is taking up so much of my time.”

“We looked at your website! I’m so impressed, Laura,” says Jasper.