17. Don’t Prolong Your Goodbye
17
DON’T PROLONG YOUR GOODBYE
The final day of most tours was bittersweet.
Exhausted, feet sore, and emotionally drained from constant social interaction meant that both guests and guide alike were ready to say farewell and return to the comforts of home.
But they were reluctant to say goodbye to days of fun, exploring new places, and a break from everyday life, especially when they were with a group of people they loved.
That was particularly true for this collection of women.
Finding time for friendship, even in retirement, required strategic planning, negotiating dates and times in order to carve out an hour or two together.
Their weekly lunches had nothing on the two weeks of celebrating their bond.
They were already planning their next trip together, one they vowed only Luxe Travel would coordinate.
“Hanna, you must promise to visit us whenever you are in California,” Hazel insisted over their farewell breakfast.
Their luggage was stored in Madeline’s van, ready to drive them straight to the airport once their leisurely meal was complete.
Some of the guides Hanna knew preferred to say goodbye to the group the night before they were set to leave, but Hanna felt it ruined the clean exit by saying goodbye and then still seeing them off the next day.
Whenever the flight allowed it, Hanna preferred dining with the group one last time before taking them to the airport, that way it prevented prolonged goodbyes.
Hanna never liked goodbyes.
They reminded her of all the other people and places she had to leave, and this one hurt more than others.
In the past, she would make vague remarks about how the group could keep in contact with her, leaving the proverbial ball in their court, to limit the level of disappointment she felt if they never contacted her again.
But Hanna was closer to this group than any in the past. She had grown fond of Hazel, Mai, Daphne, and even Lillian, and wanted to make promises to see them again.
And then there was Noah.
Every day they were together, Noah made it clear that he wanted to continue their relationship, going so far as to create a shared calendar with dates scheduled for times Hanna was back in Los Angeles.
He even inquired about future tour locations, suggesting that he might want to plan business trips to those places as well.
The silver lining of the Delgados’ cancelled trip meant that Hanna would see Noah sooner rather than later.
It still niggled at the back of her mind, not knowing the full reason for the abrupt change.
When Noah found out about the cancelled trip, he asked if there was anything he could do to help, but Hanna let him know there was nothing either of them could do.
Last minute, she was unable to book the same flight as Noah, and her flight left later that day.
Hanna was going with them to the airport to save Madeline from making the trip twice.
“What are your plans before your next tour?” Daphne asked the same question Noah had the night before.
Reaching for her water to hide the blush blooming over her face at the reminder of her night with Noah, Hanna sipped the cool liquid.
“Nothing too exciting. Mostly resting and catching up on some personal errands. Then I am going to work on some of those marketing strategies you recommended to drum up more business.”
Laundry and a long nap were Hanna’s first priorities.
“I hope you set aside some time for fun,” Mai said as she reached for another croissant.
Mai informed Hanna that she was making the most of their last morning in Paris and was eating her weight in French pastries.
“Now that you are done playing chaperone.”
The group laughed at Mai’s joke.
“Yes, Hanna.” Noah’s voice was rough with innuendo.
“You need to have some fun.”
Shooting him a withering glare that was ineffective due to the smile tugging her lips up, Hanna met his smoldering eyes.
“I did hear about a new club that opened near Sarah’s place, perhaps I will check it out with her.”
“What is the club called?” Noah’s question reminded Hanna of his constant double checking of her bookings when she was first planning the trip.
Before, she thought it was because he was controlling, but now she recognized it for his need to protect the people he cared about.
Noah’s fingers flew over the screen of his phone when Hanna gave him the name, probably searching the area to make sure it was safe.
While he was distracted, Hanna guided the conversation back to what Hazel and her friends were going to do when they returned home.
Mai was preparing for a gala at the museum, one that Lillian was donating several pieces of art from her ex-husband to.
Daphne was teaching tennis to a group of kids at an afterschool program for disadvantaged youth and Hazel was inspired to renovate her backyard after seeing the magic of Monet’s garden.
Hanna hoped that Hazel and Daphne got around to taking a dance class.
Hearing the group share their favorite memories of the trip filled Hanna with contentment.
How the tour ended was just as important as how it began, and guests talking over each other in their excitement to relive moments of the tour was a sure sign of success.
It meant that the small blips and deviations in plans were overshadowed by the fun they had together.
“Hanna,” Hazel said while pulling two cloth bags from her purse, “before we say goodbye, we wanted to give you a small memento to thank you for all your work. This is one of the best vacations we have ever been on and it’s because of you. And Madeline of course, don’t think we forgot about you. You kept us safe and without you we would probably be lost and exhausted right now.”
“ Non, non. Anna would not let you get lost. It was a pleasure to drive you around my beautiful city,” Madeline said with one of her bright smiles.
Hanna and Madeline reached across the table to take the bags from Hazel.
Inclined to wait until she was alone to open her gift, Hanna started to put the bag into her purse before Mai stopped her and told them to open the gifts now.
Letting Madeline open her gift first, Hanna watched her friend untie the blue velvet ribbon and reach into the opening to pull out a bottle of her favorite perfume.
Moving around the table, Madeline hugged each member of the group and thanked them for their thoughtful gift.
“ Merci . How did you know this was my favorite?” Madeline laughed when five pairs of eyes shifted in Hanna’s direction.
“ Anna , of course. So thoughtful, thank you.”
Madeline kissed Hanna’s cheek and gave her a hug.
When Hazel and the others asked her what gift they could get for Madeline, besides the tip they already planned on, Hanna immediately thought of the luxury perfume that Madeline always wore.
She was pleased that it was well received.
“Go on, Hanna. Open your gift now,” Daphne said impatiently.
Tugging on the red ribbon tying the wrapping together, the edge unfurled over Hanna’s palm.
Nestled inside was a small jewelry box and an envelope.
Discreetly looking in the envelope, Hanna tucked the tip into her purse before taking the box into her hands.
Lifting the top, sunlight flashed off gold.
Overcome with gratitude, Hanna nearly dropped the box.
The thoughtfulness of the gift was more than she hoped for, something unique and customized to her interests and personality, something Mai noticed her admiring on the tour and purchased without her knowledge.
Artfully draped on red fabric to match the ribbon was the cameo necklace of a birdhouse threaded on a gold chain.
Touched by the gesture that meant more to her than any expression of thanks, she felt her heart squeeze.
Joy laced with a hint of sadness tightened her throat.
There in the palm of her hands was the symbol of the home she longed for, surrounded by the people who knew her well enough to wish it for her too.
“Thank you.” Hanna had to fight to whisper the words without crying.
Clutching the necklace to her chest, she looked each person in the eyes before speaking directly to Mai.
“This is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received and I will treasure it always.”
Across from her, Mai opened her arms and Hanna hastily stood to receive the hug.
Kneeling to wrap her arms around the petite woman more soundly, Hanna had to tuck her face into the space above Mai’s shoulder.
Hanna inhaled the scent of the sea and fresh flowers, knowing that the combination of scents would forever remind her of the gifts of listening and understanding Mai gave her that day in the flea market.
“Thank you,” she whispered again, just for Mai.
“You’re welcome,” Mai whispered back.
“Whether you wear it or not, I hope that you always remember you are worthy of beautiful things and that the world is a more beautiful and kind place for having you in it.”
Hanna moved to hug Daphne next.
“Thank you for a wonderful trip,” Daphne said with a crushing hug.
“I’ve already told my friends and contacts in the sports world about you. Expect to get some calls for trips very soon.”
Although that was one of her main goals, the rush of professional pride at securing more business paled in comparison to gaining the esteem of a woman so full of life and love.
After a quick hug and thanks to Lillian, Hanna resigned herself to only having a lukewarm relationship with the socialite, she faced the person who had brought them all together.
Hazel was standing with one hand on her hip, the other dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
Sassy as ever, Hazel leveled a stern look in Hanna’s direction.
“Well, I hope you are happy, ruining my makeup when I could meet a handsome stranger on the plane,” she said with mock seriousness.
In all honesty, Hanna would not be surprised if Hazel managed to charm a fellow traveller and end up falling in love over the Atlantic.
Feigning an equally serious tone, Hanna replied, “You only have yourself to blame, picking out such a sentimental gift. If I did not know any better, I would think you were trying to get me to cry.”
“Only because I am going to miss you very much,” Hazel said as she pulled Hanna into a hug.
Hanna leaned into the comfort of Hazel’s embrace, the sensation of being protected and cherished filling her soul.
This woman meant so much to her and Hanna would miss her in the time they were apart.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Hazel continued.
“I expect you to keep me updated on how you are and to come visit when you are in town, understood?”
Hanna nodded.
“Good. Bring Noah with you too, I don’t see him nearly as often as I want and something tells me he will do whatever you ask.”
Hanna blushed at the knowing wink Hazel gave her.
So much for being discrete on the tour.
Behind them, Noah cleared his throat, a gesture Hanna recognized as something he did when embarrassed.
Guessing that he overheard what Hazel said, Hanna shot him a flirtatious wink over her shoulder.
His cheeks darkened in the delightful way that sent Hanna’s pulse racing.
Knowing that this was not goodbye for them, Hanna hugged Noah briefly.
If she held onto him too long, she would either burst into tears or never let him leave.
And leave they must. A glance at her watch informed Hanna it was time to go, leading the group to the car one last time before they drove to the airport.
The closer they got to parting, the more the sorrow at leaving them and hope that they would stay in touch mixed into a cocktail of emotions that had her eyes prickling.
Hanna held her tears at bay as she helped the group through bag check, pressing her lips together tightly in an attempt to squeeze the mix of sadness back into her body.
She could do this. She just had to get through security and drop them off at the lounge.
Then, she could cry as much as she wanted.
Saving her bag for last, a growl of contempt slipped out of Hanna when the screen gave her an error message.
Why did this machine thwart her attempts at a quick exit?
All she wanted was to get through this so she could be alone and sad.
She just needed the stupid machine to find her reservation so that she could check her bag and be on her way.
“Here.”
A crisp ticket wiggled in her periphery vision and Hanna’s heart leapt with surprise.
Noah was standing next to the kiosk, a smile stretched across his face as he waved the ticket again, mimicking one of their earliest interactions on the trip.
Playing her part, Hanna rolled her eyes at him and said, “I already have a ticket.”
“This one’s better.”
“Why? Because it is printed on first class paper?” Hanna bit back a smile at the playful look in his eyes.
“No, because it is first class.” He showed her the ticket.
Then slid a second ticket out of his pocket.
“With me. I moved my flight so we could be together.”
Hanna laughed in delight, tears finally breaking free and sliding down her face.
Then, in front of everyone, Hanna kissed him, sinking her hands into his hair as the group cheered behind them.