Chapter 3
Lisa
The farther the plane carries me from California, the easier it is to breathe.
I’ve only been on the flight for two hours, and I've already cried three times. The man sitting next to me keeps giving me sympathetic looks, and I keep pretending not to notice.
“Chicago is supposed to be lovely this time of year,” the man says softly. He keeps looking at the screen in front of him, pressing buttons. He must be around seventy years old and looks kind.
“It is,” I tell him softly. “I used to live there. I’m moving back, actually,” I tell the man, though I don’t even know why I am telling him.
“Good for you,” the man says as he turns toward me and gives me a kind smile.
“Are you taking a trip?” I ask him while I return the smile.
“I am visiting my son. He moved to Chicago a couple of years ago. I am thinking of moving closer to him, but I haven’t told him yet,” the man explains, and something in me warms.
“I’m sure he will be thrilled when you tell him,” I smile before the man looks at the screen in front of him again.
“Whatever is making you sad right now,” the man begins without looking at me, “it will get better,” he goes on.
“I think so too,” I smile.
We don’t say much for the rest of the flight, but my heart feels like it’s already starting to heal. The farther away I get from James, the more room I have to become myself again.
I don’t cry the rest of the flight, and by the time the plane lands, my eyes don’t even feel puffy anymore.
As soon as the seatbelt lights go off, I send a quick text to Anna to let her know I arrived in Chicago.
“Thanks for being my neighbor,” the man says as he holds out his hand.
“Thank you for the kind words,” I tell him as I shake his hand. He walks away while I gather my things, and I wonder what his life is like. And if he’ll end up moving to Chicago as well.
When I make my way down to the luggage area, I see a man waiting there with a sign reading "Ms. Miller.” Zane told me he had to make it to practice and that he would send someone to pick me up. He made sure I knew it was his regular driver and that he wouldn’t just send ‘any’ guy.
“Hi, I’m Lisa,” I tell the man with the sign as I hold out my hand.
“Josh,” he says with a smile. “Is this all?” he asks as he looks at my luggage, and I shake my head.
“I am waiting for two big suitcases,” I tell him as I look at the conveyor belt. It is slowly filling up with more and more suitcases, and I get closer to looking for mine.
“Let me know which one’s yours,” Josh says as he follows me to the belt.
“That one!” I say after about a minute. “The one with the purple patch.”
“On it,” Josh confirms.
“Oh, and that one as well. The one with the ice skating sticker on it,” I say as my second suitcase makes its way down the belt.
Josh swings the first suitcase off the belt with ease. Like he does this every day. When the second suitcase reaches him, his swing is smaller, and I can tell the weight surprises him.
“I have a lot of shoes. Sorry,” I apologize, and Josh chuckles.
“No worries,” he replies as he starts walking with the two suitcases dragging behind me.
“I can take one,” I suggest, since I only have my backpack right now, but Josh shakes his head.
“All good. We’re almost at the car anyway,” he says while he nods toward a row of vehicles.
“Your car is fancy,” I say as he loads my suitcases into a shiny black car.
“Thanks,” Josh laughs. He opens the door to the backseat and waits for me to get in.
“Do you mind if I sit in the front?” I ask. “I like talking to people. I feel weird sitting in the back,” I explain, and Josh smiles. Without saying a word, he closes the door to the backseat and opens the door to the passenger seat.
“Or did you want to drive?” he jokes, and I shake my head.
When Josh closes the door for me, the realization hits even more.
I am in Chicago, and I never have to go back to James.
I don’t have to worry about who he is with on the weekends.
I don’t have to worry about what mood he is in when he gets home.
The only thing I worry about is that he threatened he’d always be connected to my life.
Josh gets into the driver's seat and turns the car on. Cold air blasts from the vents, startling me.
“Sorry, I like cold air when I’m driving,” Josh apologizes. He’s about to turn it off when I stop him.
“I don’t mind. I just didn’t expect a tornado to hit me when you turned the engine on,” I laugh. “Leave it.”
Josh nods and leaves the cold wind blowing in our faces. It feels refreshing.
We take three turns before we merge onto the highway. The dashboard navigation tells me we have a twenty-minute drive ahead of us, and I can’t wait to see Zane.
“Have you been driving for a long time?” I ask Josh, and he nods.
“For ten years now,” he answers me.
“Do you still like it?” I ask as Josh passes a truck.
“I really do. Nowadays, I have a set list of clients I work with. That definitely makes it a lot easier. It’s nice knowing who you’re getting into your car,” Josh explains, and I nod.
“Except for when your client tells you to get his sister,” I laugh.
“It’s ok, he warned me about you,” Josh says calmly.
“He what?” I ask, surprised as I face Josh, and immediately I see a smile form on his face.
“Just kidding,” he says shyly, and I laugh.
“I like you, Josh,” I say as I lean back into the seat, letting the view of Chicago wash over me.
The rest of the drive, we continue talking. We talk about what we like and dislike about Chicago. Josh even tells me how he has lived here for twelve years because of his wife’s job.
“Thanks again for picking me up,” I tell Josh as I take the suitcases from him.
“Are you sure you’re going to be ok bringing them up yourself?” he asks, and I nod.
“The building has an elevator. I should be ok,” I confirm.
“Well, here’s my card if you ever need a ride,” Josh says, handing me a business card.
“I thought you said you didn’t take any new clients,” I reply with a smirk.
“Goodbye, Lisa,” he tells me as he walks back to the car and gets in.
The doorman to Zane’s building opens the door for me, and I quickly turn around to wave at Josh as he drives away.
“Good afternoon,” the doorman says as I turn back, and he gives me a polite nod.
“Hi,” I smile back as I step into the lobby. I’ve been to Zane’s place often, but knowing I’m going to stay here for a bit makes it feel different.
The two suitcases are loud in the lobby, and an older lady looks at me. I smile at her, but she keeps staring at me. Yep, I’m definitely back in Chicago, I think, grinning to myself as I head for the elevator.
I press the button for the fifth floor, and the doors close right away. The elevator is quiet, and I take a deep breath. This is a fresh start, I remind myself.
When the doors of the elevator on the fifth floor open, my heart starts beating faster. The excitement of this new start, of being back in Chicago, of being closer to Zane and away from James… It’s a lot to process.
I quickly make my way to the front door and open it. Zane gave me a key when he moved in a few years ago. He had spare sets and said it felt stupid to leave them inside the house. I doubt either of us thought I would be using them to move in for a bit.
The apartment is as clean as I remember it. Zane’s style is manly, and the apartment lacks a feminine touch, but I’m relieved it isn’t a bachelor pad.
I make my way down the hallway with my suitcases and get to the guest bedroom. I am facing the room with my back to it as I pull the suitcases in, and when I turn around, my eyes well up with tears.
On the bed is a basket with shampoo, a face mask, snacks, a sleeping mask, a stuffed bunny, and much more.
I take a picture of the basket and send it to Anna. I’m about to type her a message when my phone rings.
“That is so freaking cute,” Anna says right away without saying hello.
“Isn’t it?” I sigh as I sit down on the bed.
“How was your flight?” Anna asks, and I think back on the man sitting next to me.
“I was a bit emotional, to be honest, but had the nicest guy sitting next to me,” I tell her.
“Good,” Anna replies. “I booked my flight to Jersey today. I’m leaving in two days,” she says, and she actually sounds relieved.
“I’m so happy for you,” I tell her, and I can almost hear Anna smile.
“What are your plans for today?” Anna asks, and I think about it for a couple of seconds.
“Maybe have dinner with Zane if he’s available, and if not, this face mask looks too good,” I tell her.
“I was thinking the same. Get yourself a nice bottle of wine and make it like a spa night,” Anna suggests, and I love the idea.
“I totally will,” I tell her before we say goodbye and hang up.
Zane won’t be home in another three hours, so I start unpacking one of my suitcases. I have stored about half of my clothes in the closet when I decide I’m done.
I take Anna’s advice and make my way down to grab myself a nice bottle of wine for spa night.