Chapter Fifteen
Having arrived a little early, Zara perched delicately on the edge of a wrought-iron chair, her fingers tracing the patterns etched into its surface.
Sitting in her usual café, tucked away in a corner of the small town that had become a haven in their hectic lives, she smelled the aroma of freshly ground coffee mingled with the earthy scent of rain that was wafting in through the partly open window.
While waiting for her best friend to arrive, her thoughts drifted like the clouds outside, bursting at the seams.
‘Hey, stranger.’ Suzanne’s voice cut through the quiet like a much-needed ray of sunshine.
Zara looked up, her face lighting up at the sight of her dearest friend. ‘Oh, hey, yourself, you’re a sight for sore eyes,’ she replied warmly, a smile spreading. ‘New dress?’
‘It sure is.’ Setting down her umbrella that dripped droplets onto the rustic stone floor like crystal beads, Suzanne slid into the seat across from her. ‘I bought it the other day to cheer myself up.’
‘You needed cheering up?’ Zara tipped her head to the side. ‘I hope everything is okay?’
‘Yes, it was nothing. Just one of those days.’
‘Are you sure, Suz? Because your face isn’t agreeing with your words.’
‘Yup,’ Suzanne said, too enthusiastically.
Zara decided that now wasn’t the time to push the subject. Soon. But not this second. Before tucking into a well overdue conversation about life in general, they ordered their usual drinks — a cappuccino crowned with foam for Zara and a robust espresso for Suzanne.
‘So, Za, tell me everything,’ Suzanne urged, her green eyes sparkling with genuine interest.
With a sigh, Zara began recounting her recent struggles — red-eye flights, adjusting to Lily and Amy’s new school schedule now that Amy was in grade seven, and generally feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. ‘I feel like I’m treading water,’ she admitted. ‘And sinking bit by bit.’
‘Sounds like you could use more than caffeine to keep you afloat.’ Suzanne smiled sympathetically as she reached across the table to give Zara’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
‘You got that right, Suz, sometimes it seriously feels like I’m flying against the wind,’ Zara confided softly, almost breaking when Suzanne regarded her like only a best friend could — tenderly, kindly, caringly.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. But when I’m up there, soaring over cities and oceans, it feels like too much precious time is slipping through my fingers. ’
‘I can only imagine how hard it is, hon,’ Suzanne said compassionately. ‘But you got this, Za, you really, truly do.’
‘When I’m away, I miss reading the girls bedtime stories and their squishy morning cuddles so much.’ She bit back a sob. ‘I’m scared Amy and Lily will only remember a mother who was always up in the clouds, instead of with them, both literally and figuratively.’
‘Zara, those kids adore you.’ Suzanne’s reply was strident, strong.
‘They see a mum who’s conquering her dreams, and chasing the rainbows that are hugging the clouds,’ she reassured her, every word wrapped in the comfort of unwavering support.
‘And when you are home, I’ve seen firsthand that you’re all in.
That ocean of love you have for them — it’s endless, boundless.
They feel it, even when you are miles away. ’
Zara blinked faster, but a few stray tears tumbled and streamed down her cheeks. ‘Thank you, Suz.’ Sniffling, she wiped them away. ‘I love you, so much. I couldn’t imagine my life without you.’
‘Ditto, my beautiful soul sister. Someone has to keep your feet on the ground while you’re out there touching the stars,’ Suzanne teased playfully, her laughter lifting the heaviness that had settled between them.
Their order arrived and as they sipped their drinks, the steam rose from the cups and into the air like Zara’s fears while she pondered Suzanne’s wise words.
She truly did find solace in the thought that love, much like the sky, remained constant despite the distance.
She just needed to try and really believe it, from the depths of her soul.
They stayed at the café for hours, two souls safeguarded by their friendship.
Outside, the rain eventually stopped, and a burst of sunlight broke through the clouds.
The warm, golden light filtering through the café’s windows painted the room in a soft, amber glow as the gentle hum of conversation and clinking of dishes created a comforting ambiance.
It was then that Zara noticed how Suzanne’s gaze once again became a little distant, and her fingers began tracing the rim of her cup absently.
‘Hey, I can see you’re worried about something.’ Zara leant forward, closing a little of the distance between them. ‘Please tell me what it is, so I can help you.’
Suzanne looked away from the window, her emerald eyes glistening like shards of sea glass.
Then she took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as if trying to release the weight of her worries.
‘It’s Mark,’ she finally said, his name falling heavily between them.
‘His drinking, it’s gotten worse, and I don’t know how to help him. ’
Zara’s heart ached at the vulnerability in Suzanne’s voice, so different from her usual upbeat demeanour. ‘Oh, Suz, I knew something was up.’ She reached across the table and placed her hand over her best friend’s. ‘I’m here for you, in any way I can be.’
‘Thanks, Za. I wasn’t going to say anything, but you know me too well to hide it — and you know well what Mark’s been through, with all these years of Kelly keeping Jasmine from him.’
Zara took a moment to gather the right words.
‘You’re one of the strongest people I know,’ she said earnestly.
‘But you can’t carry this burden for him.
You need to maybe try and talk to him openly about this, let him see how his actions are affecting not just himself, but those around him, especially you. ’
The buzz of other patrons in the café faded into the background as their conversation became the sole focus, and in that pivotal moment, they became two best friends navigating the rough winds of life together.
‘Talking to him about this is tough,’ Suzanne replied slowly. ‘But I know you’re right. And I have tried broaching the subject, in one way or another, but every time I bring it up, he shuts down, and we just end up arguing.’
‘Then maybe it’s time to change tactics,’ Zara suggested gently. ‘Find a moment when things are calm, when he hasn’t been drinking, and simply let him know that you’re there for him, no matter what. And I think it might help him to open up to you.’
Suzanne’s smile was fragile but determined. ‘I suppose I could try that,’ she whispered, as if the words were a mantra she could call on for courage.
‘Yes, you can.’ Zara squeezed her hand reassuringly. ‘And I’m here for you, whenever you need, day or night, okay.’
‘Thank you, Za, for being the most amazing friend any gal could wish for.’
‘Right back at you, Suz.’
‘Please don’t tell Jay about this yet. I don’t want him saying anything to Mark before I’ve had a chance to get through to him.’ She sniffed. ‘He’ll be so mad if he finds out I’ve spilled what happens behind our closed doors.’
‘Of course, your secret is safe with me.’ And she mimicked zipping her lips to prove it.
If only she could tell Suzanne about the whopping skeleton in her own closet, but too many years of opportunity had passed by, just as they had with Jay, and she didn’t want to disappoint Suzanne by telling her something so big, all these years later.
Just like her parents, Verona Ferrara was dead.
They stayed together a while longer, until Zara’s phone rang against the worn wooden table, its melody a sudden interruption. She glanced at the screen, her fingers pausing mid-air as she recognised the number as work. With a quick, apologetic smile, she answered.
‘Hello, Zara Maverick speaking.’
‘Hi, Zara, it’s Jenna from scheduling. I’ve got a possible new allocation for you.’ Other voices echoed in the background of the call. ‘Brisbane to Prague, can you take it?’
A flutter of excitement stirred in Zara’s chest, like a flock of butterflies awakening to the first light of dawn. ‘Yes, absolutely, Jenna, when do I leave?’
‘Flight leaves day after tomorrow at nine am,’ Jenna replied efficiently.
‘Confirmed, I’ll be there,’ Zara said eagerly, already envisioning the thrilling adventure ahead.
She ended the call and turned back to Suzanne, who’d been watching her with a blend of curiosity and amusement. ‘Guess what? They’ve assigned me a flight to Prague!’ Her voice filled with effervescent delight.
Suzanne’s eyes widened in surprise and a spontaneous grin spread across her face. ‘You’re kidding? That’s my next flight too!’
‘Really?’ Zara couldn’t help but bounce slightly in her seat, revelling in the serendipity of their shared journey.
‘Truly,’ Suzanne confirmed with a nod, her earlier anxieties momentarily swept away by the tide of their shared excitement. ‘We haven’t flown together in forever!’
‘It seems like the universe is conspiring to keep us close,’ Zara mused.
‘I reckon you’re right, my gorgeous friend,’ Suzanne added with a playful wink.
They sat for a moment, relishing the synchronicity of life suddenly aligning in their favour.
Within the short silence, the air between them was charged with the promise of adventure, the kind that could only be found thousands of feet above the ground, where the clouds whispered secrets of distant lands, and mountain peaks reached for outer space.
‘Prague is going to be even more incredible now that you’re going to be with me,’ Suzanne said, leaning forward with a new twinkle in her eyes. ‘The cobblestone streets, the history, I know you’re going to adore it just as much as me. It’s honestly like stepping into another world.’