the object of her affection chapter 18 (FINAL CHAPTER)
Hello, Idk if anyone is still reading (i did post this for the 3 people who were kind enought to relpy they were interested, after all ) but if you read this all the way through:
thank you
PLEASE feel free to let me know if you liked it, or if you didn’t, or any other thoughts about it, really, i would be delighted!
I’ll be back by christmastime with another story, this time based on jugenea (not them irl but their movies) - i would post it now but it’s set on xmas, so i’ll wait - but again, feel free to let me know if that is somehting you would like to read :)
enjoy the last chapter, finger crossed it won’t let you down!
The next morning, Susan stood by the airport gate, Oscar secured into his doggy carrier next to the rest of her luggage. Her mother, father Joseph and Connor watched over her, some more misty eyed than others, but all quite emotional in their own way.
"Do you have everything?" Mrs. Holbrook asked.
Susan nodded, but her mother didn't listen and fished out a packet of ritz crackers and seltzer water out of her giant purse. "Here. Don't believe what they say. Airplane food is still airplane food, no matter what class you're travelling. This will help you with hunger and the altitude, in case you get sick."
"Darling, she's moving out, not shipping off to war!" her husband exclaimed, before addressing his daughter. "You know I'm not good at this sentimental stuff, but I'm proud of you, and I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble. Now, go out there and prove me right."
"Thank you. I will." Susan replied, hugging her father on an impetus. In turn, he patted her on the back.
Mrs. Holbrook, at this sight, couldn't help but burst into tears, sobbing into her embroider handkerchief.
"My baby!" she jumped into her daughter's arms. "Re-member to - call. Don't forget - about your poor folks!" she blabbed through sobs, refusing to let go.
“You’re wetting her suit!” her husband said, dragging her away gently and circling his arms around her shoulders. “Come here.”
When it came his turn to say goodbye, Joseph stepped forward, a nervous smile plastered on his face.
“So ...” he began. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I do.” Susan replied. “Thank you for calling Connor.”
“I didn’t know how else to get him here. I hope you’ll forgive my unorthodox methods.”
“You’re speaking to the queen of unorthodox methods. In fact, you don’t even know the half of it.”
Joseph furrowed his brows. “Always been a woman of mystery, uh?”
“It’s part of my charm.” Susan shrugged.
“So, friends?” he extended his hand.
“Yes. Friends.” she shook his hand back, and he dragged her into a quick half-hug.
Hug over, she took the chance to change the subject. “Have you talked to Helen, by chance? I saw her at the party last night.”
“We spoke briefly.”
“Make things right with her. I think she misses you, even if it’s hard for her to admit it. She’s a swell girl, you know? I like her very much.”
“Me too.”
“Good.” she poked him playfully on the shoulder blade. “Then prove it.”
“I hope you’re right.” Joseph replied, looking wistfully into the distance.
“Was I ever wrong?”
“Some things will never change.” Joseph laughed, and Susan joined him. “Have a safe trip.” he then said, said, before kissing her on the cheek and stepping away.
When it came Connor’s turn to say goodbye, the other three decided to give the two lovers some privacy, and sat on a bench a few feet away.
“I wish you could come there with me now.” Susan sighed.
“Me too. But It’s only a couple of weeks. As soon as I sort things out with work and find a place to stay, I’ll be there. What’s that compared to three months, after all?”
“That’s different.” Susan replied. “Before, I thought you’d never come back. Now I’ll count every minute until you do.”
“I’ll call every day. And as soon as I get my ticket, I’ll give you the details.”
Susan nodded, a slight pout on her ruby lips.
“Come here.” Connor said, holding her tight and pressing a kiss on top of her head.
Their interlude didn’t last long, for it was soon interrupted by a feminine voice, announcing final boarding for Susan’s flight.
“That’s me.” Susan said, gathering her bags.
“Alright. So ...” Connor said morosely. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Two weeks” she replied, a little misty eyed.
Then, before Connor could blink, she was already at the boarding door, waving in his direction. He waved back weakly, before she disappeared altogether from his sight.
4 years later …
"Gordon Hewitt ..." the Dean of faculty called in a resounding voice, and Susan tapped her shoes impatiently, watching the fair young man in front of her stepping on the stage, before accepting his diploma and turning the tassel on his left side as per tradition.
"Susan Holbrook ..." she finally heard her name being called, and all she could hear was the pounding of her heart and her heels clacking on the wood.
After she turned took her diploma and turned her tassel, she turned around to face the crowd. Connor and her parents stood by the middle row, slighly off to the left, applauding and smiling proud. Joseph couldn't be there as much as he wish he could've come, but to be fair, he had a pretty good excuse, so she didn't hold it against him. As usual, her mother was wiping tears from her face.
Susan smiled and waved, before winking in Connor's direction, who in turn shook his head, and laughed. Until she got married, or had children, this would be the best day of her life.
* * *
After the ceremony, her parents insisted to treat her and Connor to a british style five o’clock tea in one of the best (and most expensive) tearooms in San Francisco.
"I know this isn't exactly your scene." Susan whispered to Connor as they sat down in the ornate, Victorian style room. "I told them not to go to any trouble, but you know how they are."
"It's alright." He patted her hand under the table. "It's your day."
A waiter soon arrived, and after everyone made their orders, the group fell into an easy conversation.
“So, tell me everything about the baby.” Susan told her mother. “I’m so curious.”
“Joseph didn’t tell me much, he was quite frazzled himself. All I know is, her name is Daisy, she was born yesterday at noon, and she weighs six pounds.”
“How’s Helen?”
“Good. Tough, you can imagine, with two children under the age of four, she won’t sleep for a while.”
“Oh, I must ask her to send us a picture of the children together.” she told Connor. “We haven’t seen little Joey since Christmas.”
“He’s already three feet and half. He’s gonna be tall.” Mr. Holbrook said, as though that was somehow a point of pride.
Finally, their desserts arrived – lemon tart for Connor, chocolate pudding for Susan, coconut cream pie for Mrs. Holbrook, and scones for her husband.
“How’s the pudding?” Connor asked, beginning to dig into his tart.
“Uhm, Are nuts supposed to be in this?”she replied, after a couple of spoonfuls.
“I don’t think so. Why?” her mother asked.
“There’s something crunchy down there.” she wrinkled her nose.
“Dig it up, maybe it’s a cherry.” Connor told her.
Susan inserted her spoon into the glass once again, and lifting it up she couldn’t hide her surprise. “… I don’t think cherries are supposed to sparkle.”
“Well, how did that get in there?” Connor feigned innocence, as Susan picked out the Ruby red ring and cleaned it with a napkin.
“You tell me.” she replied back.
“You said you would think about getting married only after you graduated. So, let’s do it, before you start law school.”
“But – how did you know we would come here … “ she asked before turning towards her parents. “You guys were in on this, weren’t you?”
Her parents merely shrugged, smiling from ear to ear at their cleverness.
“I have to say, mother’s poker face game has seriously improved.”
“So?” Connor asked, quite impatient. “What do you say about a summer wedding?
“Summer’s perfect.” Susan replied, putting the ring on her left finger.
And it really was.
