Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
There’s a congresswoman from Kansas who has been a proponent of climate change legislation. I’m looking forward to talking with her. A schoolteacher from Iowa is joining us. And then there’s Grim, who I can only assume, as former special ops, could survive on Mars if he had to. Antarctica isn’t space, but there is more of it that has never been seen by human eyes than any other place on Earth. Close enough.
“Gentlemen,” Dr. Larnyard says in his clipped British accent. “Shall we proceed?”
I nod, tossing a cup of long-gone-cold coffee in the trash, when my phone rings. It’s on silent, but it’s Lennix. I assigned a picture of us from the tulip field to her contact. She’s looking into the camera, standing in front of me with my arms wrapped around her. I’m looking down at her like none of the glorious flowers around us is worth a glance when she’s with me. That’s how I felt. I’ve wanted to talk to her all day.
“Kingsman,” Grim says sharply, glancing at my phone. “It’s time. Let’s get back to it.”
I look from my phone to the map of Antarctica on the wall, tiny red flags marking the spots where we’ll collect data and samples for our research. Gritting my teeth, I send the call to voice mail.
___________
“Hey, there’s been a change of plans,” Lennix says on her voice mail when I finally get to listen. “I’m leaving, um, today. I’m trying to get an earlier flight out. Mr. Nighthorse needs me there by Friday. There’s this special town hall meeting he’s called, and he wants me to speak. I was hoping to see you before my flight leaves. Maybe I still can. I may not be able to get a flight out until tomorrow anyway.”
She pauses, and I hear the shaky breath she draws. “Look, I haven’t forgotten what you said. You know. About not getting attached. About walking away, even if it feels like more. I just wanted to tell you that it, well, it does feel like more. It feels like…”
Everything. It feels like everything.
The whisper comes from a subterranean place inside me.
“Anyway,” she continues, “I wanted you to know that this week with you was really special to me. I don’t regret one minute of it.”
Her broken laugh comes over the phone. “Guess we never got that canal ride, huh?” she says softly. “If we never see each other again, I’m glad it was you. I’m glad you were my first, and I’ll never forget you, Doc. Goodbye.”
I’ve listened to Lennix’s message a dozen times since the meeting broke. Since I rushed to Heathrow for an earlier flight back to Amsterdam. Since I landed, caught a cab, and generally bent and broke every rule to get here in record time.
“Here” is the hostel where Lennix has been staying. I’ve called her several times and kept getting voice mail. She said she was trying to get an earlier flight out. Maybe she didn’t. Maybe she’s still here. Maybe…
“Maxim?” Kimba asks the question from the top of the steps leading from their hostel. She and Vivienne meet me at the street, their glances as curious as they are cautious.
“Is she gone?” I ask. No need for pleasantries. They know why I’m here.
“Yeah,” Vivienne answers first. “She found a flight. She’s on her way to Oklahoma.”
“Dammit.” I punch my fist into my palm. “I’ve been calling her and keep getting voice mail.”
“Phone probably turned off for the flight,” Kimba says. She glances up the street and then, after a brief hesitation, back to me. “Look, we like you, Maxim.”
“Thank you,” I reply, braced for their “but.”
“But,” Kimba continues, “we don’t want to see our girl hurt. You know?”
“I won’t hurt her.”
Won’t it hurt when she finds out who you are? a little sanctimonious voice asks.
She does know who I am.
Kimba and Vivienne make me feel as bad as my guilty conscience with their pointed stares and sighs.
“You won’t mean to hurt her,” Kimba says. “But when a guy says this doesn’t mean anything—”
“I never said that.” I suck my teeth, exasperated. “We both have huge things going on that require our complete focus.”
“Hey, I get it,” Vivienne says with a shrug. “But she’s a special girl.”
“I know that.”
“So don’t expect her to stay unattached,” Kimba picks up, “while you roam the globe hunting for icebergs.”
I don’t reply, but the thought of someone else touching Lennix, of her hair on someone else’s pillow, of someone else making her tea the morning after—it makes me want to break something. It makes me want to abandon the trip that has been in the works for a year and fly to Oklahoma.
But I can’t. I won’t.
“We gotta go,” Vivienne says. “A few souvenirs to get before we leave.”
“Oh,” Kimba says over her shoulder as they start down the street. “Tell David I had a great time and goodbye.”