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CHAPTER 54
CASSIE
Cassie rolled her suitcase to the front door. The driver she hired had texted to say he would be forty-five minutes late. She’d still be able to catch her flight back to London, a commercial flight this time. She didn’t feel comfortable taking advantage of Justin and Lucy’s generosity again.
During her two weeks at Meraki, Cassie had established a routine. In the morning, she completed her work for Worldwide Witness, took a long walk in the afternoon, then wrote for hours into the night. The outline was complete, and she’d made good progress on the opening chapters. Tentative at first, her writing grew more confident as her ideas took shape. Her book was research-based, but she wanted Psyche’s ancient story to come alive for general readers.
Even though she was exhausted when she climbed into bed, sleep didn’t come easily. She missed Leo and not just for their lovemaking. She missed how his eyes lit up whenever he saw her, how easily he could make her laugh, and his love of Brazilian music. She found an internet music station and listened to various styles of Brazilian music while she cooked dinner every night. It made her feel closer to Leo.
During her time here, she realized that although she didn’t like Leo keeping secrets, she didn’t believe he’d ever lied to her. After two weeks of considering everything that happened, she concluded that Malcolm’s stories about Leo didn’t seem genuine.
Rubbing her finger where the engagement ring used to be, she wondered how it would be when she saw him again? Would they find their way back to each other? She stilled with an acutely vivid insight. Whether she wore a ring or not, their hearts had already joined. It was that simple. She took out her phone on impulse, her finger hovering over Leo’s number. Cassie wanted to tell him she loved him, but she’d still have to wait hours to see him if she called him now. She shoved her phone back in her pocket, resolving to call him as soon as she landed at Heathrow or, better yet, surprise him at his apartment. She smiled, imagining his face when he saw her at his door. But that was hours from now.
Cassie shook her head with a laugh. “I will drive myself crazy until I see him again,” she muttered. She walked to the window to watch the colors of the sky shift to a tinge of pink on the horizon. A few moments later, it transitioned to bright hues of red and orange. The sunset was going to be incredible tonight.
Stepping outside, she climbed a hill for the best vantage point. She took a few photos and slid the phone into the pocket of her jeans. She would miss this nightly show, but she’d be back soon to enjoy the beauty and inspiration. It was too bad she couldn’t share this special place with other scholars. Cassie took a closer look around. Why couldn’t she share Meraki with others?
It might be a terrible idea. But then again it might be an incredible idea. The space was vast and the ground was fairly level up here. What if she could create a place for others to come and share ideas? She could even make Beatrice’s books available to other Byzantine scholars. A research center would be a perfect way to honor Beatrice. Her mind went into overdrive, imagining all the things that were possible here.
The breeze whipped her hair around her face. She pulled it into a knot to get it out of the way. Plumes of dust down the road caught her eye. A car was coming up the hill. Irini had been here a couple of times, but she drove an old truck. It was too soon for her car to arrive. Who was it?
She hurried down the hillside. The car stopped at the house, the back door flew open, and a man stepped out with broad shoulders and messy hair. She couldn’t believe it. Leo was here.
She broke out into a full run, her pulse racing with each step closer to him. Leo ran to her, too. As she got closer, she could make out his wide grin and hear him calling her name.
“Leo!” she cried. “I can’t believe it!” She catapulted herself into his open arms. “You’re here.” His arms wrapped around her so tight, she never wanted him to let her go.
“I couldn’t stay away.” His eyes took in every inch of her as if it had been years since he last saw her. “I’m so sorry about everything. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’m so glad.” He leaned in to kiss her.
A strong gust of wind blew by them as the car drove away, kicking up dust and gravel. It blew around, growing bigger and surrounding them like a whirlwind.
“What is this?” she shouted, covering her face until it passed.
“Ow.” Leo rubbed his eye.
“What happened?”
He continued to rub his eye. “Something got in my eye.”
“Let’s go inside. You can wash it out.”
“I have to get the lens solution in my bag.”
“I’ll get it.” After grabbing his bag, Cassie found Leo in the bathroom washing his hands, his right eye closed. She searched through his case and found his toiletries bag.
“Thanks.” He took out his lens case and opened it. Bending over the sink, he carefully removed a contact lens. “That’s better.” He rinsed the lens in a solution and placed it back. Using eye drops, he flushed out his eye.
“What about the other eye?”
“I only wear one lens.” He stood and blinked his eyes open. The dimming sunlight shone through the small bathroom window illuminating his face.
“Only one? I thought everyone wore—” She touched his face. “Your right eye…it’s different.”
“Yeah. It’s partially blue. I wear a colored contact lens to even it out. I don’t need it to see. It’s sort of like your glasses. You don’t need to wear them all the time.”
