Part 11: - "Mothers Pride"
After who knows how long, he finally arrives at the capital of Maine. It is early in the morning, and by his calculations he has been on the road for 7 hours and 15 minutes. He tries to figure out whether he shall get a few hours sleep, or not. De decides not to. So he keeps driving until he reaches the little yellow house where Sarah's mother lives. He has been here before about two years ago, and when he has been someplace once, he doesn't forget where it is or how to get there.
Half an
hour later he finally dares to walk up to the house to press the
doorbell. Her little cute mother comes out on the doorstep and
looks as if she is pretty angry with him.
- So, there you are! I kind of expected you to come
around.
- Is Sarah here? he almost whispers.
- She is not here right now, but out with some man
from high school. Very decent man. She never came home last
night.
- I really need to talk to her...
- She doesn't want to talk to you or see you ever again. Have you
any idea what you've done? Leave this house! Haven't you caused
enough pain?
He cracks up and she takes pity on him. He
tells his side of the story, and when he is almost done he
notices an old picture of Sarah with her dog hanging on the wall.
He can't help but smile.
- She is so good to everyone, he sighs
with tears in his eyes. - All I ever wanted was for
her to find a nice guy, fall in love and get married. I never
thought this guy could be me...
- You really love her, don't you? the old woman
replies after a while.
- I didn't really know that I did until a few hours
ago. Someone who used to be a part of my life before I ended high
school made me aware of it, he whispers and blushes
again.
- You know, he starts. - I
can't remember the last time I blushed, he
continues and they both laugh.
A cup of tea later she smiles at him and
says:
- To tell you the truth, Sarah isn't here. You just
missed her, she is on her way back to New York to pick up her
things. She can't bare living next to you knowing that what you
shared didn't mean anything...
- But it does! he objects.
- I think you should tell her that...
He gives her a warm hug and thanks for the help. Even though he
is stuck in a queue on his way back to New York it feels like it
only takes a minute, not 9 hours. Exhausted he arrives at h er
place and finds the lights on. His heart beats faster and faster,
and his knees shivers.
- Come on, do it, you chicken! he tells
himself.
Even though he sounds pretty convincing to
himself, he turns back and decides to wait until she has had a
chance to calm down a little more. He walks in the door at his
New York home and takes a shower.
- This is it, George. It's now or never,
he says, gets out of the shower and puts on a pair of new black
jeans and a tight T-shirt. He smiles to himself in the mirror -
still a little insecure - and walks out of the bathroom ready to
face the woman on his mind...