Page 99 of AMS.TER.strum

Corrie sends me a shy smile, her gaze darting from me to the walls to the window to the ceiling to the bed like a ping-pong ball. It finally lands on my eyes that never moved from her. I want to take her in my arms again and just hold her. Tell her that many good changes are on the way, but then she speaks.

‘I missed you…’

‘I missed you, too. All three. I almost died when I found out Otto was in the hospital.’

‘All behind us now. Be ready for more kid-related scares to come, since it looks you’re gonna stick round.’

Is she doubting I will be?

‘We have to rephrase that last part: I will be around. Here for the long haul. You’re my neighbour now.’

‘Love-of-your-life neighbour?’

‘As first heard on Gwen Maloni’s show.’

She chuckles. ‘Then it must be true.’

I get closer and finally take her in my arms. ‘You are the dream, Corrie. You and the guys sleeping out there. Without you three, the other dream is just work.’

‘A work you love.’

‘I do love what I do. It’s what I always wanted. But it’s meaningful when you three are in it, and I will bring both dreams together.’

She lifts on her toes. ‘Pinky promise?’

As we lose ourselves in the kiss, seeking the reassuring closeness, there’s no doubt in my mind it will work out; we will work out. Although there are logistics to be taken into account, our bond is too strong to break, despite all the Aarons and Gwens and Wandas of this world.

The bridge that unites the shores is stronger than the waves raging under it, and we have already braved several storms.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Corrie

‘To the two of you!’ Bea lifts her cocktail glass, the raspberry of her kir royale languidly rolling on its bottom, as Dory and Lola second her words.

I join the toast, drunk already without having taken a sip. Silence follows the clinking, but it’s only for a few moments. News has been piling up in the couple of weeks we haven’t met. Finally, we managed to coordinate our schedules and gather for the long-overdue update. Initially, I was pushed to the top of the agenda, as the one with more news to share, but I asked for the order to be reserved. I’m dying to hear the extended version of what’s happening in my friends’ lives. We ended up settling for the middle way: one bit from one of them, alternated by updates from me.

I prompt one of the three to start. ‘Who goes first?’

Lola shrugs. ‘Fine, my news is the shortest, so I might as well… The business is blooming—pun intended. Kalvin is thriving, my family still disapproves of my life choices, but guess what, I have great friends. The end!’

We drink to the latter and to her successes—present and future—and to Kalvin.

It’s my turn, so I take a quick sip and send them the biggest smile.

‘Things are great…’

‘Phew, we definitely needed the clarification.’ Bea wipes her forehead in mock relief.

‘Fine…after schools close for the summer, we’ll go meet Luuk and ride along for the tour like proper groupies.’

‘That’s amazing!’ Dory says. ‘What will you do about work?’

‘I’ll take some unpaid leave, and see how I want to proceed professionally. Maybe I will finally start getting back to event planning. I’ve been checking the possibilities of working remotely, and things look pretty promising.’

‘Maybe I’ll apply for your slots at UN-tourist…’ Bea sighs.

‘Why?’ Lola voices our joint question, although we do have an idea.