Read Online Old Lovers Don't Die by Paul G Anderson - Free Book Online
Authors: Paul G Anderson
Tags: australia, South Africa
Ads: Link
intently looking at him. As he took both the suitcases out to the car, out of the corner of his eye he could see that she had moved to the front window, her eyes still watching him intently.
As he half ran up the front steps not wanting to make eye contact with her, he recognized part of him did not want to leave her either.
“Okay, I’m already to go. Have you said goodbye to Tia?” Renata called out from her bedroom.
“Yes mum, I have.”
The drive to the airport was well-known to each of them. They had both done it a number of times together and usually chatted all the way. This time they hardly said more than a few words to each other. Christian could understand and feel his mother’s anxiety over this trip to Africa. She had not been concerned about his last trip to South Africa, until he had been kidnapped and held to ransom by a white supremacist organization. She in the end had been the key to their freedom, supplying the encrypted key to the genetic research that had eventually led to their release. Those memories obviously were still fresh in her mind.
“You sure you don’t want me to come in while you check-in.”
“No, I’ll be fine if you just drop me at the Qantas departure point, and that way we’ll both avoid any tears.”
Renata pulled up between two taxis and flipped the boot open. Then getting out of the car, she walked around to the boot. They then both lifted the suitcases out in silence. Stacking them on the sidewalk, Christian looked around for a trolley. As he did so, his mother tugged at his shirtsleeve.
“I want you to take this, honey. It’s US$500 that I’ve had and it might come in handy somewhere. I also joined you up to the frequent-flier lounge. Now give me a hug and I’m going to get back in the car and leave you because I don’t want you having your last image of your mum with tears in her eyes.”
“Thanks mum – you’re fantastic and I will e-mail and Skype you when I can.”
Renata turned and quickly closed the boot of the car and with one final wave, Christian watched her disappear down the exit ramp and into the traffic again.
Christian checked his bags in at the Qantas desk. His first stop was Singapore; he had decided just a stop rather than a stopover, even though he knew that would make it an extremely long flight. He was delighted therefore when the lady behind the Qantas check in counter looked him up and down and said,
“Dr. de Villiers, with your height I think we need to find you extra legroom in an emergency exit seat. Let me have a look and see what’s available.”
As she checked on the computer, Christian thought it would be a great start to the adventure to have at least a comfortable seat.
“I’m assuming as a doctor that you are happy to act in the event of an emergency.”
“Yes, of course,” Christian said trying to contain his smile.
“Well that’s done then and all the way through to London – so enjoy your trip. Is it business or pleasure?”
“A bit of both, I’m hoping,” said Christian.
As Christian walked into the frequent-flier lounge, it reminded him how different this was to travelling as a student. There was a bank of computers for businessmen, multiple coffee machines, tables with newspapers and magazines on them—more comfort than he had been used to in his backpacking days. At a quick glance, all the tables looked like they were occupied. Then he spotted one table, with a newspaper and half a cup of unfinished coffee on it; either someone had just left or if they had not, he hoped they wouldn’t mind him joining the table.
He put down his overnight bag next to the table and checked his iPhone. Three messages were blinking. Obviously one from his mother, and one from his good friend Greg, the other from Sophia. He knew his mum’s message would be: ‘ I’ll miss you, travel safely ’ so he started with Sophia’s. ‘Be confident. You never know who you will meet and have fun’, i t read. He smiled
As he half ran up the front steps not wanting to make eye contact with her, he recognized part of him did not want to leave her either.
“Okay, I’m already to go. Have you said goodbye to Tia?” Renata called out from her bedroom.
“Yes mum, I have.”
The drive to the airport was well-known to each of them. They had both done it a number of times together and usually chatted all the way. This time they hardly said more than a few words to each other. Christian could understand and feel his mother’s anxiety over this trip to Africa. She had not been concerned about his last trip to South Africa, until he had been kidnapped and held to ransom by a white supremacist organization. She in the end had been the key to their freedom, supplying the encrypted key to the genetic research that had eventually led to their release. Those memories obviously were still fresh in her mind.
“You sure you don’t want me to come in while you check-in.”
“No, I’ll be fine if you just drop me at the Qantas departure point, and that way we’ll both avoid any tears.”
Renata pulled up between two taxis and flipped the boot open. Then getting out of the car, she walked around to the boot. They then both lifted the suitcases out in silence. Stacking them on the sidewalk, Christian looked around for a trolley. As he did so, his mother tugged at his shirtsleeve.
“I want you to take this, honey. It’s US$500 that I’ve had and it might come in handy somewhere. I also joined you up to the frequent-flier lounge. Now give me a hug and I’m going to get back in the car and leave you because I don’t want you having your last image of your mum with tears in her eyes.”
“Thanks mum – you’re fantastic and I will e-mail and Skype you when I can.”
Renata turned and quickly closed the boot of the car and with one final wave, Christian watched her disappear down the exit ramp and into the traffic again.
Christian checked his bags in at the Qantas desk. His first stop was Singapore; he had decided just a stop rather than a stopover, even though he knew that would make it an extremely long flight. He was delighted therefore when the lady behind the Qantas check in counter looked him up and down and said,
“Dr. de Villiers, with your height I think we need to find you extra legroom in an emergency exit seat. Let me have a look and see what’s available.”
As she checked on the computer, Christian thought it would be a great start to the adventure to have at least a comfortable seat.
“I’m assuming as a doctor that you are happy to act in the event of an emergency.”
“Yes, of course,” Christian said trying to contain his smile.
“Well that’s done then and all the way through to London – so enjoy your trip. Is it business or pleasure?”
“A bit of both, I’m hoping,” said Christian.
As Christian walked into the frequent-flier lounge, it reminded him how different this was to travelling as a student. There was a bank of computers for businessmen, multiple coffee machines, tables with newspapers and magazines on them—more comfort than he had been used to in his backpacking days. At a quick glance, all the tables looked like they were occupied. Then he spotted one table, with a newspaper and half a cup of unfinished coffee on it; either someone had just left or if they had not, he hoped they wouldn’t mind him joining the table.
He put down his overnight bag next to the table and checked his iPhone. Three messages were blinking. Obviously one from his mother, and one from his good friend Greg, the other from Sophia. He knew his mum’s message would be: ‘ I’ll miss you, travel safely ’ so he started with Sophia’s. ‘Be confident. You never know who you will meet and have fun’, i t read. He smiled
Similar Books
