“Thanks for taking me,” said Jessa.
“Of course I’d take you,” said Noah. “No thanks needed.”
Jessa could see he was down, but she didn’t know how to make it better. He didn’t want her to leave, and she didn’t want to go either, but they had no choice. She slipped her arms around his waist, hugging him close. He nuzzled her neck, kissing her cheek lightly.
“I love you,” she said, not pulling away; she merely held him tighter.
“I know. I love you,” said Noah, burying his face against her neck and not letting go.
“I’ll see you very soon now; we can count those days down easily,” said Jessa soothingly as she pulled back to look at his face.
“I know it’s not much now but already thinking about next time,” he said.
“Yeah, we have...what three weeks? And then you must go again,” said Jessa.
Noah sighed. “Yeah, I get three weeks with you when I get back.”
“Let’s try not to think about that yet,” said Jessa. “Our countdown is only nine days now; that’s all we’re thinking about.”
“Nine days,” repeated Noah, kissing her.
“Let’s get you home,” he said, moving to take her suitcase.
“Home is with you,” said Jessa.
“To your other home then,” Noah said, smiling.
Jessa smiled and took a last look around his hotel room to see if there was anything she’d left behind.
“If you leave anything, I’ll bring it to you,” said Noah.
“I know,” she said.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, and suddenly time was ticking. She knew she had the drive to the airport with him, and that was it. He couldn’t come to the gate with her so they would say goodbye in the departures area, and she’d need to wait nine more days to hold him.
She was quiet in the car, as was Noah, and she hated that the airport was so close to the city; it all seemed too quick. She needed to touch him, reaching out to stroke his shoulder as he drove, and he glanced at her with a smile.
As he parked and then moved to get her suitcase out of the trunk, she got out of the car, throwing her arms around him and bursting into tears.
“Oh, Jessa,” he murmured, holding her close, soothingly rubbing her back.
She’d been so strong up until that moment. He knew she’d been struggling just as he had, but she’d been strong. She’d kept reminding him how short the countdown was, and he’d appreciated it. He stood there holding on to her as she cried into his shirt, whispering words of comfort and letting her know he loved her. If he could keep her with him, he would. She was his home; so even far away from Redhill, he was home because he had Jessa with him.
“I’m sorry,” murmured Jessa.
“Shhh, it’s okay, don’t apologize,” he said, softly kissing her cheek.
“Just go...don’t come in, just go,” said Jessa tearfully.
“Not going to happen,” said Noah. “Is that really what you want?”
He looked into her eyes, and she shook her head miserably.
“I want you to come with me,” she said.
“Then why are you telling me to leave?” he asked gently.
“Because I shouldn’t be doing this. I know it’s not long now; I shouldn’t be crying and upsetting you,” said Jessa.
“How can I make it better?” he asked, stroking tears from her cheeks.
“You can’t, because I’ll miss you, and I won’t get to hold you or kiss you for nine whole days now, and then I have to do this all again when you leave again,” said Jessa.
“I thought we weren’t thinking about that part,” he said.
“I lied. I wanted to cheer you up. I didn’t want you to be sad,” said Jessa.
Noah chuckled. “You are so sweet.” He hugged her tightly and then kissed her cheek.
“Let’s go inside; it'll be more comfortable than out here,” he said.
“Okay,” she said.
Together they made their way to the departures hall, and the moment Jessa saw the bathrooms, she disappeared to splash some water onto her face. Joining Noah again, she pointed out a few seats, and he kissed her hair, going over with her and taking a seat.
Jessa leaned her head against his, and he wrapped an arm around her, kissing her cheek and temple over and over.
“I’ll see you so soon you won’t have time to miss me,” he said with a soft smile as he moved and lifted her chin so he could look at her.
Jessa chuckled. “I’ll miss you in two seconds.”
“Me too,” he said.
“I’ll talk to you when you land, and soon it’s my turn to come here and fly straight to you,” said Noah.
“I’ll be waiting,” said Jessa, kissing his lips.
Noah merely pulled her in for another kiss, and she smiled, tightening her hold around him.
“I love you so much. I’ll be thinking about you, all day every day,” he said.
“I love you so much, and I’ll be doing the same. I never stop thinking about you,” said Jessa.
It was with a heavy heart that Noah walked her to the departures area, and she’d then disappear through security and he’d have to deal with another separation from her.
Jessa hugged him tightly, pulling back and looking into his eyes.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you,” said Noah, caressing her cheek.
He kissed her forehead, both cheeks, and then her lips, trying to put all his love for her into one kiss.
Jessa smiled, nuzzling his neck as they breathlessly parted.
“Was that appropriate for a public location?” she asked with a teasing glint in her eye.
“I don’t care,” said Noah with a smile.
Jessa kissed him once more, lingering against his lips.
“I’ll see you soon. Single digits now, just over a week and you’re home with me,” said Jessa.
“I’ll see you soon. I can’t wait,” said Noah.
He bit his lip, emotional as he thought about the fact that in just moments, he’d have to let her go.
“Go catch your flight; you’ll need time to go through security and everything,” he said, squeezing her hand and letting go.
Jessa saw he was struggling, and he tried to avoid her gaze, looking at the ground.
“I love you,” said Jessa.
“I love you too,” said Noah.
Jessa squeezed his hand, caressing his cheek lightly and taking a deep breath before turning and starting to walk toward the secure area, getting her boarding pass and passport ready for check-in. She looked back, seeing Noah was tearful, wiping tears off his cheeks. She couldn’t walk away. She stopped, walking back to him.
“Jessa, what?” he asked, surprised.
“Please...please. Don’t cry, please,” said Jessa, snuggling against him.
“I’m making it hard for you. I’m sorry,” said Noah.
“Don’t apologize. I just...please, I need to see you smile,” said Jessa, trying not to lose control of her own emotions.
Noah nodded, understanding. He tried to get his emotions in check, and he kissed her cheek, walking with her back to the last point he could get to within the airport.