Chapter 3Before the Light Fades

"Julian, dear," I began, "I heard the weather in England is going to take a sudden dip because of some air mass."

"I've packed an extra down vest for you."

"There's gum in the left pocket of your backpack. Your ears always pop on the plane; chewing a piece should help."

"Don't stay up too late. Hasn't your heart been bothering you recently? Try to get some sleep—"

"It's a polar continental air mass."

His words cut me off. I looked up slowly, meeting his clear, sharp eyes. The saying "time is kind to the beautiful" was certainly true for Julian. His brow was still strong and defined; though he was nearing middle age, time seemed to have left no mark on him.

Which meant the chill he'd carried since his youth could still pierce straight through to my heart.

He was correcting the imprecision of my first sentence. The "some air mass" over England was a "polar continental air mass."

But I was just trying to show I cared. I lowered my eyes and straightened his tie.

"I know, I know."

"Be safe on your trip, Julian."

He walked past me. He thought I had a quiet afternoon ahead of me.

He was wrong.

He was flying across the Atlantic for an academic conference.

I had a conference of my own to attend.

My pre-operative consultation.

The doctor had told me the surgery had only a twenty percent chance of success.