Departure Lounge (Completed)

Reality Strikes

"Marc."

"Hey Claire, it's good to see you."

"Likewise." The atmosphere couldn't be anymore awkward, "Would you like to sit down, Manfred can you maybe get us some coffee or tea or..." I looked to Marc asking if he wanted anything specific.

"No I'm fine thanks I will only be a minute." On the inside I sighed with relief because I don't think I could handle more than a minute. "Are your parents home?"

"Actually no, mom got a 'hot new look' and dad was very appreciative so spontaneously decided to take her out."

"Date night, very nice."

"Yeah it is." Silence fell over us again. "So ho..." I started to speak the same time he did, "Please you came to me." I said allowing him to speak.

"I didn't mean to drop in announced like this but seeing as we have the DOF Gala tomorrow I thought maybe we should..."

"Oh my god that's tomorrow, I completely forgot. I mean we bought the tickets..." I stopped when I remembered that when we bought the tickets we were still very much an engaged couple, mere weeks from walking down the aisle. "We have to go right. It's the right thing to do."

"I agree. I just felt maybe we had to see each other before maybe try to make things civil between us."

"Marc I'd want nothing more than to have that." I reached over to clasp his hand in mine, "I know you must have felt betrayed and I'm truly deeply sorry for that. I can't express how sorry I am for hurting you like that but I want you to know that it was never our intention to do so."

"Stop. You're free to do whatever you want and I had no right to be such an ass about it. So I came here to apologise and hoped to ask you to tomorrow's event as my date but more importantly as my friend."

"Of course." I stood up pulling him up with me, "I'm so happy we can do this. Maybe it might be a bit awkward but I think because we both want this it could work." I couldn't believe this was happening, in one day I mended too relationships, first with my mother and now Marc. Things were looking brighter and for the first time since losing the girls, I felt truly hopeful that things are turning around.

"Okay I have to go but I will pick you at 2:00" He said as I walked him to the door.

"Perfect. I, I have to go pick out a dress." I smiled genuinely at him and he returned it.

"I'm sure you'll look great." He leaned down and gave me a small peck on my cheek, he didn't linger too long but his eyes told me he was still fighting his instincts.

"So will you. Now go, I need my beauty sleep."

Andrew Onan, the host for today's event stood at the entrance greeting everyone as they walked in, a stoutly built man with white hair and an award winning smile and personality. Marc and I met him and his wife during a one of our long-weekend getaways-a booking mix-up ended up with us sharing a beach house with the two for couple of days. It was one of the best trips we had together as couple; in fact it was the love that Andrew and Denise shared that made me decide to finally say yes to Marc and marry him. I remember thinking that I could have that connection too and maybe it wasn't perfect but we could have made it work-they made me fall in love with love again and the idea of being someone's wife and best friend.

We decided to keep in contact and invited them to the wedding though they weren't able to make it to even our engagement party, Denise was diagnosed with cancer and within two months of getting the news she lost her fight. It was a hard time for Andrew and Marc and I chose to postpone our party to be there for him. During this time Andrew decided he didn't wanted his wife's memory to not be a sad one and the DOF, Denise Onan Foundation, was born. Denise was very big on protecting the environment and this was a way to have her live on.