Page 42

Pam grabbed the box she was looking for. “Yup. Ah, Celia sends her regards.”

“Should we tell Celia I send her my regards as well?”

“Only if you mean it, Elle.”

She spotted Pam as she hopped off the stepstool with a large box in her arms. “I don’t mean her any ill-will if that’s what you mean.”

“But you’re fine with never hearing about her again.”

“Well, can’t say I’m thrilled that my ex-partner is already living with another woman. Kinda seems unfair. Then again, you were always the gregarious one.”

Pam politely ignored the implication as she wandered back into the bedroom she once called hers. The same sheets and comforter that Pam picked out were present now, but only because Elle hadn’t gotten around to replacing them yet. Should I? It didn’t bother her that she slept in the same linens that had represented her long-term relationship with Pam. But did Pam look at them and wonder if this meant Elle hadn’t moved on?

“A part of me always assumed you had somebody in another country, anyway.”

Elle hadn’t been expecting that. “You’re serious? I never cheated on you.”

“Oh, maybe not cheat on me, but…” Pam sighed, restructuring how she held the box in her arms. “I at least assumed you had met someone on your multiple trips to Asia. Someone you turned to when I left.”

“No.”

Was Pam disappointed to discover that she was wrong? That Elle didn’t have someone “waiting in the wings” when her ex broke up with her? Guess I am too.

“If it makes you feel any better…” Elle followed Pam out into the living room, turning off the bedroom light behind her. “I am seeing someone right now.”

“Oh! Someone I know?”

“I hope not. She’s from Singapore.”

Pam opened her mouth, probably to say something saucy.

“No, I didn’t know her before you broke up with me. Save it, Pam.”

“So, when’s the wedding?”

“We’ve only been dating a couple of weeks. I met her through work, so we’re keeping it on the down low.”

“Really? Is she on the Asian board? Is there even an Asian board? I have no idea how airlines are structured.”

“She’s an employee.” Elle didn’t hurry her ex out the door, although Pam continued to stand with a box in her arms. “She, uh, doesn’t know I’m technically in charge.”

It was something Elle had to get off her chest, but there was nobody else to confess to. I can’t tell Isaac, that’s for sure. The man had a big mouth. And I can’t tell my few other friends, because they all work in the industry. Pam was neutral. Even when they were together, Elle often told her the things she wasn’t technically supposed to be doing at her job.

“Oh, Elizabeth. Of course it’s someone who works for you.”

“Hey, you don’t have to call me by my real name to get the point across.”

“It’s not a stewardess, is it?”

Elle hadn’t expected Pam to guess so quickly, let alone sound so upset about it.

“It is, isn’t it?”

Elle cleared her throat.

“Well, at least it’s someone who understands your schedule, but what will happen to you if it gets more serious? Or someone discovers you two having an affair? That can’t be good.”

“Nothing will happen to me,” Elle assured her ex. “To her, though…”