Entangled Hearts

  “We will,” Aviana nods.

  They all exchange another round of hugs and congratulations, relaxed smiles on everyone’s faces now.

  “Now we can show you the rest of the house,” Weldon says excitedly, and they start in on the rest of the tour.

  *

  By the time she makes it back to her place later that afternoon Ciana feels many things settling on her at once - the happiness of Weldon and Aviana’s news, the satisfaction still lingering of having completed her semester and being on the cusp of starting the next year. She’s been on the verge of making more plans, too, still always looking ahead, dreaming further.

  Ciana gives herself one brief moment, a second or two to let herself contemplate the ‘what ifs’ - what if she were the one in Aviana’s shoes, now; what if she and Weldon had made a different choice a couple of years ago and tried to make both of their dreams work at the same time. Letting herself think about that other possible reality stretches her mind and her heart in a way she doesn’t usually allow herself.

  A heaviness settles on her when she does think about it. Very quickly she realizes that to genuinely contemplate any of those alternatives would mean having to re-think everything she’s accomplished in that same time, the other relationships she’s built and the choices she’s made. And the idea of questioning everything Weldon and Aviana have made for themselves makes her heartsick in a way she hasn’t felt in a long, long time. She loves Weldon too much as a friend - loves them both, now, really - to do that to him.

  So Ciana puts all of that away. She lets it go and remembers how hard it was for her and Weldon to part ways in the way they had, but how much they’d wanted to preserve between each other in the process. She wants him to have everything he deserves, and knows he would say the same to her.

  She wishes suddenly that Landon was there, now, wishes his trip had ended the day before when it had originally supposed to.

  Ciana sits down to check her phone again. She’s amazed and thrilled that the first thing she sees is a message from Joslyn in New York telling her she’s started labor and is on her way to the hospital. She sits up straight in her seat, exclaiming out loud in her otherwise empty apartment. Suddenly she’s thrilled about so many things, wired enough to want someone to share all of them with.

  And then, as if right on cue, a key turns in the lock in the front door to her apartment and Landon walks through, his suitcase in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other.

  She stands, confused and surprised. “Landon! What...I thought your trip didn’t finish until tomorrow.”

  He comes towards her, handing over the flowers to her while unceremoniously dropping his suitcase. “I decided to cut it short after all.”

  Ciana puts the flowers on the kitchen counter and throws her arms around him instead. “Oh, I’m so glad.” He brings his arms around her and holds tightly, lifting her slightly so her feet aren’t touching the floor anymore.

  A moment later he sets her down. “They really didn’t need me for the last couple of days this time, and…” he pauses, shrugging a little. “I missed you more.”

  She can’t help the grin on her face, now. “I’m so glad you’re here. I have so much to tell you!” She pulls him into the apartment, making a beeline for the sofa, yearning to have him near again.