Page 16 of The Christmas Express
Luke answers. ‘Bryn’s message.’
‘I need to talk to you guys about Bryn, actually, it’s urgent,’ I stammer.
‘What the actual—’ Joss’s voice rings out beside us. ‘Did any of you know about this?’
‘Know about what?’ I ask. I give the crowd a quick scan for Ember and then open Bryn’s message. ‘Is this about the big surprise?’
I have to read it several times before it really registers what she’s telling us. ‘Wait, so we’re not getting a connecting flight? We’re not going to Vancouver today?’
‘We’re not getting to Vancouver until after Christmas,’ states Sara.
‘But, we’re in the cabin over Christmas.’ My brows furrow and I look to Luke like he might have the answers.
‘We’ll be in some cabins over Christmas,’ snorts Joe. I’d nearly forgotten he was even here, and I turn to him. We exchange nods of hello but then he purposefully steps back from the group, hiding in the shadow of his sister again.
Luke’s soft eyes run over my face. Does he know he makes my heart jump – still – when he does that? It’s like everyone else has left the terminal and it’s just me and him, once again. ‘I think this is Bryn’s big surprise.’
We’ve all received the same message, the details of the last leg of our journey spelled out, reservations attached.
We won’t be flying to the west coast of Canada.
We won’t be meeting Bryn here in the airport. We won’t be spending Christmas in the luxuriously large cabin covered in soft snow and sleeping under faux fur blankets.
I read aloud from the message. ‘Surprise! I know you were hoping to spend Christmas in the cabin, but you’ll just have to wait a few more days. Instead, your Canadian adventure starts here. I’ve booked three (non-refundable!) cabins on board a cross-Canada train service which leaves Toronto tomorrow morning. The journey takes four days, and my biggest wedding wish is that when you get here, you’re happy. With each other. I know that might be a lot to ask, but please leave the past in Toronto, and spend your time on the journey remembering all the things we used to love about each other. For me? Please? Sorry and love you all. Kiss kiss kiss.
‘Bloomin’ heck,’ I finish, looking at them in turn (but mainly at Luke). (My eyes keep betraying me!) ‘So, we’re spending Christmastime crossing Canada, coast-to-coast, on a train.’
I mean, in theory it actually sounds totally up my street and like a lot of fun. But, jeez Bryn. Way to try and force the reconciliation.
It’s probably a sizable train, though, right? Maybe we could take a carriage each? Not even see each other until Boxing Day? ‘Ember!’ I cry, as she walks past us and towards the exit, her baseball cap back on her head, a backpack on her shoulder, her chin dipped.
‘Ember’s here?’ Sara whirls around. ‘Bryn’s ex?’
‘Ember, stop a minute,’ I call.
Joss stands in my way. ‘Can we focus on the train situation for a second?’
‘One problem at a time,’ I tell them all. ‘She thinks Bryn still has feelings for her. She’s on her way to crash the wedding. Ember, WAIT.’
My voice can be loud when I want it to be but I didn’t mean to make everyone at baggage claim look at me – just one person. Thankfully, she stops, and turns, giving us all a tight smile.
‘Don’t go to Vancouver,’ I say, desperation in my voice. I don’t know how to stop her, but I know, I just know that Bryn wouldn’t want this right before her dream wedding. At least, the Bryn I used to know wouldn’t.
‘Just leave it, okay? Leave me to do my thing.’ Ember sighs.
‘No, this isn’t a good idea.’ I don’t know what to say, I glance around at the others, but we all share blank looks like we’re strangers, not people that once could practically read each other’s thoughts. They’re being no help at all.
‘Cali. You can’t talk me out of this,’ she says.
‘But—’
She holds up a hand. ‘No. We aren’t friends any more.’
Ember starts moving again, following the direction of a sign towards connecting internal flights.
Shiiiiiiit. I have to do something. ‘I know,’ I call out, and Ember stops again. ‘I know we aren’t friends any more. But surely we all just want to do what would make Bryn happy, right?’
‘Exactly,’ cries Ember. ‘How do you know I’m not the one who would make her happy?’
