And If there was a tomorrow

Chapter 17

Charles' arrival at the airport was a commotion. Even after so many years missing, it seemed like some fans kept him alive in their hearts and memories. Many of them, like Kim, were able to recognize him. The fact that some people stopped him and a few of them asked to take pictures, drew the attention of others who intuitively stopped too, wondering if he was a celebrity. Linda noticed that this part of his life shouldn't be easy. Perhaps that was the reason why he moved to Brazil. Most of his books weren't translated to Portuguese, which made him less famous there. Although he was kind and polite with everyone who stopped him, except when asked about personal details of his life, Linda noticed he had an introspective and shy personality. It shouldn't be easy for him to expose himself like that. They had a lot of trouble to get to the boarding area, but they had enough time to spare, so the mission was accomplished successfully. Every time someone asked who Linda was, he just answered that she was a doctor. He didn't say her name or where she was from, but since they spoke in Portuguese, it didn't take much to figure out she was Brazilian. When they sat to wait for the boarding call, he noticed she was pensive.

─ Are you okay? ─ he asked.

─ Yes. I'm fine.

─ Look, I didn't mean to offend you or upset you by not saying who you are. It's just that I don't like to expose my life to people and to the press. Everything I say, or the information they get, becomes a headline. It's not that you aren't important to me, you are, but I don't want anyone else to find out about this, for now.

A few things caught her attention on that phase: she was important to him, this was a surprise for her, because they didn't know each other for long, but this information made her happy; he truly was a reserved person, and she considered it very smart. There was no reason for the world to know whether they were on a relationship or not, that was between them, and she had read somewhere that if you want something to last, if you want to keep it from being destroyed or envied, then keep private what's important to you. Another wise decision. But what really touched her was the fact that he was concerned about her feelings and tried to anticipate if she was upset or not. Her last partner never considered the way she felt. Ed had the theory that she was great in finding solutions within work situations, so, she'd always find the same solutions and stand anything in her personal life. He didn't understand that, at work, there were only a few hours, and it was not 24/7, different than her personal life. So, watching someone trying to explain himself about something that could potentially be bothering her, thinking on how she was feeling, was something brand new to her, but also very reassuring. But that wasn't the problem. So, she thought she should explain.

─ No, not at all. It didn't bother me. I think you're right in not saying anything. But I'm a little afraid of how my return will be. What I will find in Brazil, how my ex will react to all of this. My boss Peter and I gave an interview before I came here with you, and I understand that he is causing a lot of trouble now. So, I was thinking about that. I'm not upset with you at all. But I'm happy you were concerned with me. I'm not used with people considering my feelings.

─ That's great! I don't mean it's great that your life may be a mayhem upon your return to Brazil, but I think it's great that you're not upset with me. And I know this feeling... I'm not used to have people thinking about my well-being neither. I think that's the bad part of being the way we are, we are always thinking about others and putting ourselves last. We like taking care of others, and because of that, sometimes we attract people who just want to be cared for, and don't care about us. But, as I said, this is a learning experience for the both of us, and I think we are now reaching a new level.

The two of them laughed in complicity. Yes, one was taking care of the other, one was concerned about the other, and for the first time in their lives, it was balanced. They certainly still had a hard time in letting themselves being taken care of, in feeling vulnerable and asking for help. But as certainty and trust between them increased, it would get easier and the barriers would fall apart, and they could have a constructive relationship once and for all.