Divine Affinity

53

A week later...

Eddie was standing in front of the window, hearing snippets of the conversation of Anna and Gail in the background. Their voices drifted through the air, a blend of concern and laughter. Outside the window, the world moved at its usual frantic pace. Cars honked, people hurried along the bustling streets, and birds chirped in the nearby trees. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the pavement. His mind mimicked the chaos outside. He had yet spoken to Anna, and it was eating him alive. Eddie knew he needed to have that difficult conversation with her but with her mother in the hospital and Anna escaping every opportunity he tried to create, it had been impossible. Adding to his turmoil was the image of Eiry waiting for him in Maui. Her gentle smile and warm embrace seemed like a distant dream compared to the current reality he found himself in. He longed to be by her side, to bask in the tranquility of the ocean and the warmth of her presence. He felt a mix of sadness, guilt, and yearning wash over him. To make it all worse, he was leaving to Denmark the next day which meant he would leave without having a final conversation with Anna. Eddie took a deep breath and turned around.

"I need to go home." He said, breaking the conversation between the sisters. Anna got up and walked up to him.

"Can't you wait a bit more?" She ran her hands over his torso in a gentle caress, but Eddie pulled away. He had been avoiding her touch ever since.

"I still have to pack." He claimed looking into her eyes. "Anna... your mother is fine..." He whispered so Gail wouldn't overhear what he was saying. "We need to talk."

"But not tonight, right?" Anna smiled and cupped his face between her hands. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"Yes." Eddie was firm. "Anna..." He tried again but, unannounced, she pressed her lips against his. He didn't even close his eyes.

"I'll be home to have dinner with you." Anna smiled while patting his cheek. "I love you." Eddie took a deep breath.

"I see you later." He walked around her and then stopped in front of Gail. "See you." Eddie smiled. "I hope your mother gets better soon."

"She will." Gail smiled back and then got up from the chair. "Have a nice trip." She kissed Eddie's cheek and he nodded.

"Not for the best reason..." Anna approached them and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder.

"And he doesn't want me to go with him." She pouted to her sister. Gail noticed how, gently, Eddie gotten rid of her sister's arms.

"I gotta go." He softly bowed and started walking away.

Gail watched as Eddie quickly exited the waiting room, his discomfort obvious as he slipped away from her sister Anna's embrace. Over the past week, Gail had observed how he had become increasingly evasive with Anna, showing support but keeping a distance that was unusual for the loving boyfriend she was accustomed to seeing. As Eddie disappeared from sight, Gail turned to Anna, seeing the worry etched on her face. Without saying a word, Gail took Anna's hand and gently squeezed it.

"What's going on?" Gail asked. She made her sister sit by her side.

"I don't understand your question." Anna responded, but deep inside she knew what her sister meant.

For a second Anna thought about how Gail was not even at their home and still noticed something was wrong. Eddie had become distant. Despite sharing the same bed, he seemed to shy away from any physical contact, sleeping at the farthest corner as if afraid to even brush against her. She tried to make love to him, but he always had an excuse. Anna knew that something significant had occurred in Hawaii, something that had caused Eddie to have a change of heart. She knew deep inside that seeing Eiry had drifted him away from her. She had always been a ghost in their relationship. And since he knew her mother was going to be alright that he had been trying to have a more serious conversation, but she had managed to avoid it.