The Heart Break Vacation

Epilogue

Oliver

"I want a divorce Oliver!" Katherine yelled through the bathroom door. "Fine, ok whatever." I yelled back stepping out of the shower. A file of papers were tossed under the door, hitting my foot "you mean now?" "Yes I mean now Oliver, I'd like to start my week divorced." "Then toss me a pen." It was quickly rolled under and so I signed tossing both back under the door. After running gel through my hair I walked into the living room to literally find half of the stuff missing. I walked into the bedroom and opened the closet and all of her clothes were gone. I checked the kitchen and the laundry room... all of her things were gone.

My phone started ringing, I didn't recognize the number but I answered anyway. "Hello?" "Oliver," I nearly dropped the phone "Charlotte... what where... how are you," "I'm good, how are you?" I looked around my half empty house "um... I'm... I'm ok." "Well good, so I have some news that you may not care to hear but I want you to hear it from me..." "what?" She was quiet on the other end "I'm getting married... tomorrow actually..." I sat down in the spot that used to sit a chair "really?" "Yeah... look I know all those years ago we said that when we'd experienced life we'd come see each other or something along those lines... but I'm getting married and I'm happy, very very happy." "Well that's great... really great," "I know, and Blane had told me a few years ago you got married and so I figured what's the big deal, marry who we want, it's not like we had an obligation to each other... we were young then, not even graduated from college... we're older and wiser..." "who's the guy?" "Oscar Hildens... he's Australian," "sounds fun... wallabies and Kangaroos right?" "Yeah," she laughed "we're getting married on his parents cattle ranch, it's gorgeous, I hadn't realized how beautiful the bush could be... oh there are koala's though they aren't always as friendly as you would hope." "That sounds perfect Charlotte... just perfect, I'm really happy for you." "I'm happy for you too Oliver," "um thanks... I'm going to have to go I'm about to go out for lunch... have a good wedding and congratulations." "Thank you,"

Charlotte

"You good?" Oscar asked kissing me, knocking my hat off "I am... glad to have it over with." He snickered "come on, my dads almost done on the barbie... and your mum is still trying to talk to me about a wedding at that hotel in Florida..." I raised an eyebrow "the Breakers?" He nodded "bloody rocks..." I burst out laughing "god I love you..." he kissed me holding me from behind "I'll go relieve your mother from mine..." he nodded "she'd appreciate that." I walked into the house and back into the kitchen where my mother was once again trying to bring up the Breakers "mom, would you please stop... the wedding is tomorrow, and you aren't even from Florida your from Connecticut, please stop... and please don't bribe Oscar and I like you do to Camilla and Carleton..." she sighed "I just want the best Charlotte." I rolled my eyes "mom you have somehow managed to take my small intimate wedding and turned it into a highly exclusive event that has had people sending extravagant engagement gifts to secure an invite... by your standards this is the very best, so why are you still pushing a common wedding at the Breakers when I'm having a unique destination wedding that has taken the guests several days to get here? Magazines for some reason have been calling me trying to get an exact location... society news mom... we aren't that important, so I commend you on your marketing skills and beg you to sit down and stop haranguing Louisa." My mother looked sore because I called her out and Louisa was trying to not laugh. "Have it your way Lotte... I'm just glad you're finally getting married... settling down." Oscar burst out laughing as he grabbed a beer from the fridge "Victoria, I doubt we'll ever really settle down... Lotte's caught wanderlust..." my mother smiled meekly "at least she'll have you to keep her out of trouble, she's always been a bit of trouble maker." Oscar handed me a bottle of beer "but she's worth the trouble." I smiled as he wrapped his arms around me and the sun set on the Australian outback.

This was it, this was what I needed. Had I not agreed to go on that stupid vacation all those years ago I would never have had the courage to do any of this. I wouldn't be marrying Oscar and I never would have had a book of my photos published. Sure I'd have a few less scars but I never would have had so many exciting adventures so many stories to tell. I'm happy now. Over the moon, and so my life goes on with Oscar and our adventures in what can only be described as the perfect permanent vacation.