Staring at herself in the mirror, Jane checked her make-up and straightened her shirt. She looked as good as she’d done in years, more effort had gone into this outfit than anything else she’d done for Maura in the longest while.

Taking a deep breath, she hoped that Maura was still sitting on the balcony as she pulled open the door.

Maura was still sitting outside, watching as the ship pulled away from the dock and set sail for their dream cruise.
Jane paused and took in the vision before her, Maura’s long honey blonde hair being gently tossed by the sea breeze as the sun set behind her. In that one moment, she realised how lucky she was. With everything they had gone through, all the arguments, the harsh words and spiteful accusations and they had, somehow, made it out the other side.

“Good evening.” Jane said politely.

“Hi.” Maura replied, eying Jane slowly. She was stunning in a simple oxford shirt and tailored pants, had she always been that beautiful? Maura couldn’t remember.

“Is this seat taken?” Jane asked softly.

Maura giggled and shook her head; she’d caught on to Jane’s idea and ran with it.

“Please….” she said, gesturing to the seat.

As Jane sat down, she introduced herself, taking Maura’s hand and kissing it tenderly.

For four hours, Jane and Maura talked, laughed and began the process of getting to know each other all over again.

———————————————————————–

In a brightly lit office in Washington, Chip Jenson watched the door. His client was late. He hated that. His military background had instilled in him tidiness, punctuality and efficiency and he saw no reason why other people couldn’t be the same.

“Mr Jenson, your next client is here.” His secretary buzzed through to him.

“About damn time too.” Chip growled, “Send him in.”

He sat back in his chair and glared at the huge oak door.

“Hey Chip!” A middle aged man entered and smiled warmly. “Sorry man, the cops have shut most of downtown and I got caught up in the jam.”

Chip smiled, this was the easiest money he’d ever made. Steve Kelly came on these trips every year. He paid his money in full, in cash the day before they left and he never, ever shot a single thing. Then again, he wasn’t surprised; Chip doubted that Steve had killed so much as a spider in his life. He was boring, your typical suburban, middle aged man. He got up, went to work, probably went home to his wife and kid and played a bit of baseball at the weekends.
Chip had asked him many times about how he could afford these trips but Steve had refuse to tell him, in fact, he refused to tell him anything about himself at all and so Chip had filled in the blanks himself.