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“The people you spend New Year's Eve with are the people you'll spend the next year with,” his brother-in-law repeated. “It's something my mom used to say. I can't imagine spending it with anyone but you guys.”
Mokuba lifted his glass to the toast, and in principle, he agreed. He loved his brother and his brother-in-law, and their friends.
But….
There was a text.
we're not doing anything special. come by if you're in the neighborhood, lol
The off hand invitation was given because he was in Japan with his family, and she was in Dublin with hers.
Because why would a rich man want to spend a holiday with a poor woman he'd met a month ago and only spent a week with at a workshop? A woman who was smart and funny, and knew some great bands, and had freckles across her nose that danced when she laughed.
A woman with two kids, and a medical career, and no time for a man or a relationship or herself.
“I resolve to spend less time in my office and more time doing things I enjoy,” his brother said.
“Don't lie,” someone teased to the laughter of friends.
Mokuba's resolution had been to think more before acting. To be conscious of the repercussions of what he did. To look more and leap less.
mine? trying to be more spontaneous, not to be so dull
She wasn't dull. Prudent, responsible, and conscientious? Yes. Also kind, generous, and respectful. It hadn't taken a week to learn she was everything he needed. It hadn't taken more than an hour.
“...4…3…2…1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Noise makers and ‘Auld Lang Syne’ played. Couples kissed.
Her lips had been soft. Their one kiss, brief, unexpected, magical. At the airport, when they realized that his flight was Gate A and hers was Gate C. He had been trying to think of a way to spend more time with her when she suddenly surged up and kissed him. He had just just enough time to register her lips, her weight, before it was all gone and she was running for the tram.
“You look really serious,” his friend said, under the noise of the celebration, smiling. “Who are you thinking about?”
Mokuba smiled softly. “Millicent Ward. She’s the doctor I met at the conference last month. I think I really like her.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I think I really, really like her.”
“So go call her!”
“Nah. She’s with her family right now. Besides, I’d rather see her.”
His friend looked thoughtful. “Doesn’t your brother own a jet?”
“Yeah, but….” He thought about it. They did own a jet, a supersonic one at that, and Dublin was less than six hours away. “It’s New Years.”
“So?”
It was a bad idea. It was crazy and not at all thought out.
Very much leaping without even a glance.
“Hey, big bro!” He found his brother in the thick of the party. “Can I use the concord?”
“Certainly. Somewhere urgent you need to be?”
“I want to get to Dublin before midnight.”
His brother checked the time. “Hmm.” He pulled out his phone. “Yes, to you as well. How long would it take to get a flight plan to Ireland? As soon as possible. Excellent. Mokuba is on his way.” He hung up. “You have an hour to get to the airport.”
“I love you, big bro!”
“Told you,” his brother-in-law laughed. “That’s ¥10 you owe me!”
They were taking bets on him. Mokuba would have been mildly outraged if he weren’t too busy throwing together an overnight bag. Besides, did they bet that he’d break his resolution minutes after he’d made it, or on something else?
It didn’t really matter. The only thing that mattered was spending New Year’s with Milly.
He slept on the plane. He landed at 10:30pm local time. It was 7am in Japan.
“This is crazy,” Mokuba told himself again.
He picked up his phone, texted his brother his safe arrival and then took a deep breath.
How far are you from the airport?
He waited. Impatiently. Terrified. He should have thought this through. He should have considered flying across half the planet at a cost of -
how far from which airport
Dublin
…read
…typing
when are you coming? my sister can meet you there.
I’m here now. I’ll rent a car.
…read
…read
…typing
…typing
…typing
you are in Ireland now. You want to come over tonight
Fuck.
Is that a problem? I can just get a hotel room if it’s a problem.
…typing
An address appeared. usually takes just under an hour
I should have called first, he thought.
I should have asked if she was serious about inviting me.
I should have considered how she would feel about a stalker showing up at her house without warning at, shit, damn near midnight.
there’s a pub called the 4Harps on the corner. Park anyplace you find space.
The message arrived with good timing; as he turned the corner, he saw the pub’s lights. The entire town was probably there.
23:50.
Milly was standing out front.
By the time he found a space and ran back to her, he could hear people counting down.
“Mokuba, what on Earth -”
“The people you spend New Year's Eve with are the people you'll spend the next year with,” he rushed out, “and I know this is crazy, but I want to spend it with you. Is that ok? Do you want to spend it with me?”
…4
…3
“Yeah,” she said, smiling and blushing, “yeah, I do.”
He brushed her hair back with his fingers and kissed her. Softly at first, then firmer as he felt her arms slide around him.
“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”