Jack, Lou, Jimmy, and the Kid stood together, the few pieces of Jack's luggage at their feet. The wind was cool and revitalizing after the hot day, and everyone seemed to be drinking in the refreshing breeze, letting it sift over their skin and through their hair. Lou had a tight hold of one of Jack's hands. They were near the dock and the water was lapping at the shore. It was a loud, strange, unfamiliar sound to Lou, but a comforting one. Jack seemed remarkably calm, a warm glow in her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. 'Even if she hadn't told me herself, I reckon I could guess by the look on her face,' Lou thought wickedly. She was delighted for her friends.

A man dressed all in blue strolled through the crowds, announcing, "Half an hour till boarding begins, ladies and gentlemen! Please have your luggage, tickets, and passports ready to be inspected."

The sun was sinking over a pale gray sky. Jack felt Jimmy move nearer, his chest pressing up against her back, an arm slipping around her waist. They shared a secret smile tinted only by a trace of sadness. So little time left. But such a beautiful night.

Jack knew she would always remember every moment of the night before with the greatest clarity, and as long as she lived she would never -- could never -- regret it. He had been so gentle, so patient, as loving and tender as if she were a sacred thing. She had been frightened at first, but he had washed away all traces of fear with the touch of his hand, his lips, his skin brushing against her own.

They all spoke of inconsequential things, as if Jack were not about to depart across an ocean thousands of miles wide and settle back into a land so far away. Jack felt traitorous, but there was no denying that she was deeply excited about going home. If she separated that from her anguish at leaving her friends and Jimmy, she could almost be happy about it. But when she remembered that these were their last few moments together, she wanted to cry. How was it possible to be so pleased to be going home and yet so agonized at leaving?

The minutes passed by, and soon another man in blue announced that it was fifteen minutes to board and all passengers should begin queuing. It was then that they all became quiet. The Kid seemed to realize his relative unimportance in this situation, and he stepped forward first, hugging Jack and kissing her cheek. "Take care of yourself, Jack. Write us often. We'll think of you."

Jack smiled thankfully and released the Kid. Lou came to her then, both of them tearing up, a painful repeat of the last time they had said goodbye. For a long time they just hugged silently. "I love you," Lou said into her friend's ear. "Thank you for your friendship."

Jack squeezed her eyes shut as the tears fell down her cheek. "I love you, too. Your friendship has done more for me than you could ever know."

They shared small kisses on the cheek, and then Lou, too, stepped away, standing by the Kid, who put a loving arm around her. They backed up and turned, leaving Jimmy and Jack alone once more.

Jimmy cradled Jack's cheek in the palm of his hand. She put a hand to his wrist and they smiled. "I will wait for you," he whispered hoarsely, "for as long as it takes."

Jack's eyes filled up again. She shook her head. "No, I can't let you do that."

"Did I ask your permission?" he teased. "I don't think I did."

"But Jimmy, I won't be back for ages. It's not fair on you."

He shrugged, as if it didn't matter to him. And it didn't. "I'll still wait. It's my choice, Jack, not yours. I don't want anyone else. I'll never want anyone else. I promise -- I'll wait as long as I have to."

"You may change your mind months down the road."

"I think you're afraid you might change your mind."

'No,' she thought, 'I'll never change my mind about you, or how I feel about you. But I couldn't bear it if you ever felt obligated to some vow you made in a vulnerable moment.' Aloud she said, "No, I won't change."

"Liar," he whispered with a rueful smile. He kissed her.

She clung to him and buried her face in his shoulder. His arms were so tight around her she could hardly breathe, but she didn't mind in the least. "I won't hold you to that promise," she murmured against his jacket, pressing her arms closer about his neck. "I won't, Jimmy, it's not fair to you."

"Damn you and your talkin' about fairness. And if you mention Lou, I swear I'll scream," he said. She laughed. His hands were gently running through her dark hair. "I don't care if you come back thirty years from now a happily married woman with ten kids -- I'll still love you, Jack."

"Ladies and gentlemen," the young man had a clipped accent similar to Jack's, "please begin forming the queue directly behind the boardwalk. This gentlemen here," he gestured to an older man standing beside him, "will be examining your tickets and passports. Please begin queuing as quickly as possible."

Jimmy considered not releasing Jack from his arms, but after a hesitant moment, he did. Their eyes were bright with sorrow. He brushed a tear from her cheek. "Don't forget me."

"How could I?" she asked. She slung her satchel over her shoulder and picked up the two suitcases she had brought. "No, don't worry, I can manage," she said as Jimmy moved to help her. He walked with her to the line that was forming. Kid and Lou came over to them.

The line was moving briskly along. Kid and Lou each gave her another quick hug. Jimmy said, "I love you, Jack."

Jack handed her ticket to the man on the dock. "I love you, Jimmy."

Jimmy watched as Jack walked slowly down to the ship, carefully balancing her weight against the heavy suitcases in her hands. She stepped inside and was out of sight. He felt Lou's hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to go now, Jimmy?"

He shook his head. "Not yet."

When the last passenger had boarded and the gate to the dock was closed, Jimmy, Lou, and Kid stood with the remaining crowd of people. It was then that they noticed the passengers were crowding onto the decks and waving to those behind on the shore. "Do you see Jack?" he asked his friends.

They couldn't see her among the masses of people. Her pale face and dark hair were indistinguishable from the sea of faces, but they waved anyway.

"Maybe she sees us," Kid said. Then the foghorn sounded, and slowly the ship began to push away from the shore. It moved laboriously, but surely, and soon was five feet from the dock...then ten...then thirty...

Lou and Kid sat on a nearby bench while Jimmy leaned against the railing and watched the water long after the ship had been enveloped by the dark night. Something told them to stay, to wait for the agony to leave Jimmy's eyes, and then walk their friend back to the hotel.

And a letter was winging its way across the Atlantic, to New York, the small town of Landingham, where it would rest in a cubbyhole in Ned Harmon's law office, placed there by his new secretary, Paula. It would remain there, unread and forgotten, with no means of finding its rightful owner.

'Dearest daughter,' it read, 'Most likely you have proceeded with your usual haste, but I pray that this letter reaches you in time. Darling Jill, pride of our hearts, there is no need for you to come back to England. You have quite clearly made a new home in America and you have a new life. Your father and I feel that coming back, while it might somewhat soothe your homesick heart, and would certainly delight us, would only result in further hurt to you.