I send the photo of me and Jasper on the boat to Vanya, replying to her question about whether I’d found Hot Suitcase Guy yet. Then I text Jasper, thanking him again for this morning, telling him I’d love to drop in on Maude’s party a bit later, but that I can make my own way there. He replies immediately with a big smiley face emoji and I get a GIF back from Vanya of Bugs Bunny with hearts for eyes.
Kissing Ted on the beach was a moment of madness; I was caught up in a flurry of emotions. I need to focus on sensible things—like how I’m going to make this coin story work now. Even if I can flesh out my great-grandparents story, how can I frame my parents’ relationship as this perfect love story now? I need a new angle. If I just had a little more time, if I could only extend this trip for another few days . . .
Before I lose my nerve, I tap out a text to Suki.
Laura: Keen to stay in Jersey for a few more days, so much great content to collect! Is it OK if I work remotely, come back on Wednesday?
I’ve barely pressed send, when the screen lights up with her name. I close my eyes as I answer the call. Suki doesn’t like people working remotely. She feels they are more productive in a “competitive environment.”
“What? Why? Why is it taking so long?” she snaps. Zero preamble.
“Well, no, it’s not, I just—” I stutter, unprepared.
“Because honestly, Laura, we can’t afford for you to spend four days of your time on one little article about your parents.”
“Well, technically, it’s not four working days, since this is still the weekend, and I am working on other content while I’m—”
“Send me what you have. I want to see a draft today.”
“The thing is, Suki, um, I’m just trying to rework the angle slightly. New information has come to light—”
“What new information?” she asks, her voice steely.
“Um, well. It’s actually quite interesting, because it turns out my parents didn’t stay together that long. They never got married, in fact.” Why am I telling her this? This is not going to help. “And I was thinking, maybe this is an article about love stories that get passed down to the next generation and how they get twisted and embellished into a kind of family mythology. All my romantic expectation may have been built on this story, it’s what sparked my interest in other people’s love stories—”
As I’m talking, I grow more confident. This is all off the top of my head, but as I’m saying it, I realize it is an interesting idea.
There’s a grunting sound on the line, then Suki says, “No.”
“No?”
“No. You’re not Malcolm Gladwell, Laura, I don’t want a revisionist history of your family. I want the coin meet-cute, the romantic proposal, the love story to end all love stories that you pitched to me. From what you’re telling me now, this whole trip has been a complete waste of time.” She sighs heavily. “I want you back in the office on Monday. I think we need to have a serious conversation. I’ve allowed you a lot of autonomy, and you’ve shown a real lack of judgment these last few days.”
My skin breaks out in beads of sweat, and my stomach starts to cramp. I’m going to get fired. I can’t even fathom what shape my life would have without my job. Could I even make the rent if I had to go freelance again? I wouldn’t see Vanya every day, she wouldn’t be my flatmate or my colleague.
“I-I-I can’t leave Jersey yet!”
Suki breathes in, preparing to bark at my insolence.
“I’ve met someone.” I squeeze my eyes closed, not sure where I’m going with this.
“You’ve met someone?” comes an angry echo down the phone.
“Yes—and it’s a great story.”
The idea takes shape as I’m talking. I could use my own meet-cute as a story for the site. I tell Suki about Jasper, about the mix-up at the airport, the things I found in his suitcase, and my search around the island to track him down. As she listens, she mellows, her bark becomes an excited yap and by the end of the call, she is cooing with delight.
“You see I can’t leave yet, Suki, I only just found him and—”
“No, no, you can’t leave,” she agrees. “This is perfect—this is wonderful—this is exactly the kind of fated love story people want to read about.”
I didn’t know Suki was capable of sounding so animated.
“Well, not necessarily a love story yet, it’s all so new . . .” I say, in a feeble attempt to temper her enthusiasm. “But a good meet-cute in any case.”