Shortly before 7pm, Anita Mak set the table to get ready for dinner. Since she was still waiting for Ethan to return with the take-out food, she decided to bring his clean laundry into his room. After placing the clothes on his bed, she noticed the window was slightly ajar and cold air was coming in. So she reached over and closed it. Turning around, she bumped against his desk and knocked a binder over, causing a stash of papers to scatter loosely unto the floor. Anita recognized the binder right away, it was the one which Ethan kept all his important documents such as banking contracts, tax statements, degrees and transcripts, along with his personal documents such as birth certificate, passport, and personal health records.
As she gathered the papers from the floor, a document caught her eyes. It was a court order. She was curious and started skimming the document. When she realized the legal document was for the new property that she and Ethan were to move to in the near future, she scanned for key words that would reveal why Ethan was ordered to appear in court. After reading the first line, she understood why Ethan kept putting her off whenever she asked to see the condo. Every time Anita asked him to take her to the condo, he would tell her it was not safe due to the renovation. With the legal document in her hand, everything became crystal clear when she noticed the names on the subject removal fields of the court order. Now she understood how Ethan had come into possession of the condo and why he had committed himself to such a large monthly mortgage payment nearly two months ago.
After coming to terms with the information, she let out a deep sigh and shook her head. Looking at the clock, she was surprised it was already half past seven and that Ethan had not called to inform her that he would be late. She proceeded to pick up the phone by his bed and dialed his cell number again.
Meanwhile, shortly before 7pm, on another part of town, an elderly woman living in the same apartment building as Gillian and Jason happened to open the door of her home. She then proceeded to step outside with a big car-tire size metal bowl. She stooped and placed it directly in front of her door entrance. After that, she stood up and lifted her head to the sky and started chanting prayers to several different gods, asking them to protect her grandson who was on a flight to England. She specifically prayed that the spirits from Flight 990 would not interfere with her grandson’s flight and asked that the plane her grandson was on would land safely in London, England.
After saying her prayers, she turned around and squatted in front to the metal bowl. She reached for the match box that was sitting on top of a bunch of paper money for burnt offering and lighted a fire to it. Because the elderly woman lived one floor below Gillian and Jason, it only took about 5 minutes for the burning smoke to fill up the entire hallway and staircase that led to their home. Moments after, a middle-age couple was struggling to go up the staircase for they were having problems with the visibility due to the thick smoke. They were huffing and coughing by the time they found the door to their residence. Feeling the door post through the thick smoke, the woman managed to ring the doorbell.
“Are you guys expecting someone?” Gillian asked Jason and Gabby upon hearing the doorbell chime. They both shook their heads and then Gillian decided to check out who could be at the door. Looking through the peep-hole, she was apprehensive. “I can’t see anything out there. Looks like it is all covered by smoke.”
Ethan and Derek took precaution and immediately walked up to Gillian who was about to open the door. Jason and Gabby followed behind them.
Gillian gasped at the first sight of her aunt and her dad, they were standing in the smoke. Aunty May had her head down and was still searching through her purse when the door drew open quietly. Gillian thought she was seeing their spirits in the smoke. With shaking hands, she reached out to touch Aunty May on the head. That was when everyone heard a sudden high pitch yelp. Then Aunty May realized it was her niece touching her. Immediately, Aunty May and Mr. Chan were shot with the following questions.
“You guys are alive?”
“You’re not dead?”
“Is it really you two?”
“How can this be?” Gillian knew it was Aunty May the moment her aunt yelped.
“You didn’t board the plane!” Ethan stated in relief.
“What in heaven's name are you guys talking about?” Aunty May was glad to enter the house and be away from the thickening smoke. “Of course we are alive!”
Mr. Chan entered the house as Ethan and Derek helped to bring in 4 pieces of luggage. Gillian hugged Aunty May and then Jason did the same.
“Wow, this is nice!” Aunty May was touched by all the welcoming gestures from everyone. She turned to Mr. Chan and nudged him playfully. “We ought to go traveling more often.”
“I’m so glad you guys are okay!” Gillian gave her dad a big tight hug.
“Why wouldn’t we be okay?” Mr. Chan chuckled.
After her daughter released him from the hug, Ethan came and shook his hand. He drew Ethan into a hug as well. “I see you and Gillian are okay too, right? So everybody is okay?”
Aunty May grabbed Gillian’s hands and eyed Ethan with a big smile. “As long as you two are okay, then we are also okay!”
Ethan was all choked up and was unable to answer the impending question from Mr. Chan and Gillian purposely ignored her aunt’s play of words regarding their relationship. She quickly changed the subject for Ethan’s sake, she noticed he was still trying to recover from his choking by clearing his throat. Gillian explained. “Your itinerary said you were on Flight 990 to Egypt! Obviously, you didn’t board that flight! Thank God as well!”
Gillian directed her Dad and Aunty May’s attention to the TV that was still broadcasting the Breaking News.
“Why didn’t you tell us you changed your flight? We talked over the phone on Friday morning.” Gillian questioned Aunty May.
“Well we changed our mind about going to Egypt after Jason told us you and Ethan …..” Aunty May was interrupted by Mr. Chan’s elbow nudge, she too realized something was still off with Ethan and Gillian. So she tried to switch the mood in the room. “Well, we wanted to come back and surprise everyone. That’s why we didn’t call!”
“We really thought we would never see you both again,” Jason added, “Sis was crying for you both!”
Gillian squeezed Aunty May’s hands to let her know Jason was telling the truth, but instead she noticed a diamond ring and a wedding band on her left hand. She held the hand up for everyone to see. “Oh? What is this?"
Aunty May suddenly turned smittened and looked to Mr. Chan in a girlish way. “It was his idea!”
Mr. Chan put his arm around her shoulders and made the formal introduction. “Let me introduce you to my wife, Mrs. Chan!”
With that said, a chain of congratulations, handshakes, and hugs were exchanged and laughter of joy filled the once gloomy room.
“Sorry you didn’t get to be my bride’s maid at my wedding, it was just a registry in Vegas.” Aunty May apologized to Gillian. Then she put on a cheeky grin and said to Ethan. “I would rather see her walking down the aisle as your bride!”
Gillian picked up her aunt’s teasing right away and noticed everyone around her were in agreement. Derek was the only person who was aware of her official breakup with Ethan.
Saying nothing, Gillian turned to look at Ethan whose facial expression showed he was still living in emotional turmoil. Not wanting him to feel bad, she tried to brush the topic off and made light of the matter when she told Aunty May. “Perhaps in your dreams!”
The dejected look on Ethan’s expression told Aunty May that things were definitely not hunky dory between him and Gillian. Being sensible to not make the mood turn sour, Aunty May suggested they all go out for dinner together.
“Yes, as sad as today is for families and friends who lost their loved ones, I must say I’m grateful to be alive.” Mr. Chan added.
“Yes, and tonight’s dinner will be my treat! I am so very thankful right now!” Gillian looped her arm around Aunty May. “Thankful because I have a new Mom!” Then with the other arm, she looped her Dad’s arm. “And thankful I’m not an orphan because you both decided to come home instead!”
After deciding where they were going to have dinner, Gillian noticed Ethan was on the phone with Anita. So she walked up to him and forced herself to look into his eyes. "Umm…it’s okay if you’d rather go home to have dinner with Anita. She probably put a lot of effort in making you dinner tonight.”
Gillian noticed his wounded expression and her heart softened once again. “Perhaps Anita would like to join us. Why don’t you go fetch her and meet us at the restaurant?”
Before Ethan had a chance to respond, Gillian had already entered her own room and closed the door behind her. She needed a time-out, especially from Ethan. Standing against the door, she told herself to get a grip. She was well aware of the emotional turmoil brewing in her heart because the whole fiasco had brought back memories of her days with Ethan. With her head against the door, she could hear Ethan’s voice talking on the phone.
Gillian was glad when Ethan started walking away from her room for she didn’t want to listen to his one-sided conversation with Anita. She took in a deep breath and told herself to get real. Once again, reminding herself that sometimes love just ain’t enough to solve the problems between Ethan and herself; especially when Anita was no longer a shadow or a memory.