Then I saw him. He sauntered through the departures concourse carrying his bag as though he had all the time in the world. He looked much more relaxed than I would be if I was arriving that late for a flight. He reached the stand for Air France and stood at the back of the queue. I thought he must be taking a different flight from Ruby’s and my heart lifted with relief. He took off his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves, revealing his forearms. They were tanned and muscular and even at that distance made me weak at the knees. His hair was tousled and when his face broke out into a huge grin I felt myself respond. I smiled back and was just about to wave, when I realized he wasn’t smiling at me. He hadn’t even seen me.

Just when I’d taken a few steps toward him a woman brushed past me, darting through the crowds. She was tall and slender, with dark brown hair and that pink complexion that blushes easily. She was blushing now and laughing, too. She went up behind Harry and did that thing where you tap on one shoulder but stand on the other side. He swung one way and didn’t see anyone, then turned the other way and saw her. His face lit up in a huge smile. He reached out and put his arms around her, hugging her so hard he almost lifted her from the ground.

And still I was persuading myself, well, okay, they are friends and he’s hugging her. He can have a female friend, right? I can be a cool wife. I took another step toward him. But then he cupped her face in his hands and gave her the sweetest, most gentle kiss on her mouth. She was wearing a little silk vest and blue jeans and as she raised her arms to wrap them around his neck, I saw her back, pale and soft, and watched his hands slide around her waist, under her vest, to stroke her skin. A woman nudged Harry to indicate the queue was moving on. He and Ruby blushed and I saw them apologize. He took Ruby’s passport from her and opened it. I saw him smile and say something to her, then she reached up to whisper in his ear. He kissed her hair and pulled her to him.

I couldn’t take my eyes from them.

They were called up to the desk and one by one they showed their passports, had their bags weighed, and were given boarding passes. They turned away from the desk and I saw her touch his arm and ask him something. He pointed down the concourse to the security exit and, hand in hand, they walked off toward it.