Let the Wind Carry Us Far Away

His supervisor, Martin Reed, tried one more time to change Jason Hale's mind, his expression grave.

"If you break your contract on this assignment, you'll be knocked down two levels. You'll never have another chance at a promotion.

"On top of that, you'll owe a million dollars in penalties. Are you sure you still want to leave?"

"I'm sure." Jason's answer was firm and absolute.

"If getting punished is all it takes for me to stay by Yvonne’s side, I won’t regret it.

"Yvonne is bright and full of life. I want to protect that innocence in her."

I heard Martin sigh before asking, "What about Nina Stone? Can you really say you've done right by her? She's sacrificed so much for you. The two of you had such promising futures here and could have accomplished so much.

"Nina came to the Northwest just to be with you. She didn't even get to see her parents one last time before they died. You're the only person she has left by her side, too, aren't you?"

The question of whether he'd done right by me made Jason fall silent.

After a long while, he said, "I already repaid her by marrying her. Isn't that enough?

"If Nina and I hadn't already been married, I would have married Yvonne the moment I met her.

"She's the one who's really right for me. But now..."

But now, he could no longer be with Yvonne Zane.

The conversation in the office stopped abruptly when I pushed open the door.

Jason froze for a moment, but he didn't avoid my eyes.

"You heard all of that?

"Nina, whether you support me or not, I have to go back.

"Yvonne is the trainee I personally mentored. Her advisor is giving her a hard time, and I need to stand up for her."

I hadn't even said a word, yet he'd already decided I was bound to make a scene.

"Sure. I understand."

Calmly, I handed him the paperwork for his assignment contract.

Tucked underneath was the divorce agreement I'd just had drawn up.

"I respect your decision. I got the contract-termination papers for you. They just need your signature."

Confusion flickered through Jason's eyes, only to be swallowed by his excitement at finally being able to go home.

Jason took the stack without looking through it and signed the form on top.

"Nina, thank you for understanding. Yvonne will be grateful too.

"She's going to be thrilled when she finds out we're going back with her.

"I'm booking the flights right now!"

I smiled faintly and silently gathered up the papers.

Jason called Yvonne several times. When she finally answered, he told the young woman on the other end that he'd already signed the documents breaking his contract.