Special Holiday Romance (Part VIII)

Lucas waited until the last minute, hoping beyond hope that Noel would come to him. He picked up the phone to dial her number and sat it back down. If she believed him, she would have came to him. He sits the phone back down and picks up a pen and paper and starts writing. He folds it and leaves it on his pillow. He grabs his special phone and throws it in the top of his suitcase and turns to close the curtains on his window. He had them open so he could watch to see if Noel would drive up. As he turned to go to the window, the phone slowly slides out of his suitcase and lands on the carpet, halfway under his bed. He doesn't notice it as he closes his suitcase. He picks it up and slowly walks out the door. It tore him apart to have to leave her. He had no choice. He had promised his father that he would be back by Christmas Eve to start learning the routes he would one day do himself. He gets in a cab with a broken heart.
As he gets on the plane to go home, he turns and looks at everything he was leaving behind. A single tear falls down his cheek. He goes to his seat and watches Gulfport disappear under the clouds as the plane flies away.
At the same time, Noel is sitting at her table doodling on a piece of paper. She keeps writing his name over and over. She was heartsick and missed him terribly.
She stares at his name and realizes something. She starts rearranging the letters to his name. She finally saw it. C.L.A.U.S. His name was an anagram for Claus. It had to be a coincidence. She sat there staring at it. Her doorbell rang and she ran to answer it, hoping beyond hope that it was Lucas.
She was disappointed to see her brother standing there.
" Oh! It's just you."
" Noel, I promised Lucas I would tell you this but I overslept. He told me that he loved you and if you loved him you would be there to go home with him to meet his parents."
" What time was he going to leave, Jason?"
He looked at his watch and looked worried," I think he said he was leaving at ten. I'm sorry, sis. I didn't mean to be late."
Her heart started aching all over again.
She knew that she was late. He put his hand on her shoulder. He was still curious about the night before. " Have you ever noticed anything weird about Lucas?"
" She looked up at him and replied," No, why?"
" I know this is going to sound strange but when I went by his place last night I left a friend in the car and he asked me if I was going to leave Conner in the car." He looked at her with confusion," I never introduced Conner to him but he knew his name."
She smiled from ear to ear as she stood up and threw her arms around her brother's neck. " He was telling me the truth, Jason!
I didn't believe him but it was the truth!"
I've got to find him before it is too late!"
Jason hugged her back and replied," I could tell he wasn't lying to you no matter what he said. He's a nice guy, Noel. Maybe if you hurry, he might still be at home. If you are lucky, his flight might have gotten canceled until later. You know how Christmas flights are.
Go ahead! I'll lock up for you."
She hugs him and runs out the door.
She would find him even if she had to go to the top of the world