He looked out the windshield at the airport himself, and nodded.

"Yeah, here we are."

He had gotten through the weekend. The day he'd taken for himself to do the tourist thing had helped. The premier went alright, the cameras and questions weren't as bad as he feared. The hardest part was seeing Starla in her evening gown, and watching that night with Grant and the slugs played out on screen with her beside him.

Now it was time for him to leave, and he knew for sure this was going to be goodbye.

They might still talk on the phone, but she was never coming home, and he finally had his answer about a chance with her, and it was no.

Offering a small smile, he worked his throat and looked over at her.

"It was nice seein' you again, Starla. Thanks for invitin' me."