“Good evening, Mr. Baker. How may we enhance your stay?”
“I’d like to speak with someone about European travel packages tomorrow, the most comprehensive options available.”
“Absolutely. I’ll arrange for our premier travel consultant to meet with you at your convenience. Any particular regions of interest?”
“All of them,” I said, surprising myself with the freedom in that statement. “I have the time and resources to see whatever interests me.”
After hanging up, I walked to the bathroom—marble counters, heated floors, a soaking tub that could fit two people comfortably. The face in the mirror looked different than it had this morning. Tired, yes, but not defeated. The eyes held something new—satisfaction.
I returned to the desk and opened the portfolio, finding elegant hotel stationery. With the hotel’s gold pen, I began making notes: Spring in Italy. Summer on the French Riviera. Fall in Spain. Winter wherever warmth calls to me. No schedules dictated by ungrateful children. No Christmas visits to people who mocked my life’s work. No more sacrificing my happiness for those who saw my generosity as weakness.
The clock on the bedside table showed 1:55 a.m. In six hours, the travel consultant would help me plan adventures I’d postponed for decades. In a week, I could be boarding a flight to Rome. In a month, I could be sipping wine in a Tuscan vineyard, telling stories to people who might actually appreciate them.
I leaned back in the chair and looked out at the city lights, feeling truly free for the first time in years.