"About thirty minutes Signore." He told John.
John thanked him and noticed that Jennifer was beginning to wake up. She stretched and looked out the window. "Are we there yet?"
"No, this is the stop before ours. The Porter just told me we have another half-hour before we arrive in Rome."
She stretched again. "It's time to visit the ladies room." She said as she stood up and walked back toward the restroom, John watched her longingly as she did.
She returned a while later, much more awake looking. She sat back down, neither one spoke for a few minutes. Jennifer looked out the window not wanting to look directly at John, sighed a big breath and then in a matter of fact voice said. "Michael called while I was in the restroom. He and I are going to go to an early dinner tonight to see what we can do about our situation. When I first heard about this, I didn't want to even think about giving him a second chance, but we've been together for over five years, we have a lot of history together, I guess that makes it worth saving, don't you?"
John looked at the side of her face thinking how beautiful she was even now. "You need to do what makes you happiest. You should never let anyone decide your life for you. Too many people put up with the wrong person for far too long for all the wrong reasons. I've had many friends do that, and at the end of it all, they had a terrible time and they managed to waste precious time that they could have been spending with the right person. If he is the one that makes you truly happy, then you need to fix this, you are a great lady and deserve nothing less in return."
"John, I will cherish our friendship and the times we've been able to spend together here. I know that if somehow I'd been able to talk Michael into going to Venice with me, we wouldn't have had as much fun as you and I had. Thank you." Her voice sounded shaky at the end as she swallowed hard several times.
"Well I can guarantee this is the most incredible business trip I've ever taken. It would also rate as the most incredible personal vacation I've ever had as well. I too will cherish it forever. And please remember, I will always be your friend." The public address system sounded again. This time it announced Roma Termina as the next stop.
They took a cab from the train station to their hotel. After they entered the Lobby and picked up their room keys at the front desk they parted to go to their separate elevators. They both stood in their elevator cars and waited for the doors to close as they had done a few nights ago. This time John raised his hand first to wave goodbye. Jennifer did likewise. As the doors closed, John's heart was heavy, he felt that might be the last time he would ever see Jennifer. John knew what he had to do, and it must be done today.