To go or not to go

After those words there was a moment of silence before her mother continued. "I will support your decision no matter what and if after what I have said you still don't want to go along with Susan, then you can reject her. All I want is for you to have no regrets. If I did not believe this could benefit you in any way, I would not have had this conversation with you at all. I would have kept her visit to myself. But if you have the slightest doubt, then grab this chance. If you want, I will go with you and we can leave if there is anything you don't like. Susan has agreed to leave you alone after this, regardless of your decision now or after you visit. So don't feel pressured to do anything you don't want or feel uncomfortable with."

Jenny did not expect to have this conversation. Not at all! She was thrown in a world of doubt. Was her mother right? Was she too blind to see the benefits? She had to think things over. Was she ready for such a big change in her life. She knew she had used the money and her mother as the reasons to reject Susan, but the fear of the unknown had held her back as well. This was a big decision, but one meeting couldn't hurt right? Perhaps if she rejected all the extra's Susan had offered, she wouldn't be selling herself but simply be someone helping a woman in need. Though she was not convinced into agreeing with Susan's suggestion, but at least she no longer rejected it completely. Jenny nodded and told her mother she would take her words in consideration and would think it over once more. She received the business card Susan had left behind and stared at it throughout the evening and as she was lying in bed. To go or not to go?

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Meanwhile Susan was constantly checking her reception and despite checking ten times whether the sound was on and her phone was working, she still could not stop herself from pressing the home button every few minutes to see if she had received a message. They were only in the Netherlands for a few more hours and she had not heard anything yet. How was she to sleep with such an important question unanswered. This was going to be a long night.

After many hours of waiting, Susan had fallen asleep. Cellphone still in hand and an aching back from her bad sleeping position. As she was awakened by the light seeping through the unproperly closed curtains, she tried to recall what had happened. Jenny had not given them an answer, which probably meant she was rejecting them. She had to get up and get dressed for her flight, which left in three hours, as she tried to process her disappointment. Her husband had already left for breakfast and decided not to wake her after seeing her sleeping so soundly. After taking a shower and putting on another impeccable outfit, she joined Stephen in the hotel restaurant. Stephen greeted his wife and tried to see if he should bring up Jenny and last night, but Susan's look told him it was a subject he should not touch. At least not for now.

Jenny knew she had not given Susan an answer at the agreed upon time, but she just wasn't ready yet to make a decision. Being unable to sleep, she had already packed a bag. She figured this way at least if she was able to make a decision, she could jump into action straight away. After contemplating some more, she knew what she needed. She needed to hear it from the perspective of someone her own age, who better to consult then her three best friends. They had known her for over 10 years and knew her in a different way than her mother and brothers did. She quickly grabbed her phone and asked her friends to meet her at their regular spot, a park within walking distance of their houses. This was go time. If she wanted to have anything to decide at all, she had to make up her mind soon. She only had three hours before the Westwood's flight left. Who knows it they even want her after that!