Max sat down heavy into his cabin seat on the train. He fumbled through his bag and pulled out his journal, opening it to a blank page. Max looked tired. He hadn’t slept more than 10 hours in the two weeks he was away. He snapped back to focus and started writing.

Journal — July 25, 1901 #

I can finally leave this cursed place. So much stress and so much to worry about. Yet so much undone. I think I have most of the important thing taken care of and the business is stable. I’ve arranged for the board of trustees to take over. I’ve set it up from members of both sides of the family and some trusted long-time employees of my father. Furthermore, I’ve also structured it so that I still have to sign off on major decisions, and I also act as a tiebreaker in major votes. I think this is in the best interests of the future of the company. If I so chose to come back to it, it would be there in that case.

To more critical things, I have no idea what to expect when I return home. The return letter from Jez has left me deeply concerned. She is deeply upset, which I understand, but not entirely for the reasons I assumed. Word seems to have spread about me being a “ladies man”.

A distinction I firmly disagree with. Sure, I have friends whom are women but, I don’t make a point of seducing every lady I see. Nor do I want to. My dedication and my heart is only for Jez. And I thought through all of my words and actions, she would have known this. It pains me to think that she might have lost trust in me.

I would surely die for her if need be. By damned am I going to let the one person in this world who means the most of me slip away like this. I will fight for her, I will demonstrate beyond all doubt that Jez is the one and only.

I am willing this train to go faster with every ounce of my being so I can be there sooner. I surely hope she will be there when I get home.

I love you, Jez. More than the world itself… please be there…

For all that his holy and good, please be there…

Max closed the journal and slid it into his bag. He looked out the window as the world sped by drumming the table impatiently wishing he was home by her side.