"Just traveling. A lot," she explained, remaining vague at first. Five years was a long time to account for, and Eloise didn't think he wanted a dissertation. She smiled a bit sheepishly. "This is literally the first time I've set foot in the U.K. in almost...well, five years, actually. I got to see and do so much, though, I think I must have needed it."
The beginning had been rough-going, it was true. Eloise had made a lot decisions that, looking back now, she realized had been symptoms of grief and trauma. She was lucky to have run into Jackson when she did.
"Honestly, I think I'd still be wandering around in Auckland or someplace if it weren't that my brother's getting married next month. You remember Jackson, don't you?"