“I love that. Will I get to read it when you’re finished?”
“I was hoping you would. It’s a little nerve-wracking doing something new like this. Obviously, I’m very familiar withscreenplays, but I don’t yet know if writing one will be outside of my skill set.”
“I’m betting you’ll do well with it,” Ivy says with a confident smile.
“I’m not sure that confidence is warranted, but thank you, darling.”
She shrugs and leans over the console, lying her head on my shoulder.
“Have you ever been here?” I ask. I wanted to surprise her, but it’s hard to know where she has and has not been in the area surrounding her town.
“I haven’t. Actually, I don’t remember ever seeing it. It looks kinda new to me.”
I smile as our server approaches and hands us menus. He’s an older man, and his wrinkled face turns surprised when he sees me.
“Alexander Henry. Well, I’ll be.”
I look down and see he is wearing a nametag. “Walter. Well, I’ll be.”
He claps me on the shoulder and chuckles. “What can I get you two to drink?” He removes his hand and pulls his pen from his shirt pocket.
“I’ll have a sweet tea,” I answer. “Ivy?”
“Make that two. With lemon.” She smiles up at Walter, who meticulously writes down our drink order before turning to go. “Going for the full southern experience with the tea?”
“I hear y’all make fantastic sweet tea,” I say with my, and I’m not bragging, nearly perfect Southern accent.
Ivy’s jaw drops. “Why have you never done that for me before?”
“Have you not seenTime Under the Willow? I played a man from Georgia.”
“Oh.” She pauses to think. “I guess you did. I’d forgotten.”
I laugh and take Ivy’s hand across the table.
She smiles and the love in her eyes is almost overwhelming.
She looks down at her menu. “They have fish and chips!”
“That’s why we’re here. I hunted all western North Carolina for fish and chips, and this was the closest place. I know you had gotten tired of eating it, so you could certainly get something else, but I thought maybe enough time had passed.”
“I think I’m ready. The problem is, now that I’ve had the real thing, I’m worried this will be a disappointment.”
“We can get you something else if it is.”
Walter comes back with our teas and takes our order. I get a burger I think she’ll like, just in case.
Ivy sips her tea. “Mmmm. I need to see what kind of tea bags they use or how they do it because this is amazing. I’ve beenthinking the tea at Bowl could improve.”
“I’ll ask,” I say, and a look of gratitude well beyond me asking about the tea covers her face. “What’s going on?”
“It’s just ...” Ivy sighs. “When I decided I wanted to try to date, I wanted to find someone to be my partner. In life, of course, but also to help me with restaurant things when needed. I was feeling overwhelmed with the fire and remodel, but running a restaurant is hard. I’m up for the challenge, but it would be nice to not always be doing everything myself.” Her eyes swim with tears.
I reach across the table and take her face in my hands. “Ivy, I’m here for you always. Whatever you need. However I can help.”
She turns her head and kisses my palm. “I love you, Alex.”
“Darling …” I lean across the table and kiss the love of my life. “You are the unexpected gift I didn’t realize I needed, and love isn’t a big enough word for how I feel about you.”
