After helping her out of the car, we head toward a security guard, who’s standing watch on theset.
“I’m sorry, this is a restricted area,” he says as weapproach.
“I’m here to meet Rick Strickland,” I say, glancing at Mackenzie and loving the expression on herface.
“Are you ConnorHayden?”
“Sure am.” I smilebrightly.
He moves the barrier and lets us enter, pointing to where we can meetRick.
“Who’s Rick? What’s going on?” she asks, pulling my armcloser.
“You’ll see.” I shrug and laugh out loud when she hits myarm.
Two directors’ chairs are set up at the side of the set, a red umbrella resting against one of them. Guiding her in that direction, I have her sit in a chair and take the one next toher.
A camera is directly in front of us, and the rain machine is tilted above ourhead.
People run around, moving lights, taping down cords, and making sure sandbags are set properly so things don’t tipover.
Rick wanted it to be as much of a surprise as possible so he could catch her natural reaction. I’ve been told to sit here until the music starts. A man catches my eye, then nods at someoneelse.
I glance at Mackenzie. She’s enthralled with everything, and I take the opportunity to grab the umbrella and get ready for my bigmoment.
“What’s going on?” she asks. “Where arewe?”
I hold a finger to my lips, motioning for her to look at where I see Rick moving behind acamera.
“Action,” is yelled, and suddenly raindrops fall from thesky.
I give her the umbrella as Gene Kelly singsSinging in the Rainover thespeakers.
Without missing a beat, I stand and stick my hands in my pockets, mimicking the famous movie, strolling around, acting like I don’t have a care in the world as the rain poursdown.
Instead of pretending to dance with an umbrella, like he does in the movie, I reach for her hand, asking her to dance withme.
With the biggest smile on her face, she drops the umbrella and joins me on the makeshift dance floor. I swing her around, and we dance in the rain without a care in the world, getting absolutely soaked and loving everysecond.
Toward the end of the song, I swing her around, take the umbrella from her, and open it, holding it above us. I kiss her like I’ve been dying to kiss her for the past threeminutes.
The joy on her face, and the way she jumps to me, wrapping her arms around my neck, brings more happiness to my life than I’ve ever experienced. She truly is myeverything.
The song fades, as does the rain. Someone yells, “Cut,” and we break away from our kiss. Mackenzie laughs an amazinglaugh.
“How did you?” she asks, her eyes beaming withexcitement.
Rick holds his hand out. “Connor, I presume, and this must beMackenzie.”
She shines brightly, even though she’s soaking wet. “Yes, that’s me,” shesays.
“That was perfect. You two are amazing. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to filmit.”
“You filmed us?” she asks inshock.
“Yup,” I reply with pride. “He wants it to go viral. I told him my idea, and he thought other people would enjoy seeing it too. After their commercial goes live, they want to post itonline.”
“Connor,” she says breathlessly, holding onto my arm and pressing her head to myshoulder.
