I take Makenna’s hand in mine as we follow Rabbie back to the truck. “Will you go on a date with me? Tonight?”
For some reason, she looks stunned. So I continue to show her that I’ve been thinking about this. “We could go home and clean up, then go to dinner. I know of a safe place you hevny eaten at yet. And then I have a surprise.”
“When have you had time to plan this?”
“My mind’s always going, lass. Especially when it comes to you.”
37
Makenna
I’monadatewith Malcolm. I’m. On. A. Date. With. Malcolm. A door-opening, handholding, pull-my-chair-out-for-me date. I wish I’d brought something cuter to wear. I’m wearing my best jeans and the only nice top I brought. The same outfit I’d been wearing when I met Malcolm. I’d very much packed with hiking, and comfort in mind.
“I don’t know that they have gluten-free fish and chips here, but I hear they have homemade gluten-free pasta they cook safely,” Malcolm says, after we’ve taken our seats in the supposed best Italian restaurant in Scotland.
“Oh, really? That sounds amazing.”
Malcolm grins, clearly happy he’s pleased me. Man, he’ssweet.
“I called and asked questions about the safety; we just have to let them know.”
I feel tears prick my eyes. Stupid Ross acted like my celiac disease was the biggest inconvenience. To have Malcolm not only accept it, but actively help me, is such a big deal to me.
“Thank you.” It comes out as a whisper as emotion clogs my throat.
Malcolm reaches across the table, and I drop my menu, settling my hand in his. “I’m glad to help. I hate that you have to deal with this, so if I can take some of the hassle off your plate, I’m glad to do it.”
His thumb is lightly stroking the back of my hand as he turns back to his menu, and I’m just sitting here thinking we should share the spaghetti and have our very ownLady and the Trampmoment.
The candles on each table make every couple seem like they are in their own bubble in this dimly lit room. The room begs for romance. Handholding, whispered thoughts, and footsie hidden behind the tablecloths.
Malcolm certainly knows how to pick a restaurant.
“This place is great. Thank you for bringing me here,” I say, squeezing his hand.
“Itisgreat.” He leans toward me, the candlelight flickering in his eyes. “But wait ’til you see what’s next.”
“When did you pack all this?” I ask as Malcolm pulls out blankets, and pillows, and … “A thermos? What’s in there?”
“I got ready for dinner a bit faster than you did. And this is hot chocolate. Do you like hot chocolate?”
“And they say there’s no such thing as a dumb question,” I joke.
I can barely make out Malcolm’s grin in the fading evening light. We’re standing in a Dark Sky Park. Malcolm’s surprise. I don’t know anything about it, but I’m with Malcolm, so I’m excited.
He closes the trunk, clicks on a flashlight, and leads us to the top of a small grassy hill, not far from the car. We spread out one blanket, then sit the other on top along with the pillows, and settle in.
“We’re here to see stars,” Malcolm says, leaning back on his hands. “A Dark Sky Park is an area essentially free from light pollution, so as long as there aren’t a lot of clouds in the sky, we’ll be able to see a lot of stars. The weather is good, and the moon is a crescent, so it should be ideal conditions.”
“Will we be able to see the Milky Way? I saw it once briefly before clouds obscured our view. Mom and I were camping in the North Carolina mountains. I remember thinking howodd it was that we were in the Milky Way galaxy, but we could also see it.”
“Aye, I believe we should be able to see it, as well as our nearest neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, although that one supposedly looks like a smudge, so we may not be able to pick it out.”
“We could bring some strong binoculars next time!” I whisper excitedly, because despite no one being around, I feel the need to be quiet.
“You’d like to come back here sometime?”
“Yes. I love space.”
