Page 75 of Highland Stars
“Aye.Wild Mountain Thyme. Your voice would be perfect for that song.”
I pull up the chords on my laptop and we begin. It takes some time, but eventually I stop singing and only play my guitar. The song sounds a bit odd with her American accent, but it’s bonnie, nonetheless.
“Can you follow me around playing and singing that?”
“All the time?” she asks, playing into my jest.
“Yes. Night and day.”
“That seems reasonable, sure.” She sighs. “I’m leaving in five days. Are we …?” She sighs again. “What are we doing?”
“I don’t know. I like you. A lot. If that’s not abundantly clear.” I pause to grin at Makenna. She’s turned a lovely shade of red. “We only have a small amount of time to explore this, in person, but … I don't know about you, but this feels different to me. Special.”
“It feels special to me too. Logistically, I don’t know how this works. It’s obviously not simple, and I don’t want us to be setting ourselves up for heartbreak.”
I nod. This is something we both already know, but we don’t have time to live in selective ignorance about it, as much as I’dlike to pretend she isn’t leaving in five days.
“I think we just have to take it one step at a time. You’ll leave, and we’ll talk often and do what we can to stay connected, then see if our relationship grows or, if in a wildly unlikely scenario, it fizzles out. If it grows, we’ll have some decisions to make.”
Makenna sighs and nods. I want to tell her that should we come to the point that someone needs to move, that I would move for her. I could make my home anywhere with the right woman. But I don’t want her to feel like she has to reciprocate.
“Want to play some more?”
Makenna nods, and the atmosphere lightens as the first notes ofThe Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomondfill the air.
41
Makenna
Isetmyalarmfor early Wednesday morning. Malcolm is working again today, thankfully he doesn’t have another overnight until after I leave. Not that I want to think about that, I’m just grateful for any and all time we have.
I want to surprise him with breakfast before he leaves. I had the idea while on my little hike yesterday and stopped for ingredients on the way home. Or back. This isn’t actually my home. It could be, one day. What a crazy thought.
I found a gluten-free pie crust at the store yesterday, so I decided to make a quiche. I hope Malcolm didn’t notice my prepped ingredients hidden toward the back of the fridge.
I’m dropping the spinach into the eggs, because, yes, I can eat spinach this way, when I hear footsteps upstairs. What is hedoing? I toss the bacon in and quickly and carefully slide the quiche into the oven. I flip off the kitchen light, and when I hear Malcolm come down the stairs, I dive down behind the counter.
What am I doing? This is insane. His footfalls are hard to track as he makes his way around downstairs. I should just stand up, but I’m committed at this point.
I hear him grab his keys, but instead of leaving he continues to move around. It sounds like he’s about to step into the kitchen. He doesn’t move for a bit, so long that I wonder if I missed him leaving, but then his steps sound like they are getting further away, and the door opens and closes.
I want to tell him goodbye!
I pop up, and head toward the door, but my eyes catch on a paper that previously wasn’t on the counter.
Good morning sweetheart,
Since I am a wizard, I know you are hiding behind the counter (or maybe I heard you gasp, then saw that the oven is on). A fun way to start the morning. Though, it's hard to keep my eyes from you. You’re always so bonnie first thing.
I’ll be back in 20 with something special. Looks like we’re having a nice breakfast together. But I’ll be lookingforward to tasting your lips first.
Until then,
Malcolm
I should be embarrassed I was caught hiding, but something about Malcolm and his words won’t let me. Oh my gosh, it’s gonna be hard to leave this man.
It’s odd to be wishing for time to move simultaneously faster and slower. I’m on this dream vacation that will be ending soon, and I want to stretch time so I can see and do all the things, but at the same time I’m watching the clock all day waiting for Malcolm to get off work.
