During the drive back into the city, we talk non-stop about what movies we like and find out that we enjoy the same kind. I cannot stop looking over at Mark. He looks so amazing. Mark glances over at me and I get butterflies in my stomach. We drive to the shopping plaza. Mark keeps a tight hold of my hand. I am sure friends do not normally hold hands. We choose three different films, a comedy, a chick flick and a horror. Mark asks if I need some snacks, but before I can answer, he heads out to pick some up. Then, he leaves me looking at clothes so he can pick something up he needed at the printers. I meet Mark outside the printers, and he smiles. “One last shop, then we can go back or get some lunch, if you would like.”
I walk alongside Mark. We stop outside a jewellery shop. ”I will be back in a minute.”
“Okay, I’ll stand right here.” I look at the jewellery in the window. Oh my god, I would need a mortgage to shop here. Why are we here?
“All right, Megan, would you like to go for some lunch?” Mark asks when he returns, slipping his hand into mine.
“Come on, then.”
We walk to a restaurant, which is very close. It looks very much like the bar where we met. The same corporation must own it, because the name is Restaurant 3000. The décor is the same as the bar. As we walk farther into the restaurant, a small woman walks over to show us to our seats.
She has blonde wavy hair, blue eyes and she is in a uniform. Mark lets go of my hand and walks with the server. She flirts openly with Mark, stroking his arm. I walk slowly behind them. I cannot believe how jealous I feel. I feel out of place, like the proverbial third wheel on a date. Nevertheless, he is not mine, and she very well could have a claim to him. Mark and I sit opposite each other.
“What would you like to drink?”
I raise my head up and look at Mark. I have no expression, but look straight into his eyes. I feel empty and prefer to go back to the hotel. I answer quietly, “Lemonade, if they have it.”
Mark smiles at me, “Of course, they do. What do you fancy to eat?”
I pick up the menu and hide behind it. As I read it, a tear rolls down my cheek. I select the cheapest thing on the menu.
“Chicken wrapped in bacon with rice, please.”
Mark waves the server over and orders for us. The server continues flirting with Mark and giggling at him. Unable to sit there any longer, I make my excuses and head for the restaurant’s restroom.
I sit in the bathroom crying. Why, oh why, am I crying? We are just friends. I straighten myself out, telling myself not to be so silly.
I walk back to the table just as the food is arriving. It is not the blonde server this time. I sit down.
“Megan, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Lunch looks good, thank you.”
Mark smiles at me, but there is a hint of concern in his eyes. We sit in peace and quiet, eating our lunch. Once lunch is over, he takes my hand.
“Megan, please smile. Something is bothering you. I can see it’s written all over your face.”
Mark kisses my hand.
Once again, tears well up in my eyes, “Look, Mark. I really can't do this. I can't play games, nor can I handle being compared to the other women in your life.”
Mark looks at me, puzzled.
“What? What games? What woman? Megan, what are you talking about?”
I lower my head as tears again begin to fall.
“The waitress, it’s obvious you two...”
Mark shakes his head. “No, no, no, I don't know where you got that idea. HER? No, Megan, I told you we could begin as friends, but I know I’d like to be more than just friends.”
Mark waves the server over and pays for lunch, refusing to let me pay. He helps me to stand, and we walk hand in hand to the car. The journey back to the hotel seems long. We are quiet, but it is a tender silence. Mark holds my hand, kissing my fingertips and the back of my hand often.
After arriving at the hotel, I feel relieved to just sit on the sofa and take off my shoes. I put the snacks onto the coffee table with the films while Mark is talking quietly on his phone. I sit, trying to listen to what he is saying, but I cannot make out a word. I settle back on the sofa, pulling my legs beneath me and getting comfortable.
Mark walks over to join me.
“Right, I’m all yours. I have something for you.”
Mark places his hand into a bag and pulls out small cream- coloured teddy bear with a pink bow on its head.
“Oh, Mark, thank you.” He places a kiss on my hand. ”It’s for ‘Bump’. Your gift is still in the bag.”
Mark hands me the bag and tells me to open it. I reach into the bag, and I find a small black box with the name of the jewellery store Mark stopped at during our afternoon walk. I open the box slowly and find it contains an exquisitely crafted silver charm bracelet. Attached at intervals are several charms, each different to the rest. I look back to Mark’s face and directly into his eyes. Do I see nervousness? On the other hand, maybe it is fear.
“Mark, this is so beautiful. I don't know what to say.” Mark removes the bracelet from the box.
“Here let me.” Mark takes my hand, lifting it toward him and loops the delicate chain around my wrist. He lifts each charm and explains its meaning.
“A pram for 'Bump’, a heart because you make mine beat more than I knew it could, number 23 for the day we met, and a key to my heart. We can add to it, Megan, as our relationship grows.”
My eyes had been flooded with tears from the moment he opened the box. I feel tears running down my face. Mark looks at me with such a look of confusion.
“Mark, as I said, this is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it, but there is no possible way I can accept this.”
“Megan, beautiful girl, I bought you a gift. I ask for nothing in return. It is for yesterday, today and hopefully, tomorrow. I will not listen to any refusals, or excuses, from my heart to yours.”
”Thank you, Mark, but...”
Mark looks at me with a smile of warning. I lean over to kiss his cheek, but he turns his head and our lips meet. He cups his palm to my cheek as the kiss deepens. It is so perfect, this kiss. It’s soft, yet full of so much meaning. I do not fight it. Slowly we pull away, lost in each other’s eyes. Has time stopped? Mark brings us back to reality.
“So, which film first?” He grins.
“How about we watch the comedy?” I smile back.
“Perfect.” Mark immediately gets up and places the film into the machine. He walks back to the sofa and tells me to relax.
“I am relaxed,” I sass back. Mark sits and lifts his arm. With his other hand, he pats his chest.
“Come. Sit close and put your feet up. I’ll be your pillow. You will keep me close and happy.”
I do as I’m told. We stay there in silence, watching the film. I must have fallen asleep at some point, as when I wake, Mark’s jacket is covering both of us.
“Nice nap, beautiful?” Mark asks with a huge smile.
“I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
“It’s okay. You only missed the last five minutes of the film. You must have needed it.”
I sit up, leaving the jacket to fall away. “Sorry, I guess that’s one of the many joys of pregnancy. My body is always changing. I don’t know what I need from one moment to the next.”
Standing up and walking around Mark, I go over to the bathroom. Just as I am about to walk in, Mark asks if he can get me a drink.
“Please, you know what I like.”
I finish in the bathroom and walk back in to the other room. Mark places drinks onto the table. As I smile and place my hand on his shoulder, Mark turns around and hugs me. I cannot stop smiling. I sit down on the sofa.
“I have lemonade, Diet Coke and tea. All for you, Megan.”
I smile. “You forgot water.”
“I will get you some.”
I place my hand out in front of him just as he begins to stand up and touch his stomach. “I’m joking, Mark. Sit down,” I cannot believe how hard his stomach feels. He sits back down.
“What’re you like, Megan?” Mark says playfully.
“I’m lovely,” I start giggling.
“You are indeed.”
“Let’s watch another film, the chick flick?” I suggest, trying to hide the redness of my face from the comment he just made.
“That’s fine with me.”
“Are you sure?”
Mark gets up and places the film into the player.
“I just want to be with you, Megan, plain and simple.”
I grab some snacks and wait for Mark to sit down. I push the footstool under our feet and throw the jacket back over us. Mark turns towards the bed and pulls the duvet from it. He discards his jacket, and we snuggle down beneath the duvet. I rest my head on his shoulder, and the film begins.