Page 91 of Highland Stars
Malcolm A. Robertson
My tears flow freely, as my heart bursts with love for this man, and a desperation to see him again. I wipe my eyes and gather what I need to pen him a letter, knowing it won’t reach him before our two weeks are up, but needing to feel like I’m contacting him all the same.
Words pour out of me, and by the time I’m finished, there isn’t one ounce of doubt left inside me. Malcolm is who I want, and thankfully his letter tells me he feels the same.
50
Malcolm
Twoweeksisalong time. It didn’t feel that way when Makenna was here, but since she left, despite my early optimism, and the presence of the frog pajama bottoms, I find myself moping. I’ve tried, and failed, to make chocolate gravy. I’ve eaten an entire carton of ice cream, and I don’t even really like ice cream that much. It just felt like the right thing to do.
I should hear from her in two days. But every time I look at the clock, I could swear it’s moving backwards.
I assume she’s gotten my letter by now. I hope she isn’t upset that I bent the rules. If she is, I hope the content will make up for it.
I look at the clock. Nine at night. I might as well go to bed.
It’s eleven thirty on the fifteenth day of Makenna being on the dark side of the moon. It’s only six thirty where she is, but I’ve not been further than arms distance from my phone for the last hour.
If she happens to wake up early and is ready to talk, I’ll probably answer far too eagerly. Not that I care.
Thankfully, I have the day off from work. I just finished some body weight exercises in the back garden, and I’m heading up to shower when the post is delivered through my letter box.
I bend to pick up the single envelope and find my name and address written in beautiful calligraphy. Makenna.
I stay frozen where I am as I carefully rip open the envelope.
Dearest Malcolm,
Two weeks has been far too long. You know how you miss holding me? It can’t possibly be anywhere near as much as I miss being in your arms. You’re exactly right. Electricity and peace, and I want to live in it.
You are more than I could have ever dreamed I’d have, and I’d say I can’t believe it’s even possible, but I’m working on believing it. I do believe it.
I’m so thankful I chose to be brave and go to Scotland alone. I’m even thankful for my appendicitis. I’m thankful for everything that led me to you.
I could continue, but I want to keep this brief. Have youlooked outside? It’s a lovely day.
Yours,
Makenna
What? It’s a lovely day? I look at the envelope once again. No postage.
My eyes fly to the door, and since I haven’t moved, all I have to do is reach out and turn the knob.
There, on my front step, stands the subject of all my dreams.
Makenna doesn’t say a word, only stares at me a moment before dropping her handbag and launching herself at me. She takes my face in her hands, and her turquoise eyes meet mine for a longing-filled moment before they’re closed and her lips crash into mine.
I’m stunned. She didn’t call.She came.
Makenna makes a soft noise, just in time to keep me from believing this is my imagination. She tastes like cinnamon and everything wonderful in the world.
I pull her closer and she melts into me, her arms sliding around my neck, clinging to me like she’ll never let go. I go to pull her into the house when a barely there vision of bags surrounding her enters my mind. We probably shouldn’t just leave those sitting there for anyone to walk by and help themselves to.
I pull back and take her face in my hands. “You’re back.” My voice is hardly more than a whisper, as if I’m afraid I’ll startleher, or wake us both from this dream.
“I realized I never played chess with your dad.” She says it seriously, but she’s suppressing the cutest smile.
