12. Malcolm
Malcolm
I forgot about my mam coming by until there was a knock on the door.
“That’ll be my mam. I forgot to tell you. I asked her about gluten-free foods because her good friend is gluten-free, and she insisted on bringing soup tonight.”
Makenna’s responding smile is so beautiful. “That was so thoughtful of you to ask, and of her to want to come with soup.”
“Ah, she loves taking care of people. She’s a nurse like your mam. I didny think to mention—”
There’s another knock.
I smile at Makenna and go open the door.
“Hey, Mam.” I lean in and kiss her cheek, then step back and motion toward Makenna on the couch. “This is Makenna.”
Makenna starts to stand, but Mam waves her down. “No, no. Don’t stand. I’ll come sit.” She hands me her big ceramic pot. “Set this on medium and we’ll be ready to eat soon.”
“Alright.” I take the few steps across my downstairs and set the soup on the stove.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Robertson,” I hear Makenna say.
Mam sits and puts her hand on Makenna’s knee. “Lovely to meet you too. You can call me Davina.”
“Have you moved your bowels today?” I ask.
Makenna’s eyes go wide at the same time as Mam yells, “Malcolm! At the dinner table?”
“I’m sorry. It just popped into my head, and I didn’t think about the fact that we’re eating.”
“She is not currently your patient. If she’s having any sort of troubles, I’m sure she’ll let you know.”
“I’m not having any sort of troubles,” she says, looking sheepish.
“Good.” I blow on my soup and try to forget how pretty the pink looked just now on Makenna’s cheeks. It really made her bonnie eyes stand out.
“This soup is fantastic. Thank you again.” Makenna looks at my mam, clearly not wanting to look at me and my bowel questions. I can’t believe I asked her that while we were eating dinner.
“I’m so glad to help you, darlin’. In a bit I can help you shower,” Mam offers.
Makenna’s face flares again, and I look down at my soup to hide my smile.
“I’m not sure I’ll need help.”
“Nae point risking straining yourself by taking off and putting on clothes. I’ve been a nurse for years.
I worked until we had our second child, Ailsa.
Then, when the kids didny need me as much I went back part-time, and now I work if someone calls in sick and I’m available.
I’ve helped many people change in and out of clothes, you don’t need to worry. ”
“Umm, okay. Thank you. It would definitely be nice to shower.”
“I thought it might.” Mam smiles and sips her drink. “Malcolm tells me you’re a wedding planner.”
“I am. Or I was. It seems I got too good at my job, and my boss didn’t like that clients were requesting me and not her.”
“Oh no. How terrible.” Mam’s face is appalled.
“That’s not right. If it had been bothering her that you were doing better, she should have worked harder,” I say.
Makenna shrugs. “Maybe so, but I’ve made peace with it. I’m seeing this as an opportunity for something new and better.”
“That’s a good attitude to have,” Mam says.
“It took me a few days to get here,” Makenna admits.
“Well, that’s to be expected.” Mam pushes her bowl back. “So what kind of new and better thing are you looking for?” She has a twinkle in her eye that I recognize. Her wheels are turning as she tries to figure out if Makenna would want to move here.
“I don’t know. I’m pretty flexible. I’d like to continue planning weddings, or large events, but who knows? I’d like to stay near my mom because it’s just the two of us.”
“That makes sense. You’re a good daughter. What does your mam do?”
“She’s also a nurse.” Makenna smiles, the love and admiration for her mother clear in her eyes.
“Ah. I like her already. You know, I could use another friend.” Mam grins. “There are nursing jobs here.”
Makenna laughs as if Mam isn’t dead serious. “You know, I haven’t told mom what happened. I was afraid if I did she’d be on a plane over here. It’s not that I wouldn’t want her to be here, but she doesn’t have the time off.” She shrugs. “I’ll tell her tomorrow.”
“Tell her Malcolm’s taking good care of you.”
Makenna laughs. “I’m afraid that might freak her out worse.”
“You can tell her your doctor is looking in on you, making sure you recover well,” I suggest.
“That would go over a lot better.” Makenna’s eyes crinkle at the corners and I have the urge to touch them. Having her here is going to be a challenge.
Makenna looks at Mam. “I’m feeling pretty tired. I think I’d like to go on up to shower and go to bed, if that’s alright.”
“Of course it is.” Mam stands from the table and offers Makenna her hand.
I stand as Makenna does. “I’ll carry you back up.”
“I’m not sure doing that twice in a day is advisable,” Makenna jokes.
“It won’t bother me at all.” And that’s the problem. Makenna is too charming and beautiful, and it would be all too easy to fall under her spell.
“If you’re sure.” Makenna leans down to pick up her bowl.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it while you’re showering.” I head toward the stairs, waiting for her to follow. When she’s in my arms again, I remember what she said about not being a delicate flower. She’s right. She’s sturdy, and I like it.
“We won’t need to do this tomorrow, right?” She looks up at me and her eyes are mesmerizing up close. The blue seems to swirl with the green, and I feel like I’m in one of those cartoons where one character's eyes swirl to hypnotize another. It could easily happen.
“No, probably not. Hopefully you’ll be able to climb with little to no discomfort.”
She smiles at me, pleased, showcasing a little dimple I hadn’t noticed before. Cute.
Mam follows us up the stairs with Makenna’s heavy bags. Nurses are strong. I imagine Makenna’s mam is strong too, especially with doing everything she had to do to raise Makenna on her own.
I set Makenna down outside the bathroom and wish this wasn’t it for the day. I’m letting myself get attached to her, so time apart is definitely for the best. “Goodnight, Makenna.”
“Goodnight. Thanks again for letting me stay here and taking care of me. I was okay coming here alone, but I would have been sad and lonely dealing with this by myself.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” I place a hand on her shoulder because I can’t help but touch her again. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She smiles and I briefly contemplate what it would be like to hug her goodnight. I’m certain it would fuel an addiction I can’t afford. I pull my hand away and step back. “See you in the morning.”
“I love her,” Mam says quietly as she makes her way from the stairs to where I’m sitting on the couch.
“I figured you would. She probably should have just gone home with you. I’m sure she’d be more comfortable.”
“No, she’s right where she needs to be.” Mam pats my knee as she sits. “She’s awfully pretty, and I couldn’t help but notice how you jumped at the chance to carry her up the stairs.”
I sigh. She knows what happened with Cait, and that I’m never letting that happen again. “Mam, she doesn’t live here. She may be very likable and beautiful, but that doesn’t change our geographical differences.”
“It might.”
“So you’d be okay with me falling for her and moving to the US?” I raise my eyebrows at her. “I remember how you cried when Fiona moved to Edinburgh. She’s only three hours away.”
“Well, as much as I hate it, it’s not about me, Malcolm. I’d be sad, but we’d adjust. And who knows, maybe she and her Mam would move here. She did say she was looking for something new and exciting.” Mam grins at me like it’s settled, and she’s won.
“People don’t easily uproot their lives like that.”
“All I’m saying is, don’t count her out. She ended up here with you, didn't she? Not somewhere else?”
I sigh. “We’ll see what happens.” I do wonder if Mam is onto something.
Makenna could have taken a different trip.
She could have gotten appendicitis at a different time.
She could have gone to another hospital.
Makenna could have eaten dinner at a different place, and she would have only ever been a patient to me.
Yet, here she is, sleeping in my guestroom. Was this God setting things in motion for us?
After Mam leaves, I head up to bed, and when I finish in the bathroom, I notice Mam left Makenna’s door cracked, so I pull it softly closed. It feels bizarre having her here. I’m glad she’s here, but it’s one of those things that I’m sure in a week or so I’ll think … did that really happen?
I pull open the door to my room, and before I flick on the light, I notice someone is in my bed. Mam put her in my room.
I never knew she was such a schemer.
I tiptoe around the room gathering my sleep shorts and new clothes for the morning. I can’t help but glance at her again before leaving. Her pale skin glows in the bright moonlight filtering through the curtains. It illuminates her just enough that I can see her dark hair fanning out on my pillow.
I like it a bit too much.
I like her a bit too much.